Punic Steel-How the Professional Army of Carthage Defeated Rome

[KnightofTempest]

The Saw-Tunisia-238 BC

Hamilcar Barca stood amidst the carnage of his great Victory, having just ended the threat of the Mercenary Rebellion. As he moved amongst the bodies of the slain, his men began counting prisoners, there were some 40,000 assorted mercenary troops from all over the Empire in manacles. Hamilcar was of a mind to have them all crucified until he heard the news coming from the capitol. A Courier had arrived bearing a scroll for Hamilcar Alone. He had broken the seal and read what news was deemed important enough to have been sent to him while he was engaged on campaign.

As he read a feral smile spread across his face as he read. His only real rival in the Aristocratic Assembly of Sparta, Hanno had recently passed due to a sickness obtained from eating raw oysters, which had explained why he had been left to command the pivotal battle on his own. In many ways, it was Hanno who had caused the mercenaries to revolt in the first place, refusing to pay them as they were promised. Hanno's Son, Bomilcar was not the man his father was and disinclined to politics or war in favor of more mercantile pursuits at any rate. Hamilcar thought that with his opposition vanquished for the time being, he may be able to do something he'd always wanted to do, but would have never been given the funds for with Hanno's Faction still around.

Looking out at the vast array of mercenaries who he had been about to execute, he noted that these veterans would be ideal trainers for a Professional Army built from Punic Stock, that could be augmented with levies from various subject kingdoms such as Numidia or the various Iberian Chiefdoms. He saw Balaeric Slingers, Libyan Spearmen, Greek Siege Engineers, an Iberian Heavy Infantry amongst the various mercenaries gathered for judgement, many of whom he had commanded in the war against the Hated Romans. There were some 40,000 Prisoners in total, many of them starving or wounded.

Hannibal stepped up to the platform erected for his judgement to be passed and began to pronounce sentence.

"You have rebelled against Carthage, this act would not be so grave had you not been subjects of the very Empire you had betrayed. For that treason, you should be crucified to serve as a lesson. However, I am not an unjust man, and so I offer you this choice. Tonight you will all draw lots. 10,000 of you will be spared, your lives owed to me, and you will pay for them with one last job, after which, you will be set free and allowed to retire. The rest of you will be put to death as a warning to those who would contest the might of Carthage. This is the Pronouncement of Hamilcar of the House of Barca, General of Carthage. So mote it be."

There was some wailing and gnashing of teeth of course, but much less than there would have been if the pronouncement were for total Annihlation. Hamilcar went to his tent and prepared correspondence for courier to the Assembly. His son Hannibal would be his proxy for the motion to train and equip a standing army, he of course would be authorized to bribe or intimidate as many assemblymen as needed for the motion to pass, though with Hanno dead it would be a much simpler matter.

After the army was properly trained and kitted out. . .well then he would blood them in Iberia. After that, it might just be time for another shot at Rome. . .

****

As word of the Victory Spread back to the Capitol along with Instructions to Hannibal, the air of change began to spread with it. The Barcids, long stalemated in the Assembly by the Hanno Faction, were once again on the rise. When Hannibal put forward his father's Proposition, framing it in terms of never needing to rely solely on dubious mercenaries again, the Assembly applauded, for the cost of a small standing Army that could be Augmented with Levies from Subject States in Wartime would have cost less than the 100,000 mercenaries employed in the last war, as those mercenaries ended up rebelling. Especially since Hamilcar had promised that trainers for these troops would practically be free.

Yes the House of Barca was on the Rise, and Carthage was rising with it.

 

[KnightofTempest]

As Hamilcar Barca began assembling and training a Professional Force in Carthage, Carthage's Rival Rome was having troubles. They were engaged in a war of Expansion in Illyria, which they were winning, but which profoundly disturbed Epirus and Macedon. Deidania II of Epirus, sent Envoys to the Court of Demetrius II Aetolius of Macedon asking for an alliance in the face of Illyrian Expansion, which she feared would invite Roman Retaliation in 236 BC, an Alliance which was sealed with her marriage to Demetrius' Son Phillip, bringing Epirus and Macedon into a Personal Union.

By 228 BC Deidania had died in Childbirth, producing a Son whom Phillip named Perseus after the mythical hero. However it seemed Deidania's fears had survived her as Rome began to move on the Illyrian Tribal Kingdom set up by King Agron, under the Auspices of combatting Piracy. This, again had profoundly disturbed Macedon and Epirus, now united under King Phillip V. Phillip, realizing that the Illyrians would not be entirely vanquished just from this one war, and deciding to deny Rome potential allies, engaged in a war against the Aetolian League, led by Thermon. This war proved utterly disastrous for the Aetolians who were attacked not just from Macedon, but also from Macedon's Puppet State, the Achaean League. Sandwiched between North and South, the Aetolian League were utterly crushed and subsumed into the Kingdom of Macedon by 226 BC.

Meanwhile, the Conflict in Hellas meant that several Colonies in the Black Sea Region were going without protectors. These Colonies, set up initially by Miletus but having turned to Macedon to Protect them since Miletus' Fall, suddenly found their protector unwilling or unable to aid them, focused as Phillip was on Uniting Hellas against Rome. These Cities looked around for a protector and found one in the Powerful Spartacid Dynasty of the Bosporan Kingdom, which was benefitting from being in the Beginning of a Golden Age. The Bosporan King, Leucon II had recently expanded his domain Northward against the Scythians, reaching the River Borysthenes (OOC: Modern Day Dneiper) before a truce was called in 224 BC and the Scythian King Gorgos ceded the taken territory, 200 talents of gold and silver, and his eldest daughter to wed Leucon's Son Hygainion. This he was able to do through the use of Legions not unlike the ones fielded by Rome, as well as Tribal Horse Archers and Lancers hired from Rival Tribes. Leucon was seen as a natural leader for the various black sea Greeks and the Cities of Tanias, Dioscurias, Olbia, Borysthinis, Pitias, Nikonion, Tyras, Phasis, and Istria all pledged fealty to him, expanding his dominion further.

Both Macedon and the Bosporan Kingdom were planning further conquests for 222 BC, in the Bosporan's Case, they were planning an invasion of Colchis, and in Macedon's Case, they were planning to attack and annex Sparta. Both would expand their power bases considerably, and in Macedon's Case, allow them to Control the Whole of Hellas. While one invasion would go as planned, another would not, as Rome concluded a Treaty with Agron's Son Theta that would see the Bulk of Agron's Domains annexed to Rome in late 223 BC. Rome, having seen that their next big challenge Eastwards would come from Macedon immediately sent offers of alliance to Sparta, who, having been a mere shade of their former glory, accepted on the condition that Sparta be allowed to absorb the former Aetolian League and Achaean League in the peace treaty, to create a Hellas League that would be allied to Rome. Rome accepted the terms and Phillip's Expansion would be checked for the time being.

Meanwhile Leucon's Expansion into Colchis was going swimmingly, aided by troops from various cities under his protection had managed to rout the King of Colchis' Less Disciplined Forces in the Battle of Onaguris, after which the Greek Cities of Rhizos, Apsaros, and Guenos all pledged fealty to Leukon and added their strength to the Final Push on the Colchisan Capitol of Aia. The Siege of Aia only lasted 10 days, after which a Palace Coup occurred and the Royal Guard Proclaimed Leucon King. By 220 BC the Only State left on the Black Sea which could challenge Leucon was Pontus. Fortunately for Pontus, Leucon II the Conqueror died in 220 BC, leaving the throne to his Eldest Son Hyganion I. Unfortunately for Pontus, Hyganion was cut from much the same cloth as his father and had participated in many of the Same Campaigns. . .

 

[KnightofTempest]

While Rome and the various Greeks were off building empires in the East, Hamilcar Barca was making good on his project of Training and Equipping a Standard Army. His Army was trained by mercenaries of several stripes. Numidian Horsemen trained his cavalry, Greeks from Sicily his Engineers, Lybian Spearmen and Iberian Swordsmen his Heavy Infantry, and Balaeric Slingers his Skirmish Troops. His Army was built not only on the techniques of the various places that his trainers hailed from, but on the discipline that had proven so successful for Rome. It was a potent mix and by 226BC, with Rome Distracted in the East, Hamilcar had managed to train a fully fledged Professional Army of 30,000 Men. The Equivalent of 6 Roman Legions in numbers and discipline, if not tactics.

By this point, however Hamilcar was growing too old for active command. He gave over the reins of his Army to his Son Hannibal, a promising young officer who had learned at his father's side and retired from military service in order to wrangle the Assembly full time. Hannibal had a plan. His father had argued to blood this new Standing Army in Iberia, against the Various Tribes that still refused to bow down to Carthegenian Overlordship. The Assembly had deferred for 2 years, waiting for the treasury to refill before engaging in such costly measures as war, but by 224 BC they were finally ready to allow the Iberian Expedition to sally forth.

Hannibal Arrived at the Port of Carthago Nova in Carthagenian Iberia with his Army and passed through the lands held by various subject Iberian tribes, gathering reserve troops until he entered the lands of the Oretani. The Oretani King would not submit to Carthegenian Overlordship even after seeing Hannibal's Mighty Army and resolved to sit in his fortified city of Kastilo where his walls would help make up for his lack of numbers. Hannibal, being a clever tactician knew that even under bombardment the walls would kill many men to assault, and so simply undermined the walls, disguising his tunnels with tents during the day and digging only during the night. The Ruse worked and after a month of digging, the tunnel was collapsed and an entire section of Kastilo's Walls came tumbling down in the early dawn hours, when most of the Oretani Army would be asleep. What resulted was a massacre, as Disciplined Carthagenian Troops stormed the breach and easily dispatched the Oretani troops sent to plug the gap. Hannibal and his troops marched right to the Palace and dragged the King out in Manacles, making him sign over his Kingdom to a Carthegenian Approved Puppet, who immediately swore fealty to Carthage. Hannibal left a few of his Iberian Auxilliaries to garrison the territory and moved onto the next Kingdom, that of the Turduli.

The Turduli King, seeing the might of Hannibal's Army and the Fate of the Oretani immediately Pledged Fealty to Carthage under the condition that Hannibal aid him in conquering the Neighboring Celtici Tribe. The Celtici were not Celtiberian like the Oretani or Turduli, but were a Lusitanian Tribe. Hannibal Agreed, founding the Carthegenian Strategy of using Tribal Politics to enhance territorial acquisitions with his decision. Hannibal's Army and the Turduli Army engaged the Celtici in a field battle outside modern day Elvas in Portugal in 223 BC. The Celtici fought extremely fiercely for their homes and King, inflicting many casualties on the Turduli Forces as Hannibal disengaged mid battle, only to swing around and hit the Celtici Army from the Flank like a swinging hammer. The Celtici King attempted to Rally his forces, but he was caught between Hannibal and the Turduli and was slain when a Balaeric Slinger put a lead pellet through his helmet and skull. The Celtici immediately Broke and routed back to their Capitol, where the Celtici King's 8 year old son was made to swear fealty to Carthage when Hannibal Pursued. The Turduli would get to annex the Southern Portion of Celtici Territory Including the City of Sirpens, but were otherwise left out of the treaty. The Turduli King however had gained a city and even if he wanted to press for more land, he had not the Forces after the battle.

With Celtici territory Secure Hannibal Entered Negotiations with the Lusitani and Vettones, playing the two Chief Lusitanian Tribes off one another for the Benefit of Carthage. In the end, the Lusintani King Agreed to swear fealty to Carthage if Carthage would help him crush the Vettones, whose King had offered him a Mortal Insult during the negotiations, egged on by Hannibal, though the Lusitani would not discover this for many years until Hannibal would publish his memoirs during his retirement. The Lusitani were fierce warriors and somewhat more disciplined than Hannibal had expected and by late 222 BC the Vettones had been Crushed and their territory partitioned between the Lusitani and a Carthegenian Puppet. The Lusitani King then followed through on his word and swore fealty to Carthage.

This Allowed Hannibal to Swing East and attack the Carpetani, who's citadel of Toletum was a Rich City and who's territory had vast mineral wealth. Ironically the Carpetani were currently in the middle of a succession dispute and could not put up organized resistance as the Former King's three sons vied for the throne. In the Event, Hannibal managed to camp outside Toletum until the thirdborn Son of the King approached him for an alliance, if Hannibal would use his army to make him king, he would swear fealty to Carthage. This it turns out, was what hannibal had been waiting for, and as the gates of the city opened for his troops via coup de main, he rushed to the palace, executed the two elder brothers and put his puppet on the throne. The New King immediately swore fealty, though hannibal was forced to leave a more substantial garrison in Toletum in case of further treachery, this time against Carthage.

This pattern repeated itself twice more and by 220 Hannibal was in control of the Majority of Iberia through Proxies and Puppets. This Alarmed Rome, who concluded an alliance with the Illercavones, the next Tribe on Hannibal's List. This gave Hannibal Pause, and he sent to Carthage for Instructions.

Hamilcar, now the unquestioned Ruler of Carthage, though stopping just short of claiming the Title Malik, sent envoys to Macedonia to conclude an alliance against Rome. There was some negotiation, but in the end both parties agreed that the Roman Upstarts had to be taken down a peg. Carthage was Eager to Avenge her Earlier loss against Rome, and Macedonia wished Sparta and Roman Illyria. Both would need to defeat Rome for this to happen.

Yet niether had the ability to do so just yet, and so the war would be put off until sufficient force and funds could be raised. The war would only be deferred for two years however. Then the Mediterranean would be set ablaze with conflict once more

 

[KnightofTempest]

No comments? Damn, I thought I would get a few readers at least. . .oh well, should let this die then. . .

 

[atg]

No comments? Damn, I thought I would get a few readers at least. . .oh well, should let this die then. . .

I've enjoyed it so far, just dont have much to comment

 

[Balaur]

Seems interesting, but the random capitalization is a tad distracting.
The mention of Libyan spearmen and Iberian swordsmen/heavy infantry makes me think Rome: Total War was an influence on this.

 

[KnightofTempest]

Seems interesting, but the random capitalization is a tad distracting.
The mention of Libyan spearmen and Iberian swordsmen/heavy infantry makes me think Rome: Total War was an influence on this.

Both were employed by hannibal IRL, but when I picture the battles in my head, I see the models from Rome Total War yeah.

 

[edgeworthy]

Just because no one else has asked, how are the Elephants doing?

 

[KnightofTempest]

Just because no one else has asked, how are the Elephants doing?

Hannibal didn't bring elephants into Iberia. He won't be bringing them against Rome either. His allies in Macedonia have warned him that Rome has surprisingly effective Anti-Elephant tactics that they perfected by fighting Pyrrhus of Epirus some 55 years ago. Hannibal has something else cooked up for his secret weapon ITTL.

 

[Karolus Rex]

It's a interesting idea but there are some problems here.

Epirus would never accept the Macedonians has their overlords, they barely accepted the Aeacid Dynasty, any attempt to create a PU with Macedonia would end with Macedonian troops having to invade Epirus to force it and Rome would never accept any interference in their area of influence and considering how close Epirus is to southern Italy Rome would make it clear that if any Macedonian sets foot in Epirus then Rome would interfere. Also Epirus was a regional power of their own and even alone they could fight off Macedonia.

The idea of annexing Sparta by Macedonia is also flawed given that they were protected by the Achaean League, that considered Sparta has part of their area of interest. An advance there places Macedonia against most of the Achaean states, plus annexation would lose off many Greek states and Rome that wouldn't tolerate a rival so close.

Hannibal would never be placed in charge of the army so young. OTL it was only after Hasdrubal the Fair was assassinated that he was placed in charge of the army the Carthaginian Senate would never place the 21 year old untested Hannibal in charge of the Army and the Council of Elders would also oppose, so either the Barcid traded large amounts of political power and lands to bribe both councils or they used most of their money to bribe the Popular Assembly and even then...

The Lusitani weren't a unified tribe. They were a amalgamation of tribes, they didn't had one king they probably had many. We do know from the Romans that one chief lead the resistance against Carthage, Caucenus, so I can't see any deal between the two parties and considering OTL lusitani resistance against the Romans I can't think that they would just submit to Carthage.

Also the Carthaginian expansion is being too fast, in TTL they expanded more in 4 years than OTL with a a far larger, and equally well trained, army. Most of the area under Carthage in the maps is mostly tribes that were their allies not their clients or puppets.

Another thing be careful with the Professional Army, 30000 men is a very small number and Rome can easily grind them down by sheer numbers.

 

[KnightofTempest]

It's a interesting idea but there are some problems here.

Epirus would never accept the Macedonians has their overlords, they barely accepted the Aeacid Dynasty, any attempt to create a PU with Macedonia would end with Macedonian troops having to invade Epirus to force it and Rome would never accept any interference in their area of influence and considering how close Epirus is to southern Italy Rome would make it clear that if any Macedonian sets foot in Epirus then Rome would interfere. Also Epirus was a regional power of their own and even alone they could fight off Macedonia.

The idea of annexing Sparta by Macedonia is also flawed given that they were protected by the Achaean League, that considered Sparta has part of their area of interest. An advance there places Macedonia against most of the Achaean states, plus annexation would lose off many Greek states and Rome that wouldn't tolerate a rival so close.

Hannibal would never be placed in charge of the army so young. OTL it was only after Hasdrubal the Fair was assassinated that he was placed in charge of the army the Carthaginian Senate would never place the 21 year old untested Hannibal in charge of the Army and the Council of Elders would also oppose, so either the Barcid traded large amounts of political power and lands to bribe both councils or they used most of their money to bribe the Popular Assembly and even then...

The Lusitani weren't a unified tribe. They were a amalgamation of tribes, they didn't had one king they probably had many. We do know from the Romans that one chief lead the resistance against Carthage, Caucenus, so I can't see any deal between the two parties and considering OTL lusitani resistance against the Romans I can't think that they would just submit to Carthage.

Also the Carthaginian expansion is being too fast, in TTL they expanded more in 4 years than OTL with a a far larger, and equally well trained, army. Most of the area under Carthage in the maps is mostly tribes that were their allies not their clients or puppets.

Another thing be careful with the Professional Army, 30000 men is a very small number and Rome can easily grind them down by sheer numbers.

ITTL Hasdrubal Barca is unquestioned master of Carthage, his main political opponent was Hanno II the Great, who died of bad oysters as part of the Initial POD. Hasdrubal has no organized political opponents currently and may appoint who he wishes. Hannibal was also not untested, as he was a Junior officer during the Battle of the Saw.

As to the Lusitanii, that was the name of one tribe amongst dozens of LUSITANIAN tribes, it is also the one we have the most records about so their name gets conflated with the greater Lusitanian people sometimes. I've had college proffessors make that mistake.

For Sparta, they were not a part of the Achaean League, which at this point was a macedonian puppet. Phillip also was somewhat megalomaniacal IOTL. I think the move fits his mindset.

Carthage's expansion is actually close to what it was IOTL, except that Hannibal focused west and North instead of East like Hsdrubal did IOTL. You'll note that the territories he conquered in the update are all in Castille-La Mancha, Extramadura, and Portalegre and Evora Portugal, rather than Aragon and Valencia as per IOTL.

As for Epirus I took inspiration from the fact that their Royal Line was dying, and that Pyrrhus was King of Epirus and Macedonia some 55 years before, still in living memory.

 

[Karolus Rex]

Sorry it took me this long to answer but I had a busy day.

ITTL Hasdrubal Barca is unquestioned master of Carthage, his main political opponent was Hanno II the Great, who died of bad oysters as part of the Initial POD. Hasdrubal has no organized political opponents currently and may appoint who he wishes. Hannibal was also not untested, as he was a Junior officer during the Battle of the Saw.

Hannibal is 21, was a junior officer and you honestly think that both councils would vote unanimously when you have men like Hasdrubal a head of him? Carthage would never place it's army under the control of someone that never lead before. OTL he had time to learn under both his father and Hasdrubal before being placed in control of the Hispanic army, not this Army that is made by citizens and Carthage still remembered the many citizens that died during the Sicilian Wars so you can't justify placing a new citizen army under the control of a young man with barely any experience. Hasdrubal would still be the best bet ITTL.

As to the Lusitanii, that was the name of one tribe amongst dozens of LUSITANIAN tribes, it is also the one we have the most records about so their name gets conflated with the greater Lusitanian people sometimes. I've had college proffessors make that mistake.

I'm talking about the tribe not the people, and the tribe was made up independent clans that we know resisted against the Carthaginians but that agreed to serve has mercenaries in their armies. AFAIK Carthage never manged to expand as far the heartland of the Lusitani tribe.

For Sparta, they were not a part of the Achaean League, which at this point was a macedonian puppet. Phillip also was somewhat megalomaniacal IOTL. I think the move fits his mindset.

I'm just saying that something akin to the Social War would happen and even OTL he didn't tried to annex Sparta, but I agree I was mistaken given that at this point Sparta was aligned with the Aetolian League not the Achaean.

Carthage's expansion is actually close to what it was IOTL, except that Hannibal focused west and North instead of East like Hsdrubal did IOTL. You'll note that the territories he conquered in the update are all in Castille-La Mancha, Extramadura, and Portalegre and Evora Portugal, rather than Aragon and Valencia as per IOTL.

But those areas aren't of interest to Carthage because they didn't served the economical interests of Carthage.

Cartago Nova, and it's silver mines, were in the east, as were the Mazarrón mines and the Ilipa mines in the south. Olive production was also made in the Med coastal area and in Baetica. Most of the economical incentives for expansion were in the East not the West, and the East area had the advantage of being closer to the Carthaginian supply lines by sea, which is why they usually just controlled the coast while leaving the interior under the control of allies and puppets.

What advantages would Carthage win by expanding West and leaving the rich East untouched? The Senate and the Council of Elders cared about money not militar glory, the Barcid needed the riches of the East to justify keeping large armies in Hispania, which they knew could cause another war with Rome which would affect their trade profits.

 

[Raunchel]

This is very interesting so far, and I look forward to seeing more. Carthaginian history isn't really my specialty, so I fear that I don't yet have much to comment as far as the story goes.

 

[altwere]

I've enjoyed what has been written.

 

[Not Henry G.]

Keep it up

 

[KnightofTempest]

Since I have recieved 5 people telling me to Continue and only 1 naysayer, continue I shall. Next update will be over the course of the next few days, either tonight or tomorrow

 

[KnightofTempest]

Apologies in advance for the shitty map.

Red is Rome, Pink is Roman Allies

Brown is Carthage

Green is the Bosporan Kingdom

Yellow is Macedon-Epirus

Gold is Ptolemaic Egypt

Purple is Seleucids

Orange is Pontus

Dark Red is Armenia

Grey is unaffiliated Greek States

Blue is Independent Illyrian Tribes

 

[KnightofTempest]

While Events elsewhere were proceeding apace, the Seleucids and Ptolemies were engaged in a struggle for dominance in the Levant. It had started when Ptolemy III had invaded the Levant in 230 BC and taken much territory from the Seleucids in Judea and Cyprus, however his push up into Syria was stalled outside the Gates of the City of Mardikh in Syria, where Ptolemy III took an arrow through his eye and died of his wounds. His Successor, Ptolemy IV had arranged for a treaty to be signed which would give over much of the land his father conquered back to the Seleucids including Cyprus, but suffered a Palace Coup in Favor of his Younger Brother Lysander, who became Lysander I, refusing to take the Name Ptolemy.

Lysander had noted in his time away from court how inbred his family was becoming and cited his Elder Brother's Madness and his father's Recklessness as traits that could have come about because of the excessive wedding of brother to sister. Instead Lysander wed the Daughter of Komander, a highly respected general who had fought in the Levant and in Cyprus, in 226 BC and declared that the Ptolemies should no longer wed brother to sister for the next three generations in order to get fresh blood into the Dynasty. This would have caused the native Egyptians to Revolt, with the disregard for tradition, but the Harvest of 226 Was so bountiful that the local Egyptians felt that Lysander's Marriage was blessed by the gods. With the Backing of Heaven, Lysander went to Seleucis II with a new Treaty. He would give back some of the Lands his father had conquered in exchange for keeping Judea and Cyprus. Seleucis II, thinking this would give him time to rebuild his shattered armies, agreed.

Peace would reign in the Levant until 222 BC, when Seleucis II would die and his Son Antiochus III would take the throne. Antiochus III would continue his father's Modernization of his army, which was Mainly filled with Thorakitai in the Bosporan Fashion, rather than Hoplites in the traditional Macedonian Fashion. This allowed his forces greater mobility and Antiochus blooded his army against the Nabataean Kingdom Along the Red Sea Coast of Arabia. The Nabataeans were fierce warriors, adapted to using the terrain to their advantage, but their plans for war with either the Seleucids or Ptolemies had planned to be used against the Cumbersome Hoplite Phalanx, rather than mobile Thorakitai Maniples. Eventually the Nabatean Capitol of Raqmu in modern day Jordan was captured by Seleucus via seige in 221 BC. This allowed his forces to flank Ptolemaic Border Garrisons in Judea and a second Ptolemaic-Seleucid War Was brewing Independently of the War Brewing in Rome, Macedon, and Carthage.

Meanwhile, Further North, Pontus looked with Unease at the Growing Threat of the Bosporan Kingdom and sought allies to counter their expansion. They found these allies in the Form of Armenia, who wished the Port of Rhizos as an outlet to the Black Sea. The Armenians were a cavalry army. Their only Standing Troops reminiscent of the Kataphractoi of the Seleucid Empire, which they would supplement with Levies of Archers and Spearmen. In Theory, the Armenians could put 100,000 troops into battle if need be, however in practice 80,000 of those troops would be levies, poorly armed, armored, and trained. Pontus hoped to balance out the disparity in quality with their own Quality Infantry, the Elite Hypaspists Phalanx, backed by Pezhetairos Hoplites, the type of army that had conquered the known world. Unfortunately, unlike the Seleucids, Pontus failed to realize that times were changing and that the lack of mobility of the Hoplite Style Armies of Alexander's Day were a detriment on a modern battlefield. Still, Pontus could field 20,000 of these elite formations and 10,000 more troops of lesser varieties like Peltasts and Thureophorai. All told the alliance would be able to put 130,000 troops into the field if needed.

By Contrast the Bosporans had 40,000 Bosporan Thorakitai, 10,000 Colchisan Archers, 7,000 Scythian Lancers, and 6,000 Scythian Horse Archers. It was a smaller force, but well trained and well equipped, not to mention well led. The Bosporan King, Hyganion I, was of a martial bent, much like his father and had learned the trade of warcraft as a Junior Officer during his father's campaigns in Scythia, and as a General against Colchis.

In Contrast, the Pontic King, Mithradates II was but a boy when he ascended the throne of Pontus and had his father's generals to lean on in the early period of his reign. While this was fortunate, as a migration of Celts from Galatia threatened to destroy Pontus in 240 BC, but were driven back. Unfortunately the last of those Generals had died during the takeover of Paphlagonia and Bithynia and after he led the Pontic Army himself against Sinope in 236 and was repulsed Bloodily, he was forced to recognize that city's independence by treaty. It soon transpired that Mithradates himself was not a very good general, failing twice more to take Sinope in 233 and 228, and being repulsed in an attack on Mysia in 226. The two Rulers could not be more distant in terms of skill.

However by 218 BC both the Alliance of Pontus and Armenia, and the Bosporan Kingdom were itching to go to war. 218 BC would become known in history as the Year of the Quadruple Wars, due to the Punic War, 2nd Bosporan Expansion, Spartan War, and 2nd Ptolemaic-Seleucid War. . .

 

[Raunchel]

A great update, but there is one thing that strikes me about the Ptolemaic bit (I know...). At this time, we are essentially in the fourth generation, and brother-sister marriages are far from common. Soter was married to Berenice I (daughter of a Macedonian noble family). Their children were married (first incest generation). After them came Euergetes, who was married to Berenice II (from Cyrene, so not related). These were the parents of Lysander and Philopator. So essentially, only Lysander's paternal grandparents were siblings. At this time, the sibling marriages weren't all that common yet at this time, Philopator only being the second to do it. I don't think that the inbreeding would be that noticeable yet.

 

[KnightofTempest]

A great update, but there is one thing that strikes me about the Ptolemaic bit (I know...). At this time, we are essentially in the fourth generation, and brother-sister marriages are far from common. Soter was married to Berenice I (daughter of a Macedonian noble family). Their children were married (first incest generation). After them came Euergetes, who was married to Berenice II (from Cyrene, so not related). These were the parents of Lysander and Philopator. So essentially, only Lysander's paternal grandparents were siblings. At this time, the sibling marriages weren't all that common yet at this time, Philopator only being the second to do it. I don't think that the inbreeding would be that noticeable yet.

It doesn't matter if the inbreeding is noticable or not, it's a way for Lysander to start reforming the court.