The Mandala Stands Strong: An Ancient Timeline.
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Babylon and the Hellespont.
Chapter 21: Babylon
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303 BCE, Babylon.
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Ekaveer sighed as he looked at the great city of Babylon in the distance, with its walls shining in the light of the arid desert. The march through Persia had been a grueling journey, marching right through the heartlands of Persia, through the mountains and then crossing the Zagros Mountains was no easy task, and the men were exhausted. However thankfully, the Battle of Zagros that occurred last year meant that Demetrius was dead, and his army gone. The Silver Shields, the most elite phalanx in the world had defected to their side immediately as they saw Alexander IV in his full armor regalia. The men were currently resting in the war camps outside the city of Babylon itself as the huge artillery of Ekaveer were now firing at the walls of Babylon with the men rotating their time for the artillery, making all men have a time off, from the excruciatingly long march across the Persian homeland and interior.
Ekaveer took a deep breath and looked at Eumenes. “Where is Seleucus’s army? The man said he would arrive here through Dilmun and the southern deserts!”
“He is most probably being held up by the interior Arabians living in the middle of the Arabian peninsula. Alexander never conquered the interior of the peninsula deeming it to have no economic value at all.” Eumenes stated. “They are known to attack the Nabateans and the Dilmun Arabians in the coasts from time to time with raids.”
“Damn!” Ekaveer swore. He had recently turned 41 in age, and the age was now starting to catch up to him it seemed. “Seleucus’s siege works would do wonders to shorten this siege tremendously. If I am not wrong, our Scythian allies have made Antigonous busy in Capadocia and Armenia. We could take advantage of this!”
“We could, however that is upto the fates Ekaveer.” Eumenes stated again as he looked towards Alexander IV who was conversing with the Silver Shields who were all sizing the young king up probably comparing him to his father.
“What of Ptolemy?” Ekaveer asked as the desert sun struck him with heat.
“Probably advancing up from Gaza. Last I heard the man was advancing with his army towards the city of Jerusalem claiming his border to be at Gaza. Jerusalem he is liberating for Alexander IV. Probably guilt acting upon him for abandoning the empire.” Eumenes grumbled.
“The empire is diminished, no understating that Eumenes, however the hearts of the Empire, Persia, Babylon and Greece are still ours to take Eumenes, and that is already the largest in the area.” Ekaveer replied.
“Perhaps, but it is quite disconcerting to see that my former friends and fellow generals simply left the cause as soon as His Majesty Alexander III died due to disease.” Eumenes sighed as he threw a small stone at a scorpion playing in the sand squashing the poor creature.
“True true, what of Hamilcar II in Carthage?” Ekaveer asked as he observed one portion of the older Babylon walls fall down due to siege fire from one of Ekaveer’s siege towers.
“He is doing nothing to aid us but blockade and bottle up the Antigonid fleet in the Aegean Sea.” Eumenes stated as he winced as a small desert wind blew some sand in his face.
“Uncle!” Alexander IV spoke up, now eighteen years of age.
“Nephew, how can I help you?” Ekaveer asked as he turned towards Alexander IV.
“The Silver Shields spoke of Babylon’s internal plumbing system which is linked with the Tigris river.” Alexander IV huffed. “Perhaps we could infiltrate the city through the river itself?”
“We could, however there is the small problem of the tides, and the plumbing locks, nephew.” Ekaveer grumbled slightly. “We need the direct siege. Moving through the river would be suicidal.”
“Ah, fine then.” Alexander IV nodded.
“We have another problem though.” Ekaveer grumbled again, this was becoming old. “The Scythians under Zurka, the King of the Scythians, are asking for aid against the Samartians in return for this campaign they are fighting on your behalf Alexander. You will have to aid them after you are restored to the throne.”
“The Scythians will have my aid in the future, because of their actions, Antigonous is occupied in the Caucasian mountains in the north.” Alexander IV murmured.
“Very well.” Ekaveer nodded at his nephew. “Anyways, it seems that Cassander and Lysimachus have finally thrown their lot into the portion of Antogonous, and it seems that we will have to cross the Hellespont in the future to take care of them, and seize the city of Pella itself.”
Eumenes laughed slightly as he threw a stone at Ekaveer who caught it with a quirked eyebrow. “You do realize, you will be the second conqueror in all history to cross the Hellespont into Europa itself? Probably the first conqueror from beyond the Indus as well.”
Ekaveer smiled and laughed back with a slight chuckle. “Perhaps. I didn’t march all the way across Himanchal, Punjab, Indus, Bactria, Sogdiana and Persia all for nothing then eh?”
“Indeed Ekaveer Indee-” Eumenes was cut off as everyone’s ears quirked as the sound gallops were heard. Ekaveer unsheathed his sword and rushed out of the small observation place they had made and looked towards the direction of the sound. In the far distance, Ekaveer could see the trail of dust as a huge blackish force made their presence known in the searing desert sun.
Straining his eyes, Ekaveer could see the flag of Seleucus being flown by the forces.
Ekaveer smiled slowly and turned back to Eumenes and Alexander IV who were looking at the force themselves. “Well it seems our old friend Seleucus has arrived on to the scene itself.”
The Siege of Babylon.
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It was a few good hours before Seleucus actually arrived. He was riding on his horse followed by his personal guard.
A Royal Bearer bowed down to Alexander IV and Ekaveer as the royal bearer began to speak.
“Your Majesty Alexander IV of the Makedonian Empire, it is my honor to let my liege, Seleucus I Nicator of the Arabian Empire present himself to you.”
“It is my honor to meet my father’s old friend as well.” Alexander IV stated as he shifted his posture and looked at Seleucus. The tall Emperor of Arabia smiled at Alexander IV and Ekaveer. Though the smile was a reserved and cold smile, it was a reciprocated smile, which was also pretty cold in return towards Seleucus.
Ekaveer strode forward and sized the Emperor of Arabia up before smiling slightly and both men shook each others arms. Seleucus smiled and stated “It is my honor to meet the Maharajah of the Nepala Mandala itself.”
“It is my honor to meet you as well.” Ekaveer greeted as he looked at the men. “Now, let us enter our war tent, plans are needed to be made.”
“Indeed.”
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Seleucus traced the thin paper on the table towards Anatolia and the Hellespont. “When we take Babylon, the road to the Hellespont will be clear. Antigonous will retreat to Pella his last stronghold. Colchis will fall to the Scythians as well.”
“Perhaps, however it seems that now Pella is where the last battle will take place.” Ekaveer rubbed his chin as he looked at the map.
“Indeed correct. The march through Anatolia should be relatively unchallenged except for a few skirmishers and a few small battles, which we can win with ease, considering the gigantic force of Scythians, Bactrians and Nepalese that you have brought and the massive forces of Arabians that I have brought with me, around 30,000 Arabian troops, plus 90,000 troops from your army, we shall have the greatest force this planet had ever seen!” Seleucus proclaimed as he stabbed the map at the direction of Pella.
“What of Ptolemy?” Alexander IV asked looking at the dagger with some amount of trepidation.
“He will bottle up the Antigonid forces in the Levant and Syria to aid our progress and his fleet will take Cyprus, the Antigonid stronghold in the sea.” Seleucus replied as he pointed at the figure of Cyprus in the map. “Not a glorious task per se, however an important one for our success and he knows it.”
“Good then, are we agreed on this plan?” Ekaveer asked.
“Aye!” Seleucus and Alexander IV stated.
Ekaveer smiled as he turned back and looked at the city of Babylon. It’s time to fall was near.
The Ptolemaic Fleet before capturing the island of Cyprus.
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3 months later
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Ekaveer clapped on in the crowd as the lead members of the Babylonian elites walked forward with the crown of Alexander III with them, to enthrone Alexander IV.
The Royal Priest of Zoroaster moved forward, and then took the crown from the crownbearer and began to speak.
“In the honor of his Majesty Alexander III, the Conqueror of Persia, the Lord of Asia, I declare Alexander IV, the son of Alexander III, the Lord of Asia and Roxana, the Queen of Bactria, to be the Emperor of the Makedonian Empire, and the Second Lord of Asia. May your name be cemented into the names of history! All Hail Emperor Alexander IV of the Makedonian Empire!” The priest stated as he slowly put the crown onto the head of Alexander IV.
Alexander IV smiled and stood up wearing the crown and the Persian staff and spread his arms. “These years of war have ravaged this empire, but fear not! Oour times of war are almost over on our home soil. Once the Motherland of my father is taken back from the traitors, then this empire shall be at peace, and upon the name of Ammon-Zeus, Zoroaster and my father, and as the Emperor of All Hellenes, Shah of Persia, I swear it!”
The crowd went wild and whoops of celebration and the people began to dance, the long 2 month long siege far from their minds it seemed. Ekaveer smiled at his nephew. It seemed he was growing.
He turned towards Seleucus who nodded back. It was nigh time that Ekaveer and Seleucus along with Alexander IV crossed the Hellespont and brought an end to the Diadochi War now being coined as the War of Successors.
The coronation of Alexander IV in Babylon.
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1 year later, Pella, 302 BCE
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Antogonous drummed his fingers on the desk and sighed as he looked at the messenger and said “What is it?”
“Sire, the armies of Alexander IV and Ekaveer as well as Seleucus have crossed the Hellespont.”
“Very well then.” Antigonous’s face took a dark expression as he looked at the chalice of wine in front of him and said “Well if they want my empire, then they better come and get it!”
A Painting of Alexander IV crossing the Hellespont.
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Lucius Papirus Cursor looked at the maps presented in front of him and asked “What of Rome’s defenses against an incursion from the Hellenes?”
“We have good sources to say that any attempt at taking the Magna Gracia territories such as Tarrentum will probably in the future invoke the wrath of all Hellenes. It would be in our interest not to take action at the moment and see who wins this civil war going on in the Hellenic Empire.”
“Why not capitalize on it and seize the southern Peninsula?”
“We are already overextending with our recent victory over the Umbrians, Samnites and Estruscans. We will be doomed to internal strife and the legions are wary. Despite no matter how much we don’t like it, it is what we and the senate must do for the time being as this war plays out.”
“It is interesting though, to hear that an Indic King has crossed the Hellespont. I wonder how far away he is from?” Lucius asked as he rubbed his chin.
“According to sources, he rules a powerful kingdom in the east which was allied with Alexander III of Makedonia. Alexander III’s half-sister is this king’s wife as well.”
“Interesting to know, however onto the problem at hand. Will the Carthaginians extend their control onto the mainland peninsula?” Lucius asked.
“We do not know, however it is unlikely. Despite this however, our interests will clash with Carthage in the future, it is inevitable really with their aims at Sicily and our goals at Sicily. It would be best not to underestimate them.”
“True true. Very well.”
Consul Lucius Papirius Cursor.
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@Food-Oh_Koon , @Brahmatman Tulyatavan , @Shahrasayr , @Analytical Engine , this is a historic day ITTL at least crossing the Hellespont! Any predictions?!
technically yeah! The next update is going to be a burner, any predictions?
That it was very well written.
That Alexander IV will hopefully be a decent emperor of Persia.
That Rome and Carthage will enter SHOWDOWN!
Rome will have a ........pretty interesting future! *Wink wink* *nudge nudge*
Also thanks for the compliment! Pretty gratified.
You probably should.....get Cacio e peppe and some Sphagetti ala Carbonara. They're more local.I'll get the snacks ready now, then.
Maybe a good amount to become.......Pyrrhic?And how many of his men is he going to lose this time?
The cultural impacts will be pretty interesting and fun to write. It will certainly have an impact. Anyway, how are you liking the TL?
TBH i enjoy more the timelines when they point a date or a year and the main events, but i must admit im enjoying the character construction. Im seeing Ekaveer, inheriting the good traits of his father and starting to being an influential figure for Alexander IV, perhaps leading to see more nepalese traits later in life.
Nice detail to include the argyraspides as a body guard for Alexander. Wonder how much will still change the Mandala, not only for the macedonian exposition, but for other cultures - remember you have armenians, persians, some galatians in Anatolia, whatever arabs bring Seleucus. Everyone has something to share i think.
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