The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

You deserve this award, MAA.

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Congratulations

You deserve it

[HunGeneral]

Congratulations MMA.

You really deserved that Award. Here have a baloon:

[SwissBarbar]

Congratulations! You deserve it

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 1

Alkman, servant to Euphrantos and his court. Historian of the life of the man who is son of the
great Pyrrhos [II]; brother of the great Philippos [V] (who is ruler of all the Hellenes). Euphrantos
representative for his brother in Makedonia and governor of those lands. I, Alkman, bear witness
and record the life of Euphrantos and his family in their rule of Makedonia during this age.

First, I grant my thanks to Zeus for the opportunity to serve the great family of the descendants of
Antigonos [I] in their rule over the lands of this great empire. May Zeus continue to bless their
family and the Arche they have built.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In my previous writtings I had written of the life and times of Euphrantos and the occurrences
within Pella and greater Makedonia. My books Thraikioi, about the histories of the Thracian
people, Histories of the Kings of Old, concerning the ancient kings of Makedonia, and
Travels, retelling the stories and sights of the east, had gotten me fame and the attension of
Euphrantos, Philippos' representative to Makedonia. Hired to cronicle the lives and events of
those in Pella, my previous three books have been on those topics. In later days, events have
becomes such as to demand a greater reach of writtings.

Philippos, emperor of all Hellenes, had been appointed ruler of the lands of his father Pyrrhos won
in the great civil war of Bykoli. Descendant of both Antigonos [I] and Pyrrhos [I] of Epeiros, the
line of Pyrrhos [II] was strong and chosen by Zeus to rule the lands of the Hellenes. After
defeating the forces of Bykoli and restoring the line of the Antigonids, Philippos [V] conquered the
lands of Aigyptos, Numidia, and Mauretania.

In Kantabria, the emperor had conquered barbarian lands and brought peace to the region. In
Aquitania, he had brought freedom to the subjegated Keltoi and destroyed the Celtiberian fortress
at Bourdigala with genius siege tactics.

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 2

Above all, however, it was the Boii War that tested Philippos. Not since the restoration of the
Antigonid line had the armies of Hellas faced an organized enemy. It came to pass that in the
twenty-third year of Philippos' reign that the lands of Pannonia were encouraged to rebellion by
the Kingdom of Bononia. In these lands, Hellenes were slaughtered by the rebellious spirit and
those who would have been the voice of reason to their rebellious Keltoi brothers were brutally
silenced. In the Keltoi city of Vindobona alone, thousands died by the sword and the Hellenic
garrison driven out. When the region, in the depth of anarchy, was evacuated by the armies of
Hellas, the armies of the Boii moved in to retake a land they had lost more than a hundred years
earlier.

The Kingdom of Bononia, with great plans for their furture, made hopes that the lands of the Keltoi
under Hellenic domination would all rebel and bring down Hellenic power. Reminding many of
what the Spartans had done decades earlier in Lakonike, the rebellion was so bloody that it simply
pushed the would be allies of the Boii to the side of their masters, Makedonia.

With four full strength armies, greater than any single force ever move as one in all history, save
maybe the barbarians of ancient Persis, the emperor personally moved into Pannonia and
besieged the Boii garrison at Vindobona with his royal army while his other forces restored peace
across the region with force.



Reports from the veterans of the Illryian army, whom I spoke with the next year, watched on while
preparing to reinforce the royal army, describe the event as a slaughter. The old veterans of the
army of the emperor who had seen battle against all kinds of enemies amaginable, stormed the
walls of the city and killed all who showed themselves in the streets.





The emperor, in his wisdom, saw the time as right to put an end to the Boii. The garrisons of
Pannonia returned and quickly put rebel leaders to the sword. The royal army of the emperor was
the first to cross the Istros and secured the other bank. With their crossing secured the three
armies of Philippos moved northward into the forested lands of the barbarians.

The Boii were a warrior people, a people born for combat and a people who died in combat. In
the northern lands there was no shortage of enemies to face in combat. With his royal army still
guarding the river crossings, Philippos faced the forces of the Boii with the three new armies of
Massalia, Sikilia, and Illyria. It was the third army that first encountered the armies of the Boii and
their great general, Diazenos.



It must be mentioned that, as far as barbarians are concerned, the soldiers of Bononia were both
strong and brave. They were much a change from the fanatics of Gallia or the untrained rabble in
Iberia. They shared much with the tribes of Galatia or the Kingdom of Tylis and could field true
warriors.

The armies of the Boii and the forces under the emperor met in open field south of the barbarian
city of Eburonum. Emperor Philippos lead the main force from Illyria up the middle of the battle
while the army of Massalia moved up through woods to the west and the army of Sikilia
approached from the east.



The heavy hoplitai forces of the armies of the emperor were equiped with Keltic armor and armied
with spear and sword. These men made the up the bulk of the Hellenic force and numbered
25,000. They were backed up by peltastai and hoplitai of regional origin, aproaching 4,000. The
cavalry force numbered 1,800 and was composed mainly of Illyrian Hippeis. Each of the three
armies of the emperor shared similar numbers but with different fighting techniques of the
reserves. [Total Hellenistic forces were most likely somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000.]
The Boii forces numbered 120,000 [most likely exaggerated]. The enemy forces were split into
two distinct types. The heavy Boii forces wore heavy mail and wielded varying weapons, including
large sword and axe. The lighter force moved quickly ahead of the heavier forces and were
armied mostly with spear.

The light Boii forces charged the lines of the emperor and intiated the battle. The heavy Boii
forces approached much slower in a broader line. Once the heavy Boii infantry engaged in battle
they began to enveloped the edges of the Hellenic force. The hoplitai came to the aid at the
flanks and prevented envelopement.









The second wave of Boii forces moved down from the hills of Eburonum. These forces did not
reach the battle before the Illyrian Hippeis charged in at the rear of the first wave and forced a
hole through their line. Using this hole, the heavy hoplitai moved forward and through the Boii
line.



The army of Massalia moved out from the forest and against the second Boii wave. The army of
Sikilia arrived late but reinforced the army of Illyria and pushed back the heavy Boii infantry.
Before the battle was even concluded, the cavalry under Captain Herakleon marched north and to
the city of Eburnorum. The city was entered and the populace scattered to the hills. The forces of
the emperor surrounded the last of the Boii elites just north of the city and put them to the sword.

In the following months, the emperor remained in Eburnorum while his armies defeated the
remnants of the armies of the Boii and set fire to their villages and cities. Before the emperor
even left the region, Germanic forces were already moving in to clean up the scraps left behind.

The emperor gathered his armies and the spoils of war and returned back across the Istros,
burning the bridge after his return. A small garrison was left in Eburnorum, but it withdrew into
Pannonia before the year was over.

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 3

The armies of the emperor were remanned by fresh recruits and moved south. The emperor
made his camp in the city of Serdike.

In the courts of Pella, I was witness to the strange behavour of the Noble Council. Many acted as
though a barbarian general had his army just outside the city walls. For some time the nobles
following the Skionaios family had secretly talked of once again using their power to choose a new
emperor and now believed the emperor [Philippos V] had learned of their plot and was now
coming for their heads. As it soon became clear, that the emperor indeed did know.

Pressing Euphrantos to action, the nobles were even able to convince my master to raise the
army of Makedonia to be used against his brother. For too long the nobles of Makedonia had the
power to bring about civil war...

[At this point the text becomes damaged and is impossble to decipher, with exception of a few
passages.]

...against such a force not even the old royal army of the great Demetrios could stand a chance of
success...

...the emperor entered the city...

...separate to the emperor and bearing no official power of their own. The meeting of the nobles
and their decisions they made were not official in any way. Any advice or laws given to the
emperor for approval was only a suggestion and approved by the emperor due to lack of care or
appeasement. Their true power lay in the ability to convince others of their point of view and turn
the nobles against the emperor. While he kept them happy, the emperor ruled. When they were
upset they would sow the seeds of discontentment with no care to the well-being of the empire or
their homeland.

The idea of an emperor giving power to such a group that directly apposed him seemed completely...

[At this point the text is once again damaged and several sections are lost to history.]

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Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The known world at the end of 141BC:

[Just a little side note: I purposely filled this with a bit of propaganda, a one sided point of view, and many inaccuracies (such as inaccurate unit names and descriptions). The next chapter will be in the same format and have an even greater one-sided point of view.]

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Epic, brilliant, marvellous, ...

One of the best chapters!

[SwissBarbar]

A great idea with those black and white screenshots! Fabulous. Once more a superb chapter! Glad it's continuing.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

(****s pants)

How..... HOW!?!?!?
HOW did you kill that bastard?!?!?!?!
Ive been trying for 3 months to kill him.
(dies of a heart attack)

[Antinous]

You always have somthing funny to say Olaf. Oh and if you have a heart attack you won't be able to find out how to kill your worst enemy.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Hey i could just devolve into random 1337 2934K but that wuld piss off ppl.

[Chirurgeon]

Once again you fail to dissapoint. Incredible screenshots to go with the well done text. A nice twist to an Epic work.

[Antinous]

Hey i could just devolve into random 1337 2934K but that wuld piss off ppl.

So true.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Thanks, everyone.
The next chapter is going to be in the same style and though there will not be a listed title, I title it "Revolution or Reform".

[Antinous]

Viva Le Revolution!!!!

[strategos roma]

Great chapter, though I preferred the old format!! When are you going back to the median war?

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Alypios Antigonos, heir to the throne, is still assembling armies in Syria. The Persio-Hellenic War will continue/heatup in two or three chapters.

[Maion Maroneios]

I bow to your superiority yet again, Markos

Maion

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

[The lost Sections of 3 and 4 of Book 4 recounts the story of Philip V confronting his brother
outside the city of Pella, the entering of the city of Pella, and his greeting of the people. Other
authors record that Euphrantos greeted his brother and joined with him expecting to use their
combined forces to take the city and remove the nobles. Instead, Philip peacefully enters the city
and adresses the people.]

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 5

The speech of Philip [V] was all that was needed to win over the last of the crowd who had
assembled before him. The nobles of the council had tried to turn the people against their emperor
but the people have always loved a hero. Emperor Philip had proven himself a victorious hero time
and time again. Now, in the face of betrayal, the emperor had extended a hand of forgiveness and
sought no retribution.

With his brother and the royalists from the council at this side, Emperor Philip began his campaign
of reform and rebirth of his great Empire. As he promised in his speech, the power of the council
would be expanded as well as the size of the council itself. The first additions to the council were
nobles from Epeiros and Thessalia, as well as a number of lesser nobles of Makedonia. The
highest levels of noblility of central Makedonia would no longer have complete control over the
council.

The emperor then granted power of adminstration of Makedonia, Epeiros, and Thessalia to the
council itself, granting them the same powers of that of a governor. With this move, the aged
Euphrantos was relieved of his position and allowed to retire. The lands of Makedonia were now
governed neither by the emperor or by one of his appointees for the first time ever.

Over the first months of the newly reformed council, the emperor defined its role and continued to
expand its power. Laws and matters of local concern were now overseen by the council. Many
reforms were also put through the council's consideration.

Amoungst them, one of the most important was the consideration for military eligibility. Over the
lifetime of Emperor Philip, the phalanx had been implemented less often, in preference of the more
manuverable infantry styles. Requirements for service had not officially been changed dispite the
other changes to the military of Emperor Philip. First, the council declared that any man with the
equipment or enough money to purchase their own equipment was now capible of joining the ranks
of the infantry line. No longer was it required that a man be a landed Hellene, he could be any man
of sufficient Hellenization, willing to serve his emperor. Soon after, the emperor announced that the
treasury of the Arche would offer to pay for equipment and hire any man, of sufficient Hellenization,
no matter his social standing. Salary reductions from these men would pay for the equipment over
the first several years of service.

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 6

The next reform within the Empire was the great act of unification and redefintion that the emperor
had spoken of in his speech. After only a couple months of holding the new council, Emperor Philip
[V] announced another set of changes. No longer would a member of the council gain his seat by
birth but by selection from amoungst the people of his region. The great era of Democracy that had
been born in Athens would return to Hellas and the people would rule themselves once more.

To expand this great wave of Democracy, the emperor once again added more seats the council.
Now seats in the council were granted to the cities and lands of southern Hellas. Each city would
have their own representatives, based on population, and all Hellenes would be equal in the great
Empire of Philippos. The council immediately agreed with the emperor and all of Hellas was unified,
as equals, for the first time ever.

With a new age dawning, the old ways and symbols of the past had to be done away with. Athens
had been the center of Democracy and now it would be the center once more. The emperor ordered
a new council chamber built near the Athens agora and the emperor officially moved his center of
government to the great city of my birth. The city had been burned during the war with the Spartans
and great patches of the city were still in ruins. There was plenty of space for the new government
structures and the redesign of the city to be the capital of the world.

Once in Athens, the council went to work. There first act was the granting of citizenship to the
peoples of all of Hellas and defining the needs to vote in each individual region. All those
considered a Hellene were immediately given full citizenship, with many foreigners living in the
region being considered soon after. After the first year of meeting in Athens, the council granted full
citizenship to all free men living within the council areas.

A unification of laws and practices came soon after. All laws within the council areas were
standardized, as well as weights, measurements, and language. Bringing people together as one,
regional laws were abolished and standard justice was ensured for all. The official language of the
Council Region became Hellenic and no other language was permitted for official or trade usage.

Worship within the coucil region became a matter for the council. A high priest to Zeus was now
appointed by the council and managed all the religious matters of the state.

Two years later, council seats were granted to all of the islands of the Aegean, the Ionion cities of
Anatolia, and southern Thrace. After this addition, the council became stable and seats were only
added when there was a great enough argument that a city or region had grown in size or
importance.

The Provinces of the Arche c140BC:

White = Council Regions (Type1 government)
Red = Provinces (Type2 governments)
Yellow = Satrapy (Type3 government)
Orange = Military Controlled Region (roleplayed Type3 government)
Green = Client State / Ally (Type4 government)

Histories of Alkman Thermaios
Book 4 - Section 7

The next reform from the emperor came to be the redefinition of how the Satrapies would be run.
Local autonomy within the satrapies had lead to the great civil war and brought about great
destruction. No longer would the local nobles decide the affairs of the Satrapies and choose whom
they would follow. By order of the emperor, the majority of the satrapies were converted to royal
provinces. These provinces would be run directly by the emperor through men appointed to govern
each region. These men would be selected and withdrawn by the command or the emperor or
Council and have complete control over their province. The act put an end to region family alliance
for power and the practice of families creating minor kingdoms within the Arche and choosing whom
they would follow. No longer would there be the chance for opposition like their had been amoungst
the families of Aigyptos at the end of the civil war.

Within the new satrapies, the laws of the council would be inforced and the official language would
be Unified Hellenic. Citizenship would be granted to most Hellenes within the provinces and many
non-Hellenes. The harsh taxation that had been imposed on the satrapies was lowered. Many
Hellenes from the council region, who were guarenteed to retain their citizenship, moved out into the
provinces to take advantage of cheap land and low taxes.

Not all satrapies were removed, as many did not have sufficient Hellenic populations or did not
practice Hellenic customs. These regions would be continued to be governed by local nobles or
Hellenic noble families under the supervision of the military as they had been before.

To extend upon the military reforms of Emperor Philip, the emperor later added a division of
provincial guards to the official military. Within the provinces, mounted light infantry would patrol the
roadways and ensure the safe travel of all traders and peoples. Within a decade, these men would
be partolling newly rebuit roadways engineered by Italian road builders. With new guarded
roadways, safety in the provinces became greater than it had ever been before, allowing for new
waves of land trade and transport.

In a matter of three years, Emperor Philip [V] had transformed his Empire from a kingdom to a
democratically run land of united Hellenes. With this new unity, the ferver of the people of Hellas
turned eastward to rescue the enslaved peoples suffering under the tyranny of the Persian Empire.
In my next set of writtings, I will cover the events in Athens and Hellas during the war in the east
over the several years.

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Next: Chapter 97 : Another Point of View

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

This chapter was a bit boring. If you don't feel like reading it, you can just wait until the next chapter when I review and rebut this chapter. Also, any comments/questions about plausability of these events in this timeframe should also wait until the next chapter. The next chapter will probably be short and will be in the standard voice of my AAR rebutting this interpretation of events and leading into the next part of my AAR. The next couple years are dominated by conflict...

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

ET TU, MARCE? NON REGNUM ESSE NUMQUAM REGES SERVITUR!

Apologies for my bad Latin, but I'm shocked. Athens capital? Democracy? Romaioi customs?

Oh, aside from that I like your chapter! It's in no way boring, instead it's very refreshing after all the battles.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

(Has a MASSIVE WTF meltdown)

Roman control techniques?!?!
Roman Style government?
Is this a Greek controlled version of the Roman empire?

[Chirurgeon]

Great job MAA. Its important to mix it up sometimes. You have done a wonderful balancing act. The chapter is information heavy but that is not boring. It adds to the already incredible depth of your AAR. Not every chapter has to have battles. As you well know the readers of these AARs are diverse. It is nice to take a break from battles and get the context of the times the people are living in. Excellent job!

[alatar]

I liked the last chapter, very good.

Although Philip V sriking back at regions held by family members is strange, considering his father fought the civil war based on the fact that he was related to every governor in the west.

[Dutchhoplite]

Great chapter :)

I'm still wondering about the democracy bith though...

[Reverend Joe]

(Has a MASSIVE WTF meltdown)

Roman control techniques?!?!
Roman Style government?
Is this a Greek controlled version of the Roman empire?

Well, to be fair, just about everything "Roman" was actually an Etruscanized Greek custom.

I personally think MAA just redoubled his level of awesome, even if it's only roleplay.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Well, to be fair, just about everything "Roman" was actually an Etruscanized Greek custom.

Ok ill give u that one.

I personally think MAA just redoubled his level of awesome, even if it's only roleplay.

How can u measure his awesome level?

[Dutchhoplite]

It can't ;)

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Dammit my awesome meter broke

[Subotan]

Dammit my awesome meter broke

I think that's the greatest compliment Olaf has ever given.

[Antinous]

I think that's the greatest compliment Olaf has ever given.

I think your right!!