An Alternate History Of Macedon

On the 21 July in the year 356 BC, Olympias, wife of Philip II of Macedon died in childbirth. Shortly afterwards, her child, Alexander,died with her. Macedon grew powerful under Philip, who crushed the Thracians and moved against the Greeks. In 338 BC, the Greek states resisted Philip, led by Athens and Thebes, at the Battle of Chaeronea. There, the Greeks were decisively defeated and Greece came under Macedonian control. The Hellenic League was formed, theoretically as a free alliance if states but in reality, run with Philip as its hegemon. All the Greek states wre included, with the notable exception of Sparta and that Epirus was run by Philip's relatives.

With Greece conquered, Philip prepared to invade The Persian Empire as punishment for the two Persian invasions of Greece more than a century earlier. Support for a crusade against Persia united Greece and distracted it from rebellion against Philip.

In 336 BC, Philip crossed the Hellespont and landed in Asia Minor. The Persians were crushed at Granicus. Soon afterwards, Philip lost the Battle of Gordium against Persian king Darius III. The Persian counter- offensive was defeated and the war dragged on. Philip finally evicted the Persians from Asia Minor in 324 BC and crushed them at Issus. Darius was forced to accept the loss of Asia Minor to Philip soon after and Philip accepted Darius' offer of peace that he keep Asia Minor provided he end the war against Persia.

In 319 BC, Philip II of Macedon died of tuberculosis. Philip had no heir, since his son Caranus had died in 323 BC. Philip's generals and advisers agreed to give power to Philip's mentally-ill brother, Arrhidaeus, with Antipater, viceroy of Macedon as regent. So in 318 BC, Arrhidaeus was crowned King Philip III of Macedon, Hegemon of the Hellenic League.

The Greeks immediately refused to be ruled by a mentally- ill King and revolted in the Hellenic War. The revolt was led by Athens. Antipater's acted ruthlessly, wining the Battle of Lamia and destroying Athens. The Hellenic League was dissolved in favour of more direct means of control, like pro- Macedonisn tyrannies.
 
Last edited:
Wars Of The Succesors

There were many who were unsatisfied with the solution. One such person was Parmenion, an old veteran of Philip's wars. In his mind, surely he should be regent for Philip III. Another rival of Antipater's was Seleucus, viceroy of Cappadocia, who yearned for his own autonomy. Parmenion stormed Pella, capital of Macedon, and Antipater's fled west with his armies. Antipater died shortly afterwards and for a while, all of Macedon was under Parmenion's rule. But Antipater's son, Cassander, gained the loyalty of the Antipatrid garrisons in Macedon. So, Cassander stormed Pella and usurped the regency. Philip III's wife, Adea Eurydice demanded Cassander's resignation. The stage was set for yet more civil war.

In 317 BC, Parmenion died and his son Philotas took over Parmenion's lands( Thrace and Hellespontine Phyrgia). Manipulated by Seleucus, war erupted a year later. Seleucus lended Philiotas an army of 30,000 men. Cassander faced a grave threat, but displayed tactical genius. Bypassing Philiotas' fleet, he landed in Asia Minor. The Antipatrids won the Battle of Ipsus after blocking Seleucus' men from Philotas, who was beheaded by an Antipatrid soldier. Seleucus agreed to the Peace of Ephesus with Cassander and partitioned Macedon, with Europe going to Cassander and Asia Minor falling into Seleucus' hands.

The Persian King, Darius IV, meanwhile, aspired to retake Asia Minor. Darius IV invaded Seleucus' lands and advanced into Cappadocia. Seleucus had the Macedonian phalanx on his side and Darius IV was slain at the Battle of Zamatae. The Persians retreated from Seleucus' lands. Persia finally accepted the loss of Asia Minor.

Seleucus for five years quietly ruled the Ionian cities. However, his ambition got the better of him and so, war erupted again in 311 BC. Cassander again faced both Seleucus and Adea as an enemy. Adea marched her forces into Pella and proclaimed Seleucus regent. Cassander fled with Philip III to the Greek states, leaving Seleucus and Adea in Pella. In Greece, Cassander mobilised the Antipatrid garrisons and took back power. Pella was besieged and Seleucus was killed. Adea fled to Pydna with her forces. There, she was besieged. After five months, she surrendered. Cassander gave her a sword and a noose, of which she took the noose and killed herself. Cassander was for a while, the undisputed ruler of Macedon.

Seleucus' realm was divided between two of his generals; Antigonus Monophthalmus and his secretary, Eumenes of Cardia. Eumenes got the western coast of Asia Minor and claimed the regency, the rest went to Antigonus. Cassander allied with Antigonus against Eumenes. Eumenes advanced into Cappadocia, battling Antigonus. Antigonus lured Eumenes into an ambush and after a bloody battle, Eumenes withdrew. His officers came into his tent under the pretext of official business and killed him. Antigonus was weakened and the Ionian Greek states rose in rebellion.

Antigonus defeated the rebel cities, one by one. Cassander decided to weaken Antigonus and sent a message to the Ionian states, promising them freedom. Soldiers were sent from Macedon to Asia Minor to support the rebels. Furious, Antigonus invaded Thrace but died at the Battle of Cardia. Antigonus' son, Demetrius fled to Byzantium and his realm was in turmoil. Cassander sent an army over to conquer it but somewhere in Asia Minor, battled Demetrius. Demetrius sent his army behind Cassander. The Antipatrid forces were routed and Cassander fled back to Macedon.

There, he had Philip III murdered and proclaimed himself King of Macedon. As a response, Demetrius did the same. Philip II's nephew, King Pyrrhus of Epirus, was determined to despise Cassander and install himself in the Macedonian throne. So, Pyrrhus sent a message to the Greek states, promising them freedom. Soon, many of the Antipatrid garrisons were evicted. Athens was the shining jewel of Pyrrhus' crown and the pro- Antipatrid dictator, Demetrius of Pharelum was overthrown. Pyrrhus won the Seige of Megalopolis against Cassander and invaded Thessaly. Cassander and Pyrrhus faced off near Pherae, in Thessaly.

Cassander held back the Epirote attack. Suddenly, he found a route behind Pyrrhus. Unfortuntely for Cassander, Pyrrhus' men also discovered this route. Cassander's army was massacred and Cassander fled with a small group of loyal troops. Pyrrhus entered Pella and crowned himself King of Macedon. Pyrrhus had many enemies among the Argeads, the former ruling family. So, hundreds of important Macedonians were killed in a brutal purge. Pyrrhus' enemies were besieged in Aegae and in an infamous act, the ancient city was set on fire. Cassander fled to Thrace and prepared to resist Pyrrhus.

Cassander died in 297 BC and his son, Antipater I inherited his throne. Antipater was soon defeated and overthrown by Pyrrhus. Antipater I fled to Demetrius who murdered him. Demetrius died soon after in mysterious circumstances and his son, Antigonus Gonatas took over Asia Minor.

Gonatas finally crushed rebellions in his realm and secured his rule. There would be one last conflict in the Wars of the Successors. Gonatas landed a fleet in Thrace and easily routed the Epirotes. Pyrrhus went to Thrace and battled Gonatas. As the dust settled, it was clear Pyrrhus had won a Pyrrhic victory. Thousands of men had died and his army was devastated. Nevertheless, Gonatas retreated back to Asia Minor and agreed to the Peace of Macedonians with Pyrrhus, agreeing not to attack each others' realms. They had their own problems to deal with.
 
Last edited:
The Epirote Kingdom Of Macedon
In 282 BC, Pyrrhus re-established the Hellenic League under his hegemony. The Greeks already revolted against Pyrrhus, led by Athens. Pyrrhus advanced south and besieged Athens, which refused to surrender. As a result, much of Athens was destroyed and the Greeks surrendered shortly afterwards. The Achean League was disbanded and many rebel cities were punished.

Despite Pyrrhus' victories, his realm was heavily insecure. Many Macedonians resented Epirote rule, as did the Greeks and even Epirus was insecure as it yearned for freedom against its Mollosisn rulers. Thrace was also insecure, with the local tribes just waiting to revolt. Yet, Pyrrhus made Macedon his power-base and got the support of the Macedonian nobles.

In 281 BC, a horde of Gauls invaded Greece, led by their chief Brennus. Brennus and Pyrrhus battled and in the end, Pyrrhus routed the Gauls. The defeated Gauls fled back north and the Gallic invasion of Greece was foiled. Pyrrhus returned to Pella as a hero, met by cheering crowds.

In 265 BC, Pyrrhus died and his son, Philip(OTL Ptolemy)became King Philip IV of Macedon. The Epirote age of Greek history was one of the most prosperous and culture and philosophy reached new heights. And Macedon held onto Greece, despite further revolts from the city- states. At the same time, democracy was extinguished in Greece and replaced by tyrannies.

During the Second Punic War, Epirote King Caranus V foolishly supported Hannibal. War erupted between the Roman Republic and Macedon. the conflict was indecisive though.Caranus V next invaded Rhides, a Roman ally. The Romans forced Caranus V to withdraw from Rhodes and the Greek states of the Pelloponese regained freedom. Sparta became the dominant power and formed the Laconian League. The Laconians went to war against the Achean city- states and conquered them. Under Caranus V's son, Phalotameres, war erupted between Sparta and Macedon. The Romans sided with Sparta against Phalotameres. The Greeks revolted against Macedon. After the Third Macedonian War, Macedon was driven out if Greece and was restricted to Epirus, Macedon itself and Thrace. In a fourth war, Macedon was occupied. Two revolts were crushed and Macedon became a Roman province. Rome fought two wars against Sparta which later became the province of Achea. Corinth was destroyed and the Greek states were conquered by the Roman Republic. One of the greatest civilisations of the ancient world had come to an end.
 
Last edited:

katchen

Banned
So Rome absorbs Greece and Achmaenid Persia is still out East, still ruling Egypt, Syria and Palestine. If the Dahae Parthians conquer the Achmaenids, they get that empire intact. Either way, Rome is held at bay, basically at Cappodocia and Barca (Tobruk) with no power vacuum in the East to march into. Rome will have to put it's energy into conquering Germania, Vandalia, Venedia, Dacia, Bosporus and places like that. Sounds like a very good TL. A truncated West. I like it. And yes, the Jews have an easier time of things.
 
So Rome absorbs Greece and Achmaenid Persia is still out East, still ruling Egypt, Syria and Palestine. If the Dahae Parthians conquer the Achmaenids, they get that empire intact. Either way, Rome is held at bay, basically at Cappodocia and Barca (Tobruk) with no power vacuum in the East to march into. Rome will have to put it's energy into conquering Germania, Vandalia, Venedia, Dacia, Bosporus and places like that. Sounds like a very good TL. A truncated West. I like it. And yes, the Jews have an easier time of things.

Thanks for suggesting Rome conquers Germania and all. Updates coming up soon.
 
Last edited:
Antigonid Kingdom
Gonatas ruled a relatively stable realm. However, it was difficult for Antigonid rulers to control Asia Minor and disobedient governors and local rebels added to their problems. In 256 BC, Origenes Amalanthenes, governor of Pontus rebelled against the Antigonids and established his independent rule over Pontus. Origenes was crushed a decade later by Gonatas. All the while, the Persians lurked over the Antigonid realm.

After Gonatas, his son Antigonus II went to war with the Persians. Antigonus II invaded Syria but was an incompetent commander. The Persians defeated Antigonus II and pushed him back into Asia Minor. Armenia allied with the Persians against the Antigonids. Armenia in the next century was repeatedly switched from Antigonid vassalage and vassalage of the new Parthian Empire.

After Origenes, Antigonid control was re-established over Pontus but the east was increasingly unstable. Cappadocia, Cardia and Pontus rebelled again in the next century.

In the 100s BC, the Antigonids encountered the Roman Republic. The Romans defeated a small Antigonid fleet in the Aegean and Roman navies gained control of the Aegean and the Meditteranean. The Romans supported the rebellion of the city of Pergamon against the Antigonids and Pergamon gained independence. Shortly afterwards, the Romans annexed Pergamon and the city of Byzantium was annexed next. Pontus rebelled against the Antigonids with Roman support. Afterwards, Cappadocua and Cardia overthrew the Antigonids, as did Armenia. The Antigonids survived as a rump state but soon lost Bythinia. Afterwards, the Antigonids fell to Roman rule. The great Greek kingdom of Asia Minor was gone, replaced by Roman tyranny.
 
Achaemenids And Parthians
Persia and Mesopotamia were lands for great empires. There had been Sumeria ,Assyria and Babylon then the Medians and finally the Achaemenid Persians, who even after the loss of Asia Minor ruled all the way from Bactria and Sogdiana to Egypt.The problem with the Achaemenids were they were de-centralised.

Around 250 BC, Arsaces, a barbarian lord, proclaimed independence from the Achaemenids. Arsaces formed the Parthian Empire, a new power that would dominate the east.The Achaemenids and Parthians bitterly fought for the next century. Finally, the Parthian Wars came to an end a century later when King Arsaces IV rode into Babylon. The Achaemenid King, Artaxerxes VII handed his lands over to Arsaces IV.

Decades later, the Parthians got control over the entire former Achaemenid Empire.The old system of governance carried on mostly intact and local people's retained their autonomy. The local peoples in turn mostly ignored politics. Arsaces IV was certainly well portrayed in the Bible, being showed as sent by God to suceed a decadent empire. The Parthians had a hierarchical system if governance too. Satrapies were more firmly controlled but mostly left to their own devices. The Antigonids invaded the Parthian realm but were crushed. Parthia competed with the Antigonids for control of Armenia. Finally, a century later, Arnenia was permanently absorbed into the Parthian Empire.

Yet, the Parthians found themselves with uncomfortable new neighbours;the Romans. The Romans stirred up rebellions in Egypt and Syria but these were crushed. In 54 BC, the Romans sent their general, Crassus, to conquer Parthia. Crassus was defeated and killed at the Battle of Carrhae and Rome was caught up in civil war. The Parthians exploited the opportunity to take Asia Minor and easily defeated the Romans.The victor of the Roman civil wars, Julius Caesar prepared to take back Asia Minor but was assassinated before doing so. Parthia finally reached the size of the old Achaemenid Empire.

After Caesar, the Romans sent another general, Mark Antony,to defeat the Parthians. In Armenia, Antony was defeated and fled back to Rome in disgrace. Antony was fired from his position and war erupted between the two power- brokers, Lepidus and Octavian only for Octavian to swiftly crush Lepidus.

Finally, the Romans took back Asia Minor under Octavian. The Parthians and Romans conflicted for centuries. In 115 AD,Roman Emperor Basianus took Syria from Parthia but lost Syria after his death. Three decades later, Emperor Argalus took Syria again but subsequently lost it. The Parthians took much of Asia Minor, but were soon pushed back.

In 227 AD, a Persian lord called Baydaris( OTL Ardashir) took the arthisn capital Ctesiphon and declared himself King of Kings. Baydaris defeated the Parthians at Palmyra and founded the Sassanid Empire. BAydaris led the Sassanids to permanently take Asia Minor. Baydaris' empire adopted a centralised system of governance and lasted for seven centuries before its final decline and fall.
 
Roman Empire
The Roman Republic was in turmoil. In the 80s BC, a general called Sulla marched on Rome and seized control. Sulla then had thousands of his opponents murdered. Slaves meanwhile revolted but were crushed.

After Sulla,two generals, Pompey and Crassus allied with Gaius Julius Caesar, a rising political star. Caesar went to conquer Gaul, which was done after nine years of fighting.

Crassus died in battle against Parthia. Shortly afterwards, the alliance between Pompey and Caesar collapsed. Pompey sided with the Senate against Caesar and civil war erupted. The Pompeians were crushed and Caesar returned to Rome in triumph but was assassinated shortly afterwards.

Civil war erupted again and Caesar's assassins fled to Spain. In Spain, Caesar's supporter, Mark Antony, crushed them. Antony lost a war against Parthia and was disgraced. The two power brokers, Lepidus and Octavian went to war. Lepidus fled to Sicily and then Africa before finally being murdered. Octavian declared himself Emperor Augustus. The Republic was gone, replaced by the Empire.

Augustus focused Roman energies on conquering Germania and so defeated the Germans. After years of bitter fighting, Germania finally submitted to Roman rule. Augustus moved further east, defeating the Vandals, Ostrogoths and other Germanic tribes.

Rome prospered as ruler of the west. However, the empire grew decadent, ravaged on its border with Persia by its rival superpower and further north by Aryan and Slavic tribes. In 259 AD, General Postumus proclaimed himself Emperor of Gaul. it was the beginning of the fall of Rome. Spain split off several decades later and in 331 AD, General Licinius split from Rome, ruling Greece and Illyria. Barbarian tribes poured into the empire and in the 400s AD, the Huns invaded the empire. Their leader, Attila invaded Italy and defeated the Romans at Pisae. Atilla then marched into Rome and declared himself King of Italy. Africa split and the empire came to an end. After Atilla's death, the Huns disappeared and General Aetius became King of Italy.
 
Please note that in this timeline, the Parthian satrap released Jesus and Christianity died out within a generation.
 
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanids took the opportunity from Rome's fall to gain Thrace and much of the Aegean. Yet, the Licinians remained to threaten Persia's frontiers. In the 520s AD, Licinius IV initiated the Reconquests, taking Thrace and Asia Minor from the Sassanids.

After Licinius IV's death, the Licinian Empire collapsed. Thrace and Asia Minor returned to Sassanid rule. Meanwhile, the Sassanid regime had immensely strengthened Zoroastrianism and the faith spread across the Middle East and into Egypt and Arabia. In Arabia, a Zoroastrian preacher called Mohammed converted the city of Medina to Zoroastrianism and crushed the polytheistic city of Mecca.

The Sassanid holdings in Asia Minor were threatened by the Avar Khanate, the new power in the Balkans. The Avars pushed the Sassanids out of Asia Minor in the 700s and the Avar warriors settled there with their families.Gradually, the Avars converted to Zoroastrianism.Asia Minor and Greece also slowly became Slavic after centuries of Avar rule.

The Sassanids defeated the Bactrian and Turkish tribes on their eastern border, absorbing them into the empire. Next, Sassanid energies focused on India and they conflicted with the Gupta Empire. The Guptas lost much of northern India to the Sassanids, but this was soon retaken.

In the 900s, a Hycarnian lord called Archrashes despised the Sassanids and gave rise to the Hycarnian Empire. Bactria and the Turks regained independence and the eastern satrapies split off. the great Sassanid Empire finally fell after 700 years of glory and the Hycarnian Empire had replaced it.
 
Avar Khanate
In the 600s AD, the Slavic Avars settled in the Balkans in the wake of the collapse of the Licinian Empire. The local Greco- Romans were defeated at the Battle of the Danube. The Avar Khan, Aromanas went south and defeated the Greek Archduchy of Thebes and destroyed Thebes. Delphi was sacked as was Stobi(Pella). The Kingdom of Achea allied with the Principlality of Athens and went north to battle the Avars. Achea and Athens were decisively defeated at Thermopalaye and Aromanas destroyed Athens. The Acheans surrendered and Achean remnants lost the Battle of Sparta. Aromanas left Greece, leaving the Greeks to pay tribute to their new Avar overlords.

The Avars fought numerous wars with the Sassanids until their conquest of Asia Minor. The polytheistic Avars were eager to convert to Zoroastrianism. civil war erupted in the 800s between the priests, led by King Manarkos and the Zoroastrians, led by Manarkos' cousin, Gracoros. Gracoros stormed the capital of Zela and Manarkos fled north. Manarkos was hunted down and executed. According to one story,Gracoros was brought Manarkos' head and he said" Thank Ahura Madza for bringing me the head of this wretch." According to the story, the head was fed to Gracoros' dogs. The Avars had converted fully to Zoroastrianism.

In the west, the Gallic Empire temporarily became the dominant power, vassalising Italy and then invading the Avars. The Avars lost the Balkans to the Gallic Empire. However, in Greece and Asia Minor, the Avars survived as a rump state. The Gallic Empire soon collapsed after its King Flavemagne( OTL Charlemagne) died. Bulgaria emerged in the region as the Avars' rival. However, it was soon vassalised.

In the 12th century, the Greeks revolted and the three kingdoms of Epirus, Macedonia and Achea emerged.The Avars survived in Asia Minor until the Hycarnian conquest a generation later. In the 14th century, the Avars were revived as the kingdom of Avaria.
 
I want to thank the people who posted here. This is a sorry day. I like the idea and all, but it just isn't going anywhere so... BUMP BUMP.

Man, I wasted a lot of holiday time on this.
 
Last edited:
Top