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263 BC. The great Triandria war.
263 BC
The great Triandria war.
Without waiting for replies from the allies, Pyrrhus mobilised his army and fleet and sailed for Magna Graecia instead of Sicily with the aim to go straight all the way to Rome! With the past experience of dealing with Rome, this time he was double prepared. He left a ten thousands army under the command of his son Alexander II to control his kingdom and an advanced force of three thousands liberated Tarentum(with the help of local Greek population) quick and easy and set it the main power base for his supply lines. After that, Pyrrhus arrived in Tarentum with a massive force of thirty five thousands man(Epirus, Aetolian league,Macedonians,Thessalians) and sixty elephants. Spartans arrived shortly after with another four thousands men. A mighty fleet of eight quinqueremes and twenty eptares protected the supply lines. The Romans hearing this, they call back consuls Appius Claudius Caudex from Sicily to Rome and started to mobilise all their troops.
Ptolemy II after hearing the news, acknowledged the importance of Triandria alliance for future wars against Seleucids and although Magna Graecia was far, he decided to help his long lasting friend Pyrrhus. Besides Ptolemaic Egypt was in its heigh at this time and the Seleucid empire was in a civil war, between Seleucid king Antiochus I's and his eldest son Seleucus, who has ruled in the east of the kingdom as viceroy for a number of years. Besides control over Sicily wouldn't harm Ptolemy. So a rather small army of ten thousands troops twenty elephants and a strong fleet of forty quinqueremes, forty eptares and thirty octares sailed for Tarentum. In Massaliot’s league stronghold in the Lakkonian gulf Acharavi, the Rhodes league army of three thousands man and fleet of twenty quinqueremes and ten eptares joined the Ptolemaic army and fleet.
Massaliot league assembly after hearing the news that all of the Triandria members mobilising against Rome decided under heavy patriotic*cheers to mobilise her army also and revenge the slaughter of the Tarentum Greeks, by burning Rome to the ground. Ofc part of the plan was the spoils of the war and to step a foot in the wealthy Sicily, expanding the influence and trade zone of Massalia. Two tagmata together with ten thousands hellenised Gauls sail with a fleet of fifty quinqueremes and twenty octares.
Pyrrhus hearing that the rest of the Triandria forces are coming decided instead of march direct to Rome, he proclaim himself king of Magna Graecia and start liberate the Greek cities of the area waiting for the others to join him.
The Ptolemaic and Rhodes League army reached Tarentum when Pyrrhus liberated Heraclea.
Hearing of the massive mobilization of the Triandria alliance, Rome sends emissaries to Carthage suggesting to end hostilities,make Messana a neutral town and join them one more time against the Greeks.
After a big debate between the nobles of Carthage, they decided that its for their best interest to help Rome instead of Greeks, fearing that after Rome, the coalition of the Greeks and especially Massaliot League will go after them. The fourth Roman treaty with Carthage now concluded an effectual alliance between them and against Triandria alliance.
So any bets ?
The great Triandria war.
Without waiting for replies from the allies, Pyrrhus mobilised his army and fleet and sailed for Magna Graecia instead of Sicily with the aim to go straight all the way to Rome! With the past experience of dealing with Rome, this time he was double prepared. He left a ten thousands army under the command of his son Alexander II to control his kingdom and an advanced force of three thousands liberated Tarentum(with the help of local Greek population) quick and easy and set it the main power base for his supply lines. After that, Pyrrhus arrived in Tarentum with a massive force of thirty five thousands man(Epirus, Aetolian league,Macedonians,Thessalians) and sixty elephants. Spartans arrived shortly after with another four thousands men. A mighty fleet of eight quinqueremes and twenty eptares protected the supply lines. The Romans hearing this, they call back consuls Appius Claudius Caudex from Sicily to Rome and started to mobilise all their troops.
Ptolemy II after hearing the news, acknowledged the importance of Triandria alliance for future wars against Seleucids and although Magna Graecia was far, he decided to help his long lasting friend Pyrrhus. Besides Ptolemaic Egypt was in its heigh at this time and the Seleucid empire was in a civil war, between Seleucid king Antiochus I's and his eldest son Seleucus, who has ruled in the east of the kingdom as viceroy for a number of years. Besides control over Sicily wouldn't harm Ptolemy. So a rather small army of ten thousands troops twenty elephants and a strong fleet of forty quinqueremes, forty eptares and thirty octares sailed for Tarentum. In Massaliot’s league stronghold in the Lakkonian gulf Acharavi, the Rhodes league army of three thousands man and fleet of twenty quinqueremes and ten eptares joined the Ptolemaic army and fleet.
Massaliot league assembly after hearing the news that all of the Triandria members mobilising against Rome decided under heavy patriotic*cheers to mobilise her army also and revenge the slaughter of the Tarentum Greeks, by burning Rome to the ground. Ofc part of the plan was the spoils of the war and to step a foot in the wealthy Sicily, expanding the influence and trade zone of Massalia. Two tagmata together with ten thousands hellenised Gauls sail with a fleet of fifty quinqueremes and twenty octares.
Pyrrhus hearing that the rest of the Triandria forces are coming decided instead of march direct to Rome, he proclaim himself king of Magna Graecia and start liberate the Greek cities of the area waiting for the others to join him.
The Ptolemaic and Rhodes League army reached Tarentum when Pyrrhus liberated Heraclea.
Hearing of the massive mobilization of the Triandria alliance, Rome sends emissaries to Carthage suggesting to end hostilities,make Messana a neutral town and join them one more time against the Greeks.
After a big debate between the nobles of Carthage, they decided that its for their best interest to help Rome instead of Greeks, fearing that after Rome, the coalition of the Greeks and especially Massaliot League will go after them. The fourth Roman treaty with Carthage now concluded an effectual alliance between them and against Triandria alliance.
So any bets ?
- Sersor
- Word Count: 540