Velvet Coats of Kings

[Sarcasm]

Yes I got the First post here! It's good to finally see a Lusotannan AAR and the first and only Iberian AAR.

I plan eventually to make one, really text based AAR, on the Lusitani. Just waiting for a few units to become available.


BTW: Nice job Orb, keep it up.

[Morte66]

I like the quotes, especially the historian-style quotes. They have an uncanny ring to them.

[Cadeyrn]

I have to agree with Morte on that. It's a great read.

[Orb]

The first imperial steps of the Lusitani soon followed the removal of Qart-Hadast from Iberia: Bocchoris and then Tyde were attacked by Lusitanian forces. The storming of Bocchoris was accomplished with a fleet assembled at Mastia, and 4,000 Caetrati led by Ambon, son of Latronos.

Unfortunately, the spies of the Lusitani coalition had underestimated the strength of Bocchoris - they had suggested that there would be less than five thousand, probably all militia, anyway, but:

"Upon arriving we found ourselves to be vastly outnumbered, and facing stronger enemies than we had anticipated. There were two armies, one of which was outside the city, and had managed to thus elude our lone spy. The other was also stronger than anticipated; we had meant to face only citizen militia, but they had dangerous Balearic slingers and light infantry as well."

The best estimation we have of the three forces are:
Lusitani - 4,000 Caetrannan, not particularly experienced, and Ambon's 500 bodyguards.
Carthaginians outside city - 1,600 Militia and 2,400 Balearic slingers.
Carthaginians inside city - 1,600 militia, 1,200 Balearic slingers and 2,000 Balearic light infantry.

Jubal, who was understandably not present at the battle, gathered the following account:
"The Lusitanians spread out into a loose formation, to lessen the effect of the opposing slings, and marched towards those men in the countryside. They were able to, quite easily, overcome the slingers and the citizens before the other men arrived. Now they were faced with fresh men, but men inferior to their own in quality. Though the battle was long and difficult, again they overcame."

In the same year, he mentions that a small force of elite Libyan veterans, supported by the shophet, came to attempt to reclaim Mastia. The sixteen hundred men were cut down by the returning Ambon, whose heroic victory put him as one of the chief generals of the Lusitani.

John Bell comments on Puno-Iberian relationships after this time.

"Although a peace treaty was again concluded, the Carthaginians were unwilling to accept an alliance again, even though the Lusitani offered the return of Bocchoris for a token sum. In 262, Ambon successfully fought off over 10,000 independent Punic merchants and citizens with the aid of locally recruited Iberians, and a ceasefire was accepted again.

As a result of this rejection, the Lusitani sought a powerful ally elsewhere. The Romans also refused any offer of friendship, though they were willing to pay well for Lusitanian maps, while the Epeirotes (now possessing only Rhegion in Italia, but still powerful in Greece because of their alliance with the dominant Koinon of the Greeks) would gladly form a nominal alliance, but refused any monetary requests."

Jubal gives more information about the actions of the Lusitani at home:
"A certain Elatunako Brigantiucoi, who had recently been betrothed to Turenta, daughter of Ditalkos, led an attack on the so-called Crossing King Seko, a brigand just within Lusitanian borders with support from the Gallaeci of Tyde. The Crossing King was defeated, and after the Gallaeci refused a tribute to make up for the damage caused by their sponsorship, Elatunako attacked and soundly beat them, too. As he returned south, having taken the town, he engaged and clearly defeated another army of rebels under one of the Carpetani's former retainers, named Sekonos."

He also notes that taxes were lowered, ostensibly out of kindness, but realistically to reduce the number of rebels.

At about this time, preparations were begun for an attack on the Helleno-Iberians of Arsé, with a force of 9,000 men, mostly natives, Ambon led a march north in Autumn 261. Ambon launched the attack soon after and took the city of Arsé from Epaphos of the Edetani. The Greek militia were no match for the falcatas, but the Iberians in the town centre resisted ferociously, and the Lusitani-led Iberians suffered many losses. Regardless, a victory was achieved. Later in that same year (we believe it is 261 BC), general Elatunako defeated another brigand host, and was nearly done clearing the land of rebellions and brigands.

"Upon hearing of the arrival of a Koinon host to oust the Epeirotes from Southern Italy, the Lusitani quickly discovered that the Greeks were far more generous than the Epeirotes, and shifted their alliance accordingly. They received 1,500 Mnai through two deals in early 260 BC, and thus knew that the Greeks valued their alliance. This established the position of the Lusitani as a single diplomatic entity - they had diplomats at the courts of Carthage and at the Roman senate, as well as in the halls of tribal kings and the Gallic nations. Their network of spies extended into Italy and Africa, allowing them to judge current events and act accordingly." - John Bell

In the second half of 260 BC, Elatunako finished off the last of the brigands and rebels of Lusotana in a pitched battle. Their status as a rising nation was confirmed by the defeat of all who disputed the word of King Latronos. The efficiency and ability of Elatunako in accomplishing this task led him to be given governorship of Mastia and Baikor.

Lusotannan tablets from the period mention the betrothal of Ambron to a certain Ama, daughter of the African king in Tingis, and also the status as a second son accorded to an adoptee (of Latronos) from the Vettones, named Kasilos Orengicoi. In this period, the temple complex at Oxtraca which stands even to this day, was begun.

Edit: sorry about the slight drop in quality there, it was mostly written while I was playing and wasn't taking many notes, so it's slightly confused in terms of chronology and detail.

[Orb]

Update finished. Runs to the end of 260.

As for how I'm doing on the goals, which have been altered slightly to reflect a change in views/practical boredom.

All social goals are met; I have 90+ public order in all settlements, a bard on one character, Latronos has both 5 influence and 4 command (I think Elatunako and Ambon both have four command and veteran status too). Ditalkos has an obscene amount of management, (I've decided 5 will class as 'good administrator').

All diplomatic goals are met; the KH (not originally included, but seeing as they now control all of Southern Greece + some islands and are larger than Epeiros) paid out 1,500 for an alliance and maps. I have an alliance with the Arverni, trade rights with the Aedui, diplomats and spies just about everywhere (tremble, Carthage, tremble).

All military goals will be met, as soon as I retrain my boats from Carthaginian nastinesses (not my fault, I just can't compete with their pentekonters). I own all the specified settlements plus Arsé and Tyde, as well as Bocchoris, which counts as my 'not Iberia' conquest and conveniently provides me with an easy funnel for the Carthaginians as well as decent trade income. I did try to sell it back and go for the Carthage alliance goal, but they wouldn't have the alliance. Rebels have been finished off completely by Elatunako.

Technological goals have progressed more slowly, but I just need to wait 2 more years (from 258) to finish my 3rd tier temple in Oxtraca. Oxtraca already has the three happiness buildings (enforcers, games field + tavern) and a type one government. I believe it is also the largest city in Iberia, but I'll check that later. Conveniently enough, the Carthaginians left behind a nice trading port in Mastia, which fulfils my other goal.

The economic goals are progressing well enough, I'm making 4,000 mnai per turn, give or take a couple of hundred, and I have a mine under construction (6-8 turns to go) in Gader. I have a larger population than the Arverni and Cassé, but not larger than the Aedui.

[Orb]

"258 BC saw another brief lapse in Carthaginian-Lusitanian relations, when 5,000 Carthaginian-sponsored citizens launched a naval attack on the Lusitani and the formidable Elatunako almost failed to arrive on time, similarly, the Iberians were very concerned by Carthaginian expansion in Africa, and vowed to intervene if their ally, the King of Tingis, whose daughter Ama was married to Ambon, was under threat by Carthaginian forces." - John Bell

House rule added - Tingis alliance (I've actually implemented it earlier, but I don't think I've mentioned it yet): Must declare war on Carthage if Tingis comes under attack. Not allowed to attack Tingis unless the ruler dies, or it is taken by another faction. If possible, Ambon should be dispatched to lead the attack on Carthage. If Tingis is taken, it will be assigned a type 4 government.

Otherwise, there were no other major concerns of the Lusitani in 258: the rebellions had been bested, their enemies humiliated and their lands protected. Unfortunately, "the Qart-Hadastim fleet is unstoppable: their pentekonterai cannot be challenged by our flotillas" - as Jubal mentions (note his decisive change in tone: The Lusitani coalition is a 'we' by now, implying they were liked by all their subtribes.)

[Orb]

Well, now I've finally completed the first chapter's goals completely (finished Summer 255, turns taken 35) (to be written later today, I hope), I'll comment on the world position.

Rome are basically in Italy, and are attacking Messana too, they still lack some of the Northern Italian Gallic settlements, but have Massilia, IIRC.

The Seleucids have crushed the Ptolemies. They have taken all the latter's provinces in the Levant, as well as Memphis and Alexandria.

The Arverni are now a protectorate of the Aedui, and reduced to Gergovia, while the Aedui are expanding nicely. The Sweboz have rocket-expanded again and are busily killing of the Belgae.

I'll probably set goals for my next chapter when I write the end of this one up.

[Orb]

"I write at my father's request," thus open the annals of the pathetic and generally useless son of Ditalkos. Though a handsome lad, and very easy to get on with, he lacked the energy or wit to do anything without the expressed order of his father, "to hand down the annals of the Lusitani from a time when the worthy historian Jubal has vanished. Though the Carthaginian citizens launched yet another strike against us, they were repelled easily outside Bocchoris by my brother-in-law Elatunako. My uncle Latronos (who seems, from what is recorded in the few notes he left behind, to have been pleased by the boy's uselessness) has himself taken up the sword again and put down the new troubles that have sprung up in our land. First he defeated a small band of anarchists near Sucum Murgi, and then Phoenicians with vile intentions and the support of a minor king at Gader. Shamefully, even Lusitanians joined in with the treachery, believing that with our new size and status, we would come under attack sooner. These were defeated by loyalists and veterans on a hilltop near the capital of Oxtraca"