The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks for all the comments/questions/compliments.

I'm in 141BC currently in my campaign and the problems are just starting. So expect to see the "challenge" in the last third of the 140's. Since I'm getting around one chapter per year, it may be a couple chapters away. Though, I'm going to try and increase the speed of this AAR and include less info about all the stupid sieges I'm fighting. I'm really getting bogged down with the Median War. I'm going to try and just give an overview of that part and focus on things that Philippos, Alypios, and the Aigyptoi are doing.

I do enjoy writting this and would definately stop if I didn't. I'm not sure where the end of this will be, but I really don't see myself continuing much more after conquering all of Persia. Though, the conquest of Persia might not be completed for another hundred years.

I did finally get around to taking Tanais...

For an overview of the Antigonid Dynasty, see the first page. I'll see if I can't get an overview in a couple chapters or so of the evens of the Pyrrhid Dynasty thus far. As for the family tree, I'll give a short explaination: The family tree is devided into four branches, that of Alexandros (nephew of Antigonos) and the branches of the three sons of Antigonos: Alkyoneus, Demetrios, and Euboulides. (1) Alkyoneus had two sons who had no sons, so his line ended. (2) Demetrios' line was reduced to (Basileus) Neokles and Bykoli just before the civil war, with many in-laws. When Neokles died, all of the in-laws of the Demetrios line joined Bykoli. Because of this, I killed off that entire branch of the family. Only two descendants of Demetrios still live and neither are of direct male line. (3) Euboulides had one son. He was one of the ones who was trying to become Basileus at the beginning of the civil war but mysteriously died. Because of this, his two sons joined Pyrrhos. His two sons (Herakles and Anaxagoras) are two of the important family members that I'm following, both are in Bosphoria right now. (4) Finally, there is the Alexandros branch of the family. Originally, governors of Epeiros and Illyria, it was this branch of the family that fought the Romaioi War. The majority of this branch of the family governs Illyria, Italia, Gallia, and Iberia but none are really individually important, other than the family of Pyrrhos. Pyrrhos is from this branch and because of heroics in the Romaioi War and the Karchedon War, the noble council asked him to become Basileus. He had four sons (Sotades, Philippos, Euphrantos, and Laandros), who are all being followed in this AAR. Sotades is loyal and seeks no power, he governs Syria and the east. Philippos is the Basileus. Euphrantos is corrupt and has many vices, he governs Makedonia and is easily influenced by the noble council. Laandros is considerably younger than the other brothers, he governs Hellas and though seemed to be more like Euphrantos in his youth has developed into a great leader, he is friends with Anaxagoras.

I'm not quite sure what my favourite part of the AAR is, but I like making all the complex changes like the civil war or new units/reforms.

Demetrios and Philippos fought with different army types. Demetrios used mostly phalangitai and resisted the Thorakitai, it only joining the Makedonian roster after his death, whereas Philippos using armies heavy in Thorakitai and heavy infantry. A terrain that favors non-phalangitai warfare would be in Philippos' favor, other than that though, I would think Demetrios would win. I amagine Demetrios as the better commander on the field, where as Philippos' strengths lie in organization, though Demetrios was strong there as well.

The Romaioi would never have quieted down and accempted their lower status. They had to be defeated to bring peace to Italia. Though I am roleplaying that the Senate still exists and rules central Italia as a Makedonian client-state.

The meaning of life? To play EB?

Philippos is now in his 60's, so he doesn't have time on his side, especially considering that he has huge plans to change the the Arche from the inside out. I kind of illuded to some of the things that are up coming but they are subtle. As for Gallia and Britain, those would take a lifetime to conquer and subjugate.

...big post...