and here we go
History of Humanity
The Battle of Opis and the ascension of Mandaru the Great
Mandaru the Great
The Battle of Opis began with the Mandaru setting up his forces at the base of small sloping hill and near the edge of the River Tigris. The Babylonains set them selves up in a traditional fashion, but placed their entirety of the cavalry on the left flank away from the river to allow for more maneuverability. Before the battle the Mandar received word that Pharaoh Ahmose II was coming with a large army of reinforcements and should arrive to take part in the battle. This news brought a much-needed boast to morale. The battle began with the Persian troops sending out their cavalry to harass the Babylonian flanks. Mandaru responds by using his cavalry to chase off the Persian missile cavalry and engaging a large cavalry division in battle. By this point in the battle the Persian troops charge the Babylonian lines. The Babylonian slingers and javelin troops throw debris and spears at the enemy take down a good many of Persian troops. But the Persian numbers still prove to be a challenge for the Babylonians. They are able to hold out but slowly they begin to buckle the weight of the Persians too much for them to handle. Then a few regiments of Persian troops, during the chaos from the battle, break off and march towards the Babylonian camp determined to loot it before the rest of the army got the chance. Mandaru having just finished off the last of the Persian cavalry witnesses the flames coming from the direction of the camp and quickly gathered his men and raced towards the camp. There a bloody melee broke out. The tightness of the various tents made it impossible for the Mandaru to maneuver his men. Then a miracle occurred as if out thin air, troops bearing the banner of the Pharaoh descended on the camp cutting down any Persian in their sight. With the arrival of the Eygptians Mandaru turned the tide of the battle. He sent his troops down the hill to charge the open flank of the Persian army. The sight of thousands of blood crazed Eygptians charging down a hill lead by their beloved prince re-inspired the Babylonians. The allied troops began to push the Persians back. What was left of the Persian cavalry attempted to hold back the Egyptians but to no avail. The Egyptians hit the flank of the Persians hard trapping them between the River Tigris, and the Babylonians. Harpagus attempted to rally his troops to fight their way out but was cut down by the Eygptians. His head ingloriously put on a pike so all of the Persian could see the fate of their once mighty general. With this sight the Persians began to run those that could not escape were cut down mercilessly by the allied troops. The battle was won Babylonia had been saved. To this day Opis is remembered as important event in the history of the country and monuments decorate the city, which was built on the site of the battle.
But the victory was not without its costs, of the 50 000 men at the battle of 15 000 would be killed or injured, half of these being Babylonians. Amoung those dead included Pharaoh Ahmose II of Egypt Ahmose during the heat of battle was thrown from his chariot and broke several ribs and ruptured his kidney and several other vital organs. He would die within days due to internal bleeding. This created a problem for Mandaru as the Pharaoh and much of his army would be force to return to Egypt to mummify and bury Ahmose as well as appoint his son Psamtik pharaoh. This left Mandaru with a severely depleted force in which to conduct campaigns against the Persians Mandaru was forced to be content with raiding the Persian borders and retaking the city of Nineveh. The Persian King Cyrus fled back east towards his capital to build a new army and to wait for news from Sardis. Even with the Persian defeat at Opis, Sardis was still doomed. The city fell and Lydia king Croesus was executed by being burned alive. With his death the Lydian empire came to an end. With the Persian army in Anatolia free, a new invasion of Babylon was possible. That was until a revolt broke out in the east. Some of the Satraps seeing the victory at Opis believed the Persian Empire was weak and declared themselves independent. This wasn’t just some small revolt in a single Satarp but the entirety region of Bactria broke off into revolt. They were lead by the charismatic queen of the Massagetae tribe Tomyris. Tomyris was queen of one of the largest tribes Sycthian tribes in the east. The tribe was known for bravery and fury in battle and was a formidable foe. Tomyris as queen of this mighty tribe was able to convince many of the tribes along the border to invade as well. With the news of such and invasion and revolt in the East as well as the potential for a joint Babylonian, Egyptian invasion Cyrus began to send out peace feelers to the court of Babylon. Labashi all most immediately agreed to a peace deal, which recognized the conquest of Lydia. Egypt would follow in signing a similar peace deal a few months later.
The peace deal infuriated Mandaru who believed that they could have continued and eventually won the war. Mandaru was not alone in this feeling many across the entire country ranging from lowly peasant to the mightiest of nobles believed this too. Many in the country were caught up in a wave of pride and rejoicement. Mandaru began to be seen as a hero, a living legend. Mothers told stories to their children about their mighty and brave hero. But Labashi did not care about what his people believed, or how popular his brother was becoming, for he had found a new passion. This passion was not anything relating to the state, or the army, the arts, or even religion but rather a woman. The woman was a rich Babylonian commoner of Jewish descent named Marta. When the news of the affair is discovered riots begin. For many Babylonians an affair with a Jew or someone of Jewish descent is unacceptable especially for the king who is many eyes was seen as Marduk incarnate. The nobles were also furious some openly planed a revolt. But the most furious due to the affair was Mandaru, for Mandaru the affair wasn’t a matter of religion rather was much more personal as his sister was the wife. Labashi still unaware of Mandaru loyalties ordered the army, which was currently stationed in city of Ninveh to put down the riots in Babylon, Mandaru refused. In response Labashi ordered Mandaru assassination. The assassin failed in this task ultimately by a pig[1]. When news of the assassination attempt spread through out the country, people again began to revolt. Those close Mandaru pleaded with him to take up arms against his brother and make him self-king of Babylon. Days later the Lord of Ninveh told him that the time was ripe to take the throne from his brother in law Labashi, when Mandaru asked why he had to take the lord said this. “For you, are the champion of Babylon victor of Opis. Beloved by the people, the army, the nobles, even the gods. You Mandaru are the only choice to be king.” With the last words of encouragement Mandaru marched into Babylon at the head of the army. Labashi attempted to stop Mandaru throwing everything at him. He attempted to bribe him, persuade him. He tried to raise another army to fight him but to no avail. The Royal Guards executed him and his lover Marta and brought them to Mandaru who was in the city of Kish praying in the great temple that his brother had built. Only days latter was Mandaru crowned king of Babylon the first of name, head of the new and vibrant Bar-Shadrach dynasty. A new age in Babylon had begun.
Meanwhile in the far reaches of the Persian Empire Cyrus was beginning one of the biggest conquest in history. The revolt of the eastern Satraps had caused chaos throughout the empire, even forcing Cyrus to abandon his plans to conquer Babylon. The rebels were lead by the vicious and fierce Massagetae who were using the rebellion as an opportunity to carve out their own state in the East. Lead by their brave and victorious queen Tomyris the Massagetae ran amuck across the entirety of Bactria. Tomyris was able to convince and force many of the nobles in the region to swear loyalty to her. When Cyrus finally arrives the entirety of Bactria is in the control of Massagetae and the only force loyal to Cyrus in the East is that of Hystaspes who is desperately trying to hold back the Massagetae from conquering Parthia but was trapped in the city of Asakk. So Cyrus decided to ay a trap letting out word of his arrival he managed to trick the Massagetae to coming away from the city and luring them towards the Persian camp. Confused to find the camp empty the Massagetae decided to loot it and head back to Asakk. In the process the Massagetae became drunk, the Massagetae being a Scythian tribe did not have wine or beer so upon stumbling upon it at Asakk became incredibly drunk. Cyrus then sent his troops in the drunk Massagetae could barley put a fight and surrendered. [2] News of the defeat at Asakk infuriated Tomyris who decided to send a letter to Cyrus offering to fight him in a fair battle in the place of his choosing. Cyrus being an honorable man accepted. Though no records of the battle remain the outcome is well known. Tomyris leading her troops was killed and the rebels and Massagetae were defeated. Cyrus re-conquered Bactria and chased after Massagetae annexing their lands and that of their other Scythian allies. Over the next 5 years Cyrus would consolidate control of his vast empire, but he never forgot his jewel Babylon the one country that had defeated him, the black mark on his otherwise perfect record. But in 531 BC Cyrus would gain his chance to redeem himself.
Mandaru wasted no time after ascending the throne in 540. Mandaru immediately went about expanding the army to about 75 000 men, most of these men were refugees from Lydia hoping at gaining a better life and an opportunity to strike back against the Persians. Mandaru also centralize the power of the Monarchy in the kingdom by restricting the power of the nobles by forcing them to swear oaths of loyalty to him, and making himself the head of the army. But perhaps his most important reforms come in his cultural reforms. Since the beginning of the Chalden reign over Babylon a certain reverence for the ancient Akkadians had took hold over the country. When the Babylon was restored to her independent and proud state in 626 BC after being ruled by the Assyrians it looked to the past for inspiration. In looking towards the past they embraced everything relating to old Akkad adopting it’s language change cuneiform to look more like the ancient type used in old Akkad. The reverence for Akkad reached the point when a statue of the King Saragon was found a large temple was built for the statue and was given offerings. Though there was a lot that ancient Akkad could offer Mandaru rightly believed that time was right to embrace a new age in Babylonia and embrace the future. He began by making Aramaic the most widely spoken language in the empire as the official language. He reformed the cuneiform a removed the Akkadian influences and replaced them with a more Assyrian influence that was more recognizable to the people. These acts officially cuts ties with the Ancient Akkadian past and force Babylon to look to the future, and embrace the golden age that it had found itself in. But perhaps the most influential act of his entire reign and ultimately lead to the second Mesopotamian war was the great expulsion.
Jews fleeing into Persia
It was no secret that the Jewish populations were hated in Babylon. They had been forced from their lands exile to the capital city. But over time the wounds began to heal, Labashi even loosened the conditions of their exile allowing them to settle in Tyre, Nineveh, and Assur. But Labashi affair with Marta was discovered the old anti-Semitic feelings and prejudices erupted. To many Babylonians the Jews were still a fringe minority that was looked down upon by the general populace. When the riots broke many Jews were force to flee the cities in order to save their lives. But things culminated when Labashi was murdered and Mandaru took power. Mandaru realized that he gained the throne based off the anti-semetic feelings of the populace. Mandaru realized to keep that support that he would have restrict Jewish rights he first refused them from moving outside of the cities that had been deemed available for their settlement (i.e Babylon, Tyre, Nineveh, Assur). He then refused to allow them to take part in any farming or owning property forcing many into poverty. But for many in Babylon this was not enough they demanded that permanent solution be found. So Mandaru in following the tradition of Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all Jews in the entirety of the empire would be force to be removed. Jews immediately revolted, but Mandaru had prepared for this having split the army and stationed near the city. The majority of the Jewish populations fled into southern and central Persia. [3]Other fled across the sea forming colonies across the Mediterranean the most famous of these was the city of Dan in North Africa[4] which would one come to become one of the mightiest empires in history. Many still lived in secret in the mountains around the holy land practicing their religion in secret away from the prying eyes of the Kings in Babylon. The great exodus would have a profound impact on the religious structure and cultural structure of the world. The massive flight into Persia forever changed the political, and religious dynamics in the country, the effects of which can quite clearly be seen today. The effect on Persia would be so utterly profound that for much of early history of Persia would be defined by the conflicts between the Jewish newcomers and their converts against the old established order. In Europe they would spread like wild fire. Their colonies in North Africa would form the basis for a state that would last till the modern days though it has changed quite profoundly since the city of Dan was founded. But these changes were not felt at first, but the exodus would still have a profound impact on what would happen next. The massive influx of Jewish refugees began to overwhelm many cities and town. Many of these town begged Cyrus to do something about. Cyrus came up with a brilliant solution he would take to Jews back home. In spring of 531 BC Cyrus proclaimed that he shall restore honour to Jewish people return them to their lands and rebuild the great temple of Salomon. Jewish leaders, almost immediately proclaimed their support for Cyrus. Cyrus finally had his reason to go to war, gathering his veteran army hardened by the Massagetae campaigns he began his march to Babylon, thus beginning the second Mesopotamian war
[1] The story goes that one of the pigs in the camp was being prepared for slaughter broke out of its cage due to the foolishness of the butcher. The butcher chased after the hog which tripped over the would be assassin. The butcher saw the assassin blade, which look to good for a man of his ranking. The assassin attempted to run but was captured, tortured and ultimately executed.
[2] Pretty much the same thing happen in OTL.
[3] This is going to be one of the most important cultural exchanges in this timeline. Jews will thrive in Persian society and will culminate during the lives of Jordan, Azariah, Ochus II, and Darius in which the battle for the soul of Persia is between
[4] ATL Carthage expect founded by Jewish refugees. Dan is named after the ancient Hebrew city of Dan and the lost tribe of Dan, which travelled across the sea. Dan will become an important centre of trade and power and will maintain it’s Jewish heritage for a long time.