The Rise of Epirus

[Cemendur Telcontar]

After reading several AAR's, I have decided to create my own, using the TE mod by Lusted and playing as the Epirus faction. Hope you guys like it.
[COLOR=#000000]

The Rise of Epirus

The Fall of Rome:

It is the winter of 278 B.C. Phyrus of Epirus has besieged Rome, but Roman reinforcements have arrived in an attempt to break the siege. Now the combined Roman forces, led by Pro-Consul Flavius Octavianus, numbering over 1800 strong, meet Phyrus’ forces of over 1500 strong on the plains of Rome. The past five years have been series of successes for the Eporites, having taken Capua tow years earlier and defeating the Roman southern armies. Now it will come down to this. If Phyrus wins, the Roman’s largest and most powerful army would be destroyed, leaving little else to defend the remaining Roman lands. Rome itself would be under Eporite rule, and the stage will be set for continued conquest. However, if Rome won, Phyrus’ grand army would be destroyed, Phyrus himself possibly killed, and his hard-earned conquests lost. The most important battle in Phyrus’ career was to take place, which would make or break both Rome and Epirus, and decide the fate of the world…..
The following account is taken from the records left by Diokoles, a young captain in Phyrus’ personal bodyguard, and close friend of the king:
I could not tell what time of day it was. The clouds have covered the sun since I awoke this morning, and it has rained since. But not the hard rains that foreshadow doom. The rains that are light, which seem to be followed by the clearing of the clouds. I did not care what the other soldiers and captains said. They squabbled about it the night before. It was a good omen for me, and it foreshadowed a great victory. I talked to King Phyrus the night before. He did not seem scared, as the other men were. He told me the fate of the battle was in the hands of fate, and that if we won, it was fate that urged us to create a new empire, and if we lost, it was fate that we be destroyed. I was shocked, not only by the statement, but how calmly he spoke it. But I trusted him. He hadn’t led us astray anytime before, and it was because of him that we were even in front of the gates of Rome.
Phyrus placed his phalanx line to meet the brunt of the Roman assault. He placed a unit of phalangites on the far left at a diagonal, so that the forces arriving from the city would have something to deal with. Phyrus’ plan was to hold the Romans at bay and attack them from the rear with the heavy Eporite cavalry, Hetori, and elephants. However we were never this lucky nor was the enemy ever that stupid. Usually the phalanx’s were there as a figurehead. Phyrus’ regular battle plan was to utilize the cavalry more than the phalanx, as he had shown in his previous battles. The Eporite cavalry were on the far left flank, Phyrus’ bodyguard, including me, and Hetori on the far right. The elephants were located behind the phalanx.

I was slightly nervous, but I knew Phyrus would get us through. We heard a sound of horns in the distance, but we did not need to hear them to know the Romans had arrived. And with this, the battle began.

The Roman forces were more spread out than we thought. Apparently the forces from Rome had a late start, and were lagging behind, leaving only the reinforcing army, who had 1000 men, to face us. To our surprise, the marched their men toward Phyrus and the Hetori. I asked Phyrus, “Are they really this idiotic? They are leaving their flanks wide open!” To this he responded, “The Romans are more flexible, and they are trying to entice us to attack early with our phalanxes. Then they would simply turn and destroy them.” This had never occurred to me, but this was Phyrus. Maybe if he were the commander it would work for them, but I still thought them idiotic. But they then advanced towards our phalanxes. I worried that their pila would rip through our phalanxes, and they would then get an opening. But Phyrus still waited. Then, Phyrus moved his column, along with me, towards the rear of the Roman army. Then, he ordered his bodyguard to attack, and had the Hetori circle towards the rear. I complied, but I felt it was insanity! The whole of the Roman army, realizing was going on, sent its princeps towards our unit. As I cut through the enemy men, I saw their captain, and I knew why Phyrus attacked. But if he were killed, all would be lost. But, their forces began to give way, and we then focused on the princeps.

But I took a contingent of men to kill the captain, while Phyrus dealt with the princeps. I reached the enemy captain, and with a strong thrust I cut his head clean off of his body. This spread fear throughout the enemy troops. But I looked towards the left flank of the phalanx, and I saw the army from Rome attacking and attempting to attack the rear of the phalanx. And I looked again, I saw the Hetori running in circles, and half of the remaining forces running after them! But things looked bleak on the left flank. Our Eporite cavalry were being torn apart by the enemy princeps and their general, Flavius Octavianus.

I sought to move to the left flank, but our forces were already caught up in combat. Then our elephants crashed through the line I was fighting and routing them, allowing Phyrus to turn and attack the remaining forces on the right flank. Now the Romans began fleeing. I cut my through many princeps, cutting off heads, slashing throats, etc. Now I felt the surge of victory and battle flow through me, and Phyrus and I, along with our elephants and Hetori, crushed the right flank. Meanwhile stability was regained on the left, and our Eporite cavalry surrounded the hastati and princeps, and our phalanxes were bearing down on Flavius Octavianus. The Roman forces on the right were retreating, and now we could focus on the left.

Now almost every unit was routing, except Flavius and a unit of triarii. Phyrus ordered us to charge as fast as we could towards Flavius. We saw him, trying to flee. I urged my horse ahead of all the others, and thrust my spear forward. On the end of my spear, transfixed on the point, was the Roman leader, Flavius Octavianus.

I had killed the second greatest leader in the world. The first was Phyrus of Epirus, now undisputed ruler of Italy.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Come on guys I put this together for user enjoyment and no one is reading it? Either that or I'm impatient.

[Glory23]

Hey gooalie dont worry i didnt see this up until now Its getting along great.

[Hannibal the destroy]

Hey Glory and goalie just saw this thread looks awesome.

[Scutarii]

Looking good, goalie, keep going with this.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm gonna have a new one up tommorow about the Macedonian wars, and a brief thing about what happened the two years prior to Phyrrus' great victory at Rome.

[Turk]

Excellent but upload the pics in big size pls here a link how to do it: i learned it yesterday http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95763

[megaflus]

cool stuff

[Cemendur Telcontar]

The Battle of Macedonia: Winter of 278 B.C
In Macedonia, Phyrrus’ son, Alexandros, assembled an army to attack Pella, seat of Macedonian power. The source of the war was an agreement between the Greek Cities and Epirus. They agreed to a two front war, with Greece attacking from the south, and Epirus from the north. Macedonian reinforcements arrived, attacking Alexandros while he besieged the city. The following account is taken from the writings of Adymos, a Tarentum hoplite in the army of Alexandros, who fought at the battle of Macedonia:
The battle began with snow, which blanketed the ground and froze us. The Macedonian forces marched towards us, and I was nervous. I was told that their faction leader, one of his sons, Thessalian cavalry, two units of levy phalangites and their best hypastati phalangites were fighting us. I didn’t need the snow to make me shiver. But, as a good soldier must do, I marched into line and possibly awaited my death, and I prayed to the gods that I wouldn’t meet it today. When I saw the two separate Macedonian forces marching towards us, I was heartened a little. At least we wouldn’t have to face them all at once, and maybe we could win, if we defeated each unit one by one. But still fear remained, as did the snow.

The Macedonians advanced, and the first unit to march towards us was the hypastati phalangites. They were marching towards my unit. They could probably rip us apart, but I knew I had to fight, so I braced myself, held my spear firm, and waited for the attack. When they arrived I thrust my spear into the mass of phalangites. For the first minute, I used my spear, and I aimed towards the enemies unprotected flanks. I managed to kill several Macedonians using this method. But they drew closer, and I had to draw my sword. I cut and hacked, but many times I hit an enemy’s shield or armor. Several of the men around me were dying, but I didn’t have time to care. I had to survive, and so I fought hard. I engaged in hand-to-hand combat with several phalangites, and I managed to hold them off or kill them. After I struck down one I saw the flag bearer, and I wanted to be the one to take the Macedonian flag. Around me more of my comrades were dying, but it seemed more of the enemy was dying than we were.

Now, however, the Macedonians sent more phalanxes against us, not as good quality as the hypastati unit, but with the addition of more troops against us, we would surely be outnumbered and surrounded. And I wondered why our phalangites did not move against in incoming forces. Now the enemy cavalry was forming up, and I knew they would try to surround us. I hoped our general, Alexandros, would be able to think of a solution to this problem, but for the time being, I fought against the wave of phalanxes. My fellow soldiers were dying quickly, and then I heard a horn sound. Our general, Alexandros, charged against the enemy cavalry, while our Thracian mercenaries and our phalangites bore down upon the huge mass of enemy pikes. All that I had to do was hold firm, and victory might be ours. Now I swung my sword with all my might, and in one blow I managed to kill the Macedonian flag bearer. My sword was now bright crimson from the blood that I shed. But victory was not to be gained this easily. Out of the snow charged the enemy king, with his faction of cavalry. Our phalangites were being crushed, our Thracians killed, and our general no where to be seen. But he emerged; Alexandros and his guard charged at the rear of the enemy’s king, and Alexandros killed him personally. My unit was ravaged, as we had lost many men, but when the news of the death of the enemy general reached our ears, we fought like beasts from Hades itself. We surrounded the enemy, and fought until they were all destroyed.

As soon as they were all dead, I fell to my knees. I was exhausted, my arms sore from killing, my body bleeding from wounds, but we had a great victory. I just hope the loss of life would be worth it.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

I might have a new post up tonight about the events preluding these battles and their causes, and a more general overview of the whole of the Eporite kingdom. However I had a lot of HW tonight, so I couldn't post it earlier. If it isn't posted tonight, it will be on tommorow. Thanks for reading!

[gr33kp1mp777]

Macedon never dies!!!!!


[Edit] except at the hands of Rome............my 100th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Two years prior to the victories at Rome and in Macednoia, Phyrrus, King of Epirus, adressed his people at the Eporite Capital of Salona:
The year is 280 B.C, at the Eporite capital of Salona. Spectators mill around the town square, apprehensively waiting for their king to adress his people. Many wondered why, as the only time meetings like this have occured before were when Epirus was being invaded, or if the king had an important Royal proclamation. The sun had not risen past the mountains to the East yet, and they wondered why they were gathered so early. Their questions would soon be answered. Phyrrus, the aging King, stepped onto the platform erected between the palace and the town square. The speech he was to make would set in motion the rise of an empire that would rival that of Alexander. Phyrrus began his speech:
"Friends, Eporites, Countrymen! Lend me your ears! For years, our nation has been a humble collection of cities, always overshadowed by our Macedonian and Greek neighbors, and always attacked, but never conquered! Today I bring you word of our cities in Italy. To the north, powerful barbarians who call themselves 'Romans' have dared to threaten our authority on the peninsula. While this should not worry us gravely, our spys report that their armies are the most powerful in the world, and can rip apart our phalanxes and destroy our cavalry. The people of the cities of Croton and Tarentum have asked us to ward off the threat, but I see this as a new opportunity to increase our prestige! That is why I have called you here today: To announce the beginning of the Eporite Empire! I have assembled an army large enough to sweep the peninsula, which consists of men from every city, to ensure that the Romans will bother us no more! To the east, the Macedonians sit idly, waiting for their chance to strike, but we will not let them! Starting today, our former enemies will become our slaves, and their lands part of the Empire of Epirus! I will set out for Italy today, and show the Romans the might of Epirus! We will create an empire to rival that of Alexander! My People, today is the dawn of a new age; The Rise of Epirus!"
At these words the sun rose above the mountains, shining its light on Phyrrus, basking him in radiance. The people took this as a sign from the gods, and they cheered. This began the Rise of Epirus. Phyrrus and his army marched to Italy, and to glory.

[The Black Reaper]

very good!! keep up the good work.. i can tell you have the trial version of fraps because of the fps counter on the top left hand corner of each screenshot...

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Good observation Count Flip . I might have a new update on tonight concerning Sicily, but I've gotten lots of HW recently cause I have my AP tests coming up. After taht though I should have daily stuff coming up. So keep reading, because its gonna get better.

[Scorch]

Are you using a Mod to make those units look that good, or is just on the high settings?

I got a new computer and graphics card since I last played RTW, so I don't know what it looks like on the high settings ...

[Turk]

It is Lusted´s Terrae Expungadae:http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=114

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Summer of 277 B.C
Earlier that year, Phyrrus sent his son Dicaes to besiege the Sicani city of Messana. Takin Messana would provide an enourmous trade bonus. So that summer, Dicaes began the siege, and easliy crushed the small garrison.
By Winter of 277 B.C, Phyrrus was preparing to march north to finish off the Romans, and Alexandros was creating a new army in Pella, with which he could march south and take the Macedonian lands of Thessaly, and severly cripple the Macedonian war machine. However, if Macedon and Rome were to be eliminated, the troubles would not end there. Potential enemies surrounded Epirus, and only a strong military, booming economy, and expert diplomatics would overcome these potential threats.


276 B.C
Phyrrus moves north towards Arretum, to besiege the second Roman Capital. He is intercepted in route, however, and must fight against the remainder of the Roman armies. Phyrrus wrote of the short battle that occured in his annals:
The Romans are despretely trying to push my armies back to Epirus. However, their force are greatly diminished, and the forces that fought me in the summer were all that remained of the once great forces. They came, as usual, in a two prong assault. When I learned that their Leader would once again be present, I knew that I could wipe out Rome in one short sweep of my sword.
I moved my cavalry towards the rear of the first enemy wave, who were moving towards the elepants. I wondered why. They were great hulking beasts, weapons that I aquired from the Ptolimids, fearsome enough to frighten the strongest man, and stinking enough to make the stoutest man faint. I guess it would make the battle easier. Then they moved towards my unit. Then they moved back towards the elephants this went on for a while, and I enjoyed tinkering with their heads. But my goal was to crush them before the second wave arrived. The elephants charged, and when the enemy was being tossed around, I charged the rear. The enemy forces scattered, due to the ferocity of the charge, and the stampeding of the elephants. Only two of my men were killed. I fixed the line and told the rest of my men to prepare for a second wave.
The elephants took care of the princeps, and I charged the enemy leader. I was forced to withdraw when the spearmen began to attack the rear. I then charged at the remaining princeps, and routed them. My phalanx units took care of the remaining cavalry and triarii, the Roman spearmen. I charged the rear again when my phalanx engaged the enemy. The leader fell, and another victory for Epirus was gained.

Now all that remained of the Roman Republic was the eastern shoreline of the Adriatic Sea.

Meanwhile, Alexandros leads an expeditionary force into Thessaly. However, they quickly find themselves surrounded by enemies. Not wanting to make any costly moves, Alexandros sets up camp and prepares for a Macedonian attack.
The attack came in the summer. Alexandros' appointed commander of the hoplites Adymos recorded the battle which gave his version of the battle:
Another battle in this campagin, and again it would probably be a long drawn out sturggle. I recieved information from our scouts, since I was appointed hoplite commander by Lord Alexandros himself. Aparently it was a large force of hoplites; not elites, but around 1100 hoplites to our...400 men. A force which could easily destroy us. However, if Alexandros was right in his strategy, we could crush them in seconds. I prayed to the gods that it would work. I didn't want to relive the Battle of Macedonia. The battle still haunts me, as we lost many men. At least this time it was sunny out and not bitter cold.
Our phalangites moved towards the incoming phalangites heading towards us. Alexandros ordered me to position my men towards the 1000 or so incoming levies. There we waited, and while we waited we watched Alexandros move behind the phalangites, waitng for them to make contact with our phalangites.

After that the phalangites fought each other for several minutes, and wiped out the phalangites. Now our units prepared for the remaining units coming from the west. We formed a line, and waited for the impact. We took each unit one at a time. Our phalanxes held the enemy at bay, and Alexandros charged with his cavalry and routed the enemy. Eventually we crushed them. I've got to stop worrying so much.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

The rest of the year 276 B.C passed without much change, except for Phyrrus conquering the Roman Adriatic Province of Ariminum, limiting Rome to one last province. In Greece Alexandros besieges Larissa, and diplomats are sent north to converse with the Barbarian tribes.
However, towards the end of the year, the Macedonians sent another force against Alexandros. If Alexandros lost, the Eporites would face several more years of a drawn out war. Adymos once again writes of his exploits in the battle:
Another battle. By then I learned to get rid of my fear, and now I was a warrior; I was powerful enough to be a Spartan. The enemy king and prince would fight in this battle. So if we won, Macedonian morale would break completely. It seemed that many of these win or die battles were taking place, and that every battle was decisive.
We took positions on a ledge, and looked down on the Macedonians. They had phalanx, horses, and archers.

Alexandros took his units around the flanks, and crushed the light cavalry and the enemy captain. He then took the horses and routed the archers, leaving only the phalanx units and the reinforcing army. We then engaged the enemy phalanxes. They were weaker than we were, but they outnumbered us, and we still fought hard. I killed many with my sword and spear that day. I felt that I could go on fighing like this for hours. As I was fighting a Macedonian troop, another ran behind me and tried to kill me from behind. I ducked, and he ended up killing the man I was fighting. I then thrusted upward, and pierced his heart, spilling blood everywhere.

Soon the battle was joined by the reinforcing phalangites, and now the fight was on. Bodies were everywhere, men swinging and cuting and hacking every living thing in sight. We fought like beasts.

Then Alexandros charged into the heir's cavalry. We heard the neighing of the horses from where we stood. But we couldn't reach him, because we were fighting our own enemies. Then we heard the King's cavalry charge Alexandros, and we could not see him fight. I prayed to the gods that he would be triumphant in defeating them, but the Macedonian cavalry was the strongest in the world. We still fought hard. Their king withdrew a short distance away, and the heir was killed. However, our Tarentum hoplites were starting to lose, and the only thing we could do was to fight harder. Then the enemy king charged Alexandros. He and Alexandros engaged in close combat.

Meanwhile the enemy phalangites were routing, and I led the charge against the remainder of the phalangites. Then, the enemy cavalry routed. Alexandros had killed the enemy king personally. The battle was won.

Trade Agreements were reached with Carthage, Gaul, and Thrace, creating goodwill between each nation.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

275 B.C
Phyrrus marched his core troops to the northern Galeic lands, seeking to find a way to increase Eporite glory.
Meanwhile, his grandson Eudorus won a victory against the remaining Roman troops, and besieged their last city, Cannae.
In Greece, Alexandros rebuilt his army, hoping to move south, although he recieved word that the Greek Cities had besieged Corinth, the last Macedonian stronghold in Greece. The Macedonians sent an emissary to Epirus, asking for a ceasefire, but they would not accept our generous offer of a ceasefire, trade rights, and 4000 denari in exchange for mytiline, one of their island settlements.

274 B.C
Phyrrus marches further north into Gaul, angering the Gaelic leaders. he is given a note of Transgression, which he promptly ignores and continues north on his expedition.
Alexandros and his army besiege Corinth, severly weakened after the Greek siege. Alexandros even wonders if he could start a war with the Greeks, and gain their cities.
Eudorus begins the siege of Cannae, and defeats the remaining Roman leaders. The Republic of Rome no longer existed. Now only Macedonia stood in the way of Phyrrus' goal of master of Italy and Greece. But with the fall of Macedonia and Rome, more trials would lie ahead of the Eporite Kingdom.
These new trials began on a cold winter morning in Northern Italy. Phyrrus, having completed his expedition in the north, sought to return to the northern Eporite cities. However, a small Gaelic force stood in his way, and refused him acess. Enraged, Phyrrus attacked and destroyed the small Gaelic force, and to teach them a lesson, besieged the Gaelic city of Patavium.

273 B.C
Phyrrus takes the Gaelic city of Patavium and annexes it to the rest of the Eporite lands. His goal is to head west towards the former Greek colony of Massilia and reclaim in the name of Epirus. After his previous engagements with the gauls, he felt that he could crush them easily. But he had not faced the enterity of Galeic strength...
In Macedon, Alexandros maintains the siege of Corinth, and the Greeks offer their little troops that remain to help take Corinth. However, the Greeks withdrew, and although the city was lightly defended, Alexandros still lost 30 percent of his men, mainly his phalangites, to a cavalry charge, with pikes out. Alexnadros was enraged by this, and he executed the Royal family of Macedon, so that a new king would not arise, and executed several high ranking officials, officialy ending the Macedonian dynasty. He also sent his disgraced phalangite units to provoke a war with the Greeks, however they could not attack. Alexandros wanted the Greeks to break the alliance, so that he could take Athens and Sparta.
Meanwhile Phyrrus besieged Mediolanium, and began an assault on it using his elephants. He took the city with ease, and began to prepare his troops to cross the alps, something no Greek has done for hundreds of years.

[Cemendur Telcontar]

Hope you gus keep reading, because the story just gets better