Part 1: Necatanebo and Mentor
So this idea has been bouncing in my head for some time and I finally decided to go through with it. It involves Necatanebo II defeating Artaxerxes III and holding the Achaemenids long enough for Alexander to arrive. So without further ado, let's start the timeline!
Mentor of Rhodes was in an unenviable position. He was sent by the Egyptian pharaoh to assist Sidon. But the rebellion was doomed to fail eventually, for how could a few renegade satraps and cities stand up to the might of the Great King, who, according to some sources, had around 330,000 men. Tennes had surrendered and Achaemenid control of Phonecia was restored. Nevertheless, Mentor escaped with his life[1] and avoided capture, for it was not certain that the Great King would pardon him, although his skills were great. Then he returned to the court of Necatanebo II, who needed Mentor more than ever...
[1]- This is the POD. IOTL Mentor was captured and pardoned by Artaxerxes III, who sent Mentor to assist in the invasion of his former refuge, Egypt.
Mentor of Rhodes was in an unenviable position. He was sent by the Egyptian pharaoh to assist Sidon. But the rebellion was doomed to fail eventually, for how could a few renegade satraps and cities stand up to the might of the Great King, who, according to some sources, had around 330,000 men. Tennes had surrendered and Achaemenid control of Phonecia was restored. Nevertheless, Mentor escaped with his life[1] and avoided capture, for it was not certain that the Great King would pardon him, although his skills were great. Then he returned to the court of Necatanebo II, who needed Mentor more than ever...
[1]- This is the POD. IOTL Mentor was captured and pardoned by Artaxerxes III, who sent Mentor to assist in the invasion of his former refuge, Egypt.