The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[General Appo]

Heheh, far fetched is it? But what if the Basileus is crazy?

There can be only one crazy Basileus. And if MAA wants a fight, he´ll get one. You have no idea how crazy Pyrrhos (the real one, AKA mine) can get, but if MAA goes to the Tin Island...well, you´ll just have to wait and see.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Britain would indeed be hard to hold with Pella as my capital. I have some plans for what is to come, but I won't spoil it yet. I am going to try to use trade and resources as more of a roleplaying point to keep gameplay interesting.

General Appo, Makedonian army right where? If you mean the picture of Persis, then yes. I used that army to kill all of the garrisons of the towns I gave to Pahalva when I recreated them. After that the army wandered Seleukid territory acting like a spy and keeping me up to date with eastern expansion.

Thanks, Kuningaz, nice to see you again.

[teh1337tim]

imo you should conquar ur border cities and build them up a little then gift them to seleukids...useful to have a buffer against the eastern asian people.. like pahlava baktria etc...
Lol you should go to ireland... i mean why not...carthage went there and established colonies for tin!

[General Appo]

Lol you should go to ireland... i mean why not...carthage went there and established colonies for tin!

Ummmm....what?

[Reverend Joe]

Ummmm....what?

I also read an article in a magazine -- I think it was National Geographic or something like that, which really freaked me out -- that some people claim to have found pottery evidence that Carthaginians were trading with South Americans at one point.

Apparently Carthage is the new Atlantis.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Britain would indeed be hard to hold with Pella as my capital. I have some plans for what is to come, but I won't spoil it yet. I am going to try to use trade and resources as more of a roleplaying point to keep gameplay interesting.

Cap for distance to capital is 80%, so it should be OK. But right you are in your hesitancy, for it will be me who conquers Britain for Makedonia. Sometime. Maybe.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

The Phoenicians/Carthage traded up the Atlantic coast as far as Britain but never really set up any true colonies out there. They also traded down the African coast, but it is almost impossible for them to have made it to the Americas. Not impossible to do so, just extrememly unlikely.

[General Appo]

Yeah, I know they traded with the Brits, though most of the trade would likely have gone through middle-men first. But yes, I know the Carthies had set foot on the Brittish Isles, but the notion of Carthaginian colonies there just struck me as so absurd. Maybe it isn´t all that absurd, but it was presented as undisputed fact.

And yes, it is extremely unlikely they went to America. But heck, they probably went south of the equator, so who knows. We can´t be sure.

But anyway, when did this become about Carthaginian colonies around the globe? I want a new chapter!

[Maion Maroneios]

Well, the Greeks even went as far as ''Esperia'', or America as they called it. Greek coins have been found there, just do a quick net search and you'll come across it. That's why I see no reason the Phoenicians wouldn't be able to do so, as advanced in trade as they where.

Maion

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

I know they were in Sri Lanka and probably in SE Asia as well, but America? The coins could have been lost by a numismatist, mind you.

[General Appo]

This thread is getting wierder by the minute.

[Maion Maroneios]

The coins could have been lost by a numismatist, mind you.

Maybe, but then again it is up to each of us to make conclusions. Anyway, we are getting off-topic so I guess we should get back to the point :-P

Maion

[Kuningaz]

Hm I doubt Carthage would have ever come to America, but as far as it concerns EB, my Quarthadastim DO have trade colonies on the island of tin

[Dumbass]

I think the Semurians were the first civilisation to travel to the Americas.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

To get this thread back on topic, kind of, here:
I've been trying to mod units again, for an eventual reform, and I've made these guys:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Hellenistic Thorakitai:

(Very little change)

The Sword Thorakitai:

(Pontic guys, but I wanted them to look less eastern.)

Lybian (African) Thorakitai:

(Had to disable a mercenary unit to be able to recruit these guys.)

Asian (Eastern) Thorakitai:

(Eastern Avxilia with a less roman looking tunic.)

And finally, what happens when you forget the merge layers before saving a skin:

(I'm going to have to completely restart my work on these guys.)

[Maion Maroneios]

Nice looking units there, MAA! Especially the last one!

Maion

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

These look all badass.

[Dutchhoplite]

A Ghost army!

[Europe]

You should utilize that ghost army to create a Halloween teamed chapter!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 82 : Hold the Walls

After bypassing the armies of Ptolemai VIII on the far side of the coastal mountains, Alypios---heir to the throne of Makedonia---moves his armies south to besiege the city of Ptolemais-Theron, setting up his camp on the southern side of the city:


Alypios' army is the only army in the Arche Makedonia currently on the the offensive. Although, in many regions along the borders, garrisons are forced to defend themselves from raids or invasions from foreign forces. To the north, borders remain quiet. The Getic Confederation continues its long lasting peace with Makedonia and the keltoi simply fight amoungst themselves. In Iberia, the Iberians finally begin to recover from their war with Makedonia and start to re-arm. In Lybia (N Africa) the Numidians and Mauretanians continue to raid regions controlled by the Arche Makedonia but only manage to gather a united force to attack the city of Hippone. Along the steppes, things remain quiet.

The true conflict remains to the east. The Median Empire attempts to conquer Babylonia and the Kingdom of Saba tries to reclaim their lost territory on the west coast of Arabia:


Chrysoloras Delphikos must lead his men in the defense of the occupied city of Carna. With a large force of archers and slingers who are safe atop sturdy walls and facing the lightly armored Arab forces, the task is simple. Quickly the ram is set on fire and many enemies fall dead as they approach the walls:


With ladders and towers, the Sab'yn get upon the walls of Carna and force Chrysoloras' phalangitai to defend the walls with sword and shield:


The main enemy force attacking from the west is quickly wiped out, but a small enemy force approaching from the south manages to get over the walls and into the city:

[How bout that. It seems the AI can magically spawn siege equiptment for reinforcing armies even if they aren't also besieging the city or building equipment.]

The small enemy force marches through the city streets but soon runs into Chrysoloras' phalangitai who have managed to regroup after coming down from the western walls and block the enemies path:


The remaining Sab'yn forces throw themselves against the pikes but only manage to get themselves killed. With the city secure, Chrysoloras wins a victory against the odds, but also looses more of his men, who cannot easily be replaced:


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Around the same time, in Babylonia, an army of Media tries to take the city of Seleukeia by force, but Isidoros and his elite Babylonia army are there to defend the walls:


The siege towers manage to get the the walls of Seleukeia unharmed, but those who emerge from them fall almost as soon as they reach the maces and spears of the Babylonians:


A ram reaches the gate but since the gateway is in an inset of the wall, the archers have an angle on it and still manage to set it on fire:


Many enemies charge out of the Median siege towers but they all fall dead. With the torrent of Medians from the towers slows to a trickle, the bulk of the elite Babylonians move down from the walls and go out from the city to confront the Medians just outside the gates:


The Median cavalry charges in at the Babylonians but they are countered with their spears. Soon after, King Isidoros personally leads a cavlary charge at the enemy horses and wins the day:


And so, the city of Seleukeia is saved with very few looses taken by Isidoros:


Median forces continue to cross over the borders into Babylonia, but no help comes from the Arche Makedonia. In Syria, Sotades assembles forces to defend Assyria and possibly come to the aid of Babylonia but waits. As a client state of the Arche Makedonia, the protection of Babylonia falls to Makedonia. King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon does not request any assistance from Makedonia, though. As a Makedone himself, Isidoros knows that armies of Makedonia in Babylonia mean a decrease in local autonomy, amounting to his own loss of power. For now, Isidoros will defend Babylonia on his own.

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From the east, through hostile territory, envoys arrive in Syria. They bring with them news of the conquest of India by forces of Baktria and the settling of many Makedones and Hellenes along the Indus River. Although Baktria had been a autonomous satrapy of the Arche Seleukeia, the fall of Baktria to steppe invaders splits the connection between those now in India and those in the Arche Seleukeia. In fact, this new kingdom is openly waging war on Seleukid forces. By default, a state of war exists with those that came from a Seleukid satrapy and the Arche Makedonia. These envoys to Demetreia, however, sue for peace and to open trade with the Arche Makedonia:


With Hellenistic forces in control of India, the oppertunity of great trade with the east enspires many within the Arche Makedonia. The problem is that hostility with Media and Pahalva means that any true trade opertunities cannot be realized. While the military begins discussing a counter invasion of Media---a plan not supported by Sotades---merchants try to devise a way of going around the problem.

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Also occuring in Demetreia, Sotades commisions great games to occur every fourth year within the city. Although they are not as grand as competitions held in Hellas, this move ushers in a new era of Hellenization of Syria and the east:


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In an odd twist, Euphrantos, who is known as the most inept of the royal family begins studying military matter and gains a deal of experience in military command and tactics dispite the fact that he has never personally lead forces into combat:



Showing possible skill in battle, many question whether Euphrantos may better serve the Arche in the field rather than in Pella. The question of the matter is, however, whether Euphrantos could actually leave the city, filled with all of his beloved vices, and live in a military camp.

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After years in in Kappadokia and Assyria, Herodes finally returns home to Bosphoria with his army:


His younger brother, Anaxagoras, had gained control of the coastline from the Istros River to Bosphoria. Now, Herodes looks to the coastline from in the east, from Bosphoria to Iberia.

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The Arche Seleukeia continues to suffer losses at the hand of the Medians and Palavan. In the Karmania, the Pahalvan manage to push all the way to the sea and divide those territories controlled by the Seleukids. In Persis, the armies of Media take control of the countryside and leave the only Seleukids force cornered in Persepolis. Here, an army lead by the King of Media besieges a garrison commanded by the Seleukid Basileus:


Envoys come from the Arche Seleukeia and in desperation forgive the war with Makedonia, the acts of Aristotelis, and the conquest of Bablyonia once and for all. Requesting any aid that can be given, the Arche Seleukeia makes peace with the Arche Makedonia and talks begin for a closer friendship. Old friends turned enemies are turned friends once again:


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Along the coast of Numidia, the city of Hippone is once again attacked by a Numidian force that had been besieging the city:


And once again Zaikedenthes Echinaieus manages to repel the enemy without incident:


To the north-east, the Rhodian fleet carrying Basileus Philippos and his army arrive in Sikilia. After meeting with local leaders and generals, Philippos begins recruiting new forces for his army, increasing its size. Philippos also annouces his plan to take control of all the ports along the coast of Numidia and Mauretania, all the way passed the Pillars of Hercules. Hopefully, by taking these rich cities, the Numidian-Mauretanian Alliance will run low on funds and be forced to sue for peace with the Arche Makedonia.

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Back in Babylonia, the rebuilt city of Babylon is subjected to a siege by Median forces. With a new force aproaching Seleukeia, Isidoros and his elite army are unable to come to the rescue of the city of Babylon. After some time of sieging, the Medians make the mistake of attempting to take the city by force:


Isidoros' son-in-law, Keraton Apolloniates, takes command of the garrison and orders his huge number of archers to set their arrows on fire. The army of Media---which can only be described as a rabble---approaches the city under a rain of fire:


Some towers reach the wall, but none of them or the rams manage to do their work before burning to the ground. A series of ladders, however, reaches the walls and the Babylonians begin to defend themselves:


Even for the Babylonian light infantry, the Median rabble is no challenge and falls quickly:


After a short battle, only the Medians' mercenary cavalry remain. When they retreat, the siege is lifted:


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On their eastern front, the Medians meet with similar failure. The Seleukid Basileus manages to repel the attacks of the Median King and hold the city of Persepolis. The Median king falls back but quickly gathers another army to attack the city:


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In Arabia, the army from Aigyptos finally arrives and begins their march inland. In Carna, Chrysoloras Delphikos receives word and finally begins to relax. However, the Kingdom of Sab'yn gathers another army and gets ready to face the reinforcements:


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The known world in 150BC:

Next: Chapter 83 : The Fifth Ptolemaic War (Part II)

[General Appo]

Niiiiice. Just a question, will you do the same with Maeotis as you do with Skythia? You know, colouring part of the territory Sauro to keep it realistic.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I'm thinking I might control most/all of Maeotis. It is a fertile river valley that I can use to grow grain.

In case anyone is wondering:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This is what I wanted those ghost army guys to look like (Europa Thorakitai):

(I finally got around to remaking them.)

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Nice chapter, although I cannot see about 8 pictures...

Funnily I'm doing almost the same with the Sabyn in Carna at the moment. It's a nightmare.

[We shall fwee...Wodewick]

Great AAR, but who is that in Ireland?

[Mediolanicus]

Great AAR, but who is that in Ireland?

Lusotann, albeit recoloured.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, guys.

I don't know what is up with the pictures. They were working when I posted. I'll give them some time and repost them if it doesn't fix itself.
[EDIT] All the pictures seem to be showing up for me now...

Yep, Lussotanna in Ireland. I had planned on defeating them quickly and converting them into another faction, but the civil war delayed my plans in Iberia.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Chapter 83 : The Fifth Ptolemaic War (Part II)

Alypios is the first-born son of Philippos V, grandson of Pyrrhos II, and hier to the throne of Makedonia. Of the line of Pyrrhos, Alypios is the sole grandson and---despite the tradition Pyrrhos had tried to set up of not necessarily choosing the first born son as heir---is guaranteed to be the next Basileus of the Arche Makedonia. Fortunately for the Arche, Alypios takes after his father and grandfather and is a wise and just man. He is a selfless, charismatic man with great political skill. His only shortcoming is his lack of a strong sense of loyalty. Since he is loyal to his father and destined to be Basileus, this is only a problem to those who are personally close to him.

Alypios had been raised in Makedonia in the time or Pyrrhos' rule, knowing his whole life that his father and then he would be Basileus. Alypios had grown up in a close family with a loving mother and sisters and powerful father. To prepare him for the life ahead of him, Alypios had the best tutors and teachers to train him in all the things that a leader would need to know. From his schooling, he gained an appreciation for philosophy and often spent time deep in thought. Because of this and his very refined way of acting, he became somewhat off-putting to those less schooled, such as those in the military. This any his political skill did however gain him respect amoungst the nobles.

When Alypios came of age he joined his father in Alexandreia and became introduced to warfare against the rebels of Aigyptos. After the fall of Memphis, Alypios married a smart young Makedonike noble girl and returned to Alexandreia to further study at the great library. By age twenty, Alypios was ready to assist his father in the running of the Arche. With his own plans in the west, Philippos V handed over the war with the Ptolemaioi to his son and left Aigyptos. Hoping to cut off trade between the sea and Meroe, Alypios besieged the colony of Ptolemais-Theron, where the Ptolemaic coast force was garrisoned.

After several months besieging the city, an army from Kush comes to relieve the besieged Ptolemaic garrison. Alypios doesn't know it at the time, but his army and this battle will be a test to see if it were possible to raise an army from any location trained in a foreign style of fighting:


The reinforcement army and the garrison of Ptolemais-Theron both move in on Alypios and his camp to the south of the city. Alypios orders his army to take up position on a small hill and awaits the enemy:


The Makedones hold their ground, throw javelin when the Nubians approach, and absorb the enemy when they charged. In the center of the first line, Alypios had positioned his royal guards who best any enemy who come at them:


As the first battle pulse amoungst the infantry comes to an end, Alypios orders his second line to take up place in the front in order for his first line to rest:


At the same time, the Ptolemaioi attempt to move their cavalry up on the Makedone left flank. Seeing this, Alypios personally leads his cavalry in an counter charge:


The battle between the cavalry deployments turns out to last longer than expected when another group of Nubian cavalry charges in to reinforce their comrades. As this happens, the Nubian infantry attempt to flank the Makedonike right flank with another force charges the center. The first line, now in reserve, moves in to counter this, but without directed leadership from Alypios, the battle devovles into many separate fights with huge gaps between them:


The infantry battle looses all order and the Thorakitai loose the cohesion that makes the intended style of combat strong.

Once General Antipatros Triakontaschoinikos' force of Makedonike cavlary joins the cavalry battle, all the enemy cavalry become tied down in the skirmish. Without anyone to outflank them, Alypios orders a section of his cavalry to withdraw and then charge back at the enemy in good order:


This act kills Antipatros and breaks the Ptolemaic cavalry. Finally free from their own fight, Alypios orders his cavalry in a series of charges that wipes out the remaining Nubian infantry. Rather than return to the city, the fleeing enemy disbands and disappears into the hills of Aithiopia:


The city of Ptolemais-Theron is taken and Alypios garrisons his army behind its walls. The taking of this port not only costs the Ptolemaioi trade and gains trade for the Arche Makedonia but provides a semi-secure location from which the fleet in the Red Sea can port, making Chrysoloras' position in Arabia more secure.

Alypios gains from his first true battle a understanding of both tactics and leadership. However, from his siege of Ptolemais-Theron he learns he is a bad engineer:


In Meroe, the young newly appointed Ptolemai VIII prepares for a counter attack against his younger rival:


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Along the eastern edge of the Arche Makedonia, the Median Empire once again sends another wave of armies over the mountains and into Makedonike territory. Garrisons are surrounded in Arbela...


... the city of Armavir in the Armenian satrapy...


...and in Seleukeia, with armies approaching Babylon from the south:


With the fear of not only "friendly" assassins but now Median assassins in Assyria, Euktimenos "Demetriedes" learns to protect himself:


Euktimenos also begins to raise an army, which he personally funds, against direct orders of Philippos V and the royal family. Because of the termoil just east of Euktimenos, this act goes unnoticed.

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Media suffers greatly due to the war with the Arche Makedonia. Not only are armies destroyed in Makedonike territory, but the cutting off of the east-west trade routes also hurts the Median economy. Their ally, Pahlava, on the other hand, only grows in strength. After absorbing the bulk of Seleukid eastern territories, Pahlava grows in power to the point where they overshadow their old protector. Over the years, Pahlava moved quickly from rebels supported by Media, to a client kingdom of Media, and finally to a equal ally.

With the Arche Seleukeia all but conquered, Pahlava declares war on their old steppe allies of Saka Rauka and invade Baktria. Seeing another people suffering due to Pahlava, the Seleukids negotiate an alliance with those in Baktria:


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War continues between Media and Makedonia, but the victories in Nubia encourage the Makedonike and Aigyptoi forces in Arabia. Having once again secured the coastline, the army from Aigyptos moves inland to relieve Chrysoloras Delphikos. A huge force besieges the city of Carna, but only a small army is sent to counter the Aigyptoi. Perhaps expecting the common Aigyptoi cowardace when serving in foreign armies, the Sab'yn underestimate their foe:


In an awkward style, the Sab'yn forces attack one unit at a time. First the Aithiopioi charge in:


Once they begin to flee, a force of Arabs attacks:


They too are routed, leaving only the elite guards of the general:


The larger numbers of the Aigyptoi ensure victory and General Maliki Il Watar Yuhan'em falls dead on their swords:


With this obstacle[] out of the way, the Aigyptoi continue their march to Carna. The armies of Sab'yn are surprised to see the Aigyptoi in full force but stand and fight against them:


This being the last large army of Sab'yn, this battle has great signifigance for Arabia. If this army were to be wiped out it would take more than a year before another could be raised. For Chrysoloras, if this battle fails, he simply waits behind the walls of the city and tries to get the enemy to throw themselves at it a few months later.

The battle begins when the Aigyptoi attack the larger Sab'yn force which is besieging Carna. The reinforcements from both sides rush to the battle site but both are nowhere to be seen when the battle commences.

The Aigyptoi form up a line, double strength in the center, with the Nubian archers safely behind them. The leaderless army of Sab'yn comes at the Aigyptoi in large number but without order:


The Arabs attack the whole length of the Aigyptoi line and attempt to wrap around the flanks, but the Aigyptoi hold their ground and guard the flanks:


The Sab'yn soldiers break several times but always seem to reform and charge back in at the Aigyptoi line:


Finally arriving from the city, Chrysoloras only manages to bring up his cavalry in time to aid in the battle. Taking the left wing of cavalry from the Aigyptoi army and joining it with his own forces, Chrysoloras leads several successful charges against the Sab'yn forces:


Outmatched by Chrysoloras' cavalry and fearing the arrival of the infantry from Carna, the entire Sab'yn army turns and marches away from the battle. Knowing that destroying this army will deal a decisive blow against the Kingdom of Sab'yn, Chrysoloras orders all forces to pursue:


Less than a quarter of the Sab'yn army manages to return to their own territories, where they join up with other forces. The Sab'yn forces manage to come together in a sizable force. They have enough to hold off any attacks on their land but lack enough strength to go on the offensive for at least a year. For now, the city of Carna is relieved and the Aigyptoi forces join up with Chrysoloras' command:


With the armies of the Kingdom of Sab'yn destroyed and the city of Carna safe for a time, Chrysoloras Delphikos makes plans to return home to Bostra. Establishing a series of client-city-states in Carna and the coastal cities, Chrysoloras turns over control of the region to local nobles. For a time, the Aigyptoi garrison Carna, but they have more orders, given to them by Philippos V before he went westward. Finally, Chrysoloras gathers his men and marches north toward their homes:


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The known world in 149BC:

Next: Chapter 84 : Numidia

[Aemilius Paulus]

Yay!!! Another update!

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

A very good update MAA. This is also very entertaining for me because I'm also conquering the Sabeans at the moment. From 6 units of Klerouchoi Phalangitai, who made the long trek south among others (and who were promised land in exchange for their service in Arabia), only 3 units of 50 men each are left. I guess they feel somehow frustrated... I have a client king in Kush, whom I allowed a great Ethiopian army, and whom I sent to Arabia and who has just conquered and sacked Maryab in a Heroic Battle. Next he will conquer and sack Tamane, and after that I'll send him back because in his absence Sabeans from Di'amat are attacking Meroe. Then I will order the other army which is in Carna since years to sack the last city in the area, and then I'll finally leave that damn country. Probably I'll FD a peace treaty on them. But I'll give them back Carna, it just looks too ugly on the minimap...

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Six months ago I read all of your first AAR and found it to be amazing, then left the forum. When I came back I was simply shocked to find that you not only continued your first AAR but created a new one based on it that was just as amazing. I had several sleepless nights readng your AAR's and I don't regret single minute.

Congratulations on writing an excellent AAR. You have successfully managed to combine quantity (this HAS to be the longest AAR in the history of AAR's) and quality (no explenation neaded:P) perfectly.

I now eagerly await the next chapter.