Queens & Chiliarchs: Diaries of the East

[Velasco]

Originally Posted by MerryPrankster

Ah.

Given how Roxana was the only one to bear Alexander a surviving child in OTL, having her miscarry all the time seems unrealistic.

Well OTL Barsine gave him a living child too.

I think still-births and miscarriages aren't particularly predictable things - some women never have them, others have several before birthing a live child. Others never carry a child to term at all. It seems that OTL Roxane had either a miscarriage or short-lived child shortly after her marriage and ofc, ancient sources would generally not mention miscarriages and children who died in infancy.

[Velasco]

321BCE

Marching through the wooded valley of the Phasis, Alexander marched against the city of Dioscurias, so-called after its founders, the twin gods Castor and Pollux. A colony of Greeks, it was the richest emporium on the Black Sea coast, serving as the entry-point for Greek wares into this part of the world, and as the market for salt, tar, timber, linen and hemp acquired locally. It was a multicultural, multilingual city, notorious for the multitude of peoples which flocked there to do trade. These merchants, however, were not soldiers of any note; resistance was minimal and the elders of the city soon turned it over to Alexander, who promised not to sack and pillage it.

Alexander was by now master of Colchis and Iberia; only the wild mountains and a few wild tribes separated us from the Caspian Sea. We turned back from the Caucasus Mountains and marched in direction of the Lychnitis (Lake Sevan), to the encounter of new troops brought from Persia and Babylon. With these troops we swept through the country sandwiched between Iberia, Atropatene and the Caspian. This country is called variously Aeria or Albania. It is inhabited by barbarians, ruled by clan chiefs; though they deal with each other freely, they did not have a king as master of them all until Alexander.

At Barda, chief city of the country, the lady Roxana gave birth to a live son. To this boy Alexander gave the name Archelaus, meaning 'ruler of the people'. Though it was a name oft-used by his clan, it was thought that such a name intended the son of his favored wife for future rule.

At this time Alexander offered the government of the newly conquered lands to Antipater, now his father-in-law. These lands contained rich cities and stood to grow in importance with the acquisition of further lands to their north. In comparison to the satraps in the East, Antipater would also be closely located to the centers of government in Macedon and Babylonia. Antipater, however, considered this too lowly a commission for one who had so recently governed the homeland - to his mind, exceptionally well. He spurned Alexander's offer and haughtily refused, almost as if desiring to flare Alexander's anger against him. Sending him away, Alexander made his maternal kinsman Neoptolemus satrap of Colchis; as we marched on, Antipater was called back and superficially reconciled to Alexander.

Continuing north, we passed along the southern limits of the Caucasian Mountains. The Coraxi tribe fled before us, but soon returned at the side of a far greater force, the army of King Paerisades of the Bosporus. This tyrant ruled over a realm centered on the cities of Panticapaeum and Phanagoria, and the ports of Tanais and Theodosia along the Tanais river, which river was considered the boundary of Europe and Asia in the north. From these cities, their outlying districts and surrounding regions this king summoned a mighty army of both Greeks and Asians. This army was commanded by Paerisades' father-in-law Dythagoeaeus, a fearsome barbarian warrior.

We fought along the banks of the Black Sea, which flowed red with both Macedonian and barbarian blood. Antipater and his sons Cassander and Iollas fell in the fighting. The Persians Madates and Bisthanes[1], close kinsmen of the old queen Sisygambis, also perished. Their deaths were universally blamed on Hephaestion, who had foolishly placed them, though it is likely that these deaths were ardently wished-for and intended by Alexander as a means of innocently disposing of potential rivals. On the barbarian side the prince Satyrus, son of the King, was also cut down.

On the second day of fighting Dythagoeaeus sued for peace and made his submission to Alexander. Alexander took to wife the lady Dedmotis, grand-daughter of Dythagoeaeus and daughter of King Paerisades, in this way allying himself with both the Greeks and barbarians, for Dythagoeaeus was a Scythian prince. Trusting Dythagoeaeus more than the king, he restored Paerisades to his throne and commanded Dythagoeaeus to command what remained of the army and escort us across Sarmatia into Asia. Pharnabazus brother of Barsine was left with a mixed company of Macedonians and Persians to scout and take hold of the land and ensure the proper payment of tribute.

We then proceed along the Tanais, encountering a number of barbarian tribes which lived in its vicinity: the Dandarii, Toreatae, Agri, Arrechi, Tarpetes, Obidiaceni, Sittaceni, Dosci, and Aspurgiani, among others. Some made their submission, others were cut down before acknowledging Alexander as lord and master. The men of the land were exceptionally tall, with long flowing manes of blond hair on both head and beard. It is said they are the descendants of the Amazons, who mated with the wild men found north of Bactria. We were at this point within a short marching distance from what we believed to be the Caspian, but Alexander insisted on turning north. Dythagoeaeus informed us that at that point the Tanais turned west, away from Asia and into inhospitable country; if we wished to return to Babylon by way of Bactria, we ought to abandon the Tanais and march east. His word confirmed by our scouts and our souls tempered by the biting cold of the land, we set off east. All along the way we encountered Scythian and Sarmatian tribes, extremely warlike but living in the most barbarian ways.

[1] Madates was the husband of Sisygambis' sister's daughter and a close kinsman of Darius. Sisygambis sucessfuly interceded on his behalf with Alexander. Bisthanes was a son of King Artaxerxes III who came over to Alexander during the war against Darius.

[cimon]

Very good update in its literal context,but what is the use of of these conquests?Alexander had in Babylon western Greeks requesting his presence there because of urgent problems:Carthagenians,and Italians to the North including Romans...

[Velasco]

Originally Posted by cimon

Very good update in its literal context,but what is the use of of these conquests?Alexander had in Babylon western Greeks requesting his presence there because of urgent problems:Carthagenians,and Italians to the North including Romans...

There are already so many superior timelines focusing on Alexander going to Arabia or India that I wanted to do something unique (as far as I know). Strategically speaking the Black Sea contains a number of Greek colonies, through which pass all the trade coming south from Scandinavia/Russia and the northern leg of the Silk Road to China. It also produces a lot of grain useful for feeding ongoing operations anywhere from Greece to Armenia. Alexander had already comissioned a navy to explore the Caspian Sea, eager to discover the Caspian's true extent - now he's doing that by land. Another route to Bactria, a trip around the Caspian, another shot at finding the "edge of the world" and of course, lots and lots of plunder, came together to send Alexander off on this campaign.

[Emperor Constantine]

Originally Posted by Velasco

There are already so many superior timelines focusing on Alexander going to Arabia or India that I wanted to do something unique (as far as I know). Strategically speaking the Black Sea contains a number of Greek colonies, through which pass all the trade coming south from Scandinavia/Russia and the northern leg of the Silk Road to China. It also produces a lot of grain useful for feeding ongoing operations anywhere from Greece to Armenia. Alexander had already comissioned a navy to explore the Caspian Sea, eager to discover the Caspian's true extent - now he's doing that by land. Another route to Bactria, a trip around the Caspian, another shot at finding the "edge of the world" and of course, lots and lots of plunder, came together to send Alexander off on this campaign.

I agree. I think every Alexander survives TL I've seen has Alexander invading Arabia. However the plans to do this happened after Hephaestion's death so Alexander might not plan this (at least no right away) with him alive. Also Alexander controls most of Asia minor so conquering the black sea coast makes since.

[Velasco]

Originally Posted by Emperor Constantine

I agree. I think every Alexander survives TL I've seen has Alexander invading Arabia. However the plans to do this happened after Hephaestion's death so Alexander might not plan this (at least no right away) with him alive. Also Alexander controls most of Asia minor so conquering the black sea coast makes since.

Thanks. What we know for certain is that Alexander was investing big in exploring both the Caspian and the Arabia coast, but whether or not he planned a full campaign into Arabia... after all the hardships he's been through in recent times, and the delicate situation he finds himself with his companions, I don't think he'd be running off into another desert for another brush with death. He knew by now just how big Arabia was, and consequently, how tiresome it's conquest would be. Here we have him, ruler of the known world, bringing even the most distantly located Greeks under his benevolent rule.

[Emperor Constantine]

Will Alexander actually govern his empire in this TL? In OTL he was heavily faulted for being a great conqueror but a terrible administrator. Personally I think that Alexander never really go a chance until shorty before his death. I mean he was tutored by some of the greatest minds in Greece at the time, including Aristotle, so he must have been trained in government, not just war.

[Velasco]

Originally Posted by Emperor Constantine

Will Alexander actually govern his empire in this TL? In OTL he was heavily faulted for being a great conqueror but a terrible administrator. Personally I think that Alexander never really go a chance until shorty before his death. I mean he was tutored by some of the greatest minds in Greece at the time, including Aristotle, so he must have been trained in government, not just war.

I actually think that charge is unfair; reading one of his biographies the other day it was mentioning how he casually sailed up the Euphrates and went to quite extensive lengths to benefit his Assyrian subjects re-routing the river, cleaning up old canal etc etc. There is much more - the construction of navies, efforts to explore adjacent lands like the Caspian and Arabia, to build and settle great cities. He may not have been the best administrator but in a short space of time I would say he did accomplish quite a lot of ruler-y things besides conquering territory.

Even his marriage policy shows remarkable foresight - he only married the Persian princesses (who he could have married years earlier) once he was confident of a power base independent of his Macedonians and at a point where he was as sure as he could be that a son of his, regardless of the mother, would be able to succeed. At the same time he provided for the education of Stateira and Drypetis in Greek, making them more acceptable future queens. By incorporating the Persians alongside the Macedonians, marrying Achaemenid heiresses and actively promoting intermarriage between the two he was really digging in for the long haul, a lasting union of Macedon and Asia in a cohesive, governable unit ruled by him and his Greco-Persian heirs. So yeah...I don't think he'll ever be an administrator first and foremost, but I'm inclined to think he wasn't as shitty a ruler as some people think he is - especially as he gets older and mellows somewhat.

[Emperor Constantine]

Originally Posted by Velasco

I actually think that charge is unfair; reading one of his biographies the other day it was mentioning how he casually sailed up the Euphrates and went to quite extensive lengths to benefit his Assyrian subjects re-routing the river, cleaning up old canal etc etc. There is much more - the construction of navies, efforts to explore adjacent lands like the Caspian and Arabia, to build and settle great cities. He may not have been the best administrator but in a short space of time I would say he did accomplish quite a lot of ruler-y things besides conquering territory.

Even his marriage policy shows remarkable foresight - he only married the Persian princesses (who he could have married years earlier) once he was confident of a power base independent of his Macedonians and at a point where he was as sure as he could be that a son of his, regardless of the mother, would be able to succeed. At the same time he provided for the education of Stateira and Drypetis in Greek, making them more acceptable future queens. By incorporating the Persians alongside the Macedonians, marrying Achaemenid heiresses and actively promoting intermarriage between the two he was really digging in for the long haul, a lasting union of Macedon and Asia in a cohesive, governable unit ruled by him and his Greco-Persian heirs. So yeah...I don't think he'll ever be an administrator first and foremost, but I'm inclined to think he wasn't as shitty a ruler as some people think he is - especially as he gets older and mellows somewhat.

You know I never thought about it that way. I mean I knew Alexander was thinking long term with the Susa weddings but I had read that Alexander's lack of governing ability is what lead to the corruption of his Satraps and officials. Come to think of it didn't Alexander plan to create a large port for Babylon and expand the royal road? As for Stateira and Dypetis I always suspected that that the sisters were to young to marry until the Susa weddings. After all wouldn't it make more since to mary Stateira before going to India and hopefully leave her pregnant in case the worst happened?

[cimon]

Originally Posted by Emperor Constantine

You know I never thought about it that way. I mean I knew Alexander was thinking long term with the Susa weddings but I had read that Alexander's lack of governing ability is what lead to the corruption of his Satraps and officials. Come to think of it didn't Alexander plan to create a large port for Babylon and expand the royal road? As for Stateira and Dypetis I always suspected that that the sisters were to young to marry until the Susa weddings. After all wouldn't it make more since to mary Stateira before going to India and hopefully leave her pregnant in case the worst happened?

I have studied and taught Alexander in the view of Military history to fully fledged officers in the school of war and some very interesting results were apparent:His Homeric ideas of Achilles and bravery aside,he was a much greater general that he appears to be,thinking and operating the unexpected in combination with very brilliant logistics(advanced depos ahead of the army's advance direction-especially shown in his advance towards Gaugaumela) where Hefaistion's worth in charge of logistics became apparent as well as an advanced chief of staff commander as he was masking Alexander's advance with light and line cavalry in a very broad front keeping always Darius off balance,and exhibiting an Alexander as an astute engineering mind shown in Eufrates,Afganistan India and Persian Gulf.That shows also Alexander in the light of a very first class administrator;leaving his Persians satraps loose while campaigning ahead
may have also been a deliberate act to secure his back while in Afganistan and India;don't forget he was a Greek in the helm of Persia and once he finished with the east he had all the time to pull the reigns of the satraps,reorganise and turn west.

None was that certain about his Arabian campaign;his exploration was part of his awareness as a commander who wants to protect his southern flank while he is advaning west;the man was acting as his own G2 and G3;brilliant!
he was better than any commander that ever existed before or after him.I say this in full awareness that I disagree with his high strategy(not focused enough-not knowing where to stop) and his politics of war(destroying the Persian empire-what would follow?-using it as buffer to turn west obliterate Carthage and Rome-) Themistocles and Pyrrus were probably better in their high strategy and Alcibiades better in what I accuse him of.

[chr92]

Is it too late to bump this thread?

[cimon]

Bump??? meaning what?

[chr92]

Meaning politely - it was *meant* to be politely - ask if there could be more of this tl.

[Velasco]

Working on the next update covering 320-310BCE, coming soon