The Indomitable Nile: A Ptolemaic AAR

**Chirurgeon** · 11-16-2007, 23:19

Originally Posted by Wolfman

I also have a little Carthaginian game going. I'm only at 267 B.C. though. This AAR might persuade me to try the Ptolemies. NOW where is the update. Get to work

cool man. My campaign is off to a good start. I am working on the first Chapter. I have all next week off so I should make some progress :)

**overweightninja** · 11-17-2007, 01:13

Get on Chirugeon, can't wait for this one to get going.
Cheers mate

**Chirurgeon** · 11-17-2007, 02:17

Originally Posted by overweightninja

Get on Chirugeon, can't wait for this one to get going.
Cheers mate

Good to see you again old friend. I assure you I am working on it.

**Chaotix** · 11-19-2007, 00:34

Ah! I come back from a week-long school trip to England (be very jealous) and I am greeted with the beginning of a third Chirurgeon AAR! I've read your last two excellent AARs, but have never posted on them. This one is sure to be just as great. What style of writing are you going to use? Will you write a history like your Roman AAR, or will you opt for the 1st person perspective of your Qarthadastim one? Or perhaps you'll surprise us with a completely different narrative style? I can't wait for this AAR!

BTW: What's with only 3 stars on the pic on your first post? Surely you don't believe this AAR will only be a 3-star experience? Lol!

**Chirurgeon** · 11-19-2007, 16:30

Originally Posted by Chaotix27

Ah! I come back from a week-long school trip to England (be very jealous) and I am greeted with the beginning of a third Chirurgeon AAR! I've read your last two excellent AARs, but have never posted on them. This one is sure to be just as great. What style of writing are you going to use? Will you write a history like your Roman AAR, or will you opt for the 1st person perspective of your Qarthadastim one? Or perhaps you'll surprise us with a completely different narrative style? I can't wait for this AAR!

BTW: What's with only 3 stars on the pic on your first post? Surely you don't believe this AAR will only be a 3-star experience? Lol!

I will be mixing history with roleplaying. I will be using the journal format mainly because of the intimacy of the characters. It will be very similar to the Sands of Africa. I am jealous you went to England. I hope to go there one day. I went to France and Spain last summer. Truly amazing. I have family in town but I am working on Chapter I. Thanks for following the AAR. I havent had the time to write with the same feverous pitch as my last AAR, So the chapters will be slower in coming.

**Chaotix** · 11-19-2007, 23:11

Sounds pretty good, Chirurgeon. I was thinking, it must be harder to write a history on something that didn't actually happen (unlike your Roman AAR)! I don't think I'll mind the slower pace, as I, like you, have a lot of school work to do and won't have as much time to read it! Plus, there are plenty of other great AARs around, like MAA's Makedonian AAR. Well, I am looking forward to reading this...

**CaesarAugustus** · 11-20-2007, 00:58

The egyptain is you. Now get a move on.

(jk. Take your time. But not too much.

)

**Chirurgeon** · 11-20-2007, 00:59

*Historians Notes*
The Journal of the Ptolemies is a valuable asset to understanding the dynamics and reasoning of these rulers. The Journal starts in 272 BC but to truly understand the situation in Egypt it is necessary to provide some earlier historical context. Because the Journals start with the rule of Ptolemy II it is clear that there was a Ptolemy I. In fact Ptolemy I was a very powerful individual who was given Egypt as his Satropy after the Death of Alexander in 323 BC. He died in 283 BC but abdicated the throne nearly two years before his death. The half-brother of Ptolemy's son, Magas, was not inclined to accept rule from the newly crowned Ptolemy II. Nearly 20 years younger the older regent of Cyrene had little respect for the young ruler. Magas looked to Macedonia for sympathy. Makedonia, reeling from the loss of Alexander's kingdom, was looking to regain its former glory. Could a first step be in Africa? This would be Ptolemy's first major problem to deal with.

Winter, 272 BC - Encamped on the Giza Plateau
Having been crowned the second Ptolemy of Egypt, has officially given me free reign of rule.

My father, having abdicated the throne, has entrusted me to protect us against many enemies. I have ordered an army be raised to further our sphere of influence to our west. With the Carthaginians as our Allies I feel it is time to bring some of the border regions into our control. Years of war and disrepair has left much of Egypt without adequate roads, sewers, and estates. It is time to bring these things up to minimal standards. There are more southerly reaches of the Nile I wish to explore and resources to be had. To our West lies various Oasis with solid trade potential. The Selucids appear to be embroiled in a conflict of various independent cities of their own. Various tribes to their north are forcing them to refocus their efforts away from us. Their defeat by my father still resonates and I doubt they will be back anytime soon. I will use this time to improve the Ptolemic kingdom. I hope to set out in a year.

Winter, 270 BC - Beseiging Kyrene
I have learned of a disturbing plot against all of Egypt. I have arrived in Kyrene. It is with great regret that I do this but I really have no choice. Apparently my older half brother, Magas, has allied with the Macedonians.

This does not bode well. For if this alliance comes to fruition then Macedonia will no doubt seek out further lands including my own. They too would seek to take Alexander back to Pella. The Macedonians want nothing more than an encore performance of conquering the known world. Our history is bitter between us my brother and I. My father having chose me as the next Ptolemy, making me Ptolemy II, created a unbridgeable divide between us. Although he is my brother he was whisked away and given Kyrene to dilute his hate. Clearly he has deceived me and intends to stab me in the back with poisoned blade. The Macedonians no doubt, along with Basileus Selukia, have clear plans for my destruction. The Selukids are masters of assasinating anyone that stands in their way. Before Selukia however I must deal with the betrayl by my own half-brother. I am expecting him to emerge to discuss terms. If he is coward enough to plot with our Greek brothers in the north than he will be coward enough to sneak out of the sticky situation he has found himself in. It is hard for me to believe that all the generals that fought so hard for Alexander seem to fight with the same fury against each other following his passing. Power it would seem has no limits of its ability to turn people against one another.

Spring, 268 BC - Royal Palace, Kyrenia

The hopes of Magas coming to offer terms vaporized when his army charged out of the gates. Although less equiped they did offer a good fight. Two days before the battle Magas emerged. He looked rather unkempt and disheveled. His horse strained under his enormous girth.
"So how are you my dear brother? It seemed only yesterday you had come to my palace for the festivals." Pausing momentarily and looking at my entourage he continued, "Ah you are so young. Surely you are not wise enough to rule Egypt? What was your father thinking!"
I knew he was trying to fluster me but it wouldnt work. I spoke directly to him as Kingly as possible, "You have some loose lips around your palace dear brother." He sat quietly. "One of your mistresses stole away from your city in the middle of the night and warned of a plot you had been undertaking." I shook my head with regret and looked down at the mane of my horse before continuing. "It would seem you wish to allow Macedonia to gain access to Africa. This is clearly unacceptable." I continued to look at him and it was becoming difficult to determine who was more uncomfortable, him or his horse. "I dont deny these charges. This young upstart would ruin what rightly belongs to Macedon. Can you Ptolemy Philedelphus ignore that if it wasnt for Macedon then Alexander would not have existed? If anyone were to rule Alexander's kingdom it should be Macedon!"
Cheers went up from his men behind him and I realized there was no dissuading this man from his position. "I cannot have someone on my doorstep that cannot be trusted. It is true that you have ruled Kyrene for 40 years but I cannot accept this transgression. Your loyalty is greatly misplaced. You have until the full moon to surrender the city. Should you wait a night longer than you will get no quarter." He looked somewhat stunned at my words. Perhaps he thought he could use the family connection against me. But I had long taken the position that any family member who betrayed me would be no less the enemy.
After a short pause in which the desert wind stirred the sand around the feet of our men and horses he continued. "I had no choice my dear brother. You must understand that I did what I did for the betterment of what the great Alexander stood for. We are all Makedons, Philedelphus. Should we continue this bitter feud even further? When will it end? Why not rule Egypt under the direction of Makedonia? Could it really be that bad?"
I was fuming. My father sacrificed so much to guarantee the safety of Egypt. I will not dishoner him by handing over control to tyrants thousands of miles away. "You have until the full moon. Should you wait another night you will not gain quarter from me"
I turned my horse around and led my bodyguards back to our lines of circumvallation. I sobbed quietly in my tent knowing that I must kill someone close to my father. It pained me more than I imagined. He did not give word and several weeks after the meeting with their supplies running low he charged from the gates with his garrison in an attempt to surprise us.
The battle went poorly for them from the start. Their light cavalry charging into my light spearmen were unseated from their mounts and cut down. His skirmishers meshed with my light spearmen and his heavy cavalry charged into the spearmen toppling their resolve. Magas fell from his horse, I feel the horse needed to be free from the great bulk of the man, and continued to fight but when the first rout occured he was left behind his fleeing army and my cavalry cut him down. After the light spears had been significantly bloodied, and bloodied the enemy, I withdrew them and the enemy plunged into the phalynx. The Machimoi phalynx perfomed well. Although they are native Egyptians they have quickly learned the power of the phalynx.

They are disciplined and fight effectively. It will be quite some time before I can field a true professional Hellenic army. The Machimoi are conscripts. They have agreed to fight in exchange for land and a share of loot. Cyrene had plenty of loot and resources. The hills bristle with stately trees that can be used for many things. Its geographic location alone makes it a valuable addition to the Ptolemaic empire.
I found his body after the battle. Laying next to some of his bodyguards he died honorably enough but all honor is gone while you lay in a pool of your own blood. I had him washed and cleaned. I took him to the embalmer where he was properly prepared for the afterlife. I had my brother interred in a tomb in the hills around the city. Despite our differences and hatred he was afterall family and I felt it only proper to give him a dignified burial. He would seem to have suffered greatly in life...there was no need for him to suffer in the afterlife. I wanted to leave Kyrene as quickly as possible. These are dreadful memories for me and I wish to depart as soon as possible.
Scenes from the Battle of Kyrene:

^^Rallying his men to the banner of Kyrene

Spring, 268 BC- Ammonion Oasis
Having traveled from Kyrene through the vast sand sea, we have arrived at Ammonion.

A strong Hellenic presense is here and Epithersos is the governor of this fabled region.

This was to be the true resting place of Alexander. The Oracle decreed that he was a god.

However my father wished that he be taken to Memphis to be properly prepared in the classic Egyptian method. I cannot say whether my father's decision was the right one, however judging by the great isolation of this place I would say that having him interred in Alexandria was a wise decision. I dont feel that I could guarantee the security of this place should someone want to defile our great King's body. With plenty of water and food stores it would seem the town would be able to hold out for quite some time. I will prepare my army for a long siege. I have no desire to lose men unnessarily.
My son, Euergetes, has been accompaning me on campaign and I am trying to teach him about warfare. He is learning, albeit slower than I did with my father.

His wife has given birth to a boy Agesalious and I am now a grandfather.

My other son, Lysimachos has also come of age and is aggresively learning from the great scholars of Alexandria and Memphis.

Spring 265 BC - South of the Ammonion Oasis
With our western region secure and Ammonion surrendering without a drop of blood spilt we press south.

The exotic regions of the Southern Nile allure me. The independent region of Kush, who trade extensively with us, has turned away offers to join the empire. I think I will offer them a good reason to join. Clearly a large army at their capital would go far to persuade them. It is a long way to travel for the army. The dark skinned peoples of the Kush region will do well to compliment my army.

My youngest son sends word that he is training as a physician. He wishes to be as knowledgeable as Imhotep himself. He has great skill and thought about medicine. He is still shy of 20 years of age and already he has performed procedures on nobility.

Winter 264 BC - South of Pelkis
I have ordered that winter quarters be struck here in our southern most reaches of our known lands. We are approaching uncharted territory and my curiosity is peaked as to what we will find. Already different animals and other fauna have been spotted. I have hired Nubians to help navigate our way south. The river is becoming less still and more turbulent. The ground is less dry and the trees more stately. The mountains far to our southeast are rumored to have gold. This alone would be a most positive addition to our treasury. One of the scouts has already made it to the capital of the Kush region, Meroe, and said that although it is defended the types of troops are much lighter in armor. In fact many do not wear much other than a shield. The skin of these people is almost ebony. I have recieved word that the plague has struck Memphis and the priests have closed the doors of that great city. I am also the proud father of another son and I now have a third grandchild. My family is larger than I ever imagined.

**Chirurgeon** · 11-20-2007, 01:03

Originally Posted by Chaotix27

Sounds pretty good, Chirurgeon. I was thinking, it must be harder to write a history on something that didn't actually happen (unlike your Roman AAR)! I don't think I'll mind the slower pace, as I, like you, have a lot of school work to do and won't have as much time to read it! Plus, there are plenty of other great AARs around, like MAA's Makedonian AAR. Well, I am looking forward to reading this...

This AAR has been a balancing act. I know of course that there was a Ptolemy II in real life but In the game there is that same Ptolemy. I have let the characters take on their own free will. However I did incorporate things like the feud with Magas. Of course with all my writings I have twisted history to fit the story a little better. Well the first part of Chapter I is up :)