230 BC. The barcid war-map focus
  • 230 BC

    The Barcid war

    After some small battles the Massaliot League forces manages to conquer the lands of Llercavones and Edetani tribes. Hearing rumours that the league will march against Barcid kingdom( and loose the precious silver mines of Mastia/ Carthago Nova) Hasdrubal the Fair allied himself with Celtiberi and Carpetani tribes and marched against Massaliot league.

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    By place

    Rome

    • With Roman merchants being killed by Samnite pirates, envoys are sent by Rome to the Samnites . After the Roman ambassadors lucius Coruncanius and Fabius Rullianus are murdered by Samnite soldiers after causing offence to king Gavius Egnatius, Roman forces mobilised with the aim of humbling Gavius Egnatius.
    Illyria
    • King Agron of Illyria dies. Pinnes, the son of Agron and Agron's first wife Triteuta, officially succeeds his father as king, but the kingdom is effectively ruled by Agron's second wife, Queen Teuta (Tefta), who expels the Greeks from the Illyrian coast and then launches Illyrian pirate ships into the Ionian Sea, preying on Greek shipping. She continues her husband's policy of attacking cities on the west coast of Greece and practising large-scale piracy in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
    Egypt
    India
    • Jalauka to deal with Sophagasenus asked the help of Diodotus of the Diodotian Kingdom( Greco-Bactrian)
     
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    229 BC
  • 229 BC

    Hermolaos forces( roughly twelve thousands ) were caught by surprise when the two armies of Carpetani/Celtiberi( twenty thousands)tribes and Barcid kingdom (thirty five thousands/six thousands cavalry) reach them. Heavily outnumbered the League army suffers a crushing defeat. Seven thousands League soldiers died and another four thousands sold as slaves. Hermolaos was killed during the battle by a young Barcid nobleman(Hasdrubal the Fair,brother-in-law) Hannibal Bacra. Another Barcid mercenary army of five thousands marched from Gadir to conquer Tagus.

    By place

    Epirus/Illyria

    • The First Illyrian War starts when Alexander II of Epirus invades with an army of twenty thousands to Illyria to deal with the piracy. Epirus forces the withdrawal of Illyrian pirate garrisons in the Greek cities of Epidamnus, Apollonia, Corcyra and Pharos and establishes a protectorate over these Greek towns.
    • The Illyrian tribe of the Ardiaei is subdued by Alexander II.
    • The involvement of Epirus in Illyria leads to strengthen the relations between Epirus and the Aetolian League ( a semi independent vassal of Epirus), which approve the suppression of Illyrian piracy. This was a crucial move that help Alexander II to stabilise his realm.
    Rome
    • The roman army under consul Centumalus won a major battle against the Samnite army near Asculum. The Samnite king Gavius Egnatius, desperate by this loss asked for help from the Megale Hellas League(an unofficial ally). The Greeks fearing of Roman aggression decide to help Gavius Egnatius.
    India
    • Jalauka together with Diodotus won a major battle against Sophagasenus(died in the battle).
    • In a epic bloodbath, Dasharatha's army is repelled by Samprati's army. More than one hundred thousands soldiers died in that battle.
     
    228 BC. Barcid must be destroyed! Diodotian map.
  • 228 BC

    Barcid must be destroyed!

    Hearing the news about Hermolaos, the federal council of Massaliot League furious declare an all out war against the Barcid kingdom. A massive army of eight tagmata(around fifty thousand man) under strategos Diocletos marched from Tolosa to Iberia. Another army of two tagmata(around fifteen thousand man) under strategos Epiktetos sailed with a fifty venemeres strong fleet to protect the Atlantic ocean colonies and attack Barcid Kingdom from behind. The Mediterranean League fleet went to conquer the balearic islands. Meanwhile Hasdrubal the Fair continued preparations to deal with the League. He managed to recruit another ten thousands Numibians mercenaries and send them to sack Lixus, then cross the sea to Iberia. By skillful diplomacy pursued the Celtici,Lussitani and Vetones tribes to join him. He even send emissaries to Carthage, asking to join forces against the common enemy.
    • Tagus is burned to the ground by the Barcid forces.
    • Arginio is stormed by Hibernian pirates. Around two hundred survivors manage to flee in Kassitia.
    By place

    Italy

    In a battle near Paestum the Roman army(around thirty thousands) was victorious against the Megale Hellas league forces(around twenty five thousands) but in the near by sea battle the Megale Hellas navy repelled easily the Roman fleet. Emissaries send from Megale Hellas to Sparta and Massalia to ask for help. Not wanting to give a further step to Ptolemaic Empire*, Megale Hellas decided to not ask them for help. Plus five thousand Zama mercenaries paid to come to aid also.

    *The base of the Ptolemaic Empire in Sicily was a big problem for the trade routes of Megale Hellas.

    Illyria/Epirus
    • The Illyrian Queen Teuta's governor, Demetrius of Pharos has little alternative but to surrender to the overwhelming Epirus force. In return, the Epirotes award him a considerable part of Teuta's holdings to counter-balance the power of Teuta. Meanwhile, the Epirotes army lands farther north at Apollonia. The combined Epirotes army and fleet proceed northward together, subduing one town after another and besieging Shkodra, the Illyrian capital.
    Asia Minor
    Seleucid empire
    • Antiochus II died mysteriously. His son Seleucus II is now the new king.
    Ptolemaic empire
    • In an expedition south of Egypt, Ptolemy III conquered the lands of the nomadic Nubian tribal kingdom of Blemmyes.
    India/Bactria
    • In a celebration over the victory against Sophagasenus, Diodotus assassinates Jalauka and several indian nobles/officers thus gained control of both Jalauaka and Sophagasenus realms. The cynical and charismatic Diodotus was now the ruler of a vast empire.
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    227 BC
  • 227 BC

    Hasdrubal the Fair scorched much of the land marching South with his army from Edetani lands in an attempt to deprive Diocletos of the resources and safe haven of the towns and villages along Diocletos march South. Hascrubal camped well outside of Carthago Nova and focused on conducting harassing engagements of the advancing Massaliot League units led by Diocletos and his chief lieutenant Briccius. Epiktetos army landed in Orestiko and marched south to Lussitani lands.
    • After a two months siege, Lixus felt to the Barcids.
    • In a short campaign Balearic islands felt to Massaliot League.
    • Carthage denied to help Barcid Kingdom.
    By place

    Italy
    • Thurri felt to Romans after three months of siege. The Romans slaughtered nearly the entire population of twenty five thousands leaving only one thousand alive. The Megale Hellas League army regroup at Locri, were they meet with the eight thousands Spartan reinforcements. Occupied by the war in Iberia, Massaliot League although wanted to help Megale Hellas League decided to support them only with four thousands mercenaries paid by Palaioi company.
    Illyria
    • Queen Teuta of Illyria finally surrenders to Epirus forces and is forced by Alexander II to accept an ignominious peace. The Epirotes allow her to continue her reign but restrict her to a narrow region around the Illyrian capital, Shkodra, deprive her of all her other territory, and forbid her to sail an armed ship below Lissus just south of the capital. They also require her to pay an annual tribute and to acknowledge the final authority of Epirus.
    Seleucid Empire
    • Antiochus Hierax tries to raise revolts against his brother Seleucus II in Syria and the east of the Seleucid Empire. However, he is captured and exiled to Bosporus Kingdom, where he lives as a virtual prisoner.
     
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    226 BC
  • 226 BC

    Diocletos reached Hasdrubal camp near Carthage Nova. Realising its mountainous location made a frontal assault risky, he decided to rely on his superior artillery tactics and lure Hasdrubal in open field battle. Upon arriving, Diocletos discovered that there was a small hill that the Barcids held that was essential to their holding Carthage Nova itself. From there, they were able to provide water, corn and forage. Diocletos took this in a night raid, and swiftly stationed his army upon this same hill.

    With fresh reinforcements and supplies getting low, Hasdrubal decided to meet the League army in a major battle.

    The Massaliot league army of fifty thousands won the battle against the larger Barcid army of sixty thousands. Once again,the enemy was no match for the artillery tactics and advanced cavalry of the Massaliot league. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the young King Hannibal Barca, the Barcid army was saved by total annihilation and the major bulk of it retreated south.
    • Epiktetos army forced to return North to deal with a Vettones/Lussitani army sieging Asturica.
    • After three months siege Carthage Nova felt to Diocletos.
    Italy

    In a stalemate battle outside Croton the Megale Hellas League army manage to repel the Roman army. The Spartan reinforcements played a crucial role to to this outcome by saving the rest of the army(while rooting) and counter attack the Romans. The second army of Rome under consul Fullo while on the way to conquer Tarentum, forced to turn back due to an invasion of Gaul tribes in the North. With two fronts active Rome decided to accept the peace deal proposed by Megale Hellas League. Samnites lands were officially annex by Rome.
    • A formidable host of Gauls, some of them from across the Alps, threaten Rome.
    Greece
    Seleucid Empire

    • Antiochus Hierax, brother of the Seleucid King Seleucus II manages to escape from captivity in Bosporus Kingdom and flees to the mountains to raise an army, but he is killed by a band of Scythians.
    • Seleucus II dies after a fall from his horse and is succeeded by his eldest son Seleucus III Soter. Dynastic power is upheld by a mercenary army and by the loyalty of many Greek cities founded by Alexander the Great and his successors. The strength of the empire is already being sapped by repeated revolts in its eastern provinces and dissension amongst the members of the Seleucid dynasty.
     
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    225 BC
  • 225 BC

    Epiktetos army, with the help of the Vaccaei tribe, manages to defeat the Vettones/Lussitani army and lift the siege of Asturica. Hasdrubal and Hannibal continued the scorched earth strategy and denied to meet the League army on open field. Diocletos dispatched two tagmata under Briccius to conquer the Carpetani and Celtiberi lands.

    By place

    Roman Republic
    Seleucid Empire
     
    224 BC. The battle of Malaca
  • 224 BC

    In his first solo campaign, Hannibal attacked and caught by surprise the advancing Massaliot League units led by Alkaios, one of the chief lieutenants of Diocletos, near Malaca which promptly led to their surrender.

    The battle of Malaca

    In another storm/night cavalry attack, against Diocletos camp outside of Malaca, Hannibal was repelled after a crossbowman killed his horse. The next morning Massaliot League army resolved to confront Hannibal and marched North from Malaca. Hannibal capitalized on the eagerness of Diocletos and drew him into a trap by using an envelopment tactic. This eliminated the Massaliot League numerical advantage by shrinking the combat area. Hannibal drew up his least reliable infantry in a semicircle in the center with the wings/flanks composed of the Iberian and Numidian horse. The League tagmata forced their way through Hannibal's weak center, but the Libyan mercenaries on the wings, swung around by the movement, menaced their flanks. In another move Hannibal send one thousands light cavalry to harass the Massaliot League artillery. The onslaught of Hannibal's heavy flank cavalry was irresistible until Massaliot League noble “stirrup-war saddle” heavy cavalry confronted them. After several hours the battle ended with no clear winner. Both sides had heavy losses. Diocletos lost half of his thirty thousands troops and Hannibal ten thousands of his twenty two thousands troops.

    • with Lussitani and Vettones lands under control Epiktetos army marched to Carpetani lands to meet with Briccius army.
    • While in Africa to recruit more Numibians mercenaries, Hasdrubal was assassinated by a Numidian chief (friend of Carthage)



    Roman Republic

     
    223 BC. World map
  • 223 BC

    With Hasdrubal the fair dead,the treasury almost empty and no reinforcements for his army, Hannibal Barca realised that resistance against Massaliot League was futile. In the peace negotiations Massaliot League demanded, besides Barcid kingdom to become a small vassal, Hannibal's surrender. Hannibal thereupon went into voluntary exile. He journeyed to North Africa and then to Rome, where he was honourably received by consuls Flaminus and Philus. With the conquest of Iberia peninsula, the League reached an "Empire status".
    • Two new cities, Edessa and Akrotiri, builded to Iberia to control better the new territories. As usual lands distributed to the tagmata soldiers.
    • Callaeci,Vaccaei and Barcid Kingdom are now Massaliot League vassals.
    35WGVjH.jpg

    By place

    Seleucid Empire
    India
    • Samprati and Kalinga kingdoms join forces and march against Dasharatha. In another major battle Dasharatha wins but sustains heavy losses thus not able to capitalise over the victory.
    Ptolemaic Empire
    • In a exhibition further in Red sea Ptolemaic forces conquer the Sabaean kingdom, making Red sea a "Ptolemaic lake”
    Rome
    SKTjeFz.jpg
     
    223 BC trade map
  • 223 BC
    Additional info map


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    Ofc there are more resources but further research would kill me :p
     
    223 BC Massaliot league nomes map
  • 223 BC
    Additional info map vol2

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    With this map i finished this chapter. Ill start writing the next chapter within a couple of days. So i am looking forward to any analysis/suggestions or tips. Not only for Massaliot League but for all the powers in the map. What would be the effect of new Massaliot League techs in North Europe and Africa? Maybe a baltic kingdom? A Diodotian- Quin Empire trade war? Who do you think will rise and fall? Also what other type of maps/statistics would you like to see?
     
    223 BC Popullation map and demographics.
  • 223 BC
    Data update vol2

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    Top 10 cities

    Alexandria 350000 pop
    Pataliputra 350000
    Massalia 280000
    Syracuse 250000
    Pratisthana 250000
    Carthage 200000
    Seleucia 200000
    Antioch 150000
    Ujjain 150000
    Rome 100000

    Top 5 richest states

    Ptolemaic Empire
    Seleucids Empire
    Diodotian Empire
    Satavahana Kingdom
    Massaliot League

    Estimate of the Population of this ATL

    Greek peninsula 2,5 mil pop
    Anatolia 7 mil(1 mil Greeks)
    Greater Syria 4 mil(0,4 mil Greeks)
    Egypt 4,5 mil(0,4+ mil Greeks)
    Italy 3 mil(0,3+ mil Greeks)
    Sicily 0,7
    Iberia 3 mil
    North Gaul 3mil
    North Balkans 2 mil
    South Gaul 1,8mil(0,5+ mil Greeks)
    Persia/central asia 25+ mil(0,5+ mil Greeks)
    India 45+ Mil

    Many thanks to @RogueTraderEnthusiast for his tips!

    Some pop data links:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_Roman_Empire
    https://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/fischer-bovet/100701.pdf
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_demography#Further_reading
     
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    223 BC. Arabic update.
  • Tell us more about these Greco-Arabians, if you don't mind.

    223 BC
    South Red sea/Arabic update


    Besides a couple of polis/cities on the South red sea, under direct control,Ptolemy appointed as mukarribs(vassal king) of a council of tribal leaders, a man of their own ethnic tribes.

    Qataban or Katabania (Arabic,مملكةقتبان) was the major vassal kingdom of Ptolemaic Empire in South Red sea. Its heartland was located in the Baihan valley. It gained great wealth from the trade of frankincense, myrrh and Indian incenses which were burned at altars. The kingdom was heavily influenced by the Greek culture especially in architecture. This tribes became so influenced by other cultures such as those of Greece and Egypt that their gods eventually became anthropomorphic and were represented with human features. Also the koine Greek was the new trade language. The capital of Qataban was named Timna and was located on the trade route which passed through the other Ptolemaic vassal kingdoms of Hadramaut, Sheba.
     
    222-220 BC. Hydraulis-Antiochus III-Diodotian/China
  • 222-220 BC

    Diogenes of Thessaly, a student of Ctesibius in Alexandria museum, introduce in Massalia the hydraulis, a water organ that is considered the precursor of the modern pipe organ, and an improved water clock or clepsydra.
    • Two new major roads are build to connect Massalia with the new territories.
    By place

    Rome

    Hannibal Bacra came real close with consul Publius Cornelius Scipio and his family, especially the young Scipio(Africanus in OTL). Hannibal introduced to the Consul and the Romans the stirrup/war saddle tech and some new cavalry tactics.
    Seleucid Empire

    Antiochus III inherited a disorganized state. Not only had Asia Minor become detached by Pergamon, but the easternmost provinces had broken away, Bactria and Parthia under the Greek Diodotus of Bactria. Antiochus proved to be a worthy and visionary statesman. He reorganise his nomes and put’s trusted friends as governors. He marries Laodice(daughter of Mithridates II, king of Pontus/vassal of Seleucids). Another of Mithridates daughters, also named Laodice, is married to Achaeus, a cousin of Antiochus. Antiochus III gives his sister Antiochia in marriage to King Xerxes of his semi vassal Armenia who acknowledges Antiochus III's suzerainty and pays him tribute. Antiochus III sister arranges for the assassination of Armenia’s king Xerxes, whom she has recently married. Antiochus III then divides the Armenia into two nomes/satrapies. The submission of Lesser Media/ Atropatene(vassal of Seleucids), which had asserted its independence under Artabazanes, followed. To copy with the Ptolemaic Empire artillery he builds a Museum/university in Seleucia and invites more than one hundred scholars/engineers/Mathematicians. He also invites more than twenty thousands new Greek cleruchs to join the ranks of the army and settles them in Armenia and Atropatene.

    Ptolemaic Empire

    The realisation of their military importance during the expedition/war in Red sea leads to demands by native Egyptians for greater privileges .A revolt of native Egyptians is put down by Ptolemy III in 221 BC. Fearing of more rebellions, Ptolemy III grants semi cleruchs rights to thirty thousands native Egyptians thus settling them to South Red sea.

    Diodotian Empire/Greco-Bactrian.

    From Alexandria Eschate the Greco-Bactrians led several trade expeditions as far East Xinjiang, leading to the first known contacts between China and the West around 220 BC. Several statuettes and representations of Greek soldiers have been found north of the Tien Shan, on the doorstep to China, and are today on display in the Xinjiang museum at Urumqi. Greek influences on Chinese art have also been suggested. Designs with rosette flowers, geometric lines, and glass inlays, suggestive of Hellenistic influences, can be found on some early Han dynasty bronze mirrors. Greco-Bactrians also received Buddhist emissaries and some of them converted to Buddhism while the rest somehow tolerated the Buddhist faith,

    Carthage
    • In a two years war(221-220 BC)Carthage conquered the state of Zama with the help of the young Numibian King Masinissa.
     
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    219 BC. 1 st Iberian revolt.
  • 219 BC

    1st Iberian revolt

    The Celtiberi tribes moved toward an open rebellion. In a sudden attack they defeated the local tagma and sacked Edessa. An army of three tagmata under strategos Patroclus marched from Tolosa to deal with the rebellion. For the rest of the year the tactics of the Celtiberi were of guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct attacks on the League forces because of their inferior numbers. Their better knowledge of the difficult and mountainous terrain allowed them to conduct quick surprise strikes, with ambushes followed by quick retreats, causing great damage to the League supply lines.

    By Place

    Ptolemaic Empire

    After the native revolt, Ptolemy become even more liberal towards Egyptian religion than his predecessors. He supported, promoted, and contributed towards various cults, particularly those of the Apis and Mnevis Bulls.The Egyptian priesthood praise him and his wife as "Benefactor Gods" for this religious support, as well as for maintaining peace by strong national security, and for good governance.

    Bosporus Kingdom
    • A Scythian invasion is repelled by the Bosporus army with the help of Pergamon Reinforcements and Scythian mercenaries.
     
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    218-217 BC. The rise of Viriothus.
  • 218-217 BC

    Patroclus betrayed the Olcades people( a Celtiberi tribe) he had invited to peace talks and had roughly 5000 massacred.This would be later proven to have been a costly mistake as the Celtiberi tribes became embittered and began open warfare against the League and its allies. Not only that, but future Celtiberian leader Viriothus had escaped alive from the massacre, having now developed a vendetta against Massaliot League.
    In 217 BC, the Celtiberians elected Viriothus after rescuing a great number of Celtiberians warriors pinned down by a Massaliot tagma after reminding them of League’s betrayal last year and convincing them not to accept any Massaliot League offers. Upon preying on the tagma unwillingness to break formation, he succeeded in saving the entire band from massacre or capture, an incredible feat. With this success he was elected leader by the Celtiberi tribesmen.
    Later that year the Iberian revolt escalated. The Celticberi tribes under the leadership of Viriothus managed to persuade Vettones,Carpetani,Celtici and Lusitani tribes to join their cause.

    Greece

    Nikephoros an Athenian statesman and general, issues the Decree of Nikephoros, creating an alliance between Sparta, Athens, and Ptolemaic empire. The origins of this alliance lay in the continuing desire of many Greek states, notably Athens, for a restoration of their former independence, along with the desire of Ptolemy III to create troubles for his rival Alexander II, King of Epirus. Ptolemy III's ambitions in the Aegean Sea are threatened by Epirus fleet, so he carefully builds up a coalition against Epirus in Greece. He especially cultivates Athens by supplying the city with grain.

    Seleucid Empire

    in order to divert eastern trade from Egypt and into the Persian Gulf and Seleucid ports, Antiochus III formed and alliance with the Kingdom of Muscat urging and funding them to practice heavy piracy against the Egyptian Indian ocean fleets. Besides that Antiochus III started to build a new major royal fleet in the Persian gulf to dominate the Indian ocean.
     
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    216 BC
  • 216 BC

    Iberia/Massaliot League

    In a major battle near Edessa, the three tagmata army under strategos Patroclus sustain heavy casualties from the Viriothus army of more than forty thousands warriors. With the help of heavy artillery use, Patroclus army managed to retreat North-East where a new army of five tagmata under Aineas was marching to their support.

    Greece

    The great war

    Fearing of the Ptolemaic expansion, Pergamon and Rhodes League decided to join Epirus against the Ptolemaic coalition(Ptolemaic empire,Sparta,Athens). Bosporus kingdom honours its alliance with Pergamon and joins shortly after. In a major naval battle with more than 300 ships participating, the Ptolemaic coalition fleet wins but sustains heavy losses.

    Carthage

    the blatant corruption of the oligarchy in Carthage gave Hannibal a chance to re-emerge in the Carthaginian affairs. With the help of old Barcid supporters (who were fed up with the current administration) and backed by the Scipio family, he enters in Carthage one night with 300 men. After the arrest and the assassination of several oligarchy members, he took charge of Carthage. The citizens of Carthage saw him as the man who will restore Carthage's glory and they fully supported him. Hannibal soon showed that he could be a statesman as well as a soldier.
    By leading a populist reform movement, Hannibal managed to restore a measure of popular rule. He was elected suffete (chief magistrate). The office had become rather insignificant, but Hannibal restored its power and authority. He also reformed the Hundred and Four, stipulating that its membership be chosen by direct election rather than co-option. He also used the citizen support to change the term of office in the Hundred and Four from life to a year, with a term limit of two years.
     
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    215 BC. Map of Greece
  • 215 BC

    In a major battle near Carpetani lands the Massaliot league army of six tagmata(nearly forty thousands troops) crushed Viriothus army (around fifty thousands). More than twenty thousands iberians died and another ten thousands sold as slaves. For the rest of the year Viriothus changed his tactics back to guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct attacks on the League forces because of their inferior numbers.

    By place

    Greece
    • In a major battle North-East of Thebes, the Ptolemaic coalition army of forty thousands(twenty thousands Ptolemaic Empire,ten thousands Spartans,ten thousands Athenians and allies) won against the thirty thousands Epirus army(Epirus,Macedonia,Aeolian League troops).
    • In a naval battle north of Chios island, the combined forces of Pergamon and Rhodes League repelled the Ptolemaic coalition fleet.
    • An army of twenty five thousands under strategos Demetrios( Fifteen thousands Pergamon kingdom troops,ten thousands Bosporus kingdom troops) marched from Ephesus, South-West to conquer the Asia minor lands of Ptolemaic Empire.
    5cH2A7m.jpg


    India
    • Dasharatha is assassinated by one of his uncles. That led to a civil war within Mauryan Empire.
    Diodotian empire
    • An invasion of Sarmatians is repelled by Diodotus army.
     
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