Chapter 5: Old Alliances
Autumn, 268 BC
In the year and a half after the Tanais campaign tranquility prevailed. While we still cannot move our goods into the Aegean, we have worked out an agreement with Byzantion to ship our goods for us after we drop them off there. That along with the more direct control we now wield over the slave and grain trade with solidification of Olbia and Tanais in the Basileion Bosphorou means that our immediate crisis is over. We have constructed stone sewers and larger granaries in Pantikapaion to help deal with the influx of refugees of Athenai and other parts of Hellas after the Makedonian conquest and things are generally peaceful.
I am spending this warm autumn afternoon out at our family’s country house east of the city with my wife and two younger brothers when a messenger arrives on a lathered mare.
“The Basileus requests your immediate presence at the palace”
“What is it?” I inquire.
“I do not know Kleronomos Arches, but the Synedrion did met this morning with a representative from Trapevous”
Nodding, I give orders to have a horse saddled and ride into Pantikapaion. Arriving at the palace just after nightfall I find my father, Lysandros, Synedros Brentisinos, and Synedros Oionios in a meeting room on the second floor seated around a circular wooden table.
“Ah you’re here, good you’re just in time” My father addresses me as I enter.
“Greetings Spartokos, how is my daughter?” Synedros Oionios greets me smiling.
“She is well Synedros, she’s with Nikanor and Phrixos at the country house”
Taking a seat, I ask, “The messenger said the Synedrion met with a man from Trapevous this morning, but he could tell me no more. What was the purpose of his visit?”
“Very bad news, unfortunately” My father replies, “apparently the Arche Seleukeian satrapy in northern Anatolia capitaled in Amaseia has declared itself independent, proclaimed itself the Basileion Pontikos, raised an army, and is deadset on conquering everything it can reach. Our allies in Sinope have fallen and the Basileus Pontikos has supplied men and funds to a noble in Trapevous named Neoptolemos to seize power and rule as a puppet for him there.” My father’s voice is grave.
Synedros Brentisinos cuts in, “The man from Trapevous we met with is Synedros Thorikios, he has requested that we honor our alliance with Sinope and Trapevous by dispatching an army to free those cities from Pontikos rule and we have agreed”
“Spartokos” my father resumes, “I am not as young as I once was, I cannot go campaigning for seasons on end like I did in my youth. That is why you will be commanding this expedition.”
I nod slowly.
He continues, “Troops are being called in from the frontier and new units are being raised as well. You and Lysandros will set out as soon as winter is over”
**********
Spring, 267 BC
We land on the coast of the heavily wooded plains east of Trapevous just as the spring flowers are beginning to bloom. The Hellens of Trapevous and Sinope are our brothers as we share the same father, the Milesioi. Sinope and Trapevous handle the rich trade flowing north from the Euphrates river valley and west out of the Caucasus mountains. They have been our trade partners and allies for generations and losing them would be a heavy blow. Summer is almost come by the time we reach the walls of Trapevous and form our siege ring around it. I have over 20,000 men under my command.
10,000 light hoplites - half of them veterans, 2,500 Pontic light spearmen, 2,500 slingers – half of them veterans, 1,500 Bosporan heavy archers, 3,000 Scythian foot archers – supplied to us as recompense for their backing the traitor Ourgios at Tanais, and of course my elite hoplites commanded by Lysandros. We face an opposing force of 17,000 defenders; 7,500 Hellenic missile troops and hoplites, 4,500 Persian light skirmishers, and 7,000 warriors from various Caucasian barbarian tribes from the wild mountainous region in the south and east with which Neoptolemos has allied or bought.
We maintain the siege for several months, allowing disease and hungry to work on our enemies’ strength while we construct three huge rams to batter down the gate and walls. On a clear cool autumn day I deploy my troops as if to assault the walls. Neoptolemos is clearly a politician and not a soldier, for immediately he sends his troops rushing to the walls. But I, instead of ordering the rams forward, order the archers to fire. Volley after volley is shot over the walls into the lightly armored mass of defenders.
By the time the order is given for them to fall back nearly a third of their number lie dead. With the walls clear, I give the signal for the rams to move forward. The ram on the south wall and the ram on the gate smash holes in the wall, but the defenders manage to set the ram on the north wall on fire before it can do its job.
Once inside the walls I divide my troops into three columns, sending one south and one north, I lead the middle column directly west into the city center. Fights begin to spring up all over the city as my hoplites clash with the city defenders.
My column engages several thousand of the Hellenic troops including Neoptolemos’ hoplite bodyguard in a large square. As we slowly advance we leave the bodies of countless dead enemies in our wake many from the earlier missile barrage.
The stench of blood and sweat is everywhere and my sword arm grows weary.
Down the line a shout goes up, “Neoptolemos is dead!”
The remaining Hellenic defenders throw down their weapons and surrender while the barbarians flee the town for the safety of the hills. Trapevous is ours. 15,000 defenders dead while I only lose 2,500; good, I will need every man I can get when I face Pontikos.
We winter in Trapevous and setup a provisional government under the control of Synedros Thorikios as well as repairing the damage we caused to the wall and gate.
**********
Spring, 266 BC
With the coming of Spring comes tragic news from Pantikapaion, my father came down with an illness over the winter and died. The news deeply shakes me, I loved my father and I had counted on his support and encouragement. I do not know if I am ready for the responsibility that is now mine. Lysandros is shaken as well, maybe even more so than myself, he fought with my father since my father became Basileus over 35 years ago only leaving his direct service to command my bodyguard. But we have a job to do and we must be about it, mourning will have to wait.
Leaving 1,500 light hoplites to guard Trapevous along with 1,500 Caucasian warriors from tribes I convinced to ally with us, we march west along the coast towards Sinope passing through beautiful forest.
However they are without roads and we are slowed accordingly. The Basileus of Pontikos has ample warning of our approach and as we begin the siege of Sinope in mid-autumn he springs his trap. A Pontikos army of 5,000 men moves in to attack us from behind as the 5,000 defenders sally out. While I out number them with my 16,000 men, I am caught between an anvil and a hammer.
I gamble. I deploy my forces to face the force advancing on my rear, ignoring the force sallying from the town leaving my left flank completely vulnerable. I hope to be able to defeat their forces piecemeal.
Deploying my hoplites in a battleline with the archers behind us, I await the Pontikos forces’ advance. They charge across the field taking heavy casualties from my archers and by the time them reach my line they are easily disposed of.
Quickly shouting orders I swing my battleline to the north to force the second Pontikos army advancing from Sinope. The gamble worked. My battleline is formed and ready as they exit the woods and come under my archers’ fire.
“What are those?” I ask in amazement to Lysandros as several hundred heavily armored men on heavily armored horses come into view sporting long lances. These are nothing like the lightly armored horse archers of the steppes or the Hellenic medium cavalry I am used to.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we’re going to like it” Lysandros growls.
The ground trembles as they lower their lances and charge the light hoplites at the center of my line to the right of my elite hoplites. The Pontikos cavalry, later we learned they are called the Pontikos Royal Kinsmen heavy cavalry, smashed into and almost completely through my line. Over a hundred of my light hoplites died in their initial charge alone and my center bulged backwards precariously.
The Scythian archers behind the center turned and began to run, something had to be done at once.
Recovering from my shock I yelled, “Pivot on the right; charge!”
Swinging around my elites crashed into the rear of the cavalry. Turning to ignore my ruined center, the Pontikos cavalry began a desperate struggle with us as the arrow continued to fly overhead.
Though intense, the struggle was soon over and their leader received a spear in the chest. Panting, I turned to find the remains of the Pontikos army fleeing back towards Sinope. We pursued them, but they managed to make it back and lock the gates and discouraged us from following them with a rain of arrows.
Withdrawing back to our camp I find one of my scouts waiting for me in my tent.
“My lord Basileus” I’m still not used to be called that, “there is another Pontikos army approaching from the south. It will be here within 2 days.”
“How many?”
“Our best guess would put them at over 12,000, my lord”
Thanking and then dismissing him, I lean back in my chair wiping blood from my hands and thank the gods this new army was late. If it had arrived with the other one, we would surely have been lost. Even now it will be a close thing. We only lost 1,000 men today, but my soldiers are exhausted and will be facing fresh soldiers. And those heavy cavalry, gods, I hope this new army doesn’t include any more of those.
**********
As I deploy my battleline on ground still dark with blood, I look into the distance and see the Pontikos army approaching. With a sinking feeling I can see more of that heavy cavalry, but thankfully most of the rest of the enemy seems to be composed of light missile troops with only 4,000 light and medium infantry in support.
Making a quick change to the battle formation I put my elites out in front of the light hoplites in the center of the line, I think our heavier armor and greater training will allow us to fare better against that implacable charge.
Once again the ground trembles as the cavalry thunders towards us. A violent shock runs through my body as a horse impales itself on my spear. Somehow we manage to hold the line and the light hoplites swarm in to help us bring them down.
Once again the fight is short but severe, and once we have disposed of the cavalry the rest of the Pontikos army again goes to pieces and routs.
Sure that we would be crushed, the garrison of Sinope sallied again to join the fight, but we were ready this time and cut them off from the town. The people of Sinope welcome us into their city with open arms. I lost nearly 3,000 men in the battle, but my ranks are quickly filled with volunteers from the Hellenic inhabitants of the town and my army is swiftly brought back up to strength.
**********
Winter, 266 BC
Winter is well under way when I received an embassy from the Basileus Ponitkos. It seems the loss of over 22,000 soldiers along with two of his best generals has convinced him that I am too painful a thorn to deal with and perhaps afraid that I mean to take Amaseia next and is offering peace. I accept upon the condition that he renounces any claims on Sinope or Trapevous. It is agreed and a trade agreement between our two Basileions is signed as well.
I am quite pleased with current events until I receive a letter from my wife informing me of trouble back home and begging me to return to Pantikapaion with all haste.
**********
The Known World in 266 BC
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OOC Note: I really wish I had a screenshot of the charge the Pontos Royal Kinsmen cavalry made in the first battle, but I was in too much shock from seeing my entire center almost collapse to remember to hit F12. I had forgotten how powerful those guys are, I won’t make that mistake again, but it did make for some good RP.
Re: Basileion Bosphorou: a Tale of the Pontos Euxeinos
x 15
Originally Posted by Antinous
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