Faction preview No 11: The City of Taras.
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The City of Taras
Models & Skins: Ellyssian Warrior. Map: Uranos. Text and research: Apostate, Ozz & Lupus. Additional Art: Lupus. Chalkidian helmets for fm bodyguards: xanthippos.
Taras riding a dolphin.
The Tarantines
The city of Taras or Tarantas (later called Tarentum or Taranto) was located on a strategic position controlling the rich trade routes to and from Italy and Greece.
During the Messenian war in 8th century BC, the Spartans decided to increase the numbers of their army, by adding into military service the sons of the unmarried Spartan women with the "perioikoi",who were not considered Spartan citizens. These soldiers were called 'Parthenioi', and despite their military service they were not granted citizenship, marked as potential troublemakers and were eventually forced to leave Sparta. Their leader, Phalanthos, went to Delphi to consult the oracle; the puzzling answer was that he would fulfill his mission only when it would rain on a clear day. Phalanthos did not at first understand the oracle, and continued his efforts to build a city in the most suitable place. However, after several battles with the barbarians he wasn’t successful in establishing the colony. As by definition it cannot rain on a fair day, Phalanthos grew concerned that the oracle intended for his people never to find a homeland. His wife, empathetic to Phalanthos' depression, tried to comfort him, but unable to restrain her tears, she wept on his face. At once Phalanthos explained the oracle and as night fell, he attacked and conquered the most prosperous coastal city in Apulia. The name of his wife was Aithra, which in Greek, translates to clear sky! The parthenian exiles founded in Apulia their city and named it Taras, after the son of the Greek sea god, Poseidon, and of a local nymph, Satyrion. According to other sources, Heracles founded the city and according yet to another myth, Taras is mentioned as the founder of the city; the symbol of the ancient city (as well as of the modern city) is Taras riding a dolphin. Taras increased its power, and rapidly became a rich, commercial power and a sovereign city of Magna Graecia, ruling over the Greek colonies in southern Italy.
Taras was the only Lacedaimonian colony, but their culture and armies were not based only to the Lacedaimonian standards. Like most of the Hellenic factions of Magna Graecia, they borrowed elements from neighbouring native cultures. At its founding, Taras was a monarchy, likely modelled on that of Sparta; according to Herodotos, around 492 BC king Aristophilides ruled over the city. The expansion of Taras was limited to the coast because of the resistance of the local populations of inner Apulia. In 472 BC, Taras signed an alliance with the city-colony of Rhegion, to counter the Messapi, Peuceti, and Lucanians, but the joint armies of the Tarentines and Rhegines were defeated near Kailia, in what Herodotus claims to be one of the greatest slaughter of Greeks in his knowledge, with 3,000 Reggians and uncountable Tarentines killed. In 466 BC, Taras was again defeated by the Iapyges; according to Aristotle, there were so many aristocrats killed, that the democratic party was able to seize power, overthrow the monarchy, inaugurate a democracy and expel the Pythagorians. However, the rise of the democratic party did not weaken the bonds of Taras and her mother-city Sparta. In fact, Taras supported the Peloponnesian side against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars, refused anchorage and water to Athens in 415 BC, and even sent ships to help the Peloponnesians, after the Athenian disaster in Sicily. Athens on the other hand, seeking to counter Taras' influence in Magna Graecia, supported the enemies of Taras, the Messapians.
In 432 BC, after several years of war, Taras signed a peace treaty with the Greek colony of Thurioi; both cities then contributed to the foundation of the colony of Heraclea, which rapidly fell under Tarantine control. Despite the constant threat of native populations, Carthagianian and Etruscan assaults, Taras managed to reach its peak of power and wealth; it was the most important city of Magna Graecia and the main commercial port of southern Italy controlling the trade routes to and from Hellas. Taras produced and exported goods to and from motherland Greece, it had the largest army and fleet in southern Italy. However, with the death of Archytas in 347 BC, the city started a slow, but steady decline; the first sign of the decreased power was its inability to field an army, since the Tarantines preferred to use their substantial wealth to hire mercenaries, rather than leave their lucrative trades.
In order to defend their city against the numerous barbarians and force the rest of the Greeks of Magna Graecia in the southern part of Italy, to stay under their political and economical influence, the Tarantines made alliances with several Hellenic factions of Magna Graecia, including the Syracusians. Across the sea, they were also allied with the Lacedaimonians and the Epirots. Their last call for help against the growing might of the Romans, put Roma itself under a great threat, when the Epirot king Pyrrhus, found the opportunity to go on the offensive, but eventually both Pyrrhus and the Tarantines lost the war, their defensive walls were demolished and all their efforts to maintain their independence failed.
Playing with the Tarantines you will need to focus on one front; either face the barbarians and expand towards the interior or try to become the hegemon of the colonies of Magna Graecia. You would also be wise to keep an eye out for any possible invasions by the Epirotes and Illyrians from across the sea...
Locations/Regions around Taras city
Faction Units
Tarantine Hoplites
The standard Tarantine hoplite.
Tarantine Elite Hoplites
The finest hoplites that the city of Taras can field in battle
Tarantine Heavy Cavalry
Depictions from coins, references and findings of equipment suggest that the Tarantines used not only light cavalry, but heavy cavalry as well. The Tarantine heavy horseman is protected by a hippikos thorax developed specially to be worn by riders, in away to offer him comfort when fighting on horseback. They also wear a semi-open helmet commonly used in Magna Graecia and fight with a "kamax" spear and maybe missile spears as well.
Tarantine Marine Hoplites
Tarantine marine hoplites are lightly armoured (or not armoured at all) hoplites who carry big swords which give them an advantage in hand to hand combat.
Tarantine Family Member Bodyguards
The generals guard consists of horsemen heavily armoured horsemen who fight with big machaira swords and short spears
Allied Hoplites
Hoplites from lesser allied cities which lie nearby Taras.
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Originally Posted by Sparton Matticus
