Chapter 1-The Reign of Eumelos I
This is something I've tried once before, but life got in the way. I've decided to reboot it after finding my old notes on the Project.

I will be using footnotes for things so everyone knows what is going on, much like the last time I tried this.

Without Further Ado, on with the Show!

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On the windswept Steppes of the Pontic Steppe, a King Surveyed the Carnage he had wrought. Eumelos I, Basileus of the Bosporan Kingdom had taken his armies across the Steppe in a bid to reconquer territories that had broken away during the destructive civil war he and his brothers had engaged in. He had reclaimed Tanais, Theodosia, Chersonesos, Neopolis, and Symbola, all of whom had broken away or supported one of his brothers in the Civil War. He had taken the City of Kerkinitis which had been independent up to that point and pushed on to take Kalos Limin and the Isthmus. He had reinforced the navy and stamped out piracy in the Euxine and generally brought prosperity in the wake of his armies.

Now, on the shores of the Meotis Sea, his veteran armies, swelled with Greeks and fighting in the Manipular Fashion* that had been adopted by his forefathers, stood poised to deliver a crippling blow to the Scythian Tribes that had refused to pay him tribute, and secure the Frontiers of the Kingdom for a Generation. He had picked his site well, and his army was encamped in a fortified position on one of the few hills in the area. The Scythians had charged the camp several times, their mounted archers loosing a volley and retreating and their lancers attempting to contest the fieldworks around the camp. They had been at it for days, but each charge saw more Scythians fall to Arrows, Javelins, or the deadly Iron Bolts of the Skorpios that studded the defenses.

Finally, it seemed the Scythians were poised for a massive coordinated assault. It was make or break for the Legions, for if they were swept away here, the Scythians would surely sweep down into Taurica and ravage the Greek Cities there. Eumelos rallied his troops, spearpoints gleaming in the sunset, armor well cared for and shining bright, ranks of theuros shields locked and ready to receive the charge. Archers behind them tensed as they drew arrows to their bows, skorpio crews waiting for the charge.

Suddenly with a loud cry the Scythians charged, their lancers charging up the hill under cover of arrow fire from the mounted archers. Few Legionaries fell to the Arrows, protected as they were by Chain Armor or Linothorax, with shields and earthworks interposed between them and the shot, but some still did fall. However it paled in comparison to what would happen when the scale armor clad Scythian Lancers crashed into the lines. Many of the Scythians fell to spearpoints, others fell to Skorpio Bolts or well placed arrows, however they were reaping a deadly toll on the Legions of the Bosporan King.

Eumelos himself fought on the front lines, to ensure his troops fought with courage and Discipline, his falcata rising and falling as he hacked and sliced at Scythians. It seemed like hours had passed, but it was perhaps a few score minutes before the charge began to abate, the Scythians retreating back down the hill in disorder. Eumelos was certain that they had more fight left in them, and could not place the reason they had fled, until a messenger arrived that night from the Scythian Camp, bearing offers of truce.

They said they would pay Eumelos Tribute and recognize him as Baselus, like the Scythians further west did, for their king lay dead before the Hill.

Thus with his Kingdom Secure and the fealty of many tribes of Scythians and Cities of Greeks obtained, did Eumelos march home to Panticapeum to make sacrifice to Ares and Athena for granting him victory. Along the way his horse was scared by something moving in the dusk light, but Eumelos was able to reign the beast in and arrived at his capitol in time for the Sacrifice**.

That night he dreamed of his Kingdom rising to Dominate the Euxine, spreading into Asia, and Challenging the might of the Diadochi themselves. He awoke with a new outlook on his Kingdom, supposedly granted to him by the gods. However the Nobility of the various disparate Greek Cities, the Chiefs of the Steppe Nomads who paid him fealty, even his own cousins, might yet threaten the Stability of his newly conquered Kingdom. He needed a way to tie his disparate territories together.

It was a visitor from Magna Graecia, Euripides of Taras, who suggested roads. The great road building project would link all the cities and the Steppe to the Coast. It would take 5 years with the Legions working on it, but by 299 BC the roads linked the disparate cities and tribes of the Kingdom together. They allowed for a greater influx of trade to hit the Kingdom, which satisfied many local elites, and also allowed easier movement of troops.

During this time, Eumelos also reformed the army, loosening restrictions on who could join the army and reforming the Formations based on cohorts rather than maniples. This reorganization allowed for better command and coordination within the Legions, Increased the size of the Legions, and gave the Legions a strong cavalry arm via allowing loyal Scythians into the ranks. This had the effect of Hellenizing many of the Scythians who had pledged fealty. It also had the effect of giving the Legions a good selection of light and heavy cavalry to back their infantry.

Finally, Eumelos opened the treasury for public works. Cities across the Kingdom presented plans for expanded docks, or mines, or watermills, etc and Eumelos would grant subsidies from the treasury if he found a plan sound. These improvements were carried out in various places and brought in even more revenue to the Kingdom. By 296 BC the Bosporan Kingdom could rival Lysimachus in Strength and wealth. What Eumelos did with this is send an expedition to the Roxolani lands to the east in an attempt to make them submit to Bosporan Rule. With the Legions he sent his Son Spartikos. This expedition would impress upon the crown prince the allure of conquest.

By 294 BC, The Road System was complete and the Crown Prince Spartikos had been fighting the Roxolani for 2 years. However the Roxolani refused to commit to stand up battle on favorable or even terms. preferring raids and skirmishes and always slinking away from Spartikos whenever the campaign seemed ready to swing fully his way. This finally ended in late July of 294 BC with the Battle of Red Field. Spartikos, seeing that he would never be allowed battle with the Roxolani unless he was in a poor position, decided to feign weakness by splitting his army up. In order to ensure maximum casualties, Spartikos seeded the tall grass of his chosen camp site with Caltrops. These spiky impediments were functionally invisible to the Roxolani, covered as they were by the tall grass of the Steppe and when the Roxolani attacked Spartacus' Camp that night to take advantage of the lesser number of troops, their mounts ran into the caltrop fields, breaking their legs and stabbing their hooves via the caltrops. It was at that point, with the Roxolani Charge Stalled out by Caltrops that Spartikos sent the signal by way of bonfire to his commander. The rest of his forces had made camp just over the horizon from Spartikos and came marching in quick-time to catch the Roxolani in the flank. By dawn the Roxolani King asked for terms and a great portion of the Roxolani Steppe, from the Meotis Coast to the River Tanais and down to the border with Colchis was ceded to The Bosporan Kingdom. Of the Roxolani themselves, only a few Clans Swore Fealty to the Bosporan Crown, mostly those living in the ceded territories. The rest of the Roxolani moved East towards the Hyrcanian Ocean and would quarrel with the Caspi who lived there for land. Spartikos then marched to the City of Tanais at the mouth of the River of the same Name and secured the Fealty of it's King before marching Home.

3 years later in 291 BC there would come another crisis. Olbia, Borysthenes, and Tyras were a Trio of Independent Greek Cities to the West of the Border of the Bosporan Kingdom. Olbia and Borysthenes were the closest, lying on opposite sides of the Borysthenes River from each other. Tyras was further distant on the eponymous River Tyras and technically under the Sway of the Diadochus Lysimachus, whose armies controlled Thrace, Hellas, Macedonia, And Asia Minor from Bithynia South to Lycia and West to the Aegean. However Lysimachus was embroiled in a War with Alexander, Son of Cassander, former Basileus of Macedonia and Hellas. Alexander was backed by Demetrios I of Epirus and had rallied the Cities of Hellas and a few of the noble Clans of Macedonia to his cause. The War drew Lysimachus' Attention away from the Borders and this emboldened the Dacians. Dacia was a landlocked nation, rich in metals from their mountain Heartland, but poor in agriculture. The Dacian King, Gela, knew that to Strike at Thrace would be folly as it would cause Lysimachus to make peace with Demetrios and provoke a full scale response. However smaller Vassal Territories like Tyras would not be as missed as the Heartland of Lysimachus' Power. Gela assembled a large army of 40,000 Dacian Clansmen, many armed with the Dacian Rhomphaia, and marched this force to assault Tyras. The Other two Independent Greek Cities of Olbia and Borysthenes, fearing a resurgent Barbarian Power coming from the West, begged Eumelos to intervene on behalf of Tyras and pledged fealty to the Bosporan Crown if Eumelos would defeat the new threat. Ironically Tyras did not call for aid themselves, but attempted to gain the protection of their Nominal Overlord Lysimachus instead. However Lysimachus seemed to feel that Epirus was the Richer Prize and paid little heed to the Archon of Tyras' Pleas.

This prompted Eumelos to send 3 Legions West under his Son and Heir, Spartikos, Hammer of the Roxolani, to reinforce Olbia and Borysthenes, gather what troops those two cities might be able to muster, and aid Tyras. Spartacus did so and Rode out at the head of 15,000 Infantry and 1,800 Cavalry to fight the Dacians. At Olbia and Borysthenes, Spartacus was received by the Assemblies of the Two Cities and was able to muster an additional 4,000 Troops, though these were mostly Hoplites and Companion Cavalry in the Hellenic Fashion. Recognizing the Weakness of his allies' Formations, Spartacus would make sure to put their Hoplites in the Center and use his Legions and cavalry for the Wings of his formation. This allowed the More Mobile Legions and cavalry to cover the Flanks of the More Immobile Phalanx in battle, effectively synergizing the two methods of fighting to eliminate the weakness of the Phalanx and allow it to strengthen the Legions.

This formation would prove the key to victory at the Battle of Tyras, in late 291 BC where Gela's forces attempted to exploit the Weakness of the Phalanx only to be stopped dead by the more flexible Legions. The Battle of Tyras would last for most of a day, when just before dusk, as Gela's forces exhausted themselves against the better armored Legions and Phalanx, a sally from the City of Tyras, led by the Archon of Tyras himself, succeeded in breaking out past the siege lines and savaging Gela's Rear. Panicked at being taken from behind and stymied in front, Gela's more undisciplined clansmen began to rout, which was just the Opening Spartikos wanted as his cavalry reserve of Scythian and Roxolani Lancers, was sent in to cut down as many fleeing Dacians as possible. Unfortunately, Gela and his more disciplined Bodyguard were not amongst the Dead by the end of the Battle, having retreated in better order and attempted to get his men back under control. Spartikos was prepared to March into Dacian territory if need be, but ultimately was stopped from doing so. Not because he would need to cross the territory of several Thracian Tribes who themselves had been savaged by the Dacians, nor by Gela's Army, but by the prospect of crossing the Dacian Mountains to get to Gela's Core territories. Ultimately however the Dacian Threat had been broken and the Archon of Tyras pledged fealty to the Bosporan Crown, as Lysimachus was still fighting Demetrios, who now had an extremely capable commander in the form of his Nephew Pyrrhus. This meant that Lysimachus could care less about Tyras. The New Arrangement was sealed and Spartikos returned home successful.

However Roads would need to be built to link the new territories to the heartland, which would take a few years. Borysthenes and Olbia were close enough that they could be connected fairly Easily, but Tyras was another matter entirely. In the Meantime, Eumelos began to build up his navy for conflict with Lysimachus and to provide transport capacity to Taras. Eumelos secured his eastern Flank with Colchis by sending envoys to King Kuji of Colchis and offering a marriage alliance between the Crown Prince Spartikos and Kuji's Daughter Parysatis. King Kuji, knowing Parysatis was older than his Son and Heir, Kartam, hesitated at this match, as it would be possible for Parystatis' Husband to attempt to claim all or part of Colchis as a claimant to the throne upon his death. However he dared not anger the Bosporan King by refusing, else war would surely come and the Colchisan Army was wearied from years fighting the armies of Azo, Eristavi of Kartilli. They would not survive the attempt at conquest. Finally as Summer turned to Autumn in 290 BC, King Kuji of Colchis accepted the match.***

Eumelos could begin his schemes against the Lysimachids in earnest then, for he had designs upon Thrace. Sadly his ambitions would not be fulfilled in his lifetime. Eumelos I, conqueror king of the Bosporan Kingdom, died from a chill in winter of 288 BC. It would be up to the newly crowned King Spartikos to fulfill the late King's dreams. First however, Spartikos had to see about Colchis. . .

*Tacitus notes that the Bosporans Fought in Roman Fashion, which makes them the earliest adopters of Thorakitai and Manipular Formations in the Greek World

**The POD: While Eumelos managed to carve out a "Kingdom the Size of Lysimachus'" who ruled over Thrace, Macedon, Epirus, and Greece, it did not survive him being thrown from his horse on his way to make sacrifice after the campaign and dying, and several of the more recently conquered portions slipped away. Here he manages to reign in his horse and survives to solidify his rule.

***Not much is known about the Colchisian Royal House at this time, but what is known is that Kuji was king in 290 BC, and that he had a daughter and a son by the sister of Pharnavaz I of Iberia and that the Son's name was Kartam.
 
Chapter 2-the Epirote-Lysimachid War
Epirus and Lysimachus had a troubling history that would Ultimately lead them to War. Epirus was Led by Demetrios I who was known as the Besieged for his knowledge of siege warfare. Lysimachus had previously gotten rid of Cassander, who was Basileus of Macedon and Hellas and consolidated his Rule over the peninsula. However Cassander's youngest Son, Alexander V survived and fled to Demetrios' Court. The Epirote Royal Family were related to Alexander V via Alexandros Megas. Demetrios and Alexander then launched a scheme to put Alexander back on the throne of Macedon.

This scheme would ultimately result in Hellas rising for Alexander V, but very little Macedonian Support with only a few Clans supporting Alexander. This necessitated Demetrios to bring his Army into the field. Battles were fought at Corinth and Thebes in 291 but we're indecisive, the forces of Lysimachus were large, but Demetrios had quality on his side. It was clear to Lysimachus that more forces would be needed to crush the revolt and take Epirus. Accordingly, in late 291, Lysimachus stripped forces from his northern border to fight Demetrios and Alexander V.

This had resulted in an underdefended Border in parts of Thrace and the Dacian King Gela had decided to take advantage of this to invade and assault the Lands of Tyras, a Lysimachid Vassal City on the Euxine Shore. This invasion went unchallenged by Lysimachus who was focused on Demetrios and Alexander and was ultimately put down by the Forces of the Bosporan Kingdom. At any rate by 290 the Epirote Commander Pyhrrus of Epirus took the field against the Lysimachids. Pyrrhus was something of a military genius and inflicted a severe defeat against Lysimachid Forces under Lysimachus' Son Agathocles at the Battle of Phoenike in Southern Epirus, turning the Lysmachid Army back into Hellas where it was again Brought to Battle at Corinth by Cleomenes of Sparta and Routed once again. Unlike Pyrrhus who was content to let the Greeks of Hellas do most of the fighting and did not pursue, Cleomenes did Pursue the Lysimachid Force North from the Isthmus to Megara where another defeat was inflicted upon Agathocles. Only the Arrival of Lysmachus' Main Army at Thebes halted what could have been a great disaster for the Lysamichids. It was in 289 BC that Lysimachus managed to wrest control of Boetia from the Rebels, subduing much of Northern Hellas while Agathocles rested and reorganized back in Thebes. Athens and Attica was next to fall to Lysimachus' Force and Finally Agathocles pulled out a victory during the Naval Invasion of Euboea where he subdued Chalcis and Eritria. By this time it seemed Lysimachus' would not arrest his momentum. It was Pyrrhus of Epirus who, seeing Cleomenes' Defeat on the Horizon, sailed from Ambracia with his army to Reinforce the Isthmus of Corinth.

The Battle that Followed would be a brutal one in the Narrow Confines of the Isthmus, where Corinth had heavily fortified the area. Neither Lysimachus nor Pyhrrus were able to bring their secret weapons, their Elephants to bear in such a battlefield and even with the reinforcements from Epirus, the combined armies of Pyrrhus and Cleomenes were outnumbered by the forces that Lysimachus brought to bear as he pulled troops from Thrace, Macedon, Rhodes, and Asia all to finish off this revolt and send the Epirotes packing. However Pyrrhus tactical mind had a few surprises in store for Lysimachus. He had hidden a number of Peltasts and Thureophorai in the hills along the gulf of Corinth and they launched flanking attacks on Lysimachus' Forces and raided their supply lines, sapping their strength as the winter set in, while Pyrrhus and Cleomenes' Forces recieved fresh supplies from the Peloponnese.

Ultimately the Siege of Corinth lasted until 287 BC and killed a substantial number of soldiers on both sides, but was far worse for Lysimachus due to the raids on his supply lines. In late Summer 288 BC Lysimachus was forced to call off the siege. Pyrrhus then pursued, harassing Lysimachus' Tired Army back to Megara where Lysimachus was forced to conclude a treaty with Pyrrhus and Cleomenes. Cleomenes would be Granted the Pelopenese including Corinth and the Isthmus as a personal fief. For Pyrrhus, Epirus gained the Island of Corfu, and Macedonian Territory on the Border with Thessaly and Boetia. Fortunately Alexander V had died during the Siege of Corinth to a stomach illness from Bad bread and so Lysimachus kept Macedonia, Northern Hellas, and Thrace for himself. However his army was much weakened from the war with Epirus and he would suffer for it.

As for Pyrrhus, the Term Pyrrhic Victory came to be a watchword for Victory obtained primarily through skirmishing and raiding supply lines. Epirus was overjoyed at their victory. Pyrrhus himself on the other hand, had loftier ambitions. He wanted to Unify Magna Graecia. . .
 
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Very interesting. Wonder how they will.deal with the Huns and Slavic tribal migrations.

That's gonna be awhile in the future. I will say this, the Hunnic Migration isnt going West ITTL. I'm going with the Huns equal the Xiongnu theory, in which case the Richer Targets are South, not West. . .
 
yaaaay its back I looooved your first version soo little is known yet there is sooo much potential in the bosporan kingdom.
 
Chapter 3-Italian Affairs
In Italy, wars for dominance between the Roman Republic, The Samnite Confederation, The Etruscan League, and other minor powers continue as the Bosporans consolidate control of the Northern Euxine. In 295 BC the Third Samnite War is in full swing and is undergoing a Period of Roman Ascendance in the Battles. This Changed in 294 BC with the Entry into the War of the Etruscan League. The Etruscans sent an Army down into Latium, which forced the Roman Consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus to retreat from Campania in order to deal with this new threat, for no legions could be raised and trained in time to combat the army that was within a week's March of Rome. This allowed the Samnites to Complete their Conquest of the Lucanians and absorb them into their confederacy, as well as move an army to besiege Capua under Meddix Flavus Pontius, Son of the Famed Gaius Pontius who led the Samnites to victory over Rome in the Battle of the Caudine Forks in the previous war. Meddix Pontius managed to take Capua while Consul Barbatus was forced to defend Rome Against an Incursion by the Etruscans. The Battle of the Plains of Mars was a tactical Roman Victory, but the Etruscan Commander, King Thucer Caicna of Arretium managed to retreat the Etruscan Army in good order back into Etruria. Barbatus would follow to begin the Conquest of Etruria while leaving lesser men to fight the Samnites, this would allow the Samnites to conquer much of Campania with little resistance from the innefectual commanders appointed by the Senate.

However with the final Conquest of Arretium in 292 BC, the Etruscan League was finally no more and Barbatus could turn his attention South to deal with the Samnites Once and For All. Leaving 2 Legions in Etruria to Hold his new Conquests against potential Sennone and Umbri Raids, Barbatus Marched with 3 Legions south to the River Volturno, attempting to use the terrain to force the Samnite Armies marching North from Capua towards the lands of the Volsci to cross the river under fire from his Velites and Archers. This strategy proved effective in Turning Back the Samnites, who took heavy casualties in the Battle of the Volturnine Ford. Finally the Samnites were being chased back South. Capua was contested fiercely by the Meddix and the Second Siege of Capua initially went very poorly for the Romans, as the Strategy that Meddix Pontius used was to keep forces both inside and outside the city, hidden and ready to spring ambushes on the Romans. However in 291 BC, the Capuan People would rise up from captivity and make an attempt to open the Gates, which would Stymie Meddix Pontius' Attempts at defense for three days, during which Barbatus was able to get the upper hand. Pontius' Forces, in danger of being hemmed in at Capua, had no choice but to quit the city, making off with the Bulk of the Treasury and Granary, the Samnites retreated from Capua. This was an astute move from Meddix Pontius, as it forced Barbatus to halt his advance and bring in grain from the North and Gold from Rome. In the Meantime the Samnites melted back into the rugged countryside.

By 290 BC, Barbatus was once again ready to take the fight to the Samnites, but the Senate had sent word of a Major Sennone Attack into Umbria. The Sennones under their New Chieftain Vitousurix had begun to move into Etruria in numbers, attempting to sack the rich cities that Barbatus had so recently conquered for Rome. The Two Legions he had left in Etruria had been defeated by a large force of Gaulish Heavy Cavalry at the Battle of the Heraclean Lake in Etruria and the Senones were chasing the defeated Legions in the hopes of wiping out organized resistance to their attack. Barbatus realized that the Sennones did not mean to raid, but to expand their Kingdom from Umbria into Etruria. He concluded a peace treaty with Meddix Pontius, whereby they were allowed to keep their Conquest of the Lucanians but had to forever forswear their ambitions on Roman Campania and were bound to pay an indemnity of around 180,000 Assarii, which was a princely sum in those days before the introduction of the Denarius. However with the Samnite Treasury Full to bursting from the conquest of the Lucanians, tribute from the Greek City of Neopolis, and the Treasury of Capua, both Meddix Pontius and Consul Barbatus knew that the Samnites could well pay the indemnity. The peace was agreed upon and Barbatus moved North, using the wealth gained from the Samnites to pay for and equip 3 new legions to face the Sennones.

In Etruria the 2 Legions fighting the Sennones had faced defeat once again outside the City of Clevsin and were bottled up inside the City as a siege started. The Siege would last until the Summer of 289 BC whereupon Barbatus arrived with 6 Legions to attack the Sennones Rear. At the same time, the two much reduced Legions inside the City of Clevsin sallied and caught the Sennones between the two forces. The Sennones Gallic Cavalry fled the battle with Vitousurix at their head, leaving their infantry and Umbrii Vassals to fight on alone. This led to the Umbrian Subject Chieftains of Spoletium, Ameria, Tutere, and Interamne, the Four principal Umbrii City States, to turn cloak and join the Roman Host as Socii, much like the Volscii further south. With their Combined Forces, Barbatus was able to Crush the Sennones and solidify Roman Rule over Umbria. Vitousurix was brought into the Roman Camp in Chains and was displayed prominently in Barbatus' Triumph in Rome in the Autumn of 288 BC.

While all this was going on the Greek City States of Magna Grecia were growing increasingly concerned about the Powers North of them. The Samnites they could just about Match if they banded together, but Rome had just tripled in Size and it was not clear if even working together, they could stop the Latin Juggernaut from Crushing them should they try. However, Hicetas, Newly Crowned Tyrant of Syracuse had been in Talks with Pyrrhus of Epirus, newly Triumphant over the Lysimachids and a Framework was being worked out for the Formation of an Italiote League with Epirus' Backing. The Head of the League was to be the Nephew of the King of Epirus, Pyrrhus himself. Thus with the League's Structures Worked out, Pyrrhus of Epirus and his Army, sailed to Syracuse in 287 BC. . .
 
That's gonna be awhile in the future. I will say this, the Hunnic Migration isnt going West ITTL. I'm going with the Huns equal the Xiongnu theory, in which case the Richer Targets are South, not West. . .

But at least IOTL the power of the Xiongnu was largely broken after the campaigns of Emperor Wu. Will this not be the case ITTL?
 
Chapter 4-Spartikos' Colchisand Adventure and the Pontic reaction
By Spring of 287 BC the New King Spartikos of the Bosporan Kingdom and his Queen Consort Parystatis had designs on the Throne of Colchis, currently being held by Kartam, son of Kuji. Spartikos' Claim was that since his wife was the eldest sibling, Colchis should have been Brought into the Bosporan Kingdom with the Marriage as her Dowry. Kartam refused this claim on the basis that Parystatis was a woman and thus not eligable for the throne. However the clear lack of Dowry given from the union provided pretext for Spartikos to invade, doing so with an Army of 20,000 Infantry and 3,600 Cavalry, as well as sending his Navy of 120 Ships , twice the size of Colchis' Fleet, carrying a further 5,000 Infantry.

Two Battles were fought, one on land and one on sea. On Land, the Battle of Pityas pitted the Bosporan Army under Spartikos against the Colchisan Army of 15,000 Infantry and 2,200 Cavalry under King Kartam. The Bosporan troops were much better trained and equipped than the Colchisan troops, many of whom had to make do with Wicker Shields and Light Armor. The Majority of Colchis' Professional troops had to remain in garrisons along the Borders of Iberia to prevent that power from taking advantage of the situation and much of the army that faced the Bosporans was light troops and militia reinforced with a smattering of veterans. Many questioned whether King Kartam was of sound mind to face the Bosporan Armies with Such a force, but Kartam would not be denied, refusing to "Cower in his palace while more significant forces were gathered." In any event, the Battle was a Crushing Bosporan Victory, as the Bosporan Right managed to smash through the light troops on the Colchisan Left and roll up Kartam's Entire Army. Kartam barely escaped the battlefield with some few hundred bodyguards and retreated South to Dioscurias.

At Sea, the Battle of Phasis commenced with the Colchisan attempt to ambush the Bosporan Fleet's troopships at night, however the Bosporan Admiral Eumenes realized that the troop carriers were vulnerable and thought to use them as an opportunity to trap the Colchisan Fleet. He stopped at the Island of Aretias to offload some of the troops and turn three of his troop ships into fire ships before setting off on a final approach to Phasis. When the Ambush happened, the Colchisan fleet was scattered by the fireships and easily mopped up by the Bosporan Fleet. The next three days were spent ferrying troops from the Island of Aretias to Phasis, whereupon the city surrendered.

With Phasis and Pityas Taken, Spartikos could draw a Noose around Kartam in Dioscurias. He did so, advancing his forces to catch the City in a Pincer and block all hope for Escape for Kartam. It is said that Kartam was thrown from his palace balcony and the gates of the city were thrown open for Spartikos and Parystatis. The Nobility of the court unanimously proclaimed Spartikos King of Colchis and recognized his right to the throne by marriage. News soon spread that there was a new King and many of the cities and garrisons rejoiced to have a competent general at the helm of the State to help defend Iberian Incursions. Indeed King Spartikos stationed 5,000 Bosporan Troops in Colchis to back the Colchisan forces against attempted incursions. Spartikos and Parystatis spent the rest of 287 Ruling from Dioscurias and setting things up in Colchis.

However these moves made Pontus nervous. Pontus was always nervous, sandwhiched as it was between the Lysimachids and Seleucids, however King Ariobazarnes of Pontus had thought that with the recent Lysimachid Defeat against Epirus, he might be spared an overly conquest happy neighbor that might Draw Pontus into war. It now seemed that this was not to be, with the Bosporan Kingdom's Growing Strength and military adventures in Asia. It was with this backdrop that Ariobazarnes of Pontus and King Pharnykes of Iberia would meet to discuss a potential alliance against the Growing Bosporan threat. By Winter of 286, these two powers, along with Media Atropatene would form a triple alliance against Not only Bosporan Expansion, but Seleucid Expansion as well. However with the Seleucids preoccupied with Syrian adventures opposite the Ptolemies, it was very clear who this alliance was currently aimed at. . .
 
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