The Ferghana Chronicles: A Baktrian AAR

[podoh]

Prologue

The lands of the Ferghana valley were inhabited by Greeks for centuries. Most of them descended from the Ionians of Mikra Asia. They were banished from their homes by the Persians after a failed uprising. In Ferghana however they continued their practices of trade and colonization.

The Makedonian conquest of Ferghana, marked a new era for the Greeks in the region. The new administrative center became Alexandreia “the Furthest”. The new rulers became engaged in a neverending conflict with the Saka confederation, north of Ferghana. Before the Ionian colonies where independent enough to stay out of war with their nomadic neighbours, although it took them lots of trade and tribute. But now they were dragged into a long-lasting, destructive war.

The Makedonians may have succesfully protected their regional capital Alexandreia, just south of the great Syr Darya river, they couldn’t control the whole region. Some Greek colonies north of the river needed to provide their own defences. The Saka conquest of Kangha posed a new threat to these cities. Scouts already reported some raiding parties were on their way to the Ferghana valley. Therefore a joint council was called to unite against the danger. One of the prominent speakers was a young man, aged twenty-eight, who went by the name of Theseus.

“I know we were called together here to discuss our answer to this
new military threat from the north. I wil adress this later on. Let us
first watch things from another point of view.

My grandfather, his father and his father’s father, all of them were
delegates from my town to this council. But they were never called
to unite against this kind of invasions or raids. Quite the contrary!
Their cities grew and prospered thanks to the trade with their
nomadic neighbours. Our nomadic neighbours!
Back then, these councils were called to unite against the Persian
king, against their own sovereign! They assembled to protect their
autonomy within the great Persian empire.
So my father, when he succeeded his father, defended in this same
council a stand-offish policy against the new monarchs of Babylon
and Persepolis: the Makedonians. But the majority of this assembly
voted in favor of a rapprochement to the heirs of Alexandros. So
my father sticked to their decision. He sticked to their decision until
he was slain last year battling an invading Saka army.

My father fell in a war he never voted for. He sacrifised himself for a
king he never truly respected. What for? For the unity of this council!
The Sacred Unity of our League! So when this council has reached a
decision, I will do like my father and stick to it. I'll lead my army
wherever we require it to be.
But now, within these walls, I will vote against another war with the
Sakas. I will vote for this council to denounce Makedonian claims to
this land, for subjection to the Saka king. I will even vote for joining
the Saka armies against the Makedonians - we can give them the fine
infantrymen they require.

This war we’re fighting now is not our war. It’s not even the war of
the Makedonian king, nor that of his satraps of Baktria and Sogdiane.
No, my honourable friends, most noble gentlemen: we are fighting
nobody’s war.”

But again the council voted in favor of the king; the loyal Theseus assembled an army to march up north.
A new Saka war was to be fought.

Contents:

Book 1: Haomavarga wars and Baktrian secession

Chapter 1: Deposition
Chapter 2: Nostalgia
Chapter 3: Baktrian Affairs (Part I)
Chapter 4: Baktrian Affairs (Part II) - Coming up