Battle for the Silk Road - a Baktrian AAR

[Sheep]

Hello and welcome to my first-ever AAR. I'm playing as Baktria. The story will be told from the viewpoint of my faction leader (which may change) every few years or so, starting in 260BC. I'm sorry if it's too long, I tend to write too much. You can always stop reading and look at the pictures if you like! So, with no further ado...

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CHAPTER ONE - Sunrise in the East

(260BC)

Greetings traveler! Welcome to Alexandropolis! I am Theodotos Baktrios, Satrap of Baktria and the East in the mighty Arche Seleukeia. I trust you have enjoyed the hospitality so far? Good, good. My retainer tells me you are interested to know the recent history of this realm. He also assures me you are not a spy. You're not a spy, are you? Hmmm... I suppose you would not tell me if you were. Ah, well. What I am about to tell you may be one of the worst-kept secrets in the Empire.

I would be King of Baktria.


Theodotos Baktrios, Lord of Baktria and the East

True, I have maintained my loyalty to Antiochos thus far. But his war with Egypt preoccupies him. Every year the hordes of the steppe grow stronger. Every year their raids on our lands grow bolder. We send word of our troubles to Seleukeia, but Mesopotamia is a long way from Baktria. Antiochos cannot spare us an army. So we must look to our own defenses.

So far I have united the people of Sogdiana and Ferghana under my banner. While not technically independent from the Empire, we essentially have complete autonomy. The gold of two Silk Road cities, Marakanda and Alexandreia Eschate, flows into my coffers, not those of Antiochos. And one day, we will have our freedom.

I am not alone in my ambitions. The Marakandaios clan, first family of Sogdiana, is powerful and popular, a true rival to my own Baktrios family. Twenty years ago, I married my daughter Kleophia to Patrokles, head of the Marakandaioi, and named him Satrap of Sogdiana. My daughter has given him four children, two sons and two daughters. Patrokles is a treacherous dog, but firmly entrenched in Marakand, with unparalled influence there. It would take the power of Zeus-Ahura Mazda himself to move him now. Luckily he is also a quite capable governor and keeps his tribute flowing into my treasury. About ten years ago, I married my other daughter, Melissa, to Arsakes Rhoteios. He is a Hellene, and a far more steadfast and loyal one than that dog Patroklos.


Patroklos Marakandaios, Satrap of Sogdiana

Around the same time, I recognized the need to annex more territory, so I set my sights on Paropamisadai, land of the eagles. You have no doubt heard of the mountains there -- they reach up to the heavens themselves. I left my son and heir Diodokos to govern from Baktra, while through the passes towards Kophen I led a small force, consisting mainly of archers, but also phalangites and some Median cavalrymen who came to Baktria long ago and have been loyal since. Patroklos sent me some of his excellent mounted Dahae archers as well. It was a short battle, and in the end we were victorious. Paropamisadai became a satrapy of my future kingdom.

Kophen has been loyal since its capture, quick to see the wisdom of Hellenic ways. The wealth which rolled in allowed me to develop our other provinces and support my army. After securing Kophen with local militia and installing Arsakes as governor, I took my men north to Sogdiana to fend off raiders from the steppe. With the countryside finally pacified, I sent my troops back to their farms and took up residence in Alexandreia Eschate, Megas Alexandros' farthest settlement.


Kophen, high in the Kaukasos Indicos

The next five years were relatively peaceful, and I sent trustworthy men to parley with other realms and, of course, gather information. We met and made agreements with many Asian peoples, including the Pahlavi, the Hai, the Sakae, and the Kingdom of Pontus. An emissary from Egypt arrived in secret, and I assured him I meant no ill will towards his masters, the Ptolemies.

Then some alarming news came to my ears. With a stalemate in the west, the armies of Antiochos began creeping eastwards. Seleucid armies occupied Gedrosia and began to threaten Arachosia, just south of my realm! Although I have not yet conquered India, I do not wish for Antiochos to do it first! I resolved to conquer Arachosia for myself, to block Antiochos' advance into India. I called up my loyal Hellenes, and with all the gold in my treasury, I hired mercenaries and levied local troops. With Arsakes as my lieutenant, my loyal Medes, a large phalanx, Persian skirmishers, and masses of archers both on foot and horseback, I traveled south. After nearly two years of marching, we arrived outside the gates of Alexandropolis in Arachosia, just in time to see a Seleucid army retreating back to Gedrosia with its tail between its legs. Although the Arachosians had beaten back Antiochos' men, they had taken heavy losses themselves and were no match for my army. Alexandropolis fell into my control far more easily than I had expected. I made Arachosia my new satrapy and sent most of my men back to their farms. And here you find me today, traveler.

I have made a home here in Arachosia for the last several years. Let me tell you briefly what has happened since my conquest. Renewed fighting with Egypt has drawn Antiochos' armies back westwards. My diplomats have also moved farther to the west, visiting the mighty Sauromatae of the steppe, the fierce Getai, and finally entering blessed Hellas herself. I have made an alliance with Epeiros, although at this distance it is little more than a formality. Pahlava has officially split from the Empire, and while they have assured me that they mean no harm to my lands, I have eyes there to make sure they keep their promises, and to learn from them as I prepare to declare my own independence. To the north, my Saka allies have been loyal so far, content to spread their dominion across the steppe instead of into the settled lands under my control, although who but the Gods can say when the barbarians will betray me?

Patrokles' sons have come of age and seem to be as capable as their father, although no doubt they hold greater loyalty to him than to me. I have installed them in Kophen and Alexandreia Eschate for now. Arsakes remains here with me. My son Diodotos is in charge of our homeland, where his skill at governance is fast becoming legendary. No doubt he will be a fine king after I am gone.


Diodotos, heir to Baktria

My grandson Agathokles has also come of age and we have decided to blood him early. A large band of brigands -- steppe barbarians and sniveling Persians -- has been threatening Marakanda. I have sent my grandson north with some men to deal with them. We can't have Patrokles' sons outdoing their future king, now can we?

So now you know everything that I do, traveler. Well, perhaps not quite everything. But you are a busy merchant and no doubt you have business elsewhere. I too have important affairs of state which require my attention. Farewell, traveler. Safe journeys. Perhaps we shall meet again.


Map of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia (260BC)

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Next time: A major battle is fought. Who will win? Will Baktria finally become truly independent? Find out in Chapter 2!

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

Nice AAR...i like the pov!

[Pelopidas]

Just keep it this way :]

[Warmaster Horus]

Indeed, nice AAR. Keep it up!
Not many Baktrian AARs around here, I believe.

[CaesarAugustus]

Great AAR, Sheep! I love how the king actually narrates the story to the reader, and AARs on eastern powers are so rare. Baktria is quite possible my favourtie eastern faction. Keep up the good work, I look forward with impatience to the next chapter.

[Sheep]

Thanks for the feedback. I hope I can keep it up.

I forgot to mention my house rules, I dunno if that's so important to you but I see it on other peoples' AARs so I figured I'd give mine out too.

I'm not playing with a ton of rules except:
1) No cheats (except toggle_fow to take screenshots of the map)
2) My armies must include at least two phalanx units and be led by a general.
3) My kings must come from the ruling family (Baktrios), and the crown passes from father to (preferably oldest) son. If there is no direct heir, the crown can pass to an uncle or cousin (by blood, not marriage) in the same family. If there is no heir in the family, the crown can go to a new family, but that starts a new dynasty with the same rule of succession.
4) I must disband all non-mercenary units with less than 2 bronze chevrons after a war is over, with the exception of pantopadoi or militia-type units as city garrisons. This simulates soldiers being sent back to their farms after the war ends. However, veterans would retain their experience, so highly experienced units need not be disbanded.
5) I may only use Very high tax rate when an army is actively campaigning. EXCEPT for recently conquered cities, where any tax rate may be used for 10 years after conquest to simulate tribute/plunder/etc.
6) Map info for map info only, I can't receive any money for it.
7) No hard and fast rule on this, but I must try to play slow, roleplay, and not blitzkrieg the world. I'm playing Baktria, not 1930s Germany.

[Sheep]

Chapter 2 - Betrayal in the East

(255 BC)

Greetings once again, traveler! I trust your journey through the mountains to Kophen was uneventful? It has been quite a while since the last time we spoke! We are both a little older, although still healthy as bulls, eh? I am nearly into my seventh decade now, yet still I rule Baktria with a strong arm and a clear mind. My retainer tells me you wish to hear more of the story of our realm. I believe we left off before my grandson's northern campaigns, yes? Ah, see! This old mind has not gone foggy yet, praise be to Athena and Apollo!

Five years ago, I told you that I was allied with the Saka tribes to the north. Well, not even three seasons after you departed, the treacherous dogs betrayed me! A small group of minor Saka noblemen raided my lands around Alexandreia Eschate. Zoilos Marakandaios and a small group of locals chased them off. The Sakae, those lying snakes, promised me the leader of the raid was a rogue noble and even had him executed in front of Zoilos himself. However, it was not long before a much larger Saka horde moved in, this time from the East!

Luckily, if you remember, I had just sent my grandson Agathokles to deal with some brigands. After sending those dogs scurrying back to their mothers' teats, my grandson turned his attention towards the greater Saka threat. I was too far to the south to get there in time, so I authorized him to call up my Hellene loyalists, as well as many native men to serve in our phalanx. Agathokles also levied many foot bowmen and hired some mercenary horse archers. I sent my loyal Medes and some Arachosians, Patroklos sent a contigent of Dahae horse archers, my son Diodotos sent heavily-armoured Baktrian lancers, and of course both Agathokles and his lieutenant Mithroaxos (my granddaughter Galatea's otherwise useless husband) brought their hetairoi. A truly mighty force!


Baktrian force - Battle of Alexandreia Eschate (257BC)

The Saka force consisted almost entirely of horse archers, including some which dismounted upon arrival on the battlefield to increase the range of their bows. They were led by a captain named Vonones, who was not a member of the royal family, but nevertheless rode to battle with a group of noblemen. They approached Alexandreia from the east and set to pillaging the countryside. Agathokles' force came from the west and met them just on the other side of the city.

When the battle was joined, the Sakae had taken a position on the side of a great hill east of the city. However, the top of the hill was not occupied. Agathokles saw his opportunity to take the high ground. He first deployed the phalanx at the bottom of the hill and slowly marched them upwards. His phalanx drew the fire of many of the Saka archers, but their long sarissae and armor knocked aside most of the storm of arrows. There were still casualties, but this was acceptable as the phalanx was merely a distraction. While the Sakae rained arrows down on our phalangitai, Agathokles' bowmen raced up the hill to the south. After they had reached a certain height, he and his entire force of cavalry rode swiftly up the hill behind them. Many of the Sakae saw this threat and raced over to cut his men off. However, they were turned away by the withering fire of my grandson's archers, and his cavalry gained the top of the hill!

He left his horse archers at the summit to send arrows down into the backs of the Sakae and arrayed his lancers so that the barbarians were surrounded! To the west was his phalanx, downhill and marching slowly upwards. His archers, many of whom also carried horse-killing spears, were to the south and moving in to bring the entire Saka horde into range. His steppe archers, Arachosians, and Baktrian lancers were at the top of the hill to the east, and Agathokles himself, along with Mithroaxos and my Medes, were to the north! Seeing their plight, several groups of barbarian dogs tested his men, but they were quickly cut down by both arrow and lance.


Saka forces surrounded by Baktrians - Battle of Alexandreia Eschate (257BC)

Agathokles himself led the charge as the hetairoi and the Medes crashed into the Saka foot archers from the north. Mere seconds later, the Baktrian lancers hit the same formation from the east. Some of the barbarians were flung into the air and many others were simply obliterated from the impact of hundreds of armoured lancers charging downhill!


Baktrian cavalry, led by Prince Agathokles, charging Saka ranks - Battle of Alexandreia Eschate (257BC)

To their credit, the Saka archers were very brave and held their ground, even as my grandson's cavalrymen cut them down left and right after the devastating charge. However, it was not long before his phalangitai arrived from the south and sent them fleeing. His archers had annihilated most of the enemy horse archers by this point, but with many of his men engaged, Agathokles could not prevent some of the barbarians from slipping off the field, including almost all of the cowardly Saka noblemen! Some of his light cavalry pursued them, but gave up the chase when it became clear the enemy had lost their taste for fighting. More than three-quarters of the Saka on the field were killed in this battle, including every single warrior on foot. Meanwhile, Agathokles had lost less than a tenth of his men! An exceedingly clear victory for my grandson!


Final results - Battle of Alexandreia Eschate (257BC)

After spending the winter in Marakanda and recruiting a few more men to replace his casualties, Agathokles again set off on campaign against the Sakae. And this time, we took the offensive! His army marched north and by the end of summer, was deep into Sakae territory. A large contingent of barbarians attacked his forces there, but were beaten back without a single sword, pike, or lance being raised! His archers laid waste to the barbarians before they could even close for combat and sent them running back to the steppe. In autumn he reached a village, whose name consisted of some ridiculous barbarian babble. Bin-Kath or somesuch. It was a small village, but it held a large prize -- Lokaksema, son of the barbarian king and heir to the crown! The prince led a group of horsemen armored more heavily than any we have ever seen! Agathokles' men took to calling them kataphractoi. Skillfully using his horse archers, Agathokles managed to lure Lokaksema's men between his phalanx and his hetairoi, which made short work of them. Lokaksema was the only man to escape the trap, but he was killed in the fighting as Agathokles captured the village.

To punish the Saka for their betrayal, Agathokles put nearly the entire population to the sword, looted every last bit of wealth, and then razed the village to the ground. Normally we Baktrians are more tolerant towards the conquered, but a lesson needed to be taught! Agathokles, despite being little more than a boy, has already made quite a name for himself as a general!


Agathokles Baktrios, Prince of Baktria, son of Crown Prince Diodoros

Not long after that, a far more insidious betrayal took place. Know that I always had an understanding with Antiochos. He was very lenient with our people as long as we sent him his proper tribute. However, Antiochos is no more. His son Theodoros is now Emperor. I spit on his name! Last year, while my people were celebrating Agathokles' triumphs against the Sakae, my son-in-law and lieutenant Arsakes was at his winter camp in Aria. There, with no provocation whatsoever, he was ambushed -- murdered -- by Theodoros' men! Clearly Theodoros meant to remind me who was the true ruler of Baktria. However, his actions have had the opposite effect! Baktria, along with the rest of my territories, is now in open rebellion! I have been declared King of Baktria and the East!

I have not wasted time in making preparations for war. I used the spoils of our victory over the Sakae to raise a new army, which I have placed under the command of my other grandson Heliokles. My diplomats quickly made visits to the capitals of Theodoros' enemies: Alexandreia in Egypt, where I allied myself to the Ptolemies, and to Nisa, where I made an alliance with the Pahlavi. I also sent agitators to Antiocheia in Margiana and to Alexandreia in Aria. The people there, who bear no more love for Theodoros than I do, quickly threw off his yoke!

Theodoros made his moves as well. A small force lay siege to Baktra itself until my son Diodotos, the crown prince, scattered them to the four winds. My new allies the Pahlavi also broke a siege of their capital around the same time. My spies reported the advance of another Seleukid army towards my holdings in Arachosia. With all my forces concentrated in the north, sadly I had no army to defend my rights in the south. I was forced to abandon Alexandropolis six months ago, destroying all I had built there save the temples. After all, gold is important, but what man can achieve glory with the Gods against him? The natives were quick to take back their territory, and I wish them luck in defending it from Theodoros.

So this is why you find me here in Kophen today. I will be back in Arachosia one day. For now, I am simply fighting for survival. Maintaining two standing armies has left me in debt deeper than Hades. To raise money, I have sent Heliokles into Margiana, and Agathokles into Aria. Perhaps the people there will see the wisdom in joining me against Theodoros. If words cannot convince them, my grandsons' armies certainly will.

You have come at an interesting time, traveler. It has pleased me to talk to you, but now I'm afraid I have many preparations to make for the coming winter, and for the spring which follows! I wish you safe journeys, and you are welcome to the hospitality of my kingdom anytime.


Map of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia (255BC)

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Next time: Twin sieges as Baktria faces off against the Empire. Who will rule the East? Can Theodotos carve out a kingdom? Find out in Chapter 3!