The Massaliot league. A Hellenistic period Massalia Timeline

[Sersor]

269 BC


With Gauls drained from their civil war and strong allies in Greece and Egypt, Massaliot League enjoyed peace and prosperity. Only small pirate raids in the Atlantic( most probably Veneti and Carthage) was a concern. The tribes of Allobroges and Santones were heavily influenced by the Greeks and were pretty much unofficial vassals of the Massaliot league.

• Orestes retired after holding the position of strategos for more than twenty years. Remains a federal council member.
• Hermarchus Epicurean version* grew in popularity.

*Hermarchus, same as Epicurus, believed that what he called "pleasure" was the greatest good, but that the way to attain such pleasure was to live modestly, to gain knowledge of the workings of the world and to limit one's desires. Hermarchus Epicurean version was fairly cosmopolitan by Massaliot League standards, including women and slaves. Some members were also vegetarians as Epicurus did not eat meat, although no prohibition against eating meat was made.



By place

Sicily

• The Mamertines, a body of Campanian mercenaries who have been employed by Agathocles, the former tyrant of Syracuse, capture the stronghold ofMessana (Messina in north-eastern Sicily), from which they harass the Syracusans. The Syracusan military leader, Hieron, defeats them in a pitched battle at the Longanus River near Mylae, but Carthaginian forces intervene to prevent him from capturing Messana. His grateful countrymen then choose Hieron as their king and tyrant, to be known as Hieron II.

 

[Sersor]

268 BC

Tensions break between Kassitia, the Greek trade hub in Belerium (Land's End) in Cornwall, and the near by Dumnonii tribe. A Military expedition of one tagma under new strategos Diogenes is send to deal with the situation with the support of ten new Venemeres* ships.


*Venetii tribe inspired ships. Solidly build, well suited to local conditions. Adelphius describes them as having shallower keels than Massaliot League Mediterranean ships, which made them better suited for operations in tidal waters, as being constructed entirely of oak, with high prows and sterns which made them more able to resist the Atlantic storms, and also made them almost invulnerable to standard Mediterranean ramming tactics.

By place

Roman Republic

• The Roman denarius coin is minted for the first time.
• The Romans found a colony at Malventum which they, for superstitious reasons, call Beneventum (since male means bad and bene means good in Latin).

Greece/Epirus Kingdom

• Chremonides, an Athenian statesman and general, issues the Decree of Chremonides, creating an alliance between Athens,Corinth and several other small towns. The origins of this alliance lay in the continuing desire of many Greek states, notably Athens and Corinth, for a restoration of their former independence, King of Epirus Pyrrhus, easily crashed the rebellion.

 

[Sersor]

267 BC

Diogenes after a small series of battles won the Dumnonii tribe and now Massaliot League effectively controls west cornwall including the major trade town of Ictis. One thousands settlers send to colonise the area.

Syracuse

• Hiero II sends diplomats to establish formal relations with Epirus and Massaliot League.

 

[Sersor]

266 BC

• New academy build in Naucratia by Palaioi company

By place

Roman Republic

• January 23 – Marcus Atilius Regulus and Lucius Julius Libo celebrate triumphs over the Salentini.
• Calabria and Messapia are annexed by the Roman Republic.

Asia Minor

• Ariobarzanes becomes the second king of Pontus, succeeding his father Mithridates I Ctistes.

 

[Sersor]

265 BC

Hiero II decisively defeated the Mamertines at the Longanus River, which caused the Mamertines to appeal to Carthage and Rome, the other powers in the region besides Syracuse, for military aid.



Italy

• The Etruscan city of Volsinii was brought under Roman control.

Arts & sciences

• The Archimedes screw for raising water is devised by the Greek mathematician Archimedes, who is studying at Alexandria.

 

[Sersor]

264 BC

A Carthaginian commander in Sicily responded to Mamertines and sent a small force to garrison Messana’s citadel. Hiero II did not want openly to attack the Carthaginians and invite a war, so he retreated back to Syracuse.

Carthage had already been trying to control Sicily for centuries, and their main opposition had been the Greek colonies spread around the island. Syracuse, the wealthiest and most powerful of the Greek colonies in Sicily, had always been Carthage's main opposition. Taking control of Messana allowed Carthage to decrease Syracuse's power, and since Carthage already controlled North Africa, parts of Spain, Sardinia and some small islands in the Mediterranean, control of Messana could lead to the conquest of Sicily.Additionally, Messana could be an excellent staging area if the Carthaginians wanted to invade Italy and attack Rome.

While the Romans had been steadily expanding their territory for over a century, their army had never fought a battle outside of the Italian Peninsula. Carthage's control of an invasion route into Italy threatened Rome's newly conquered territory in southern Italy as well as Rome itself. The Roman Senate voted to send an expedition to Sicily under the command of Appius Claudius Caudex, one of the consuls for that year. The Roman consul and his two legions are deployed to Sicily, the first time a Roman army has gone into action outside the Italian peninsula. Appius Claudius Caudex leads his forces to Messina, and as the Mamertines have convinced the Carthaginians to withdraw, he meets with only minimal resistance. The Mamertines hand the city over to Appius Claudius, but the Carthaginians return to set up a blockade. The Syracusans, meanwhile, are also stationed outside the city. Appius Claudius leads his troops outside the city of Messina to defeat the Syracusans in battle forcing Hiero to retreat back to Syracuse. The next day Claudius defeats the Carthaginians in the Battle of Messana.


Syracuse

• Hiero II fearing a siege by Romans, sends diplomats to Epirus kingdom and Massaliot League for help against Rome.

Greece/Epirus Kingdom

• Pyrrhus gladly accepts Hiero II offer and starts to mobilise his army and fleet. Finally he has a chance to revenge Romans. Emissaries send to Massaliot League, Egypt ,Sparta and Rhodes informing the war and asking for assistance.

 

[Sceonn]

Sparta is a spend force, Egypt can't move it's forces with the Seleucid prowling at it's doorsteps, and Massila won't be bothered.

Rome is still in a prick though.

 

[darthfanta]

Wow,so this has turned into some sort of three way war?

Sparta is a spend force, Egypt can't move it's forces with the Seleucid prowling at it's doorsteps, and Massila won't be bothered.

Rome is still in a prick though.

Not sure about that.Rome is a threat,and it's bad faith to not join your ally in a war even if it's not defensive.They will probably jump into the war while the allies are at it.

 

[Sceonn]

Wow,so this has turned into some sort of three way war?


Not sure about that.Rome is a threat,and it's bad faith to not join your ally in a war even if it's not defensive.They will probably jump into the war while the allies are at it.

Not really, their alliance with the League is mercantile in nature. Rome is a threat sure, but so is Carthage. If Rome's power is curbed, Carthage's will rise to dominate instead of the existing balance of power with their two main threats eying one another which is useful to Massaliot League.

 

[darthfanta]

Not really, their alliance with the League is mercantile in nature. Rome is a threat sure, but so is Carthage. If Rome's power is curbed, Carthage's will rise to dominate instead of the existing balance of power with their two main threats eying one another which is useful to Massaliot League.

The best choice of action for both Pyrrhus and the Massaliot league would be to sit tight and let the Romans and the Carthaginians fight it out before attacking the side that seems to be winning,just like the US did in regards of the two World Wars,but with Pyrrhus jumping into the war,it's best to give him some degree of support and see how things develop before throwing their entire lot in.Right now,the action seems to be limited to protecting Syracuse from both sides alone.The Massaliot League can do that without further escalating the war.Regardless,you don't want any of the sides fully dominating Sicily either,since it's sitting in the middle of the trade routes to the east.Another thing is that right now,the Massaliots are probably more pissed at the Romans given their recent annexation of Magna Graecia and the large Greek migrant population from there.

 

[Sceonn]

The best choice of action for both Pyrrhus and the Massaliot league would be to sit tight and let the Romans and the Carthaginians fight it out before attacking the side that seems to be winning,just like the US did in regards of the two World Wars,but with Pyrrhus jumping into the war,it's best to give him some degree of support and see how things develop before throwing their entire lot in.Right now,the action seems to be limited to protecting Syracuse from both sides alone.The Massaliot League can do that without further escalating the war.Regardless,you don't want any of the sides fully dominating Sicily either,since it's sitting in the middle of the trade routes to the east.Another thing is that right now,the Massaliots are probably more pissed at the Romans given their recent annexation of Magna Graecia and the large Greek migrant population from there.

Which is what I said before, Massalia won't be bothered. Also assisting Pyrrhus when they'll have to live with an angry Rome next door would be quite stupid.
This War won't destroy Rome even if defeated, It'll just stew on vengeance while gearing up for War.

Rome never gives up, at least the Republic!

 

[darthfanta]

Which is what I said before, Massalia won't be bothered. Also assisting Pyrrhus when they'll have to live with an angry Rome next door would be quite stupid.
This War won't destroy Rome even if defeated, It'll just stew on vengeance while gearing up for War.

Rome never gives up, at least the Republic!

Rome gave up in 476 and 1453 lol,probably sometime even before then.

Jokes aside,some degree of support should be given to Pyrrhus probably just in securing Syracuse.You do want to show your allies that you are supporting them.Besides,you don't want to enter the war just as your allies want to bail out.

As for not bothering,I can't see how what you have said is even close to what I have said.When reading timelines set in the antiquity,I really don't understand what's all this talk about Rome being invincible.At this stage of time,it's far from invincible.Rome is still extremely vulnerable at this stage,given a large part of what's considered Roman territory basically constitutes what would be considered vassal states who under certain conditions will decide to betray Rome.

 

[Sceonn]

Rome gave up in 476 and 1453 lol,probably sometime even before then.

Jokes aside,some degree of support should be given to Pyrrhus probably just in securing Syracuse.You do want to show your allies that you are supporting them.Besides,you don't want to enter the war just as your allies want to bail out.

As for not bothering,I can't see how what you have said is even close to what I have said.When reading timelines set in the antiquity,I really don't understand what's all this talk about Rome being invincible.At this stage of time,it's far from invincible.Rome is still extremely vulnerable at this stage,given a large part of what's considered Roman territory basically constitutes what would be considered vassal states who under certain conditions will decide to betray Rome.

I said the Republic doesn't give up, you aren't talking about the Republic. Also defeat is not the same as giving up. It had an incredibly stubborn institution leading it.

And I have no idea what you're talking about here.
When did the discussion veered from why Massalia should refrain from overt support in the war to the fallacy of Roman invincibility?

 

[darthfanta]

I said the Republic doesn't give up, you aren't talking about the Republic. Also defeat is not the same as giving up. It had an incredibly stubborn institution leading it.

And I have no idea what you're talking about here.
When did the discussion veered from why Massalia should refrain from overt support in the war to the fallacy of Roman invincibility?

A stubborn institution that doesn't recognize it's own weakness is just a suicidal one,the same institution found that out the hard way in 410.They were just incredibly lucky in otl,but when their luck clearly ran out,that same stubbornness ran into a lot of trouble.Not giving up doesn't mean it could repeatedly have come backs.My point is that Rome at this stage can most certainly be defeated and even crippled.
It's far from an invincible entity at this stage.

 

[Sceonn]

A stubborn institution that doesn't recognize it's own weakness is just a suicidal one,the same institution found that out the hard way in 410.They were just incredibly lucky in otl,but when their luck clearly ran out,that same stubbornness ran into a lot of trouble.Not giving up doesn't mean it could repeatedly have come backs.My point is that Rome at this stage can most certainly be defeated and even crippled.
It's far from an invincible entity at this stage.

Ok...
Again, we aren't talking about how invincible Rome is for the third time. Hell Carthage defeated them. But Rome doesn't quit. It licked it's wounds from defeat and came back even when the city itself was sacked. That a crippling move if there ever was one, having your base of power invaded and sacked. And it won't be destroyed in this war.

I said that Massalia will have to live with a vengeful neighbor if it deliver overt support regardless of the conflict's outcome along with their own benefit of having their two main threats go at it while you're talking about about how you don't agree with the view of Rome being invincible, something I've never said and have no idea how it got into the discussion.

We're not on the same page and I'm tired.
~Chao~

 

[darthfanta]

Ok...
Again, we aren't talking about how invincible Rome is for the third time. Hell Carthage defeated them. But Rome doesn't quit. It licked it's wounds from defeat and came back even when the city itself was sacked. That a crippling move if there ever was one, having your base of power invaded and sacked. And it won't be destroyed in this war.

I said that Massalia will have to live with a vengeful neighbor if it deliver overt support regardless of the conflict's outcome along with their own benefit of having their two main threats go at it while you're talking about about how you don't agree with the view of Rome being invincible, something I've never said and have no idea how it got into the discussion.

We're not on the same page and I'm tired.
~Chao~

My point is that these guys aren't invincible and that in the event of a major defeat,and having some form of Carthaginian peace(ironic term) enforced on them,they are just going to become weaker.If they try for a round two,your chances of defeating them are just going to be stronger.

Rome's formula of success basically laid on the fact that it has a large population,it has a strong ego and that it has a way to rapidly train peasants into highly efficient soldiers.Fighting just Carthage or Epirus alone was tough enough for Rome.Fighting so many organized states,Epirus/Macedonia,Carthage and Massalia(latter of whom not only copied their fighting methods,but perfected it) at once will most likely cripple Rome.

 

[Sersor]

Rome's formula of success basically laid on the fact that it has a large population,it has a strong ego and that it has a way to rapidly train peasants into highly efficient soldiers.Fighting just Carthage or Epirus alone was tough enough for Rome

True. I believe the same.

Fighting so many organized states,Epirus/Macedonia,Carthage and Massalia(latter of whom not only copied their fighting methods,but perfected it) at once will most likely cripple Rome.

If the don't found Allies they are doomed.

 

[darthfanta]

It'd even say that it's precisely because Rome is next door that you want to cripple it before it gets too strong.It's analogous to why the British repeatedly fought against the Germans but not the US,who was also getting increasing powerful,despite knowing full well that they will most likely lose their empire in doing so.You don't want a strong neighbor.

 

[Sersor]

263 BC


The great Triandria war.

Without waiting for replies from the allies, Pyrrhus mobilised his army and fleet and sailed for Magna Graecia instead of Sicily with the aim to go straight all the way to Rome! With the past experience of dealing with Rome, this time he was double prepared. He left a ten thousands army under the command of his son Alexander II to control his kingdom and an advanced force of three thousands liberated Tarentum(with the help of local Greek population) quick and easy and set it the main power base for his supply lines. After that, Pyrrhus arrived in Tarentum with a massive force of thirty five thousands man(Epirus, Aetolian league,Macedonians,Thessalians) and sixty elephants. Spartans arrived shortly after with another four thousands men. A mighty fleet of eight quinqueremes and twenty eptares protected the supply lines. The Romans hearing this, they call back consuls Appius Claudius Caudex from Sicily to Rome and started to mobilise all their troops.

Ptolemy II after hearing the news, acknowledged the importance of Triandria alliance for future wars against Seleucids and although Magna Graecia was far, he decided to help his long lasting friend Pyrrhus. Besides Ptolemaic Egypt was in its heigh at this time and the Seleucid empire was in a civil war, between Seleucid king Antiochus I's and his eldest son Seleucus, who has ruled in the east of the kingdom as viceroy for a number of years. Besides control over Sicily wouldn't harm Ptolemy. So a rather small army of ten thousands troops twenty elephants and a strong fleet of forty quinqueremes, forty eptares and thirty octares sailed for Tarentum. In Massaliot’s league stronghold in the Lakkonian gulf Acharavi, the Rhodes league army of three thousands man and fleet of twenty quinqueremes and ten eptares joined the Ptolemaic army and fleet.

Massaliot league assembly after hearing the news that all of the Triandria members mobilising against Rome decided under heavy patriotic*cheers to mobilise her army also and revenge the slaughter of the Tarentum Greeks, by burning Rome to the ground. Ofc part of the plan was the spoils of the war and to step a foot in the wealthy Sicily, expanding the influence and trade zone of Massalia. Two tagmata together with ten thousands hellenised Gauls sail with a fleet of fifty quinqueremes and twenty octares.


Pyrrhus hearing that the rest of the Triandria forces are coming decided instead of march direct to Rome, he proclaim himself king of Magna Graecia and start liberate the Greek cities of the area waiting for the others to join him.

The Ptolemaic and Rhodes League army reached Tarentum when Pyrrhus liberated Heraclea.


Hearing of the massive mobilization of the Triandria alliance, Rome sends emissaries to Carthage suggesting to end hostilities,make Messana a neutral town and join them one more time against the Greeks.

After a big debate between the nobles of Carthage, they decided that its for their best interest to help Rome instead of Greeks, fearing that after Rome, the coalition of the Greeks and especially Massaliot League will go after them. The fourth Roman treaty with Carthage now concluded an effectual alliance between them and against Triandria alliance.


So any bets ?

 

[darthfanta]

WTF is Pyrrhus doing?He really has no sense of grand strategy and geopolitics,does he?If he has any sense in him,he would have secured Syracuse,but otherwise let the Romans and the Carthaginians duke it out before going for the kill.This is a basic commonsense.