The Massaliot league. A Hellenistic period Massalia Timeline

[Sersor]

Hey there. I am a new member of AH and a huge fan of the Hellenistic period.
Here is my first ATL. i hope you like it! Looking forward for any comments and recommendations.

***Story only thread here: Story thread***

The Massaliot league.

The year is 300 bc

All the known world is changed due to Alexander the great conquests.

In the west the prosperous city state of Massalia is in awe of Pytheas astonishing travels. The city state has grown to size and wealth due to her skilled traders, making her one of the biggest trade cities in west mediterranean sea .

The big growth of Carthage the last century pushed the Massaliots out of Iberia. Although still strong in naval the Massaliots started to focus more and more in expanding their trade with the Gauls.
The pressure of Carthage had a big impact in the Massaliot politics. Massalia is now a big city of more than thirty thousands inhabitants with several city state colonies that all of them have a lot of new “noble” people from rich trade families that started to lose money from the rivals of Carthage. So finnaly after years of Carthage’s pressure and political tension the new and old nobility came to the solution to open the assembly and citizenship to all adult male Greeks born in Massalia and her colonies!
This happened because both the new and old nobility wanted to take the people of the assembly by their side and also unite all the colonies close together against common threats based to the model of delian league.

The assembly of all free citizens, from now on will gather annually to discuss the major issues of this new Massaliot league and elect a federal council with proportional representation of 300 senators who then elect 2 stratigous/episcopous to run the league as diarchy.In time of peace all towns of the league had to give tribute to the common treasury. In time of war all members must send their troops and ships.The 10 founding members of the Massaliot league is Massalia,Emporion,Agathe,Rhoda,Olbia,Tauroeis,Athinopolis,Antipolis,Nikaia,Monoicos

The Massaliot league has now more than seventy thousands population.

By place (original time line)

Greece

• Pilgrims travel to the healing temples of Asclepieion to be cured of their ills. After a ritual purification the followers bring offerings or sacrifices.

Egypt

• Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, is taken as a hostage to Egypt after the Battle of Ipsus and makes a diplomatic marriage with the princess Antigone, daughter of Ptolemy andBerenice.
• Ptolemy concludes an alliance with King Lysimachus of Thrace and gives him his daughter Arsinoe II in marriage.

Seleucid Empire

• Seleucus founds the city of Antioch, some 20 miles up the Orontes River, naming it after his father.
• After the death of his wife Apama, Seleucus marries Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.

 

[Sersor]

299 BC

The Celto-Ligurian towns of Arelate,Cabelio,Avenio old allies and trade partners of Massalia under the pressure of Vocontii raids pledged to be part of the Massaliot league.Due to the fact that they where not of Phocaean/Greek origin, the Massaliot league made a new branch of the league for new allies that want to join, the Εteroi. Εteroi granted a second tier citizenship and had to contribute troops in time of war and tribute but from now on their foreign policy is dictated by Massaliot league. The vassalization was easy due to the fact that the three cities already had been heavily influenced from the Greek culture and around 20% of their population was of Greek origin.

The rivalry of the new and old noble families of the Massaliot League took an interesting turn. The new nobility (dynatoi) to gain more influence founded their soft-drink company*(based on Athens companies) for the purpose of sponsor(liturgy)studies,theatre,expeditions and military actions.The first Academy of Massalia is founded later that year. The foundation of Massaliot League last year and the expansion of trade through the vassalizition the Celto-Ligurian towns started already to boost a wealthy common treasury.

* Heh "soft drink" companies sounds weird. I should explained it better.

In classical Athens, the institution of liturgies provided many ways for the wealthy citizens to bestow their wealth and time upon the community. The rich Athenians where kind of “sponsors” of the Academy also. In my time line, they grouped in 'soft-drink' companies/factions/political parties to gain more influence.for example in Athens OTL: In the speech Against Androtion Demosthenes describes a group of some four to ten councillors who, in collusion with Androtion, were capable of controlling the Council of Five Hundred

So the massaliot League “soft drinks” companies are informal political parties that nobles with same interests meet in private meetings drinking watered wine and organise their agenda.

By place (original timeline)

Roman Republic

• The Samnites, seizing their chance when Rome is engaged on the Lombard plain, start the third Samnite War with a collection of mercenaries from Gaul,Sabine, and Etruscan allies to help them.

298 BC

The old nobility of Massalia(Palaioi) respond to Dynatoi by founding their own soft drink company. The second academy of Massalia founded this year.

Massaliot league assembly still in awe of Pytheas astonishing travels, orders a new expedition with funds from the common treasury. 2 modified biremes and 3 trade ships with 400 personnel under the leadership of Adelphius(student of Pytheas) went to explore the Rhone river.

Vocontii started raiding again the towns of Avenio and Cabelio.

By place (original timeline)

Roman Republic

• The Samnites defeat the Romans under Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus in the Battle of Camerinum, the first battle of the Third Samnite War.
• The Roman armies penetrate into the heart of the Samnite territory and then capture the Samnite cities of Taurasia, Bovianum Vetus and Aufidena.

Sicily

• Agathocles, king of Syracuse, assists the Italian Greeks against the Bruttians and supported the Greeks against the Romans.

Egypt

• Ptolemy gives his stepdaughter Theoxena in marriage to Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse (in south-eastern Sicily).
• Ptolemy finally brings the rebellious region of Cyrene under his control. He places the region under the rule of his stepson Magas.

 

[Sersor]

297 BC

The expedition under Adelphius, after an establishment of a small trade hub in Allobroges tribe area, reached Vesontio, the capital of Sequani tribe, where they exchanged gifts with the local king Cosgrach, establishing an alliance and an official trade hub leaving 50 people behind. After Vesontio, they went up to explore until Luxiol and then they returned. Then they went all the way up north to the end of Saone river, where they established two trade hubs. After that they returned back home.

• A new glorious Temple of Athena is built in Massalia with funds of the common treasury.
• A new academy is built in Emporion by Dynatoi company.
• A new academy is built in Nikaia by Palaioi company.
• Both companies of Massaliot League invited scholars to their academies.
• Cleonymus of Sparta with four hundred Spartan mercenaries is invited to re-organise the military and lead an invasion against Vocontii tribe.

By place (original timeline)

Roman Republic

•Fabius Maximus Rullianus becomes consul for the fourth time. He defeats the Samnites in a battle near Tifernum.

Greece

• Following Cassander's death from illness, Philip IV, Cassander's eldest son, succeeds his father as King of Macedon, but soon after coming to the throne suffers from a wasting disease and dies. Antipater, the next son, rules jointly with his brother Alexander V.
• Demetrius Poliorcetes returns to Greece with the aim of becoming master of Macedonia. While Demetrius is in Greece, Lysimachus seizes his possessions in Asia Minor.
• Ptolemy decides to support Pyrrhus of Epirus and restores him to his kingdom. At first Pyrrhus reigns with a kinsman, Neoptolemus II of Epirus (who is a son of Cleopatra of Macedonia and a nephew of Alexander the Great), but soon he has him assassinated.

 

[Sersor]

296BC

The Vocontia war (296 BC- 295 BC)

Cleonymus of Sparta together with the new strategos(general) Orestes of Massalia is leading an army of fifteen thousands (six thousand hoplites,one thousand cavalry,three thousand light infantry,four hundred spartan mercenaries, two thousand ligurian/gauls mercenaries paid by the two companies and three thousands celtiberians mercenaries paid by the common treasury).
After some small battles the Massaliot army reached Vocontii capital, Vaison. The Vocontii proud warriors, storm out to face the massaliot army instead of waiting inside the walls. That was a crucial mistake for them because under military expert Cleonymus orders, the fifteen thousands, discipline army of Massaliot League crashed the eleven thousands partly under equipped army of Vocontii. The city was plundered heavily and nine thousands of the population where sold as slaves making big profits for the league that boosted the treasury .The informal alliance with the strong Averni tribe didn’t mean anything to the Vocontii since no help came. During that time the Averni were in a war with the rivals of the Aedui tribe.

• Diplomats were sent to Rome to renew the old alliance. Since Rome was in war with the Samnites and their allies any possible help was welcomed.
• The expedition under Adelphius is back with the report of their travels.
• With money from the common treasury of Massalian league the first league state slave market of Massalia is built.
• Carthage pirates raided trade ships near emporion.

By place

Greece

• Ptolemy makes peace with Demetrius Poliorcetes, to whom he betrothes his daughter Ptolemais.

Roman Republic

• The temple to Bellona is erected at the south end of the prata Flaminia, later the Circus Flaminius, in Rome.

 

[Sersor]

295 BC

After a series of small battles and sieges the Vocontii were defeated. Another ten thousand Vocontii sold as slaves with big profits. Their tribe is almost extinct and all their lands are empty, ready for Greeks to colonise. Diplomats send to various Greek cities of Magna Grecia and mainland Greece to promote colonist to come and take free land to ex Vocontii Area. This was a big success, more than nine thousands greeks mostly from Magna Grecia travel within the next two years, sparkling a new wave of greek colonialism to Massaliot Greece.

• One thousand Phocaeans from Elea (Phocaean colony same as Massalia) in Magna Graecia founded a new trade hub city Mesochora in ex Vocontii lands.
• A military unit of four thousands man together with 10 quinquereme under strategos(general) Orestes went to help Rome.
• All the new colonist granted free land and a second tier citizenship(Etairoi).
• Cleonymus return to Sparta.

By place

Roman Republic

• The Battle of Sentinum west of Anconum ends in defeat for a formidable coalition of Samnites, Etruscans, Umbri, and their Gallic allies at the hands of the Roman legions and Massaliot allies commanded by consuls Publius Decius Mus (who is killed in the battle) and Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus. The Romans lose nearly 8,000 men but kill some 25,000 of the enemy and force peace on the Etruscans.
• •August 19 – The first temple to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, is dedicated by Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges during the Third Samnite War

Greece

• Athens falls to Demetrius Poliorcetes after a bitter siege, and its tyrant Lachares is killed.
• The King of Macedon, Antipater II, murders his mother Thessalonike, accusing her of being too fond of his brother and co-ruler Alexander V.

Magna Graecia

• Greek city of Croton falls to another Syracuse tyrant Agathocle

Gaul

• Averni war with rivals of Aedui end in a stalemate.

 

[Sersor]

294 BC

With the city of Croton in Magna Grecia under the rule of tyrant Agathocles, almost half of the town deserted(mostly the democrats). The Massaliot fleet helped more than eight thousands Croton greeks resettle to Massaliot league new lands. The destruction of Vocontii tribe and the new trade hubs in Vesontio and Mesachora help Massalia to control now almost complete the highly profitable trade of Rhone river. The relations with neighbour Gauls are improved. The alliance with the Sequani tribe is getting stronger and so are the relations with the Aedui. The Averni and Volcae tribes also start to trade again with Massalia but with caution.

• The Massalia league reached one hundred thousands population and Massalia almost fifty thousand population.
• The league common treasury is flourishing more and more and the same happens with the two companies.
• Polemon an eminent Platonist philosopher and Plato's third successor as scholarch or head of the academy of Athens invited by the company of dynatoi to organise their academy.
• Under the suggestion of Polemon the dynatoi company created their private common treasure.
• To deal with the pirate raids near Emporion, the company of Palaioi sponsored five quinqueremes for the fleet of Massalia which now consist of fifteen quinquereme and twenty quadrireme and several smaller ships.
• With money from the common treasury of Massalian league, Adelphius started an expedition to ptolemaic egypt to establish a formal trade route and diplomatic relations.

By place

Greece

• Archidamus IV, king of Sparta, son of Eudamidas I and grandson of Archidamus III, is defeated by Demetrius Poliorcetes of Macedonia in a battle at Mantinea. Sparta is saved only because Demetrius is called away by the threatening activities of his rivals Lysimachus and Ptolemy.
• Alexander V of Macedon is ousted by his brother, Antipater II. Therefore Alexander V turns to Demetrius Poliorcetes for help in recovering his throne. However, Demetrius Poliorcetes establishes himself on the throne of Macedonia and then murders Alexander V. Antipater II loses the throne of Macedonia but is able to survive.
• Pyrrhus of Epirus exploits the dynastic quarrel in Macedonia involving Alexander V of Macedon, his brother, Antipater II and Demetrius Poliorcetes to take over the frontier areas of Parauaea and Tymphaea, along with Acarnania, Ampholochia, and Ambracia.
• Lysimachus concludes a peace with Demetrius Poliorcetes whereby Demetrius Poliorcetes is recognized as ruler of Macedonia.

Egypt

• Ptolemy gains control over Cyprus and the Phoenician coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon.

 

[Sersor]

293 BC

The expedition under Adelphius after diplomatic and trade stops in Stalia, Neapolis, Messana, Corcyra, Athens, Rhodes and Kltion reached Alexandria, the capital of Ptolemaic Egypt where they exchange gifts with Ptolemy I Soter establishing a trade agreement and an official trade hub mostly for grain, glass, papyrus and linen leaving 30 people behind. Then they went all the way down south to the end of the red sea, where they established a trade hub especially for spices and cinnamon, in the city of Eudaemon(Aden). After that they returned back home.

• News from Rome speaking about a plague concern the Massaliot assembly.
• Strategos(general) Orestes and the military expedition of Massalian League helped the Romans win the Battle of Aquilonia
• The company of Palaioi establish their own private common treasury.

By place

Roman Republic

• The Battle of Aquilonia is fought between the Roman Republic and the Samnites, near the current city of Aquilonia in Campania (in southern Italy). The Romans, led by the consuls Lucius Papirius Cursor and Spurius Carvilius Maximus, are victorious. After the battle, the Samnites flee into the city of Aquilonia and into their camp. The camp is captured and looted by the Romans, while the city is eventually taken, with many of the Samnite survivors being slaughtered in the fighting.
• Rome suffers from the plague. The worship of Aesculapius is introduced from Epidaurus to Rome in the hope of averting the plague.

 

[Sersor]

292 bc

• With money from the common treasury of Massalian league a temple of Aesculapius was built in Massalia.
• Praxagoras an influential figure of medicine in ancient Greece invited by the Palaioi company to to establish a branch of the famous dogmatic school of medicine of Kos.
• The expedition under Adelphius is back from red sea with the report of their travels.

By place

Greece

• Lysimachus tries to extend his influence beyond the Danube River, but he is defeated and taken prisoner by the Getae (Dacian) king Dromichaetes (Dromihete). Eventually, Lysimachus is set free and a peace is agreed between the Getae and Lysimachus. This peace agreement is strengthened further by the marriage of Dromichaetes with Lysimachus' daughter.
• While Demetrius Poliorcetes is campaigning in Boeotia, he receives news that Lysimachus, the ruler of Thrace, has been taken prisoner by Dromichaetes. Hoping to seize Lysimachus's territories in Thrace, Demetrius, delegates command of his forces in Boeotia to his son, Antigonus and immediately marches north. However, while he is away, the Boeotians rise in rebellion, but are defeated by Antigonus, who bottles them up in the city of Thebes and puts them under siege.

291 BC

• Carthage pirates raided again trade ships near Emporion.
• Dynatoi company sponsors a small expedition through the lands of Volcae to reach the Atlantic ocean.

By place

Greece

• Demetrius Poliorcetes joins his son, Antigonus, in the siege of Thebes. As the Thebans defend their city stubbornly, Demetrius forces his men to attack the city at great cost. Demetrius finally takes the city after using siege engines to demolish its walls.

Roman Republic

• The Romans storm and take the Samnite city of Venusia.

290 BC

Strategos Orestes and the military expedition of massaliot league in Rome, was finally back home after five years. There they helped the Romans win their war against the Samnites. This military expedition made strategos Orestes really appreciate the newly formatted manipular roman legion.

• The expedition of dynatoi through the lands of Volcae was ambushed and annihilated.
• To deal with the pirate raids near Emporion, the company of Palaioi sponsored another five quinqueremes for the fleet of Massalia which now consist of twenty quinquereme, twenty quadrireme and several smaller ships. The five new quinqueremes will be stationed permanent in Emporion.

By place

Roman Republic

• Roman general and consul, Manius Curius Dentatus, gains a decisive victory over the Samnites, thereby ending a war that has lasted 50 years. He also reduces the Sabine insurgents to submission, their territory is annexed and they are granted civitas sine suffragio ("citizenship without the right to vote"). The Samnites are recognised by the Romans as autonomous allies. The Samnites are forced to give up some of their land to the Romans as compensation.

Egypt

• Berenice, wife of Ptolemy, is proclaimed queen of Egypt. Ptolemy has the city of Berenice built on the Red Sea in her honour. It becomes a great emporium for Egyptian trade with the East.

 

[Sersor]

289 BC

Strategos Orestes with the support of the assembly and Dynatoi company initiated the orestikoi military reformation.


The Orestikoi reforms of 289 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by strategos Orestes, a statesman and general of the Massaliot league. The foremost of the Orestikoi reforms was the inclusion of the poor citizens in the army, men who had no property to be assessed in the census. Because these poor citizens could not afford to purchase their own weapons and armor, Orestes arranged for the state to supply them with land in the new conquered territories and arms. He also offered the disenfranchised masses the opportunity to gain spoils on campaign. Another major change is that the Massaliot league army switched from Hoplite style to an army similar of the Roman manipular legion. The army from now on is organised in tagmata. After the reforms Massaliot league was able to summon four tagmata (two sponsored from the companies). Also new import in the army from the Romans was the abduction of the spathi, a version of the gladius sword. In fact this was already happening, especially in the area of emporion because they where familiar with this type of swords, from the celtiberians tribes of the area. Last but not least a greek version of the pila introduced to the army.


The new tagma unit:

Three thousands infantrymen (twenty maniples of one hundred twenty men and ten maniples of sixty men) together with one thousand five hundred slingers/archers and five hundred cavalry*. A nominal strength of 5000 men.

*The Massaliot tagma cavalry was drawn primarily from the richest class. Each tagma contained a cavalry contingent of five hundred horse. The cavalry contingent was divided into ten tmimata (squadrons) of 50 men each. The squadron members would elect as their officers two dioikites(commanders) mostly from high status noble families, of whom the first to be chosen would act as the squadron's leader and the other as his deputy. The cavalry of a tagma(and presumably confederate cavalry also) was armoured and specialised in the shock charge.

• Carthage pirates repelled near emporion.
• Trade in Volcae area is getting dangerous.

By place

Sicily

• The tyrant of Syracuse, Agathocles, dies after restoring the Syracusan democracy on his death bed, by stating that he does not want his sons to succeed him as king. However, the resulting dissension among his family about the succession leads to a renewal of Carthaginian power in Sicily.

 

[Sersor]

288 bc

• The trade in Garonne river stopped due to Volcae aggressive actions. This news worries the Massaliot League assembly.
• The trade monopoly of Rhone river and the big slave agora of Massalia keeps Massaliot League in a economic boom. Major cities besides Massalia are Emporion,Arelate,Avenio and Nikaia.

 

[Sersor]

287 BC

The Volcae war 287-285 bc

The Volcae together with several other minor gaul tribes invaded Massalia league lands and siege Agathe, with a big army comprising about forty thousand warriors. The cause for this is explained by Pausanias as greed for loot. Massaliot League mobilise their army with one tagma summoned in the area of emporion and three from the rest areas in Massalia. The tagma of emporion tried to protect Agathe but in the battle outside the city they were vastly outnumber one to eight, leading to a crushing defeat. After some months Agathe felt to the Gauls and plundered severe. Half of the population was killed. Hearing the news that the Volcae have a massive army of nearly forty thousand men, the Massaliotes tried to form an army as big as possible. Diplomats send to Rome and Sequani tribe asking for help.


By place

Roman Republic

• A new law, Lex Hortensia, gives much greater power to the plebeian Assembly compared to the Senate. This law is passed following a threat from plebeian soldiers to secede. In the face of this threat, the Senate yields to plebeian concerns over their lack of political power and over their level of debt to the aristocracy. The law is named after Quintus Hortensius, a plebeian, who is made dictator to settle the controversy.

Greece

• Pyrrhus is proclaimed King of Macedonia.

286 BC

The Volcae after plundering Agathe area marched to Rhoda and siege it. The army of Massaliot league with the reinforcements from Rome and Sequani, marched and meet the Gauls outside of Rhoda. The thirty one thousands men army of Massaliot League( three tagmata, seven thousands ligurians/celtiberians mercenaries sponsored from the league and both companies, one roman legion and four thousands Sequani) under the command of strategos Orestes won the decisive battle. This was the biggest triumph of Massalia history. The key factor of this victory was the deployment of the roman legion behind the Gauls lines, by sea under strategos Orestes orders. The new formation of tagmata and the better equipment played also important role to the victory. The Massaliots army lost eight thousand men (mostly mercenaries and Sequani) and The Volcae nearly twenty two thousands with another seven thousands sold as slaves. After that the Massaliot army seeking revenge for Agathe, invaded the Volcae lands and marched to Volcae capital, Tolosa.

By place

Greece

• As Demetrius Poliorcetes and his army are chased across Asia Minor to the Taurus Mountains by the armies of Lysimachus and Seleucus, in Greece his son Antigonus meets with success. Ptolemy's fleet is driven off and Athens surrenders to Antigonus.
• After allowing Pyrrhus of Epirus to remain in possession of Macedonia with the title of king, he is expelled by Lysimachus who declares himself its king in the place of Pyrrhus.

Roman Republic

• The new law, Lex Aquilia, is enacted. This is a Roman law which provides compensation to the owners of property injured as a result of someone's fault.

285 BC

With the arrival in Tolosa the Greeks meet another army of twenty thousand Gauls. The reinforced thirty thousands army of Massalia was again victorious. The Massaliots army lost six thousands men and the Volcae fifteen thousands. Four more thousands Gauls sold as slaves. After a short siege Tolosa felt to the Massaliots where they found an incredible amount of gold and silver in a sanctuary(Poseidonius version). Tolosa was one of the wealthiest and most important cities in Gaul during the pre-Roman era. Gold and silver mines were nearby, and offerings to its shrines and temples accumulated wealth in the city. The next months after some more small pitch battles the Volcae territory is annexed officially and one tagma left as garrison to Tolosa to control the new territories. There was a big land distribution to the soldiers of this tagma to help settling them in the area. This conquest and the amount of wealth that found there, played a critical role for Massalia to become a major power.

• Massaliot league mint their first gold coins.
• The great geographer and explorer Pytheas of Massalia died at the age of sixty five.

By place
Egypt

• June 26 – Egypt's Ptolemy I Soter abdicates. He is succeeded by his youngest son by his wife Berenice, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who has been co-regent for three years.
• A 110 metre tall lighthouse on the island of Pharos in Alexandria's harbour is completed and serves as a landmark for ships in the eastern Mediterranean. Built by Sostratus of Cnidus for Ptolemy II of Egypt, it is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is a technological triumph and is the archetype of all lighthouses since. A broad spiral ramp leads to the top, where a fire burns at night.

 

[Sersor]

284BC

With the conquest of Volcae, Massaliot League entered a golden era. They now control the important trade routes of Garonne river and together with the trade monopoly of Rhone river, Massaliot League now controls the trade of south Gaul. The trade in north west Mediterranean sea, the slave market of Massalia and the tribute of the League polis are also big contributors for the common treasury. All this made Massaliot League rich, but the silver and gold mines of Tolosa skyrocket the economy. Massalia is now, together with Carthage the biggest economic centers of west Mediterranean sea. Thanks to the efforts of both companies, Massalia now is the biggest cultural and education centre of west mediterranean world. Nobles from Rome and Magna Greacia send their sons to educate here. All this factors made Massalia to have a population boom also. Massalia have now more than one hundred thousand inhabitants and all Massaliot league more than two hundred thousands.

By place

Roman Republic

• The Gallic tribe called the Senones, who has settled on the Adriatic coast north of Picenum, attacks Arretium in Etruria. While attempting to relieve this allied city, the Romans under the command of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Denter suffer a costly defeat in the Battle of Arretium. Aroused by this disaster, a Roman army under Manius Curius Dentatus invades the Senones' territory, defeating them and driving them out of the Italian peninsula.

Greece

• Pyrrhus of Epirus is driven out of Macedonia and back into Epirus by Lysimachus.

Asia Minor

• Ptolemy I's eldest (legitimate) son, Ptolemy Keraunos, whose mother, Eurydice, the daughter of Antipater, had been repudiated by the new King Ptolemy II, flees Egypt to the court of Lysimachus, the king of Thrace, Macedon and Asia Minor.
• Agathocles' widow Lysandra flees with their children and with Alexander, Agathocles' brother, to the court of Seleucus, who at once invades Lysimachus' territory in Asia Minor.

 

[Sersor]

283 BC

With part of the gold from the sanctuary in Tolosa(Poseidonius version) the famous architect Xenarius is invited to Massalia to plan a massive expansion of the city. A new orthogonal grid sector is build. This conclude a new big theater with a seating capacity of nine thousands, a new gymnasium, a new arsenal, a naval arsenal and most important of all a huge mouseio*. This massive campus of more than ten buildings was second only to Alexandria’s mouseio. The Massalia mouseio was the home of music/poetry, a philosophical school and library, it did have a room devoted to the study of anatomy,geography,mathematics,philosophy and an installation for astronomical observations. It also worked close with the arsenal of the city. The mouseio featured a roofed walkway, an arcade of seats and a communal dining room where scholars routinely ate and shared ideas. The campus was also filled with private study rooms, residential quarters, lecture halls. More than two hundred scholars invited to lived in the mouseio. Staff members and scholars were salaried by the mouseio and paid no taxes. They also received free meals, free room and board, and free servants.

* Mouseio(museum) were institutes (universities) and the latest trend for influence, power and knowledge in the Hellenistic era.

• A military expedition of one tagma under the orders of strategos Alkaios went to help Rome against the Etruscans and the Gallic tribes of the Boii and the Senones

By place
Greece

• Following Demetrius Poliorcetes' death in captivity as a prisoner of Seleucus, his son Antigonus assumes the title of King ofMacedonia, though in name only, as King Lysimachus of Thrace is in control of Macedonia. Demetrius' remains are given to Antigonus and he is honoured with a grand funeral in Corinth. After this, Demetrius is interred in the town of Demetrias which he had founded.

Roman Republic

• Consuls: Publius Cornelius Dolabella and Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus Maximus.
• At the Battle of Lake Vadimo, Roman and Massaliot league forces finally quell the allied Etruscans and Gauls. The Roman army is led by consul Publius Cornelius Dolabella. Rome is at last undisputed master of northern and central Italy.

Egypt

• The canal from the Nile River to the Red Sea, initially started but not completed by the Egyptian pharaoh Necho II and repaired by the Persian king Darius I, is again repaired and made operational by Ptolemy II.
• Ptolemy II enlarges the library at Alexandria and appoints the grammarian Zenodotus to collect and edit all the Greek poets.

Ps: Any suggestions for the next trade expedition of Adelphius ?

 

[Sersor]

282 BC

The expert siege engineer Dionysius of Alexandria inventor of polybolos(repeating ballista) together with engineers from Syracuse were invited to Massalia to work in the new arsenal and expand the military knowledge in the field of siege weapons. Highly advance torsion ballistas and lithobolos catapults were build both for the tagmata and for the defence of cities. Most importantly a new model of polybolos ballista developed. Rome asks for help in the coming war against King Pyrrhus of Epirus,Taranto and their allies. Massaliot League assembly declines the request, not wanting to fight fellow Greeks. The tagma under strategos Alkaios return to Massalia.

• An envoy is send to Alexandria to acquire book copies for the library of the museum of Massalia.
• A new trade hub builded in Garrone river by dynatoi.
• A new expedition starts from Garrone river with the mission to reach Atlantic ocean and establish a trade hub colony.

By place
Asia Minor

• The city of Pergamum in Asia Minor ends its allegiance to Lysimachus. Its ruler, Philetaerus, transfers his allegiance, as well as the important fortress of Pergamon and his treasury, to Seleucus, who allows him a far larger measure of independence than he had hitherto enjoyed.

Roman Republic

• The Battle of Populonia is fought between Rome and the Etruscans. The Romans are victorious and, as a result, the Etruscan threat to Rome is sharply diminished.
• The Magna Graecia city of Thurii appeals to Rome for help against the native Italian tribes. Though the Roman Senate hesitates, the plebeian Assembly decides to respond. Thurii is saved, but Tarentum, jealous of Rome's interference, attacks and sinks some Roman ships entering its harbour. Roman envoys, sent to protest, are mistreated.
• Rome declares war on Tarentum. King Pyrrhus of Epirus declares his willingness to come to the aid of Tarentum. Tarentum also looks for support from the Samnites and other Italian tribes in southern Italy.

 

[Sersor]

281 BC


Naval engineers and shipbuilders from Ptolemaic Egypt,Rhodes and Cyprus invited to work in the new naval arsenal. There they build twenty quenquemeres and twenty powerful cataphract octeres(equipped each of them with two polybolos and two lithobolos) The two rival companies also commissioned ten quenquemeres each. The Massaliot League fleet now consist of twenty cataphract octeres ,sixty quinquereme, ten quadrireme and several smaller ships.

• The trade hub in Eudaemon(aden) destroyed by pirates.
• Famous poet Theocritus is invited to stay in the museum.
• Naucratia is founded in the area of modern day Arcachon.
• Two thousands book copies acquired from Alexandria.

By place

Asia Minor

• The Battle of Corupedium in Lydia is the last battle of the Diadochi, the rival successors to Alexander the Great. It is fought between the armies of Lysimachus, King of Thrace and Macedonia, and Seleucus, ruler of Eastern Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia,Judea, Babylonia and Iran. Seleucus kills Lysimachus during the battle.

• Seleucus takes over Thrace and then tries to seize Macedonia. However, he falls into a trap near Lysimachia, Thrace, set by Ptolemy Keraunos, one of the sons of Ptolemy I and Arsinoe II's half brother, who murders Seleucus and takes Macedonia for himself.
• Cineas, a Thessalian serving as chief adviser to King Pyrrhus of Epirus, after visiting Rome attempts, without success, to dissuade Pyrrhus from invading southern Italy.

Seleucid Empire

• Seleucus is succeeded as ruler of the Seleucid empire by Antiochus. He is immediately beset by revolts in Syria (probably instigated by Ptolemy II of Egypt) and by independence movements in northern Anatolia.

280 BC

Strategos Orestes inspired by the tactics of the Macedonia/Hellenistic kingdoms (primarily the use of artillery by Alexander the Great at the battle of Jaxartes) makes the second Orestiki military reformation. The tagma from now on will have an artillery department. Another big change with second Orestiki, is that from now own Massaliot League will have a professional standing army of 2 tagmata. One based in Massalia and one in Tolosa. In reserves if needed 3 extra tagmata could be summoned. Other important influences was the Tarantine cavalry (Tarantines proper). A new small mobile(build on spot) wooden tower of around five meters called panoptes is introduced as an eye center in the battle field from were the strategos/officers can see the action on the battle fields and issue faster and more precise orders.

The new tagma unit:
three thousand heavy infantry,one thousand five hundred velites/archers,five hundred cavalry,five hundred mounted archers and five hundred artillery support personal. The artillery is composed of forty torsion ballista,twenty small(suited for volley barrage tactics) lithobolos catapults ,forty polybolos ballista and three build on spot panoptes.

• A new poet from Theocritus is the talk of the town.

By place

Seleucid Empire

• Antiochus is defeated by Egypt's Ptolemy II in the Damascene War.

Greece

• Pyrrhus makes an alliance with Ptolemy Keraunos, King of Macedon. This allows him to go to southern Italy with his army.
• The Achaean League is reformed by twelve towns in the northern Peloponnesus and will later grow to include non-Achaean cities. The League achieves a common coinage and foreign policy and the member cities pool their armed forces.
• Rhodes, rising in prosperity, becomes head of an Island League and helps to keep the peace and freedom of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
• The Colossus of Rhodes is completed by the sculptor Chares of Lindos after twelve years' work. It becomes one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Roman Republic

• Responding to an appeal from Tarentum, King Pyrrhus of Epirus uses his army of over 20,000 men against the Romans. In the Battle of Heraclea he defeats a Roman army led by consul Publius Valerius Laevinus. Pyrrhus's judicious use of his elephants plays a large part in his victory. Several tribes including the Lucani, Bruttii and the Messapians as well as the Greek cities of Crotone and Locri join Pyrrhus. Pyrrhus advances as far north as Latium.

 

[Sersor]

279 BC

The newly built trade colony of Naucratia, opens new trade routes in the Atlantic ocean for the Massaliot league. A new expedition with funds from the common treasury under Adelphius will follow Pytheas route to the North, to establish new trade hubs. Three modified quadriremes and several trade ships with more than one thousand crew,colonist and traders set sail from Naucratia. The formal diplomatic relationships with the Santones tribe lead to a new ally to the North for Massaliot League. To the South of Naucratia, there were more than twenty tribes of Aquitani, but they were small and lacking in repute. The most important tribe, the Ausci( a major trade partner of Massaliot League since the fall of Tolosa) also singed an alliance with Massalia. The Sociates,Bigerrones and most of the others small tribes of the area were rather hostile to the Greeks.

• The formal Allies of Masaliot league are Santones,Ausci and Sequani.
• News from Italy reports that Romans are loosing the war against Pyrrhus.
• Rome and Pyrrhus both have friends is the assembly forcing Massaliot League stay neutral.
• Formal relations establish with Achaean league and Rhode.
• A new non aggression treaty singed with Carthage

By place
Greece

• An army of Gauls under Brennus invade Greece. A section of the army, commanded by Bolgios, crushes a Macedonian army led by Ptolemy Keraunos, who is killed in the battle. At the narrow pass of Thermopylae, on the east coast of central Greece, Brennus' forces suffer heavy losses while trying to break through the Greek defence comprising the Phocians and the Aetolians. Eventually Brennus finds a way around the pass but the Greeks escape by sea. Brennus pushes on to Delphi where he is defeated and forced to retreat, after which he dies of wounds sustained in the battle. His army falls back to the river Spercheios where it is routed byThessalians and Malians. Some of the survivors settle in a part of Asia Minor that will eventually be called Galatia, while some settle in Thrace, founding a short-lived city-state named Tylis.

Roman Republic

• The Carthaginians and the Romans agree to support each other against a common foe. The Carthaginians give Rome money and ships in their fight against Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus.
• Pyrrhus realizes that he cannot capture Rome and suggests peace terms to the Romans. Pyrrhus sends his chief advisor, Cineas, to Rome to negotiate a peace. Cineas demands that the Romans halt their aggression against the Greeks of southern Italy and restore the lands the Romans have taken from the Bruttii, the Apulians, and the Samnites. The Romans reject his demands, largely at the instigation of the former Roman censor, Appius Claudius Caecus.
• In renewed fighting, Pyrrhus of Epirus, leading the combined Tarantine, Oscan, Samnite, and Greek forces, wins a 'Pyrrhic victory' against the Romans led by consul Publius Decius Mus at the Battle of Asculum, called such because his victory comes at a great cost to his own forces. Pyrrhus is reported to have said afterwards, "One more victory against the Romans and we shall be utterly ruined!" Disheartened, Pyrrhus retires to Tarentum and sends Cineas to make renewed peace overtures to Rome. These talks are inconclusive.

Egypt

• The aggression of Ptolemy II of Egypt continues to cause friction with Antiochus, who loses Miletus, in south-western Asia Minor, to Ptolemy.

 

[Sersor]

278 BC


The North expedition (279-278 BC)

The first stop of Adelphius was in the land of Pictones were he establish a trade hub colony and exchange gifts with the local king. From there he sailed to the trade town of Corbilo of the small Namnetes tribe and in the near trade town of Gwened of the Veneti tribe(The Veneti were a seafaring people with interesting ship designs for sail in the Atlantic). After the establish of formal relations with them, Adelphius sailed from Brittany to Belerium (Land's End) in Cornwall, the southwestern tip of Britain, which was the source of valuable tin and one of the two primary reasons for this expedition. After establish a trade hub colony of one hundred people, Adelphius sailed east through the English channel between Britain and France all the way to the lands of frisii tribe where he establish another small trade hub colony. From there he reach the rich in precious amber Abalus(helgoland)island in the north sea, the other primary reason of this expedition. The small population of the island attacked the Massaliotes but the Greeks easily won the fight. A new trade hub colony of one hundred people establish. When the fortifications of the new settlement were ready, Adelphius sailed back along the coast of Europe and returned home. Along the way, he stopped at the lands of the Menapii and Moroni tribes where he made the last small trade hub colony. The expedition was a big success, Massaliot League now had direct access to highly profitable trade sources of Tin and Amber.

• Tensions between Ausci and the rest of Aquitani tribes lead to small skirmish battles. Ausci tribe ask Massaliot League for help.

By place
Seleucid Empire

• Antigonus concludes a peace with Antiochus who surrenders his claim to Macedonia. Thereafter Antigonus II's foreign policy is marked by friendship with the Seleucids.

Sicily

• The Carthaginians seize an opportunity to interfere in a quarrel between Syracuse and Agrigentum and besiege Syracuse. The Syracusans ask for help from Pyrrhus and Pyrrhus transfers his army there.
• On his arrival in Sicily, Pyrrhus' forces win battles against the Carthaginians across Sicily. Pyrrhus conquers almost all of Sicily except for Lilybaeum (Marsala).
• Pyrrhus is proclaimed king of Sicily. He plans for his son Helenus to inherit the kingdom of Sicily and his other son Alexander to inherit Italy.

 

[Sersor]

277 BC

The Massaliot League decided to help their ally Ausci tribe again the rest of the Aquitaini tribes and expand their control in the area. The Tolosa tagma together with three thousands celtiberians and two thousands Ligurian mercenaries paid by the common treasury and the company of dynatoi, under the command of strategos Alkaios marched in Ausci capital Elimberris and meet with the three thousands army of Ausci. From there they marched southwest and meet the Aquitani allied army of nearly nine thousands man.The professional tagma and the combined arms, army of the Massaliot League was no match for the Aquitani alliance. The battle was an easy victory for Massaliot League. The Massaliots army lost one thousand men and the Aquitani nearly four thousands. The next months after some minor battles, all of the Aquitany area was under Massaliot League control.

• Tin and Amber start to flow in the Massaliot League trade markets.

By place
Greece

• Antigonus crosses the Hellespont and defeats the Celts under the command of Cerethrius at the Battle of Lysimachia nearLysimachia at the neck of the Thracian Chersonese. After this success, he is acknowledged by the Macedonians as their king.

Sicily

• Pyrrhus captures Eryx, the strongest Carthaginian fortress in Sicily. This prompts the rest of the Carthaginian-controlled cities in Sicily to defect to Pyrrhus.

 

[Sersor]

276 BC

The Aquitani lands are officially annexed by the Massaliot League with the exception of Ausci tribe. Ausci are now a vassal of the Massaliot league. A new city, Therma, was founded in modern day Dax to control the area of Aquitaini tribes. Therma was founded around the source of hot water and the presence of hot water was really appreciated from the Greeks. Hot bathing was considered an extremely healthy and refreshing experience in ancient Greece.

• A new gymnasium is built in Therma by the palaioi company.

By place
Egypt

• The first of the Syrian Wars starts between Egypt's Ptolemy II and Seleucid emperor Antiochus I Soter. The Egyptians invade northern Syria, but Antiochus defeats and repels his opponent's army.

Sicily

• Pyrrhus negotiates with the Carthaginians to end the fighting between them in Sicily. The Carthaginians are inclined to come to terms with Pyrrhus, but he demands that Carthage abandon all of Sicily and make the Libyan Sea the boundary between Carthage and the Greeks. Meanwhile, he begins to display despotic behaviour towards the Sicilian Greeks and soon Sicilian opinion moves against him. Therefore, fearing that his successes in Sicily may lead him to become the despot of their country, the Syracusans ask Pyrrhus to leave Sicily. He does so, and returns to the Italian mainland, noting that he expects Sicily to be a "fair wrestling ring" for Carthage and Rome.

 

[Sersor]

275 BC

The great civil war of Gauls or domino wars.

The king of Sequani Cosgrach, old ally of the Massaliot League died. The Aedui tribe sees an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and gain control over Saone(Arar) river. The Saone River formed part of the border between the hereditary rivals. Each tribe claimed the Saone and the tolls on trade along it.The Sequani controlled access to the Rhone river and had built an oppidum (a fortified town) at Vesontio(Besançon) to protect their interests.

The new king of the Sequani tribe, Dumnorix asked for the help of the Averni and Allobroges tribes, their old allies and fierce rivals of the Aedui. They Aedui by their side, called for help their own allies the Senones and Carnutes tribes. With their southeast borders( Averni) secure, the Pictones tribe finds the opportunity to attack the small tribe of Namnetes and siege Corbillo. The Venetii tribe not wanting the Pictones tribe to conquer the neutral trade city of Corbilo and expand their influence, declare war on Pictones and marched to help Corbilo. A call for help from the Sequani tribe was send to Massaliot League as well. The Massaliot assembly decided to help the Sequani tribe and secure the status quo of the trade in Rhone river. The Massalia tagma and four thousands hellenised Volcae Gauls under the command of strategos Alkaios is send to help.

• New military/trade roads builded to connect Massalia with Tolosa and Mesachora.

I forgot the letter a in Massaliot league

By place

Roman Republic

• 
  
  • When Pyrrhus returns from Sicily, he finds himself vastly outnumbered by a superior Roman army under the command of consulManius Curius Dentatus. After the inconclusive Battle of Beneventum, Roman commander and statesman, Gaius Fabricius Luscinus, negotiates a peace with Pyrrhus, after which Pyrrhus decides to end his campaign in Italy and return to Epirus, which results in the loss of all his Italian holdings.

Sicily

• 
  
  • Following the departure of Pyrrhus from Sicily, the Syracusan army and the city's citizens appoint Hiero II as the commander of their slaves. He strengthens his position by marrying the daughter of Leptines, the city's leading citizen.

Greece

• 
  
  • Antiochus's alliance with Antigonus II, now fully in possession of Macedonia, is cemented by Antigonus's marriage to Phila, Antiochus's half sister.