The Ferghana Chronicles: A Baktrian AAR

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Chapter 2: Nostalgia



The journey across the steppes seemed endless. They were about halfway to Marakanda. But Patrokles didnʼt want to stop there. They would travel straight to Baktra, where his brother-in-law was expecting him. Message had come to him that his father-in-law had left on campaign. A campaign against some Saka intruders that threatened the access to a rich precious stone deposit. Patrokles didnʼt particularly like his brother-in-law, but that wasnʼt what bothered him.

In his mind he returned to Theodosia, a subject city of the Bosporan Kingdom. The place were he grew up. Patrokles descended from a Miletan merchant family. His ancestors fled to Theodosia - back then a Miletan colony - after they had actively supported the Ionian Revolt [499-493 BCE]. While Milete was ruled by a Persian tyrant, they could live free in Theodosia. But this freedom did not last forever. Some 120 years later the city was taken by a Thracian tyrant: the Spartocid king of Pantikápaion, Leucon [around 385 BCE]. The family stayed, but the memories of freedom were passed on from father to son.

When Patrokles turned sixteen [288 BCE] he decided to leave Theodosia. He left for Milete, the town of his ancestors. Milete hadnʼt been free ever since they left, but at least it was ruled by a Macedon king [Lysimachus]. Although he regarded the Macedonians still as barbarians, they werenʼt as bad as a the Thracians. Also the city of Milete had earned itʼs fame as a centre of knowledge. For an ambitious young student like him it was a good place to go to.

One barbarian king was replaced by another [281 BCE], but for the ambitious Patrokles new opportunities arose. Not only was he a clever and charismatic young man. Growing up in Theodosia he also knew a lot about Scythian culture, for these peoples often dwelled the lands of the Cimmerian Bosporos. The new king - Seleucos Nikator - needed men like him, because of his never ending wars with the far eastern Sakas, who were closely related to the Scythians. Full of confidence Patrokles travelled to Seleucosʼ western capital, Antiocheia. From then on things went fast. After three years [278 BCE] he was summoned by Seleucosʼ successor Antiochos. He became his adviser on Saka affairs. After five years [276 BCE] he succeeded in marrying into the family of Theodotos, satrap of Baktria. After seven years [274 BCE], thanks to the efforts of his father-in-law, he was appointed satrap of Sogdiane himself.


Patrokles of Marakanda

But donʼt be mistaken by this appointment: Patrokles and Antiochos didnʼt get along. He was merely made Satrap for his competence and his relations. Antiochos quickly noticed that Patrokles was unsoundly ambitious. Morover he disrespected his monarchy in particular and all authority in general. In short, Antiochos never really trusted him. Patroklesʼ oncoming policy towards the Sakas and the emerging poleis of Sogdiane only proved him right.

So in the end Patroklesʼ deposition wasnʼt a surprise at all. But it did strengthen Patrokles in his resentment against what he regarded as tyranny. And while the Syrian king lost his respect, he started to appreciate his nomadic enemies more and more. Off course this didnʼt just happen at once. Already in his youth, on the estates of his family near Theodosia, he gained some respect for the Scythian traders that came by. For the ruthless taxation of the Bosporan king on the other hand, he never felt any appreciation. But only after his deposition these feelings took the upper hand, partly because his growing respect for some of the Alan nobles. Also he began to more actively propagate the democratic visions his father taught him.

From then on Patrokles regarded a good barbarian as a Greek and a bad Greek as a barbarian - just like Alexandros. Only to him Alexandros himself and his tyrannic successors were barbarians. His Alan hetaroi or the Scythian traders of his youth on the other hand became Greeks.