[EB AAR] A Seleukid AAR?

[justme]

Yesterday, I spent thewhole day at the office (having recently returned from my summer holidays) reading the excellent KH AAR by Demetrious II (hey... it's August. everything is slow this time of the year ), and being in the middle of my grand Seleukid campaign, I just realized there is no AAR for the Seleukid faction... not even a game guide...

So... since I always wanted to write an AAR, and I still have enough free time on my hands , I thought I'd start one here and share my experience with the (usually overlooked) Seleukids...

Only problem is that I was not intending to do any AAR when I started out on my mission to rebuild Alexander's empire, so I got no nice pictures, nor shots from the battles, not nothing... I'll try to include some eyecandy, starting from my current position, but the important events of the past will have to be reported as best as they can be, without images, and as I remember them, much like a chronicler of those times would put his account on papyrus (or clay tablets in our case)... Think of it as such a chronicle or (worse) as a game guide on how (not ) to play the Seleukids

A few notes before I begin:
I'm playing VH/H, currently I'm in the year 237BC, the game evolves very much like in real history and I've "vowed" to fight to the "bitter end" - whether it'll be Alexander's empire restored or a province of the Roman empire

I've read a few of the comments around and it seems that people think the Seleukid faction is easy(-ier than others), just because of its sheer size and volume. It couldn't be farther from truth, it's been a constant challenge from the word 'go' and it's still not over (the prospect of disaster is very much real at any time).

The root of the problem is that the Seleukids are overstretched across the map and don't start off not even with a worthwhile stack...

So... on with the show

[I hope you like it... don't judge it harshly, I know it doesn't stand up to the high standards of Demetrious II or Mangalore's molossian AAR]

[justme]

Chronicle of the Second Syrian War (reconstructed from the clay tablets of Babylon, referring to the great conflict between the great rivals, Antiochos II Theos and Ptolemy II Philadelphos)


22nd Regnal Year [237BC] of An-ti-uk-su Lugal (Antiochos the King, as he is actually recorded in such clay tablets, retrieved from the archives of Babylon)

This is the 24th year of the great war, which our Egyptian enemies refer to as "Second Syrian War"... [we (i.e. I) prefer to call it "Cyrenean War", because it all started in Cyrene, a province of the Egyptian kingdom, but that will have to wait]

In this year, Si-lu-ku Dumu Lugal (Seleukos, the Crown Prince), called "Kallinikos" (something like "of beautiful victories"), son of An-ti-uk-su Lugal, achieved a crushing victory over the invading army of Theodekles of Carthage in our satrapy of Paraetonion in Egypt.

In this year, our friends and allies of the Roman Republic declared war against the perfidious Karthadastim in accordance with our mutual defense agreement.

This year, the traitorous Baktrian satrap, Diodotus, laid siege on three of our cities in the east, Antiochia-Margiane, Prophtasia and Alexandria-Ariane. A satrapal army is marching to relieve them.

This year, the Yuezhi savages from the step raid the king's farthest province, Alexandria the last.

This year, the Macedonian army captured our city of Mazaka, capital of the Mazakene satrapy. This loss the king is intent to avenge...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[justme]

To understand how this all came to pass, one has to go back to the beginning of the chronicle, and to the final years of the reign of Antiochos I Soter, son of Seleukos I Nikator, founder of the Seleukid dynasty


The End of the First Syrian War



9th Regnal Year [272BC] of An-ti-uk-su Lugal, son of Si-lu-ku the Victor, King of Kings (refers to the father of Antiochos II Theos)

This is the 2nd year of the "First Syrian War" (in RL 274BC-271BC) and there has been no campaigning from either side this year.

This year, the Egyptians remain in their fortresses of Sidon (Phoenicia) and Jerusalem (Judaea), so do our main hold fast to Damascus and Antioch.

In this year, news of several rebellions in the Persian heartland arrive at the court of the king in Si-lu-ku-a (Seleukeia on the Tigris)

In this year, a great rebel army from the south of Mesopotamia marches on to Si-lu-ku-a. If not checked, they'll lay siege to the very capital of the empire

In this year the king (i.e. I) reviewed the state of his armed forces and found them lacking. The king orders the assembly of an army in Syria and an army in Persis, from whatever (greek) units are garrisoned around his western and eastern dominions. This he orders to counter the threat of the many rebel armies marching against his cities of Seleukeia and Edessa, in the west, and Gabai, Apameia, Zadrakata, Hekatompylos and [text unreadable] (i.e. I don't remember the one to the northeast of Hekatompylos :tooth: ) in the east. Minor rebel activity in the mountains on Arachosia and the extreme east can be left out for now.

[NOTE: in fact the first game I started as Seleukids I had to abandon after 6-7 turns, as I had chosen to disregard those pestersome rebels and they actually captured ALL these settlements - and others too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]

In this year the king (i.e. I) reviewed the state of the empire's economy and found it lacking. The king orders the construction of roads to connect his cities and (minor) ports to boost the trade between them (and of course traders where there are none). But the royal treasury is depleted and the king orders expenditure to be reduced. The Aegean transport fleet and the Persian gulf transport fleet are disbanded (they offer nothing and just spend money).

But even so, the economy is in dire straits.

The king from his court in Si-lu-ku-a orders his diplomats to establish trade agreements with his numerous neighbours. To the Parthian ruler in the east he offers an alliance (cover my back from that side). To his Ma-ak-ka-da-na-a (Macedonian) bretherens in the west he offers an alliance (they start at war with the Egyptians). To the Hayasdan and Pontians he offers [text unreadable] (I think I started out with alliance/trade rights)



10th Regnal Year [271BC] of An-ti-uk-su Lugal, son of Si-lu-ku the Victor, King of Kings

In this year the king's hosts assembled in the eastern satrapies and the western satrapies and dealt a hard blow to the rebels that thought they could challenge the might of the King of Kings. The usurper of Babylon (ie the leader of the rebel army marching on Seleukeia - a 4 or 5 star general) was killed in battle.

In this year the king (i.e. I) reviewed the state of the empire's economy and still found it lacking. The king had to make a decision...

In this year the king ordered his diplomats to the court of his enemy, the pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos with a peace proposal. The pharaoh accepted and peacful relations restored after the fruitless war. Trade would flourish and the empire too...

[justme]

the first couple of years are a race against the clock for the Seleukids

I had to march my scattered troops from all over the place to get something like a decent stack (not full of course) in the east and fight the rebels. I even had to let the rebels devastate the land around Hekatompylos for about 4-5 years before I felt confident to attack them.

And the same goes for the western rebellions. That 4-5 star general was a tough one to crack, he actually did lay siege on Seleukeia and I had to wait it out for 2-3 turns before I could attack him from behind with my Syrian army.

The fact is that the Seleukid have a very large military, eating up your treasury but scattered all around the map, with most garrisons comprising of a few pantodapoi (2-3) and a unit of peltasts.

Also, the eastern provinces tend to turn red-faced pretty soon, there is a lack of governors (even if you get offered quite a few adoptions early on) and there's no money to build decent roads and ports (I had to wait quite a few years before starting to build paved roads)

Things aren't better in the west, where Sardis starts blue/red-faced and you get no money to build anything other than a fortress (2000 mnai) or an asklepeion (1600 mnai). In general, my economy during the whole campaign was and still is as ********y as hell...

As for training facilities: you start out with practically nothing (only Antioch can build pezhetairoi) and even though things changed following the peace deal with the Egyptians, I'm now in 237BC and I still have no elephants of my own, I just managed to finish the military complex in prophthasia that allows elephants to be built and not only do I lack the funds (10000 mnai per unit) but I also got besieged by those Baktrian *********s

Oh and the rebels are a constant pain in the a*** They sprout out of nowhere, blocking all roads and passes, even blocking your far away towns and there's no chance of ever getting rid of them... they ate up all my time during the years of peace until I just had to give up and let them eat up my revenue, while I get to fight wars on all fronts


So much for an "easy" Seleukid campaign...

[justme]

The Beginning of the Second Syrian War
Death of Antiochos I Soter and Accession of Antiochos II Theos (in-game he's called Theodoros )


Regnal Years 10th through 20th of An-ti-uk-su Lugal [271BC through 261BC]


These were years of peace, during which the king ordered the building of many roads, ports, temples and (never had money for more than) baths in the many cities of the empire. The Esagila temple in Babylon was reopened. Trade routes were established with many foreign lands (even got the Sweboz to sign trade agreements) and alliance were forged with powerful states, most notably the Roman Republic and Carthage in the west.

Also the king ordered many barracks to be constructed to assemble local forces capable of dealing with the various rebels and bandits in the mountains of the east, who did much damage to the trade.

The king sent satraps to the east to take possession of his cities, pacify the local populations (ie the redfaces in Persis), building military outposts (ie watchtowers) along the main routes and eliminate the threat of the local bandits (when possible, with the limited forces I had)

In those years, the pharaoh of Egypt did not seek peace and the bounties it can offer, but instead sought war and plunde. He thought to make himself as great as the King of Kings by conquest and blood... And Egypt took the Sinai and the lands to the south along the Nile, reaching Nubia and Ethiopia.

And Ptolemy planned to conquer Palmyra, just a short distance from Damascus, from where he could also threaten the heartland of our empire. But his plans were thwarted and he had to abandon Palmyra and turn to another direction. To Cyrene...

Years ago, Magas ,a cousin of Ptolemy II Philadephos, had been appointed governor of Cyrene. He sought to better his province's condition and in the course he saw that depending on an indifferent central beaurocracy was only hindering or outright frustrating his efforts. He gradually became more autonomous, then totally independant, causing his cousin to invade. Magas came to the King of Kings a refugee, who offered shelter and even a daughter of his as wife. He was given a command in the king's army and support would be offered to reclaim and defend his kingdom of Cyrene...

By provision of the peace treaty that concluded the First Syrian War, Cyrene was agreed to remain neutral territory - much to Magas disappointment, who had to accept the satrapy of Coele Syria (governor of Damascus) as compensation.

Now Ptolemy challenged the King of Kings by invading Cyrene despite the oaths taken with the signing of the peace...




20th Regnal Year [261BC] of An-ti-uk-su Lugal


In this year the pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos lay siege on the city of Cyrene, in violation of the peace treaty signed in the 10th Regnal Year of the King of Kings. The King of Kings declared war and made the sacrifices to the gods of war (scripted event)

In this year the king entrusted the command of his Syrian army to Magas of Cyrene




Campaign in Phoenicia

[text unreadable] (ie can't rember) Regnal Year of An-ti-uk-su Lugal (not even clear which Antiochos is meant here - prolly it's still Antiochos I Soter)

In this year, the Syrian army under Magas of Cyrene marched into Phoenicia coming from the Palmyrene frontier (ie I had tried to conquer the much weakened town myself but war broke out before I could even lay siege).

In this year the king ordered the eastern army to march to the west and join his forces in the struggle against Egypt. The garrisons were stripped of their best units and were brought into Mesopotamia.


[text unreadable] (ie can't rember still) Regnal Year of An-ti-uk-su Lugal (not even clear which Antiochos is meant here - must be Antiochos I Soter)

In this year many skirmishes were fought all over Phoenicia, Coele Syria and Judaea. Magas' Syrian army managed to invest the city of Sidon and lay siege to it.

In this year a mighty army of Egypt marched out of [text unreadable] (ie don't know where they came from, they just appeared at my back) and proceeded to relieve Sidon.

In this year the Syrian army under Magas of Cyrene met the Egyptian army under [text unreadable] (ie no clue, he was a multi-star general though) and fought the battle to decide the fate of Sidon. [text unreadable] (ie dont remember how the battle evolved) and the troops of Syria utterly destroyed the Egyptian army and the garrison that had sallied forth from the walls of Sidon... alas though, their general, succumbed to his many wounds and was put to lay in his grave. The troops entered the city of Sidon and, to avenge their dead general, committed many attrocities and brought great destruction to the people of the city (ie option no 3 - exterminate :devil: )

In this year, [text unreadable] and An-ti-uk-su [text unreadable] took command of the Syrian army (ie Antiochos II Theos became commander of the army, but I can't remember if he was king already or not)


22nd Regnal Year [259BC] of An-ti-uk-su Lugal


In this year, the mighty King of Kings, An-ti-uk-su, son of Si-lu-ku the Victor died. His son, An-ti-uk-su succeeded him (1st Regnal Year of Antiochos II Theos)

[justme]

In real life the First Syrian War ended in 271BC, just as in my campaign

Also, Antiochos I Soter died in 261BC and was succeeded by his son Antiochos II, surnamed Theos. In my campaign this happened just two years later, in 259BC and the successor is named (funny indeed) Theo-doros Syriakos

In real life, the Second Syrian war started in 260BC, in my campaign it started in 261BC, just a year off

Also, I'm not sure when it happened in the game, but Antiochos II got a son whose name in-game is Kallinikos Syriakos, which is exactly what Seleukos II, son of Antiochos II, was surnamed in real life

Many (near) coincidences, making the game all the more historical and enjoyable

[Meldon]

Sounds like fun indeed, you´re actually making me want to start a seleucid campaign, but, on the other hand, I still have to complete my Imperator II campaign...
I guess I´ll try the seleucids once the next EB version is out, even though I, too, had always had the impression that they were too easy because of the huge lands they begin with and because they always are the best in the game´s faction ranking graphs in my games.

[justme]

Sounds like fun indeed, you´re actually making me want to start a seleucid campaign, but, on the other hand, I still have to complete my Imperator II campaign...
I guess I´ll try the seleucids once the next EB version is out, even though I, too, had always had the impression that they were too easy because of the huge lands they begin with and because they always are the best in the game´s faction ranking graphs in my games.

Their huge empire is really a big asset ONLY if you get enough money to build your cities' economy bases. The thing here is that as AI, the Seleukids actually get that money and the time to build mines and ports and markets everywhere (not to mention the various military complexes and huge walls, plus a gazillion stacks to throw at you in each turn), thanks to the bonus-extra money they receive each turn (EB rules) and also because of the VH campaign settings. So it's only natural that the biggest empire that can also develop its economy is 'easy' to play.

But as player, I found myself unable to build anything resembling a sound economy in my empire in all these years.

During the Syrian war (that's been going on for 35 years non-stop) I had to build units all the time (especially bad when I lost the Syrian army at Alexandria) and pay their upkeep, PLUS I lost the trade of Egypt (and then Macedon) AND I have those damned Egyptian fleets blockading my ports at random (Sidon and Jerusalem were their favorites, then they picked on Salamis and Tarsos) AND the eastern satrapies are full of rebels blocking my roads and cutting down my revenues.

On the other hand in peace (AND in war), you have to face a major problem (one that war does nothing to alleviate) that is kind of 'hidden' in the AAR: population
overgrowth!!!!!!

What happens is this: as your empire is so big, many of your satrapies, both east and west get the "distance-from-capital" penalty. Also, your eastern satrapies get extra penalties due to culture or something. You also have to strip many garrisons from the beginning to create something-like-a-decent stack both in the east and the west. The result is red-faces from the word go, which you are forced to handle by lowering tax rates. After that things come on their own. Most cities have growth rates of 3, 4,5 or even 6%.

The next step you can easily guess. Each turn that passes, one of your cities grows, you have to build the city upgrade or else those blue faces will turn red and in a couple of turns a civil revolt will strip you of the revenues from that nifty mine you just managed to build there (as I said, almost all eastern satrapies have mine resources, as does Sardis, Mazaka and Ipsos in the west). You are fighting a losing battle really, as I had a couple of cases that just as soon as the city upgrade was completed, in the same turn the city grew and you had to build the next city upgrade.

With all this expenditure for the war effort and trying to keep your cities under control (building even more garrison units and whatever low level health/entertainment/security building you can afford), it is easy to see why developing your economy is a challenge.


Now there are alternatives to this:

1) abandon half your empire, move your capital to the part you keep, throw all your money in that region, then you have a sound economy and maybe you'll get the chance to do a heroic "anabasis" and reconquer (in the future) your former holdings (suggested earlier on) - the problem is that it isn't historical and I was aiming to follow the actual Seleukid policy, which would not include abandoning territories without gain (Seleukos Nikator abandoned Gandhara as part of a peace deal which included Indian Elephants for him and a powerful alliance with the Mauryas, the rest they lost through conquest and secession)

2) Throw all your money in certain "focal" points of the empire, developing regional centers (esp. those connected to eachother via ports). This could work better, but I fear that it might also lead to many isolated "pockets" in case things in your other (underdeveloped) cities spiral out of control (civil revolts). In that case you're *********d...

I'm sure that others might make either of these two (or any other possible) alternatives work for them, but that's why I said this is like a guide on how (NOT) to play the Seleukids

[Fondor_Yards]

Once you take more of egypt money shouldn't be a problem. You'll be racking it in then. I recommand once you kick the macedonians out of asia minor, put like 6-10 pikemen units in Byzantion. If you don't mind using them to block the street exits into the plaza, you should be able to hold it. The biggest problem with lack of income I find, is the lack of good ports. Untill you start taking Egyptian cities, you only have 2 ports that can make any real money, Antioch and Sardis. And if your at war with macedon and eygpt, even those probably won't be making money. You need someone to trade with in order to make money.

Keep it up!

[justme]

It's summer 236BC and I just noticed something when I loaded my latest savegame

The ENTIRE KH army is strolling near Salamis on Cyprus!!!! I wonder what they want

Those damn Macs... they sure can't be trusted to do a job right (they ate up mainland Greece and left Rhodes to KH)

I don't think I can take any more of this... I'm at war with like the whole world already (except for the Romans!)


PS: how can I get to put pictures in the message text, like in the AAR of Demetrious?

[justme]

I just realized I made a mistake... Mazaka was indeed captured in 237BC by the Macs, just as I mentioned in the first chapter of the AAR. This doesn't change the series of the other conquests, as Byzantion I know I kept for about 5-6 turns with red faces and a single akontistai unit in there (it was quite impressive actually that they didn't rebel but rather waited for the Macs to "liberate" them). As for Pergamon, I'm 99,99% sure it was captured in 239BC (by the progress of the satrapy building)

What can I say... the game's pace is frantic and it's easy to mix up the events on the three war fronts

[Fondor_Yards]

To put an image in, put this. [IMG]thepic'surlhere[/IMG]

[Dantheman102100]

Pretty good AAR. Are you still recounting your history or are you up to the present time in your campaign yet?

[DEMETRIOUS II]

Great AAR glad to see someone had the guts to tackle the Seleucids. One thing I have to say is that these AARs are very time consuming that's why you see many start but never finish. You seem like you are committed to this so it is great. Please keep it coming.

I wish I had time to start another one but I have a 2yr old that takes up most of my time and also my recent addiction to on-line poker.

If you want to include pics just go to imageshack.com and upload your campaign pics then copy the hotlink in the body of your AAR. I use imageshack and prefer it to all others. Keep in mind that including pics can get tedius and time consuming, but if you have the time go for it.

Looking forward to more from you.

Cheers!

[justme]

Pretty good AAR. Are you still recounting your history or are you up to the present time in your campaign yet?

It's still the story, though now we're in the recent past. I'm currently in the year 236BC and new challenges appear when I thought that I had made a definite breakthrough

Great AAR glad to see someone had the guts to tackle the Seleucids. One thing I have to say is that these AARs are very time consuming that's why you see many start but never finish. You seem like you are committed to this so it is great. Please keep it coming.

I said that I'll take the Seleukids to the bitter end - glory or annihilation... but my commitment to the AAR will (can) probably only last while work at office is slow It's August after all...

To put an image in, put this. [IMG]thepic'surlhere[/IMG]

If you want to include pics just go to imageshack.com and upload your campaign pics then copy the hotlink in the body of your AAR. I use imageshack and prefer it to all others. Keep in mind that including pics can get tedius and time consuming, but if you have the time go for it.

I found out checking the tags in Demetrious' AAR. Thanks anyway... And indeed taking shots is time consuming and detracts from the game. I'll try however to include a few pics, as plain text can be pretty boring...

[justme]

The Campaign in Egypt (Part II)


From the Revised Histories of Polybius



After the Fall of Alexandria

The fall of Alexandria dealt a heavy blow to the Ptolemaic monarchy, which lost its richest and most developed city, the very capital and heart of its empire. However, the fighting spirit of the pharaoh was not curtailed, which would seem rather natural for a man in whose veins coursed the blood of such illustrious forbears. The obvious main target of his plans was to reclaim the city he'd lost to his Seleukid enemies and, setting his base anew in his capital city, to attempt to expel the invader from Memphis too. Thus, the army besieging Alexandria was soon to find itself besieged by the pharaoh's armies marching from Upper Egypt (south Egypt) and the Sinai, which still remained firmy loyal to the pharaoh.

On the other hand, in the Syrian camp, a latent animosity was now brewing between the two heads of the army, Seleukos and Lasthenes, as the one could not accept the fact that he had been deprived of the glory of conquering Alexandria himself - especially after having vigorously campaigned thrice against the city in the previous years and this success was due in no small part to his own exertions on the field - while the other still remembered their quarrel on the eve of the army's departure from Memphis - even though it was this forced march that allowed him to enter Alexandria a victor.

To add insult to injury - as Seleukos saw it - the crown prince of the Seleukid empire was barred from even making an entrance to the city, as the plague was sweeping the city - as was the case in Memphis too - and his officers begged him not to challenge the will of the gods that had barred him from this victory in the first place... Alexandria was not his destiny!

Thus, Seleukos' corps made camp and fortified its positions south of the city. After all, scouts reported sizeable Egyptian forces marching from all sides and he would soon have to undertake the difficult task of defending the gains of this campaign...



The Embassy to the Pharaoh's Court

Seleukos campaigned almost the whole year [239BC] on the western bank of the Nile, near the Delta, succeeding in pushing back the Egyptian incursion on Alexandria in a series of offensive and defensive actions. His fundamental tactics of breaking individual Egyptian contingents before being able to group served him well this time too, as he led his army on a number of lightning-speed raids against the enemy before retiring again to his fortress, built in a strategic position, able to support the city of Alexandria in the case of a siege attempt.

However, the army ranks were growing thin... not only did the corps under Lasthenes, garrisoning the city of Alexandria, sustain great losses due to the plague, but even his own corps, made up of the most experienced soldiers of the Syrian army, counted many casualties due to the incessant campaigning. Seleukos, assessing the situation asked for reinforcements to be sent immediately from Syria, Phoenicia and Judaea, while many of the local Macedonians and Greeks residing in Alexandria, formerly serving the Ptolemaic cause, were persuaded - by fair means of foul - to offer their allegiance to the rising Seleukid power (ie I tried to reinforce and build new units through the Ptolemaic government structure - it's not exactly cheating, as it's realistic to assume that the Greeks of Alexandria would have no problem joining other fellow Greeks, only the king changes. Of course, later on I destroyed it and I'm turning Alexandria into a military satrapy).

At this time, the Second Syrian War had been raging for more than 20 years - 22 to be exact - having drawn into the conflict a number of other powers - including the kingdoms of Macedonia and Pontos - and had lately caused the secession of the Baktrian satrapy from the Seleukid empire. The toll on human life and the destruction wrought on the empire's economy were appalling, even though the general balance of the war could only be described as positive - after all the Seleukids had mostly gains to show from their war effort. However, the strategic situation wasn't that good, the empire's military resources were overstretched in east and west, and the need for reinforcements was pressing on all fronts - needs that were not to be easily covered without money, which is what the treasury of the empire never seemed to have enough of.

During this time, two factions had formed in Antiochos' court, the one headed by the elderly satrap of Phoenicia was pressing for an end to hostilities and a peace treaty with the Egyptians, while the other one, headed by Athenobios, who had only recently married the king's younger daughter, pressing for prosecuting the war against Egypt to the end (warmonger trait). Athenobios also pressed for reinforcements to be sent to Egypt - as per Seleukos' request - with himself as leader, seeking to claim a piece of the glory that was to be gained by crushing once and for all the Ptolemaic state.

The king however was weary of warring, recognizing the damage the war effort was doing his country, worrying about the condition of his eastern satrapies, that were being destabilized by the Baktrian secession. Wanting to focus on consolidating his eastern frontier - an effort that would probably require all the resources of his vast empire - he decided to sue for peace, despite the wishes of the war party and its most illustrious and popular leader (namely his son, Seleukos, and his second son-in-law, Athenobios), believing that the Egyptian pharaoh would finally relent.

The embassy was given its instructions and sent to discuss terms with the pharaoh's envoys, arranging for the diplomats to meet in the city of Paraetonion, west of Alexandria.

However, Seleukos, having received news of their mission and certainly not pleased with the prospect of peace, when victory was so near, gathered all his men and marched at the head of his corps to Paraetonion, following at the heels of the diplomats. This move had two objectives, firstly to sabotage the peace talks, as the Egyptians would surely learn of his army approaching and believe the peace offer to be a ruse. Secondly, it was a strategically sound move, as Paraetonion was the base of operations for the Egyptian army, just west of Alexandria, and thus a constant threat on the city.

As it was planned, so did it happen, and the Egyptians, receiving the news of Seleukos' approach, expelled the diplomats and tried to close up the city - which lacked a proper wall - as best as they could, calling more men at arms for its defense. Seleukos did not need to resort to a lengthy siege, but instead stormed the city immediately. The defenders fell to the last man, the city was sacked and many of its citizens either killed during the street fighting or died in the desert, where they fled for refuge.

Peace was not an option... Seleukos had made his point!


Campaign into Upper Egypt


That same year, following the failure to secure peace with the Egyptians, the king finally awarded Athenobios the command of the reinforcements requested by Seleukos.

Athenobios entered Egypt in summer and received word from his brother-in-law and co-leader of the war party, Seleukos. The messenger brought orders for the reinforcement troops to be joined by whatever forces were available from Alexandria and Memphis (ie the men of Lasthenes' corps) and, following the river Nile southward, to attack the great Diospolis, that was the forward base of the Egyptian army in the lower part of Middle Egypt.

In a forced march, Athenobios led his troops before the walls of Diospolis and, investing it from all sides, he besieged the city, cutting it off from relief, food and water. The siege however was brief, since enemy activity from the north was reported - enemy armies marching in from the Sinai. Athenobios stormed the city walls and proceeded to annihilate the garrison and much of the population of Diospolis in a show of both strength and brutality.

Though Athenobios' heavyhanded methods caused much fear to his enemies and contributed to his reputation, it would soon become clear that the new masters could not count on the loyalty of the indigenous people of the province and the survivors of the massacre - even though the Macedonian and Greek colonists in the region were quick to switch sides and enter the Seleukid army ranks.

Thus, Athenobios installed his second in command as governor of Diospolis and with the better part of his army, reinforced by mercenary soldiers, he began a campaign of pacifying the province and eliminating the armies of Egypt marching in from north and south to reclaim the city [238BC].



The Carthaginian Involvement and the Campaign in the Desert [237BC]

At the beginning of the new year, Athenobios had consolidated the Seleukid presence in the area of Diospolis, the process of reorganizing it as a satrapy was well under way. He thus marched his army further south, into Upper Egypt, targeting the city of Pselkis, which, however was garrisoned by a large Ptolemaic army under the command of a skilled general and kinsman of the pharaoh, by the name of Philotimos. By late Spring, Athenobios had crossed the Nile and arrived before the walls of Pselkis, which he proceeded to besiege. However, receiving reports of an Egyptian army approaching from the north, Athenobios was forced to break the siege and retreat to the east bank of the Nile.

At the same time, Seleukos had left Paraetonion, garrisoning the city with an adequate force under his second in command, to whom he entrusted the governance of this border town. Seleukos' intention was to march south along the Nile and join his brother-in-law in his campaign in Upper Egypt. But his plans soon changed. Near Alexandria he received word that the Carthaginian general Theodekles, who had come to an agreement with the Egyptians to bring help - an army right away and the involvement of the Carthaginian republic in the Syrian War, had marched his army of Greek and Macedonian mercenaries across the border and besieged Paraetonion - which was now protected by a wooden pallisade, built by its defenders.

The news were shocking indeed and were soon followed by news from the Syrian diplomats in Carthage, where the leaders of the city voted to formally dissolve the alliance with Antiochos and declare war on the Seleukid empire, ratifying at the same time the treaty of alliance that the pharaoh's agents had presented to them the previous day.

Seleukos immediately broke camp and force-marched his army back to Paraetonion. Reaching within a few leagues from the beleaguered city, the army pitched its tents for the night. However, Theodekles, learning of Seleukos' approach, took the initiative and, abandoning the siege of Paraetonion, he attacked Seleukos' forces in the desert.

The battle was joined in the last days of summer and, despite the element of surprise, Theodekles' much inferior force was not a match for the battle hardened veterans under Seleukos' command. Theodekles was killed in a cavalry battle, when Seleukos and his companions attacked from the side, his mercenaries soon broke and fled. The battle was not over though, as Seleukos ordered his men to advance and cut down all those who, being Greek themselves, for the love of barbarian gold, had taken up arms against their fellow Greeks. Not one mercenary survived the slaughter...

Seleukos, having regained the initiative, marched now directly south, through the desert, toward the city of Hibis, which his spies had infiltrated and reported to him about its weak garrison.



The Roman Intervention

The news of Carthage's involvement in the Syrian War arrived in Rome and the issue was immediately put to the attention of the Roman Senate.

Though one might observe that Rome had no direct interest in the conflict between Alexander's successors that had been ravaging the east for the past many years, the Romans had a stake in Sicily, where their rivalry against the Carthaginians had led to much mistrust on both sides. However, the spark that triggered the war was the Carthaginians' declaration in favor of Egypt and against the Seleukid king, with whom the Romans had maintained up to now a most coridal relation, not only ratifying a treaty of alliance and friendship during his father's reign (refers to the times of Antiochos I Soter), but also renewing these treaties at the time of his accession.

Thus, the Roman Senate found little difficulty in deciding on the issue, the Senators citing both the moral aspect of it - meaning that they had to be true to their word and honor their treaty of alliance with Antiochos - and the possibility of ridding themselves of a dangerous opponent and rival for the hegemony of the western mediterranean - the Romans always being of practical nature.

That very same day, after a very much one-sided and very enthusiastic debate, the Senate unanimously voted the doors of the temple of Janus to be opened and the Roman republic to declare war on Carthage. Thus started the First Punic War [237BC, quite off the real life date], very much as a consequence of the Second Syrian War...


Battle on the Nile Bridge, the Death of Philotimos

In autumn, Athenobios had retreated to the eastern bank of the Nile and took up defensive positions along the river. Scouts reported that the governor of Pselkis, Philotimos had joined his army with an army coming from Hibis and the combined force was on its way to their positions. At the same time, Egyptian armies were reported crossing from the Sinai and past Memphis, targeting the city of Diospolis, where the situation was increasingly unstable and the population ever more rebellious.

Athenobios chose not to withdraw from his strong position and hurry to the aid of the city, but instead, probably counting on the fact that the Egyptians were really pressed to recapture Diospolis - an important military and trade center for them, and this would make them commit errors - errors as grave as during the Battle at the Fords of the Nile a few years earlier. It was a gamble, but it payed off...

Philotimos, feeling secure in his numbers - though still inferior to Athenobios' army, they certainly were better trained and armored - attacked the forces of Athenobios from across the Nile, at a bridge not very far from Diospolis. If he could push back the Syrians, he would be able to join the armies coming in from the north and block the city of Diospolis, to which reinforcements would not be coming any time soon...

His strategy however was as poor as that of his kinsman at the Fords of the Nile, or maybe even poorer... for he chose to lead the attack himself, with his elite phalanxes following behind him, marching instead of charging over the bridge. The peltasts and slingers of Athenobios made quick work of most of his companions and when they decided to charge, they only managed to fall on the spears of the phalanxes waiting for them across the bridge. With the death of Philotimos, his men fought bravely on, but soon lost heart and were pushed off the bridge, having inflicted only minimal casualties to their enemies. Athenobios was free to move north and deal with the Egyptian armies threatening Diospolis, while the cities of Pselkis and Hibis were stipped of their garrisons...

---------------------------------------------

And at last a few pics....


A very unwise move!!! (I couldn't believe what he was doing!!!)


The outcome of the Battle on the Nile Bridge



The situation in Asia Minor... Mazakene was captured this year, Lysimachos (my general on the left) threatens Ancyra and Galatia, the Mac general with the three stars is moving in to support the city

[justme]

The World in 237BC


[Actually the Romans have occupied Rhegion and they're in Sicily too - must update my maps ]

[justme]

18th Regnal Year of Antiochos Theos [241BC]

In this year, the satrap of Baktria, who had taken an oath to serve the King of Kings, who was given the king's trust, who had benefited from the king's friendship, he broke his promises, he reneged his oaths... he proclaimed himself king... Cursed be his name for all eternity!


------------------------


From the Revised Histories of Polybios of Megalopolis


The Eastern Front

The year that Memphis fell seems to have been a major turning point in the Second Syrian War. For one, it allowed Seleukos to go on with his plan to conquer Alexandria, even though - as we've already seen - this did not exactly work as he had expected. This was a big blow on the Egyptians. On the other hand, that same year, their Macedonian allies managed to expand their foothold on Asia Minor by conquering Ancyra, but at the same time they were hard pressed in Nikomedia and Pergamon would soon be threatened by the army assembling at Sardis.

Knowing that their general situation in Asia Minor would become precarious if the Egyptians were knocked out of the war - something that would probably bring the much dreaded Seleukos and his elite Syrian army in Asia Minor, but also seeing themselves unable to intervene in Egypt directly, the Macedonians mobilized all their diplomatic resources, intent on creating another front against the Seleukids.

Thus, in that year, Macedonian envoys reached Baktra, capital of the Baktrian satrapy, where Diodotos received them and heard their proposals. Now Diodotos was an ambitious man, who owed his place as satrap of Baktria to his military prowess, a trait he had the chance to display on a number of occasions during which he managed to expand the limits of his satrapy into the Indus valley.

Indeed, he was a man that even Antiochos feared, for, having already made the mistake of allowing him much autonomy and a freehand in the east, he had become far too powerful and his 'satrapy' was easily as powerful as the rest of the Seleukid empire. This, together with his royal aspirations, made Diodotos a very dangerous man.

Having heard the envoys of the Antigonid king, who offered an alliance and recognition of the royal title for Diodotos, the satrap made his mind and quickly renounced his allegiance to Antiochos, investing himself with the royal dignity as king Diodotos Soter (saviour) - a reference to his victories against marauding raiders from the steppe. He then gathered his army, which also included a unit of the dreaded Indian elephants, and marched against the city of Marakanda, which he besieged by the end of the year [241BC]



This was a blow to the Seleukid empire indeed, which was now to fight a war on three different fronts, having the additional disadvantage to have to contain its strongest adversary - the Baktrians - at its weakest point - the east.

Antiochos however had - to a certain extent - anticipated such a move. He had already appointed an able man (cant remember his name) to the post of satrap of Margiane and sent him to reorganize the eastern satrapies of the kingdom. So by the time the Baktrian satrap changed his allegiance to Antiochos for the royal crown with Macedonian backing, the cities of Margiane, Arachosia, Aria and Sogdiane were able to defend themselves against the Baktrian onslaught - though not to venture outside their walls.

For Antiochos however, the situation was urgent and, having few alternatives - what with the war still going on in Asia Minor and Egypt - he gave orders for a regiment of heavy companion horsemen, under the leadership of five generals of his army - the most senior of which was Amyntas of Ephesos, a man already past his prime - to immediate make their way to the eastern satrapies, carrying with them a large amount of money, which would be used to fund a very special deal...

[Keravnos]

Once again, good luck. I really hope you lose the first battle you fight against cataphracts, so you can recruit them yourself when going against the Parthians.

Other than that, best of luck, and thanks for all the pictures. They DO ADD A LOT to the AAR.

Hopefully you will stick with it as there are other enemies waiting to be fought....

Macs, KH, SPQR?

[justme]

Once again, good luck. I really hope you lose the first battle you fight against cataphracts, so you can recruit them yourself when going against the Parthians.

Other than that, best of luck, and thanks for all the pictures. They DO ADD A LOT to the AAR.

Hopefully you will stick with it as there are other enemies waiting to be fought....

Macs, KH, SPQR?

thanks for the wishes, but I don't intend on losing any battle against the Parthians... or any other one indeed It just comes naturally, on it own, and it hurts - a lot

As for the enemies... KH hasn't bothered me in a while, Macs are top of the list, SPQR seems quite out of the plan for now (actually they're my best allies so far )