A Pontos AAR

[Horst Nordfink]

Pontos is the land of the mighty, warlike Amazons; the adventures of Jason and his Argonauts; Ulysses' travels to the country of the Cimmerians; the punishment of Prometheus by Zeus, and the place where Heracles sailed the Black Sea.

As the legends and myths suggest, the Greeks have been here for generations. But the ruling family has forever been Persian! When Megas Alexandros died in the Palace of Nebuchadrezzar in Babylon, the empire he fought for was divide between his Diadochi. In the ensuing political maelstrom of the Wars of the Diadochi, the Kingdom of Pontos emerged. At it's head was Mithridates Ktistes, "The Founder", who had declared it's independance after the death of Antigonus in 301BC.

Now after years of (relative) poltical stability under Mithridates Ktistes, the rival Diadochi factions of the Seleukids and Ptolemaioi are closing in on Pontos. The Seleukids are retaining a veneer of friendship for now, but it will only be a matter of time before they turn and show their real colours.

The great founder Mithridates is growing old and will soon be crossing the palm of Phlegyas with silver in Hades. His eldest son Ariobarzanes will soon have to prove his mettle against the hellenistic powers and strive to expand Pontos!

[Treverer]

Subscribed ... and good luck!

[Horst Nordfink]

I will try to update as best I can, what with work commitments and girlfriends demanding my time.

[Horst Nordfink]

The Reign of Mithridates Ktistes

In 272BC the King of Pontos, Mithridates I Ktistes, was feeling long in the tooth. He had just turned 70 years old. Many years had passed since he took advantage of those squabbling Greeks and created the Kingdom of Pontos.

Mithridates had managed to fend off all challengers to his throne and was now making the most of his twilight years. What the King most wanted was to see out his last years in peace in his capitol, Amaseia. He had fathered 3 children, and was confident he had established a dynasty that would rule of Pontos for many years to come. His eldest son and heir was Ariobarzanes. Ariobarzanes was not like his father. He was not content with his lot in life, he wanted more, and he knew how to get it. Ariobarzanes wanted Pontos to rival the regional powers of Makedonia, Arche Seleukia and the Ptolemaioi, and revive the Persian Empire from which he was descended. Ariobarzanes felt it his duty to embrace the Hellenes that surrounded the young Kingdom of Pontos, whether they, or his father, liked it or not.

In 272BC Mithridates Ktistes could not wield his kingly powers as he once did, and Ariobarzanes was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Pontos. Against the wishes of his father, Ariobarzanes and his brother-in-law, Ariarathes Herakleotes, a Hellene from Bithynia, set out to expand the rule of Pontic law.



Ariobarzanes, in a lightening quick campaign that would make him famous in the Hellenistic world as a superior general, and with the use of questionable tactics and Pontic silver, suprised the Hellenes of Sinope, thus earning the ire of Koinon Hellenon.



As Ariobarzanes was defeating the Hellenes in Sinope, his brother-in-law Ariarathes was returning home, under a Pontic banner, and with a purpose. Ariarathes lay his home city, Nikaia, under seige. It was destined only to last a few months. The occupants rallied against their prodigal son and were cut down by Pontic steel. Nikaia fell after a brief but bloody battle. Upon re-entering the city of his birth for the first time since childhood, Ariarathes ordered that no treasure was to be looted and no women was to be touched. This was to be a "hero's return".

Ariobarzanes was not content to stop his conquests yet! He left Sinope in the hands of his younger brother and headed with an army to Trapezous, another Hellenic colony further up the coast. Again Ariobarzanes used treachorous, underhanded tactics to gain entry to the city and catch the Hellenes unaware, and once again a Greek colony fell to Pontic arms. Within the week the Koinon Hellenon had let him know of their anger, but stopped short of declaring all out war.



In the Autumn of 271BC, the King of Pontos, Mithridates I Ktistes passed away in his sleep, the strain of his eldest son placing Pontos at risk of danger with his aggresive expansionism too much to bear.


The known world at the time of Mithridates I Ktistes passing.

[Treverer]

Two questions:

a. at what level of difficulty do you play? And
b. do you use some mods, e.g. MAA's "city mod"?

Again, good luck.

Yours,
Treverer

[Horst Nordfink]

Sorry, should've probably set all this out at the start eh?

I'm playing it on VH/M difficulties. I have Marcus' City Mod. I don't think I have anything else on.

This is the first AAR I've done, but I welcome any conscructive criticism.

[Leão magno]

A pontos AAR how interesting! Do not worry about tecnicities! tell the tale

[gurakshun]

GOGO next ankyra! better to let the eleutheroi spend THEIR money to develop byzantion , pergamon, etc. before you take it....ancyra is a place you'll be putting down a low level gov't anyway so GO ANCYRA!

[Horst Nordfink]

I'm trying not to just go on a conquoring spree. I need to have some sort of validation for taking cities. I might use the Roman excuse of "self defence".

But we shall see in the next instalment.......

[Horst Nordfink]

The Reign of Ariobarzanes I Kianos

Basileus Ariobarzanes I Kianos was crowned at the Royal Palace in Amaseia with all the pomp and regal glory befitting a Persian king. Ariobarzanes was content with the extent of Pontic Royal Territories, and was keen to consolidate his power in his new lands. He had strengthened relations with the Koinon Hellenon, and while they should not be considered friends, they are by no means enemies either.

The Arche Seleukia have managed to keep themselves to themselves for now, and seem to have not been to worried by the rapid expansion of Pontos. The Ptolemaioi are still bent on the destruction of Pontos but are too concerned with their war with Arche Seleukia to give Pontos much thought.

Ariobarzanes I strives to be accepted by the Hellenes and sends emissaries out to foster new trade links and alliances. The early years of his reign were quiet, and Ariobarzanes concentrated on developing the cities he had conquored and made his priority teaching his son and heir Mithridates how to run a kingdom.

Ariobarzanes has changed a lot since he became Basileus, more mature and stoic. He was still the greatest general that Pontos could deploy in the field, but he had learned that there are situations that could be settled without resorting to violence. He had settled down in Amaseia and was enjoying running his kingdom, he found that he was equally adept at bureacracy as he was at battle. He had even become something of a renowned poet.

Not everything was rosey

Something was forcing Ariobarzanes to revert to his youthful ways. He had exercised diplomatic routes to solve a problem on the eastern borders of his kingdom. The province of Pokr Hayk, an Armenian peoples indpendant of Hayasdan called the Haikhs, had sent small raiding parties into Pontos Paralios. These small raiding parties were bribed by local diplomat to return to the fields. Eventually, Ariobarzanes I had grown tired of these raids on his kingdom and the disruption it brought to Pontos.

In 258BC, Ariobarzanes had decided to send his brother Arsames and his son heir Mithridates at the head of an army to bring the Haikhs to heel. The main body of this army were the Thureophoroi, a new Hellenic class of infantry. These infantry had been brought to Pontos by the Hellen Ariarathes, but this would be the first time they would bear arms in anger. The Haikhs would pay for their insolence. They would become a Pontic Satrapy.

Mithridates had sent forth a spy into the city of the Haiks, Ani-Kamah, a tactic that his father had perfected. The spy had opened up the gates and Mithridates had attacked without notice.

The Haikhs fought bravely, but they were no match for Mithridates Thureophoroi, and they eventually fell to Pontic might.

Mithridates, his job done, returned to Amaseia to continue his studies at the feet of his father, leaving his uncle, Arsames, to govern in Ani-Kamah in the good Pontic manner.

Peace had returned to the Kingdom of Pontos. The Haikh had been quietened by Mithridates and Arsames, and were now being assimilated into the kingdom.

Ariobarzanes had grown tired of fighting and had settled down contented that he had expanded his kingdom and secured his borders. His son and heir, Mithridates, had been married to the daughter of a local Pontic nobleman for 8 years, but hadn't provided a son to carry on the dynasty. If Mithridates dies childless, the crown would pass to Ariobarzanes brother Arsames. Of course, there would be other claimants to the throne. It is Ariobarzanes' hope that before he dies, Mithridates will sire a son and put an end to the succesion crisis before it starts.

Next: The inevitable betrayal!

[Hooahguy]

no pictures of the battles?

[Treverer]

Great update! Personally, I do not miss the pictures as I can very well imagine how it was ;-).

And a wonderful description of Ariobarzanes traits, btw. Once more, good luck and I'm looking forward to the next update.

[Horst Nordfink]

no pictures of the battles?

I thought I had some good pictures of the battles, but unfortunately they were a bit rubbish. You couldn't really see what was what. It was just a big scrum in the middle of the screen.

And one or two I auto-resolved cos I was in a rush.

[Horst Nordfink]

The reign of Ariobarzanes I Kianos cont.

In 254BC, the 17th year of Mighty Ariobarzanes' reign, the cowardly Seleukids attacked Amaseia without warning or reason. Inside the city of Amaseia was the Basileus Ariobarzanes and his heir Mithridates, and a small garrison of Thureophoroi and a few units of Cretan archers that Mithridates had bribed to join our cause. The seige would have to be lifted by an army from Sinope head by Ariobarzanes' son-in-law Machares Mosynoikos, a Thraikian. The city of Amaseia could hold out for up to 2 years if not stormed. A second army from Nikaia had answered the distress call and was on its way to lift the seige led by Ariarathes Herakleotes two sons Artaxerxes and Holophernes. This army was primarily made up of Galatian mercenaries. If the seige had been lifted before the army arrives, it had been ordered to take the Arche Seleukia city of Mazaka as punishment.

As a result of their cowardly, treachorous attack by Arche Seleukia, all of Pontos' supposed allies cast them aside in support of the Seleukids, except the brave Romans. The temporary ruler of Pontos while Ariobarzanes and Mithridates were hold up in Amaseia is Arsames in Ani-Kamah. He ordered the Pontic diplomat Oxyartes to call a ceasefire with the Ptolemaioi.

In the winter of 254BC the Arche Seleukia general Menippos Nikatoreos Syrriakes stormed the walls of Amaseia. With such a small garrison inside Amaseia, it will all fall down to Ariobarzanes to use all his military skill if this battle is to go his way.

The Seleukids learned that siege towers burn.

The Pontic archers could not be in two places at once and the Seleukids managed to reach the walls with their ladders. The Thureophoroi would not let them get past the walls though....

Ariobarzanes proved once again that he was a brilliant general! The Arche Seleukia army was completely destroyed by Pontic defensive brilliance and Menippos was chased from the field by Ariobarzanes and Mithridates. This will not be the last time that the Seleukids would face Pontic steel and not the last time a Seleukids general would be chased from the field like a woman.

[Treverer]

Just impressive.

[Horst Nordfink]

The Reign of Ariobarzanes I Kianos
The First Seleukid War

Machares Mosynoikos reached Amaseia a week after the Siege of Amaseia had been lifted by Ariobarzanes and immediately set about pursuing the retreating Menippos Nikatoreos Syriakes and what was left of his army. Machares caught him a days march outside of Mazaka. So close, yet so far!!

An expensive battle followed, not quite a pyrrhic victory, and the Seleukids were defeated. The brunt of Pontic casualties were taken by Machares' mercenary Misthophoroi Uazali, a barbarian horde who know not how to conduct ones self in battle and paid the price accordingly.

Menippos fell fighting bravely, which went towards making up for his cowardly display a few weeks earlier.

A fair punishment for the insolence Menippos had shown to the great Kingdom of Pontos.

Machares recruited some Galatian mercenary cavalry and was augmented with some Cretan archers from Amaseia. He then set out to take Mazaka as punishment.

The army headed by Artaxerxes and Holophernes had been informed by a messenger from Amaseia that the siege had been lifted and were instructed to take the Seleukid city of Ipsos and raise it to the ground. Artaxerxes was ordered to exterminate the inhabitants and destroy and loot all he could find of value and return to Nikaia. There was a more urgent matter at hand than punishing Seleukids, for now.

The city of Chersonesos north of the Euxine has been attacked and the citizens have sent a representative to Ariobarzanes begging for his help. Ariobarzanes planned to send Artaxerxes to help after his mission at Ipsos.

Artaxerxes did not dissapoint. The garrison of Ipsos sallied against the siege and were pushed back within 3 months. The army of Arche Seleukia were destroyed and their leader Sarpedon Syriakos was killed. Months of murder, looting and punishment followed for the citizens of Ipsos. Convinced that nothing of value remained in Ipsos, Artaxerxes and Holophernes left for Nikaia. From there Artaxerxes headed for the Bosphoros to aide the citizens of Chersonesos.

Machares' army was slightly outnumbered by the garrison inside Mazaka. The besieged army were of foul spirit and had not half as much confidence in their commander as the Pontic troops had for their young leader.

The city easilt fell to the battlehardened Pontic soldiers and a quarter of the citizens were sold into slavery. This would not be a repeat of Ipsos two weeks prior. Mazaka was to be added to the Kingdom of Pontos. The Kappadokians of Mazaka were brothers of Pontos and should rightly share in the spoils of Pontic glory. They were to be annexed into the Pontic homeland.

Next update: Egyptian intrigue....

[Horst Nordfink]

Unfortunately ladies and gents, my Pontos AAR game has suffered from a chronic CTD. I am unable to continue this. I'm quite dissapointed.

[Treverer]

T'is a pity ...

Have you plans for a new AAR, in the not too far away future?

Yours, T.

[Horst Nordfink]

I probably will do another one at some point, but I've no idea who I'll do it with. I'd like to do a Roman AAR, but they are ten a penny.

I only want to do a "civilised" campaign. I've no time for smelly savages!

Suggestions anyone?

[Treverer]

IMHO Epiros is relativly easy, at least 'til around 260 b.C.: reduce Makedons & KH to their islands. Many mines (Pella & Dalminion are both uncredible) and you can decide whether to stay or to leave Southern Italy. Later on though, you must pay attention to your neighbours (SPQR, Getai, Pontos/AS).

And believe me, it is a LOT easier as Pontos ...

Yours, T.

[Horst Nordfink]

I have never played as Epeiros, because they are lying, underhanded, cheating quasi-Greeks, and they have crossed me on far too many times.

For the same reason, I have never played as Arche Seleukia, the smelly Gauls or the Ptolemaioi. I would feel dirty and violated playing as them.

I may do a Makedonian AAR.

[Treverer]

I have never played as Epeiros, because they are lying, underhanded, cheating quasi-Greeks, and they have crossed me on far too many times.

Maybe, but IMHO of the three factions in Greece, they have a splendid starting position. I really like to play with them when I am too frustrated about my miserable results with Pontos.

For the same reason, I have never played as Arche Seleukia, the smelly Gauls or the Ptolemaioi. I would feel dirty and violated playing as them.

Do not bash them, please. The AS has a really, really fantastic unit rooster, and the traits/ancillaries I've discovered so far via spies are amazing. But: I'm not good at managing a big empire already at turn one, I prefer smaller ones.

The Gauls (and Getai, Casse, Lusotani & Sweboz) are simply not "my" faction(s). Point.

I may do a Makedonian AAR.

I'm looking forward to this one. And surely I'll learn something about playing with 'em ... as I always do when following an AAR.

T.

[Horst Nordfink]

Right then ladies and gents....... (well....... Treverer, seen as he seems to be the only person interested) I am all set to start a Makedonian AAR.

I will get the ground work done and post the first installment ASAP.

Feel free to suggest a name for it if you like.

[Treverer]

Feel free to suggest a name for it if you like.

If you mean a name for the AAR, here it goes:

"A Makedon AAR or why the true heirs of Alexander are still of Makedonia"

Ehm, well, a bit clum(b/p)sy ... but I like the "A XYZ AAR or blabla" style. Feel free to adapt it to your gusto (= taste).

T.

[Horst Nordfink]

Sounds pretty good to me Al.