The Massaliot league. A Hellenistic period Massalia Timeline

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Sersor

Sersor

This thread is to serve as the story only version for the timeline. The discussion thread is here.
Part one 300 BC- 280 BC
Part two 279 BC -260 BC
Part three 259 BC - 240 BC
Part four 239 BC-220 BC
Part five 219 BC- 200 BC


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.

The Massaliot league.

The year is 300 bc

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

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By place (original time line)

Greece
Egypt
Seleucid Empire
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.
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By place (original timeline)

Roman Republic


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
Sicily
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.
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.
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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

296 BC

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

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.
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By place

Roman Republic
Greece
Magna Graecia
  • Greek city of Croton falls to another Syracuse tyrant Agathocle
Gaul
  • Averni war with rivals of Aedui end in a stalemate.

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 ofParauaea 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

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.
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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 consulsLucius 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.

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
Roman Republic

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.
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 reformswas 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.
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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
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.
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
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.
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By place
Egypt

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.

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By place

Roman Republic
Greece
Asia Minor
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
Roman Republic
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.

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, toSeleucus, 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.

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
  • 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
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 secondOrestiki 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
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
 
Last edited:
Sersor

Sersor

This thread is to serve as the story only version for the timeline. The discussion thread is here.
Part two. 279 BC- 260 BC


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

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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 Phociansand 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 Minorthat 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 ofEpirus.
  • 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

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.
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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.


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
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.

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.
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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.

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.
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I forgot the letter a in Massaliot league :p

By place

Roman Republic
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
274 BC

The first major battle in the Domino wars, was the battle near Vesontio. Both armies had nearly thirty thousands warriors. The Sequani alliance managed to repel the army of the Aedui alliance. The battle was a bloodbath, the Aedui alliance lost fifteen thousand man and the Sequani alliance nearly thirteen thousands. The losses of Massaliot league were rather small(two thousands mostly in the ranks of the Volcae Gauls). In the war for Corbilo, the Pictones tribe won the battle against the Venetii and continued the siege.

By place

Greece
Roman Republic
Egypt
  • Magas of Cyrene marries Apama, the daughter of Antiochus and uses his marital alliance to foment a pact to invade Egypt. He opens hostilities against his half brother Ptolemy II, by declaring his province of Cyrenaica to be independent and then attacks Egypt from the west as Antiochus I takes the Egyptian controlled areas in coastal Syria and southern Anatolia, after which he attacks Palestine.
  • Magas has to stop his advance against Ptolemy II due to an internal revolt by the Libyan Marmaridae nomads.

273 BC

The Sequani Alliance marched towards the Aedui lands were their reinforced army of twenty five thousands encountered another thirty thousands Aedui alliance army. The two armies fought a set piece of a battle, with neither side able to make much impression on the other, the usual thing in ancient battles unless one side began to break. At night they drew off by a kind of mutual agreement.The second day the plain field saved the Sequani alliance army. When the Allobroges began to broke their lines the heavy use of artillery by the nearby Massaliot tagma saved the day.The battle ended in stalemate with heavy losses on both sides..The Aedui alliance lost twelve thousand man and the Sequani alliance more than ten thousands. Finally after some more small engagements the war ended in the current status quo. In the Venetii -Pictones war after the fall of Corbilo, the Pictones invaded the Averni lands. Given the highly defendable nature of the Veneti strongholds, land attacks were frustrated by the incoming tide, and naval forces were left trapped on the rocks when the tide ebbed. Despite this, Pictones spend all year trying to siege Venetii strongholds.

By place

Egypt
Carthage
  • Most of Sicilia is again under Carthage control.

272 BC

Cleonymus, a Spartan of royal blood who has been outcast by his fellow Spartans, an old friend and strategos of the Massaliot league, in the successful war against Voconti tribe back in 296 BC, asked the Massaliot League to attack Sparta together with Pyrrhus, king of Macedonia and Epirus, and place him in power. The assembly heard with respect, but voices were raised for the denial of this offer. At this moment there was led into the assembly the aged highly respected Strategos Orestes, who made a fighting speech in favour of his friend Cleonymus. He convinced them. The messenger was sent back to report that the Massaliot League will help the old friend and new ally. Strategos Orestes was happy that had the opportunity to see his old friend Cleonymus and lead the Massaliot army for one last time. Besides that, part of the deal was that Massalia will build a trade/military stronghold in the Lakonikos gulf to improve her trade with Ptolemaic Egypt. Under strategos Orestes, the tagma from Massalia and five thousands hellenized volcae sailed from Massalia with the escort of ten cataphract octeres and forty quinquereme, to Epirus to meet with Pyrrhus army.


In Italy the city of Taranto is conquered by the Romans. Thirty thousand of the Greek inhabitants were sold as slaves and many works of art were carried off to Rome. The Greeks of Magna Graecia shocked from this news. The city of Elea, a Phocaeans colony( same as Massalia) fearing the same fate as Taranto, was almost abandon with the help of the passing by Massaliot fleet. Twelve thousands people sailed with the escort of ten Massaliot League quinqemeres and resetled in the low populated Aquetani area given land and second tier citizenship. Elea falls in Romans some months later. Following the example of Elea and fearing of the Romans revenge another thirty thousands Greeks from Manga Grecia resettle in Massaliot League given second tier citizenship and lands. Almost fifty thousands Greeks in total, resettled in Massaliot League lands during 273-271 BC


The population of Massaliot League is now more than three hundred fifty thousands people( more than one hundred fifty thousands hellenized Gauls in ex Gaul/Aquetani territories) and Massalia is a thriving metropolis of one hundred fifty thousands people. Emporion and Tolosa have more than twenty thousands population each.

The Massaliot adventures in Greece.

As a large part of the Spartan army led by king Areus I is in Crete at the time, Pyrrhus and Orestes have great hopes of taking the city easily, but the citizens organise stout resistance, allowing one of Antigonus II’s commanders, Aminias the Phocian, to reach the city with a force of mercenaries from Corith. The siege engineers of Massaliot League tagma, gave the solution with the construction of massive siege engines and Sparta conquered shortly after. Soon after this, the Spartan king, Areus, returns from Crete with 2,000 men and unites with Antigonus army near the allied town of Argos. The Epirote- Massaliot League forces* marched against them. Antigonus fearing starvation in the case of a long siege of Argos, made a fatal mistake. He marched his army as well, taking up a strong position on some high ground near the city of Argos. When Pyrrhus learned this, he encamped opposite of Antigonus forces and the next day dispatched a herald to him, calling him a coward and challenging him to come down and fight on the plain. Antigonus replied that he would choose his own moment to fight and that if Pyrrhus was weary of life, he could find many ways to die. The next days with the use of the tagma mounted archers and lithovolos catapults Antigonus forced to leave the high ground and vastly outnumbered, crushed from the combine arms forces of Epirus and Massalia. Antigonus II died in battle.

*Pyrrhus army: twenty-five thousand foot, two thousand horse, and twenty-four elephants. Massillot League army: One tagma and five thousand Hellenized Gauls.
  • The Venetii - Pictones war end in stalemate.

By place
Seleucid Empire
Egypt
Roman Republic
  • Pyrrhus' departure from southern Italy three years earlier leads to the Samnites finally being conquered by the Romans. With the surrender of Tarentum, the cities of Magna Graeciain southern Italy come under Roman influence and become Roman allies. Rome now effectively dominates all of the Italian peninsula.

271 BC

From a crisis to a nation

With tens of thousands Greeks settling from Magna Graecia to Massaliot league lands, a shortage in food led to an increase of the prices.Tensions arise all over Massaliot League. The extra grain imports from Alexandria and Syracuse that started in 272 BC with new bigger trade ships helped to deal with the situation. But it was Aleksagoras that gave the final solution that changed Massaliot League. Aleksagoras a statesman,inventor and mathematician from Alexandria was invited to be the new first head of the museum a couple of years ago. This food crisis helped Aleksagoras to convince the assembly, in a more central state of governance in the way’s of the Ptolemaic model. The Ptolemaic Egypt was the most efficiently organised government in the Hellenistic world. It took its national form from Egypt and Persia, its municipal form from Greece, and passed them on to the Massaliot League. Massaliot League was divided into new nomes or provinces, each administered by appointees of the federal council of the Massaliot assembly. A bureaucracy of governmental overseers established. The centralisation of economic management in the hands of the Federal council/government, made easier public works of road construction, irrigation, and building.

The ancient techniques of farming was replaced by the new breakthrough invention of water wheel machines(the Noria). Large Noria water wheel machines sometimes forty feet in diameter builded all over Massaliot League. Nearly every new settler in Massaliot League was told by the officials what soil to till and what crops to grow. An agriculture revolution started.
The Industry was re developed also. New state factories builded. Artefacts,furnitures,pottery,textile manufacturing were produced in abundance, weapon and armour manufacturing(a blend of Gaul-Greek techniques) were Massalia's specialties. The screw chain, the wheel chain, the cam chain, the ratchet chain, the pulley chain, and the screw press were all in use.

The warehouses of Massalia invited world trade, its harbor was the envy of other cities. The fields, factories, and workshops of Massaliot League supplied a great surplus within the next years, which found markets as far east as Arabia, as far south as central Africa, as far north as Baltic sea and the British Isles.

The foundation of Triandria Alliance.

An army of eight thousands under Pyrrhus son Alcyoneus is send to east Macedonia to establish authority in ex Antigonus Macedonia lands. Aetolian league pledged once again their loyalty to Pyrrhus and guards placed in Corinth, Athens, Argos and several other towns. Sparta stayed independent under Cleonymous and given the command of south Pelloponnisos and Massalia builded a stronghold/trade hub in Lakonikos gulf. Pyrrhus now controls effectively Epirus, Mainland Greece and Macedonia. A formal alliance between Pyrrhus, Massaliot League and Sparta is establish. Pyrrhus and Orestes became good friends with great respect for each other. While the were discussing a suggestion from, the eager for revenge, Pyrrhus for a possible retaliation against Rome, diplomats from the winner of the first Syrian war, and old friend of Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II arrived. They congratulated Pyrrhus and Orestes for their win and proposed a formal alliance. They also asked Pyrrhus and Orestes to help Ptolemy II with Magas rebellion in Cyrenaica, since he is still in Syria re-establishing authority after the end of first Syrian war. For helping him out besides the mutual protection pact, Ptolemy promised twenty war elephants in Pyrrhus and exclusive trade rights of the trade routes of west med with Ptolemaic Egypt for Massalia. Pyrrus gladly accepts and Orestes with Carthage in mind agreed also.

The Triandria alliance between Ptolenaic Egypt, Pyrrhus kingdom and Massaliots league was established. Sparta and Rhodes league join as lesser partners short after.

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270 BC

The Triandria alliance’s army* easily defeated Magas small army and reestablish Cyrenaica under Ptolemy’s II control. From there Orestes and Pyrrhus went to Alexandria were Ptolemy II, who just came back from Syria, organised a huge and luxurious celebration for the establishment and the victories of the Triandria alliance. Orestes and fellow Massaliots nobles and stateman’s, that came for the celebrations, were astonish with the wealth and luxury of Ptolemaic Egypt. During the stay in Alexandria at a private dinner, Pyrrhus seeking revenge, suggested to Orestes and Ptolemy to organise and expedition against Rome and liberate the Greeks of Magna Graecia. Ptolemy who just went out of a major war against Seleucid empire, denied the proposal and suggested Pyrrhus to build up and stabilise his new territories. Orestes agreed with Ptolemy and reminded to Pyrrhus that Carthage helped Rome in the past war and will probably do the same again. Finally he also agreed with Ptolemy, to build up and maybe if the opportunity rise, to make an expedition in the future.

* Epirus, Massaliot League , Spartans, with the cover of Massaliot League and Rhodes League Fleet.


  • Hermarchus an Epicurean philosopher invited by Dynatoi company to teach in Massalia as the new head of their Academy.

By place

Roman Republic

Carthage
  • Carthage, already in control of Sardinia, southern Spain and Numidia, is ruled by an oligarchy of merchants under two Suffetes or chief magistrates. While Carthage's military commanders are strong, the state relies on mercenaries (including Spanish ones) for its soldiers.


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 Carthaginianforces intervene to prevent him from capturing Messana. His grateful countrymen then choose Hieron as their king and tyrant, to be known as Hieron II.


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.
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.

266 BC
  • New academy build in Naucratia by Palaioi company
By place

Roman Republic
Asia Minor


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.

By place

Italy
  • The Etruscan city of Volsinii was brought under Roman control.
Arts & sciences

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.


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.


262 BC

Pyrrhus and the rest of Triandria forces after the liberation of the Greek Polis in South Italy started to march in the Northwest. The Massaliot League army and fleet meet with the rest of the Greeks near Paestum. Another tagma and five thousands hellenised Gauls together with ten quinqueremes and twenty new Venemeres was send from Massalia to conquer Corsica and Sardinia.

Meanwhile, Carthage had build a mercenary army in Africa, which was shipped to Sicily to secure its holdings and conquerer Syracuse . This army was composed of thirty thousands infantry, three thousands cavalry, and thirty war elephants and partly composed of Ligurians,Celts and Iberians. In past wars on the island of Sicily, Carthage had won by relying on certain fortified strong-points throughout the island, and their plan was to conduct the land war in the same fashion. The mercenary army would operate in the open against the Triandria, while the strongly fortified cities would provide a defensive base from which to operate. A fleet of two hundred warships was going to help the Romans and disturb Greek supply lines. Hero II of Syracuse hearing the news, send emissaries to Triandria alliance seeking assistance against Carthage.

With the arrival of Massaliot League, in a new war council, the leaders of Triandria decided that the majority of the army, under Pyrrhus, to march against Capua and then against Rome. The Rhodian League army and fleet together with Magna Graecia allies will continue to protect Tarantum and the rest of Greek liberated polis and secure the supply lines. The Massaliot League army of twenty thousands was decided to be sent to Sicily to help Syracuse's against Carthage. The main fleet of two hundred sixty warships was decided to be sent to blockade Sicily from Carthaginian ships. Twenty quinqueremes left to patrol Tyrrhenian Sea. The main Triandria army of fifty five thousands marched against Capua to siege it.
  • A Roman/allies army of fifty thousands under both consuls marched against Pyrrhus. The consuls were the generals of the Roman army, and with the consuls traveled several legions.
The naval battle of Mylae

Aeneas met Hannibal off northern Mylae. The Carthaginians had two hundred and thirty ships( mostly quinqueremes and some triremes) , and the Greeks two hundred and sixty(150 quinqueremes 60 eptares 50 octares). The large cataphract octeres of Massaliot League and Ptolemaic Egypt dominated the naval battle. The Carthaginians were forced to navigate around them and approach the Greeks from behind with minimal success. The Polybolos of the Massaliot League octeres were very successful, and helped the Greeks seize around twenty Carthaginian ships. Once an additional ten of the Carthaginian ships had been hooked or sinked by the Greeks, Hannibal retreated with his surviving ships, leaving Aeneas with a clear victory. Carthage lost around thirty five ships and the Greeks six quinqueremes and two octares.

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By place

Seleucid Empire
  • Seleucid king Antiochus I's eldest son Seleucus, who has ruled in the east of the kingdom as viceroy for a number of years, is put to death by his father on the charge of rebellion.
  • Antiochus I tries to break the growing power of Pergamum by force of arms. Eumenes I, the new ruler of Pergamum, liberates his city from the overlordship of the Seleucids by defeating the army of Antiochus I near Sardis (the capital of Lydia), and thereby establishing an independent city-state.
  • Antiochus I dies and is succeeded by his second son Antiochus II Theos.


261 BC

The battle of Syracuse

In the plain valley near Syracuse, the thirty four thousands Carthaginian army faced the twenty five thousands army of Massaliot League and Syracuse. After two days standing opposite from each other, the fight began one morning after a volley attack from the Greek mounted archers. The Carthage cavalry charged against them and followed them near the Greek camp. The close by, second Greek tagma charge them after a barrage of artillery. The Carthaginian cavalry was exposed in the flanks and the Greek cavalry started to charge them, making retreat and regroup difficult. Fearing to lose most of his cavalry, Hannibal commanded a full scale attack (feeling sure for his superior numbers). When the Carthage army was in artillery range, the Greek cavalry withdraw to the rears, trapping the Carthage cavalry between the tagmata and their infantry. What followed was a massacre. The Carthaginian army center was under heavy artillery attack and the rears under charges from the Greek cavalry and mounted archers. The Carthage army fought ferociously to break the tagmata but after some hours, with the help of heavy artillery rain, the Carthage lines start to root. The battle was over.The highly trained,better equipped,compined arms and professional Massaliot League army was no match for the Carthaginian army. Nineteen thousands Carthage warriors and twenty elephants(mostly by ballistas) where dead and four thousands where sold as slaves. The Greeks had more than four thousands dead and injured. After this devastate loss the Carthage army went back to Agrigentum. The Massaliot League army followed and laid a siege to Agrigentum with the fleet controlling the sea.

The battle of Capua.

The fifty five thousands(Epirus/allies, Spartan and Ptolemaic forces) Pyrrhus army meet with the fifty thousands Roman army south of Capua. For two months, the two enemies were stationed close together outside the city without any direct conflict but after some small skirmishes the battle started. The battle was fought over two days. On the first day, the Greek cavalry and elephants went largely unused as they were blocked from the Roman advances by woodland and hills in the vicinity of the battleground, although the Ptolemaic soldiers in the phalanxes engaged the Romans very effectively. Pyrrhus's Macedonians broke the Roman first legion and Rome's Gaul allies on their left wing but the Roman second and third legions overcame the Epirotes in Pyrrhus' centre. To counter this, Pyrrhus deployed the elephants against the second and third legions, who proceeded to take refuge in heavily wooded areas on high ground while remaining under constant fire from the archers and slingers escorting the elephants. Pyrrhus sent the Spartan infantry to drive the Romans out of the woods, but those forces were intercepted by Roman cavalry. Both sides withdrew at the evening, neither having gained a significant advantage. At dawn, Pyrrhus sent the Spartans to occupy the treacherous high ground which had proven to be the cause of stalemate the previous day, thereby forcing the Romans to fight in the open or flee. As at Asculum several years ago, the infantry and cavalry engaged in a massive line collision, until the elephants, supported by light infantry, broke through the Roman line. As a result, the specialised anti-elephant Roman devices were quickly deployed by Roman commanders and officers, though briefly proving effective, the small force was eventually overwhelmed by Greek light infantry . The Romans succumbed to the combined pressure of the phalanx and elephants, which Pyrrhus ordered to advance. Pyrrhus simultaneously ordered his personal cavalry to charge, beginning and quickly completing a rout. The defeated Roman force made a coordinate retreat. It was a bloodbath on both sides. Twenty five thousands Romans and twenty one thousands Greek were dead. After that Pyrrhus laid siege in Capua.
  • The Massaliot tagma under Kallias after Corsica conquered Sardinia.


260 BC

The second battle of Capua

The new Roman consuls Scipio Asina and Gaius Duilius gathered another army of fifty four thousands Romans and allies and marched against Capua. The Pyrrhus army sieging Capua was forty four thousands(ten thousands reinforcements). Pyrrhus did not march against the Romans while he was waiting for more of his reinforcements. When he understood that reinforcements were not coming soon, he decided to fight the Romans on a plain near Capua. Pyrrhus took up position there and waited. Before the fight he sent diplomats to the Roman consuls, proposing that he could end the conflicts between Rome and the population of south Italy. He asserted that his allies recognised him as King of Magna Graecia and demanded the same recognition from the Romans. The Romans denied his request, and entered the plains from the Northwest, where they set up camp.

At dawn, the Romans started to march against Pyrrhus. On the flanks the Roman cavalry attacked the scouts and light infantry, who were forced to flee. When Pyrrhus learned that, he led his Macedonian and Thessalian cavalry to attack the Roman cavalry. His infantry, with peltasts and archers and heavy infantry, began their march as well. The Epirote cavalry successfully disrupted the Roman battle formation and then withdrew. Pyrrhus' peltasts, slingers and archers began to shoot and his sarissa wielding phalanxes began to attack. The infantry line was near equal to the Romans in length although Pyrrhus disadvantage in numbers. The Romans made several attacks, yet they could not break the phalanx, and the battle hung in the air. Unable to make any significant gains in action, Pyrrhus deployed his war elephants, held in reserve until now. The Roman cavalry was threatening his flank strongly. The Romans were again near defeat and it was again due to the judicious use of elephants against the Roman cavalry. But as the Romans were driven back to the walls of their camp, they were joined by the camp garrison and managed to turn the elephants back into the phalanx formation that Pyrrhus' troops were using. This caused chaos to Greek lines and Romans charge them back. The Battle ended in stalemate late in the evening. Again it was a bloodbath on both sides. more than twenty thousands died from both sides. This battle forced Pyrrhus to withdrew southern to Neapolis, to regroup and wait for more of his reinforcements. The Romans withdrew to Capua.

The siege and Naval battle of Agrigentum

The garrison of Agrigentum(with fifteen thousands reinforcements from the Carthaginian troops that left the battle of Syracuse) commanded by Hanno managed to call for reinforcements.With the city blocked from land and sea, a fleet of three hundred warships under Hannibal arrived in Agrigentum to relieve the blockade and help them. The Carthaginian fleet was spotted by Greek scouts and Aeneas, two hundred seventy ships fleet, abandoned the blockade to meet his enemy. On the next morning, the wind favoured the Carthaginians and Hannibal immediately set sail. Aeneas measured the risk of attacking with the wind in his bow versus the risk of letting Hannibal reach Agrigentum to relieve Hanno. Despite unfavourable conditions, the Massaliot League admiral decided to intercept the Carthaginians and ordered his fleet to prepare for battle. In the ensuing battle the Greeks enjoyed a far greater mobility, since the Carthaginians were burdened with men, equipment and provisions. The Greeks quickly gained the upper hand, using their ship’s greater manoeuvrability to ram the enemy vessels. The venemeres and octeres with their polybolos dominated the battle also. About half of the Carthaginian fleet was either destroyed or captured. The rest were saved only by an abrupt change in the direction of the wind, allowing them to flee from the Greeks. With the loss of the relief fleet, the Agrigentum mercenaries in the edge of famine, mutated and killed Hanno. After that they surrender the city to the Greeks.

By place

Egypt
 
Last edited:
Sersor

Sersor

This thread is to serve as the story only version for the timeline. The discussion thread is here.
Part three. 259 BC- 240 BC


259 BC

The new consul Florus was impetuous and headstrong and wanted to deal with Pyrrhus once and for all.

The third battle of Capua*

Eager and confident to come to blows with Pyrrhus, Florus took measures looking for a general engagement, disregarding consul Scipio's caution not to attack and organise a defence. Unfortunately for Florus, Pyrrhus was aware of this, and prepared a plan to take advantage of Florus impetuosity. Pyrrhus had noticed a place between the two camps, flat and treeless, but well adapted for an ambuscade, since a dense forrest was covering all the end of the left side, and here he proposed to lay an ambush to surprise the enemy.

Pyrrhus was relying on a network of spies to keep informed of enemy activity. When they told him that the Romans were ready to do battle, he sent one thousand five hundred of the best cavalrymen for a special mission. This detachment of one thousand five hundred cavalry under the command of Pyrrhus oldest son Ptolemy, were instructed to conceal themselves in the other side of the forest under the cover of night, and prepare an ambush for the Romans. On the following morning, Pyrrhus sent the rest of the cavalry to harass the nearby Roman camp and retreat, so as to lure the Romans into a position from which Ptolemy’s hidden detachment could strike at the set time. In response, Florus and Scipio sent out the Roman cavalry to drive them off, and shortly afterwards they sent out the rest of the army. This led to a full engagement and the battle hung in the air for sometime. In the noon Pyrrhus deployed his war elephants, held in reserve until now. The timing with the ambush cavalry was perfect. As the Romans were driven back to the walls of their camp, to regroup and repel the elephants, the ambush cavalry strike them really hard. It was a glorious win for Pyrrhus! The Romans were annihilated. More than twenty five thousands Romans including Florus died and another nine thousands sold as slaves. The Pyrrhus army had around six thousands dead and wounded. After that Capua was again under siege.

* Roman army was near forty five thousands and Pyrrhus around thirty two(ten thousands reinforcements from Macedonia didn't make it on time, but five thousands Samnite allies made it.)

  • In Sicily the Massaliot League advancement continued westward from Agrigentum to siege the Carthaginian stronghold of Lilybeaum. In the North the Greeks with their northern sea flank secured by their naval victory at Mylae, advanced toward Thermae.
  • Ptolemy II after hearing of the victories in Sicily, decided to capitalise against Carthage. An expedition of twenty eight thousands troops, forty elephants and a fleet of one hundred ships(mostly eptares) went to conquer the libya territories of Carthage.

258 BC

After some months under siege Capua felt to Pyrrhus. Thirty five thousand of the inhabitants were killed or sold as slaves and many works of art were carried off to Pyrrhus camp. Romans shocked from this news, send emissaries asking for peace. At first Pyrrhus wanted to continue all the way to Rome, but the news from Greece was not good. East Macedonia was under attack from Tylisians and there were also rumours for rebellion from various Greek polis. So a Peace treaty between Rome and Pyrrhus was signed. All south Italy was now under Pyrrhus control(mostly via vassals)

Peace terms

The terms of the “Treaty of Capua” designed by the Greeks were particularly heavy for Rome. Both sides agreed upon:
  • Rome evacuates all South Italy all the way up until Capua.
  • Rome returns their prisoners of war without ransom, while paying a heavy ransom on their own.
  • Rome pays a 2,000 talents of silver indemnity in ten annual installments, plus an additional indemnity of 1,000 talents immediately.

War with Carthage

All Sicily was finally under Massaliot League,Syracuse and Ptolemaic Egypt control.

Ptolemaic army conquer all Carthaginian holdings in Libya and was now marching against Carthage itself. Meanwhile, Carthage had build another mercenary army in Africa, which was ready to secure its holdings and repel Ptolemaic army . This army was composed of forty eight thousands infantry, five thousands cavalry, and forty war elephants and partly composed of Celts and Iberians.


257 BC

The end of Triandria war

The battle of Zama

Hamilcar led an army composed of mercenaries, local citizens, and veterans and strong Numidian cavalry. Ptolemy II led a mix of Ptolemaic,Massaliot League and Syracuse armies. The battle took place near Zama. Hamilcar was first to march and reach the plains of Zama Regia, which were suitable for cavalry manoeuvring. Hamilcar army consisted of forty eight thousands infantry, five thousands strong Numibian cavalry, and forty war elephants, while PtolemyII had a total of Fifty two thousands (28,000 Ptolemy 20,000 Massalia and 4,000 Syracuse) and forty elephants. The cavalry was around six thousands.
Putting his cavalry on the flanks, Hamilcar aligned the rest of his troops in three straight lines behind his elephants. The first line consisted of mixed infantry of mercenaries from CeltiIberia, and the Balearic islands. In his second line he placed the Carthaginian and Libyan citizen levies, while his veterans from Sicily were placed in the third line. PtolemyII deployed in the right center his phalanxes and in the left center the two tagmata of Massaliot League. Behind them were the rest of the allies.In the flanks Ptolemaic cavalry was in the right and Massaliotes in the left. Inspired by Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II held his war elephants, in reserve.
At the outset of the battle, Hamilcar unleashed his elephants and skirmishers against the Greek troops in order to break the cohesion of their lines and exploit the breaches that could be opened.The attack was confronted by the Massaliot League artillery with great success. Half of the elephants died before even reach the Greek lines. At this point, Ptolemy II deployed his war elephants against the right flank of the Carthaginians and the mounted archers of Massaliot League to charge the left flank. After a while the right Carthaginian flank collapsed and this lead to a general collapse for the Carthaginian forces. This was a heavy loss for Carthage. Eighteen thousands died and another nine thousands sold as slaves. Greek losses were five thousands. Defeated on their home ground, the Carthaginian ruling elite sued for peace and accepted humiliating terms, ending the seven years war.

Peace terms

The terms of the “Treaty of Zama” designed by the Greeks were particularly heavy for Carthage, which had lost all bargaining power following its defeat at the Zama. Both sides agreed upon:
  • Atlantic trade is now a Massaliot League monopoly.
  • Pillars of Hercules opens again for Greeks.
  • Carthage returns their prisoners of war without ransom, while paying a heavy ransom on their own.
  • Carthage transfers Corsica and Sardinia to Massaliot League.
  • Carthage evacuates all of the small islands between Sicily and Africa
  • Carthage pays a 2,500 talents of silver indemnity in ten annual installments, plus an additional indemnity of 1,500 talents immediately.
  • Carthage transfers her holdings in Sicily between Massaliot League,Ptolemaic Egypt and Syracuse.
  • Carthage transfers her holdings in Lybia to Ptolemaic Egypt.

By place

Greece
  • Pyrrhus returned in Greece and conquered the Tylisians in a easy campaign.
Seleucid empire
  • Antiochus II in a rather easy campaign conquered Armenia and Atropatane.
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Triandria alliance members: Massaliot League,Epirus,Ptolemaic empire,Rhodes League,Sparta,Syracuse.


Some more infos for 257 BC

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256 BC

Big celebrations for ten days were held in Massalia and other cities for the great victory. A new big temple of Nike builded to Massalia to celebrate the big victory of Massaliot League. Famous poet Theocritus writes a new song praising strategos Alkaios.

Hermarchus Epicurean version grew more and more in popularity. The cult of Hermarchus was already fairly cosmopolitan by Massaliot League standards, including women,Gauls and slaves. The dynatoi company was really influenced by it and became a protector of the Epicurean ideas. With the help of Dynatoi, hundreds of small branches of the cult were builded all over Massaliot League lands to spread the ideas of Epicureanism. The local druids were also heavily influenced by this cult and helped spread its ideas in the North Gaul.

Hermolaos a epicurean siege engineer, student of Dionysius of Alexandria(Head of the arsenal of Massalia), who was the head of the Massaliot artillery in the battle of Zama, came up with a new idea about the Massaliot artillery. A new type of gastraphete, the cheirogastraphete(crossbow) was developed.

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Sparta

Cleomenes III oldest son of Cleonymus and new king of Sparta tried to rehabilitate the military strength of Sparta by social reforms, including:
  • Redistribution of lands
  • Giving citizenship to a number of provincial inhabitants ("perioikoi") in order to make them eligible for army service
He first handed over all his own land to the state, he was soon followed by his uncle and his friends and the rest of the citizens. He divided up all the land and gave an equal lot to every citizen. To increase the declining Spartan citizen body, he made some of the perioikoi into citizens.

  • With money from the tributes paid by Rome, Cleomenes III buys two thousands Thessalian horses and builds ten quinqueremes

Seleucid empire

Carthage
  • The mercenaries of Carthage submit a demand to Hamilcar for payment of their contracts. Hamilcar attempts, unsuccessfully, to convince the mercenaries to accept smaller payments due to Carthage's impoverished post-war conditions. Negotiations break down. The mercenaries take up arms, march on Zama occupy it, and threaten Carthage directly. Gesco is sent to negotiate with the mercenaries at Zama.

Ptolemaic empire
  • Ptolemy II impressed by Massaliot League artillery commission his engineers to build new siege engines for the new artillery divisions of the Ptolemaic army.
Rome
  • A small rebellion by Etruscans, is crashed by the Romans.


255 BC

With money from the tribute of Carthage and part of the gold from the sanctuary in Tolosa, the architect Georgios, student of Sostratus(architect of pharos of Alexandria), is invited to Massalia to build, in modern day island of Ratonneau, a new great harbor and pharos( plus fortified warehouses and naval defenses) for the glory of Massalia. A new wall with fifty towers mounted with polybolos is also commissioned for the protection of Massalia. The walls of the city enclosed an area of at least five hundred hectares. The Famous Archimedes of Syracuse is also invited to Massalia as the new head of the Museum.(King Hiero II of Syracuse forced his kinsman Archimedes to take the position for some years, to strengthen his relationship with Massaliot League)

The great harbor-pharos of Massalia.

The cothon(an artificial, protected inner hardor) at Massalia(Ratonneau) was divided into a rectangular merchant harbor(this harbor was for the bigger trade ships mostly trading with Alexandria) followed by an inner protected harbor reserved for military use only. This inner harbor was circular and surrounded by an outer ring of structures divided into a series of docking bays for ship maintenance, along with an island structure at its centre that also housed navy ships. Each individual docking bay featured a raised slipway. Above the raised docking bays was a second level consisting of warehouses where oars and rigging were kept along with supplies such as wood and canvas. Archimedes designed block and tackle pulley systems, allowing sailors to use the principle of leverage to lift objects that would otherwise have been too heavy to move. On the “island” structure there existed a raised 'cabin' where the admiral in command could observe the whole harbor along with the surrounding sea. Altogether the inner docking complex could house up to 200 big warships. The entire harbor was protected by an outer wall with polybolos towers and the main entrance could be closed off with iron chains.
The lighthouse of Massalia followed a similar three-stage design to that of the lighthouse/Pharos of Alexandria and was one hundred metres tall. Constructed from large blocks of stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. A statue of Poseidon stood atop the lighthouse.

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In the military

Strategos Alkaios, a dynatoi company member and Epicurean, impressed by the new invention of Georgios issued the 3rd Massaliot League military reforms.

The new tagma unit:

Three thousand heavy infantry,six hundred crossbow/eight hundred hundred archers,five hundred cavalry,five hundred mounted crossbow/bow 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.

Another change with the third military reformation, is that from now own Massaliot League will have a professional standing army of four instead of two tagmata. One based in Massalia one in Tolosa one in Olbia(province/nomos of Sardinia&Corsica) and one in Lilybaeum(province/nomos of Sicily). In reserves if needed four extra tagmata could be summoned. Lands in Sardinia and Sicily given in the soldiers of the new tagmata.


In agriculture

With the new invention of Archimedes, the screw, a second wave of agriculture revolution started in Massaliot League.

Population

With the revolution in agriculture(water wheels) back in 271 BC, there was a big population boom. The population of Massaliot League is now seven hundred thousands (more than two hundred fifty thousands hellenised Gauls). Massalia is now a mega city of two hundred thousands people equal only to Alexandria and Seleucia.

  • A small expedition under strategos Dimitrios conquered the lands south of Emporion by defeating some small iberian tribes.
  • A temple of Gaul goddess Epona is build in Massalia
Epirus

  • In a small expedition in Thrace, during a confused siege battle, in some narrow city streets, Pyrrhus was trapped. While he was fighting an Thracian soldier, the soldier's old mother, who was watching from a rooftop, threw a tile which knocked him from his horse and broke part of his spine, paralyzing him. A Thracian soldier though frightened by the look on the face of the unconscious king, hesitantly and ineptly beheaded his motionless body. His eldest son, Alexander II, had him cremated with all honours. The new king of Epirus Alexander II, burned the city to the ground.

254 - 250BC

Massalia
  • New lands conquered in North/East Iberia under strategos Alkaios. A new colony, Atalanti is build in the region
Epirus
  • The new king Alexander II conquered all of Thrace and burned several cities to the ground
Carthage

The mercenary war in Carthage end in stalemate with the mercenaries making a new state/kingdom South of Carthage with Zama as capital/stronghold. After Carthage’s defeat in the Mercenary War there were two opposing factions: the reformist party was led by Hamilcar Barca while the other, more conservative, faction was represented by Honnibis and the old Carthaginian aristocracy. Hamilcar(Plus several Carthaginians from the reformist party/faction) ultimately left Carthage for the Iberian peninsula where he captured rich silver mines and subdued many tribes who fortified his army with levies of native troops. The Barcid kingdom was founded in 252 BC.

Ptolemaic empire
  • A small expedition under strategos Diomides conquered Sinai peninsula and Arabic coast lines by defeating some small local tribes tribes.
  • Ptolemy II encourages the jewish residents of Alexandria to have their bible translated into Greek. Because around seventy translators are used to achieve this, the translation is known as the Septuagint.
Sparta
  • A expedition under king Cleomenes III conquered west Crete leaving the rest under the influence of Ptolemaic empire.
Seleucid
  • The rest of the minor states(Cappadocia,Pontus) in modern day Turkey are under Seleucid control.
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
  • Diodotus I successful wars, massively expands his kingdom East to Parthia, west to Sogdiana and east to Pamir.
Rome
  • An Gaul invasion is successfully repelled by the Romans.
Bosporus Kingdom
  • Under king Pairisades II the Bosporus kingdom was massively expanded between 253 BC-250 BC.
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Another map from 250 BC with focus in Massaliot League.

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249 BC

A new expedition, with funds from the common treasury, under geographer and explorer Loukios will follow Pytheas and Adelphius routes to the North, to establish new trade hubs and establish a colony in a land rich in amber at the Baltic sea. Ten venemeres and several trade ships with more than two thousand crew,colonist and traders set sail from Naucratia.

Loukios expedition (249-246 BC)

After Kassitia the first stop of Loukios was in the lands of Robogdi’s and other small tribes, were he establish a trade hub colony(Agrinio) and exchanged gifts with the local kings. From there he sailed to modern day Scotland were he establish small trade hubs and meet the Caledonia tribe. After the establish of formal relations with them, Loukios sailed South East to Coritani(Britons) lands. From there he went to Kallikrateia were stayed for some time. After Kallikrateia he made a stop in Abalus and from there he went all the way up to modern day Oslo,Norway. After Oslo he sailed South to modern day Halmstad were he establish a new trade hub colony, Ypervoreia. After some months he left Ypervoreia and went all the way to the Baltic Sea, were he reach the rich in precious amber modern day Gdansk, the primary reason of this expedition. Chalkis a new trade hub colony of one hundred people establish. When the fortifications of the new settlement were ready, Loukios sailed all the way up to modern day Gotland and Stockholm. After that he returned home. The expedition was a big success, Massaliot League now had direct access to the biggest source of Amber in Europe.

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Barcid Kingdom
  • Diplomats send to Massalia to establish formal relations

248 BC

A number of political proposals had attempted to address the growing discrepancy whereby Hellenised Gauls made a significant contribution to Massaliot League military force, while receiving disproportionately small shares of land and citizenship rights. These efforts came to a head under epicurean stratigos/episcopos Nestor. His reforms granted the Hellenised Gauls, who will serve the military, full citizenship giving them a greater say in the external policy of the Massaliot League( for example, when the league would go to war or how they would divide the plunder). The Massaliot League federal council at first was divided with Palaioi company/party opposite and Dynatoi company/party in favour. In the end, elder Andronikos(an influential council member of Palaoi) mysterious death together with pressure from the Epicurean sect, helped the proposal to pass.
The granting of citizenship to the Hellenised Gauls and the conquered was a vital step in the process of a new identity for the Massaliot League. This step was one of the most effective political tools and political ideas in the history of Massaliot league. Previously Alexander the Great had tried to "mingle" his Greeks with the Persians, Egyptians, Syrians, etc. in order to assimilate the people of the conquered Persian Empire, but after his death this policy was largely ignored by his successors. The idea was to assimilate, to turn a defeated and potentially rebellious enemy (or his sons) into a Hellenised Massaliot League citizen. Instead of having to wait for the unavoidable revolt of a conquered people (a tribe or a city-state) like Sparta and the conquered Helots, Massalia tried to make those under its rule feel that they had a stake in the system.
  • New road connects Atalanti with Tolosa/Massalia and Naucratia.
Carthage/Barcid Kingdom
  • A new “civil war” started between Carthage and Barcid Kingdom.
Seleucid empire
  • Antiochus II raises a new army to reconquer Greco-Bactrian Kngdom.
Crete
  • tensions broke up between new Spartan settlers and local population.


247-244 BC

With the control of trade in both Atlantic and west Mediterranean sea Massaliot League was stronger and wealthier than ever. This vast network sparkled a huge trade, economic and opportunity for people, boom. Every kind of trade and business throughout the Massaliot league had now its own guild. The purpose of the guild was no doubt to protect and advance the interests of the trade but in some cases, securing also the election of candidates for the federal council of the league. Most of the strongest “political” guilds were under the control of Palaioi or Dynatoi companies. Both Palaioi and Dynatoi companies were by now, pretty much political parties dominating the federal council. For years now both strategoi/episcopoi of the federal council were from this two parties. As they grew wealthier, those companies/political parties developed extensive administrations for their ventures, seeking more and more control and influence. This led to the foundation of the first chartered companies in history.

Chartered companies were usually formed, incorporated and legitimised under a royal or, in republics, an equivalent government charter. This document set out the terms under which the company could trade, defined its boundaries of influence, and described its rights and responsibilities.

the charters of the Palaioi and Dynatoi companies, given by the Massaliot League federal council allowed the two companies to:
  • Trade monopolies from new expeditions
  • Form “banks”
  • Own, and grant or distribute lands of future colonies/lands in Atlantic ocean.
  • Raise/sponsor military for new conquests under approval and control from the federal council.

In return, the companies agreed to develop the territory they controlled, to allow free trade within its territory and give thirty percent of the profits to the common treasury of the Massaliot League.


Carthage/Barcid Kingdom
  • in two small naval battles and one pitch battle Carthaginians repelled the Barcid kingdom.
Bactria
  • Bactria attacked by the Seleucid empire. Although he commanded seven thousands horsemen, Diodotus I initially lost a battle on the Arius and had to retreat. He then successfully resisted a three year siege in the fortified city of Bactra, before Antiochus II finally decided to recognize the new ruler.

243 BC
  • With the knowledge of major gold mines in modern day Las Médulas, an expedition of three tagmata under strategos Hermolaos, sponsored by Dynatoi company, went to conquer Astures lands in northern Spain and thus take control of Las Médulas gold mines.
  • King Ambiorux of the Allobroges tribe, a vassal of Massaliot League, died.
  • Druid Cativolcus new poem is the talk of the town.
By place

Crete

The end of Triandria alliance.
Years of tensions between Spartan settlers and local Cretan population lead to indirect Ptolemaic interference. With this support the Cretans manage to siege and conquer the two main settlements of Sparta in North West Crete. The Spartan king Cleomenes III, furious by this asks Alexander II of Epirus to help him against the Ptolemaic empire. Alexander II looking for an excuse to break the alliance with Ptolemy and expand his area of control in North Aegean, gladly accepts. Rhodes League, Syracuse and Massaliot League decided to stay neutral.



242 BC

The conquest of Astures

After a short siege, thanks to heavy use of advanced siege weapons, the city of Noega felt easily to Massaliot league. From there strategos Hermolaos marched to conquer the capital of Astures tribe, Asturica. In a pitch battle near Asturica the eighteen thousands army of Massaliot league crashed the twenty five thousands army of Astures and Cantabri tribes. The combined arms army of Massaliot league was no match for the local tribes who rooted after the heavy rain from Massaliot League crossbowmen’s,archers,mounted archers and artillery. more than fifteen thousands celtic warriors died and another six thousands sold as slaves. Massaliot league had less than one thousand deads and wounded. Shortly after Asturica felt to Hermolaos army.
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By place

Gaul
  • Cingetorix the new king of Allobroges, known for his conservatism and opposition to Hellenisation decided to close Rhone river to Massaliot League and join the Averni tribe loose confederacy.
Greece
  • Without a declaration of hostilities and with support from Ptolemaic empire, Greek statesman, Aratus of Sicyon, who has gradually built up the Achaean League(vassal of Epirus) into a major power in Greece, makes a surprise attack on Corinth and forces the withdrawal of the Epirus occupation troops. Megara,Troezen, and Epidaurus also desert the Epirus King Alexander II.

241 BC

A new nomes establish in Astures, under Dynatoi company/federal council administration. New technologies introduced to exploit the gold mines.
The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. The water was supplied by interbasin transfer. At least seven long aqueducts tapped the streams of the La Cabrera district (where the rainfall in the mountains is relatively high) at a range of altitudes. The same aqueducts were used to wash the extensive gold deposits. More than 200 gold talents were extracted each year.

εὕρηκα! εὕρηκα! / "Eureka! Eureka!"

After falling from a horse, Archimedes came up with the idea of a set of paired stirrups attached to a hard saddle.
Following the invention of paired stirrups, which allowed a rider greater leverage with weapons, as well as both increased stability and mobility while mounted, Massaliot League adopted this technology and developed a decisive military advantage…

By place

Greece
  • In a major naval battle* near Crete the smaller Epirus navy won a decisive victory against Ptolemaic empire mainly due to better ship crews.
*Epirus and allies navy: one hundred ninety warships- Ptolemaic empire two hundred warships.

Magna Graecia
  • Alexander II actions the last years were deeply unpopular within the Magna Graecia Greeks and their opinion became inflamed against him. Alexander II had so alienated the Magna Graecia Greeks, that after hearing about the war against Ptolemaic empire, they made a common cause with Syracuse and rebelled against him.
Carthage/Barcid Kingdom
  • In another naval battle Carthaginians repelled the Barcid kingdom fleet.
Pergamum


240 BC

The Massaliot League federal council, furious by the actions of the new king of Allobroges, decides an invasion in their lands . An army of three tagmata(a total of twenty thousands troops) under strategos Hermolaos march against them.

By place

Bosporan Kingdom

The new king of the Bosporan kingdom, Spartokos V( Spartocids hellenized Thracian dynasty) continued to expand his kingdom like his father Pairisades II. In two successful campaigns in 240-238 BC he conquered lands in the west from Scythian tribes and in the east from Sarmatian tribes.
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Rome
  • After a successful expedition under Consul Tuditanus, Rome conquered the lands of Boii tribe in North Italy.
South Italy

The Megálē Hellás League.
  • A new loose League/Alliance, inspired from Massaliot League, formed between Syracuse and Magna Graecia Greek cities to deal with Epirus
  • The Samnite vassal of Epirus in South Italy also declared independence and allied with Megálē Hellás League.
Northwest Africa/Carthage-Barcid Kingdom
  • After the Numidian mercenary leader Narawas defects to Hamilcar Barca, Numidian reinforcements (about 2,000 men) help him defeat the Carthaginians. Hamilcar pardons his captured prisoners, accepting into his army anyone who will fight Carthage, and exiling anyone who will not.
Greece
  • In Crete the Ptolemaic army defeats the Epirus army in a major pitch battle*. Key role to the Ptolemaic victory was the new artillery divisions of the Ptolemaic army.
*Epirus and allies: twenty two thousands - Ptolemaic empire: twenty thousands.
  • In a battle near Argos the Spartan army defeats the Achaean League army.
Seleucid empire
  • Antiochus II sees the war between Epirus and Ptolemaic empire as the the perfect opportunity to invade the Ptolemaic lands in Syria
 
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Sersor

Sersor

This thread is to serve as the story only version for the timeline. The discussion thread is here.
Part four. 239 BC- 220 BC

239 BC

The Gallic Wars

The invasion of Massalia unites several Gaul tribes.

A new alliance between Averni,Sequani,Allobroges,Bituriges and some smaller tribes is founded to deal with the Massaliot League. A massive army of sixty thousand under Catugnatix marched to Allobroges land to meet the Massaliot League army. Catugnatix marched for two days and made camp two miles behind Hermolaos, thus cutting off Hermolaos communication and supply lines. Unable to entice Catugnatix into battle, Hermolaos ordered a camp to be built near Catugnatix position.The next morning, after hearing that his troops outnumber Hermolaos troops three to one, Catugnatix assembled his troops and advanced towards Massaliot League camp. Hermolaos was victorious in the battle that ensued due in large part to the charge made by the Massaliot League cavalry that dominated the flanks. As a result, the whole Gaul center was surounded and thus broke their lines and began to flee.
Most of Catugnatix sixty thousand men were killed. He and what remained of his troops escaped back to Averni lands. After that Hermolaos, burn to the ground Allobroges capital Vienne, to set an example. Hearing this news, Averni tribe fearing that they are the next in line tried to convince more tribes to join them against Massaliot League.


Northwest Africa/Carthage-Barcid Kingdom
  • With the help of Zama mercenaries Carthage manages to repel Hamilcar Barca army.
Greece
  • Epirus/Sparta and Ptolemaic empire ended their war in the same status quo due to other major threats.
Syria
  • Damascus, after four months siege, falls to Antiochus II

238 BC

The Averni tribe manages the Aedui loose confederation(Aedui,Senones,Carnutes) to join them against Massaliot League. Pictones and Santones joined Massaliot League. Venetii,Belage and Treveri tribes stayed neutral.
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Carthage-Barcid Kingdom
  • The war between Carthage and Barcid Kingdom ends in a stalemate.
Greece
  • Sparta and Epirus declare war on each other over the control of North Peloponnesos.
  • Sparta joins Megálē Hellás League.
Egypt
  • Ptolemy II raises a new army to reconquer Syria from Seleucid empire.
Rome
  • Capua the last holding of Epirus in Italy defects to Rome.


237 BC

An army of five tagmata(a total of thirty five thousands) under Hermolaos marched against Averni tribe capital Nemossos. Another arny of two tagmata (sponsored by the companies) under Aeneas together with allies from Pictones and Sentones marched(a total of twenty five thousands) from Pictones lands to Bituriges lands.The Gauls under king Diviciacix of the Aedui tribe made an effort to mass as more troops as possible to repel the Massaliotes. In the summer of 237 BC a massive eighty thousands army of allied Gauls marched to meet the Massaliotes in the plains near a Bituriges stronghold.The Gauls advanced so quickly that Aeneas did not have the time to organise his forces and suffered a humiliating defeat. Aeneas lost most of his troops and officers . He himself was forced to take up a shield and personally rally his forces which were then threatened with envelopment and massacre. The strong stand by the Pictones enabled Aeneas to regroup and withdraw South to meet with Hermolaos army. Massaliot League lost more than fifteen thousands man and the Gauls less than three thousands.
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By place

Judea

The massive armies of Ptolemaic Empire under Ptolemy III and Seleucid Empire under Antiochus II meet in a plain near jerusalem. It was one of the biggest battles of ancient times. More than one hundred fifty thousands troops deployed in the battlefield.( Ptolemy III seventy thousands and eighty elephants - Antiochus II eighty two thousands and two hundred elephants.) Both sides deployed their troops in a standard Macedonian formation, with the phalanx of heavy infantry in the centre of the battle line.In front, and to the sides of the phalanx, light infantry were deployed to act as skirmishers and to protect the flanks of the phalanx. Cavalry was split between the two wings.
The heavy use of artillery helped Ptolemaic army to repel the elephant charge of the Seleucid army and then secured the victory on the battlefield.

Greece

In a battle near Corinth the forces of the Megálē Hellás League repelled the army of Alexander II. Fearing an attack from Pergamum, Alexander III decided to recognise the claims of Megálē Hellás League and end the war.

Persia


236 BC

Nemossos was an oppidum (fortified settlement) on a lofty hill fort and with two rivers on two different sides. Due to such strong defensive features, Hermolaos decided on a siege to force surrender by starvation. Considering that about fifteen thousands men were garrisoned in Nemossos, together with the local civilian population, this would not have taken long. After a while, the relief Gaul force of eighty thousands, arrived and encamped on a hill one mile from the Massaliot League fortification. Some of the chiefs of the Gauls suggested to not meet the Greeks in the open field but King Diviciacix sure of his army strength and numbers refuse.
Hermolaos made the Gauls fight him on open ground, which allowed him to maximise the effect of the Mounted archers/cavalry.Together with his prudent and unabashed use of fixed projectile weapons like the polybolos and light ballista, archers and crossbows took a heavy toll on the densely packed Gauls. The battle was a triumph for Massaliot league forces. Nearly forty thousands Gauls died and another ten thousands sold as slaves. Hermolaos forces had around ten thousands dead and wounded.
The battle/siege of Nemessos proved to be the end of generalized and organized resistance against Massaliot League invasion of Gaul and effectively marked the end of the Gallic Wars. After several months of small battles and sieges Averni lands were now part of the Massaliot League, Sequani and Aedui tribes were now vassals of Massaliot league and Pictones/Santones conquered the Bituriges lands. Carnutes and Senones tribes paid a heavy tribute.
  • The gold mines of Averni lands and the domination in trade to almost all Gaul boosts the economy of Massalia even further.
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By place

Ptolemaic Egypt.

  • Ptolemy III reconquers Syria from Antiochus II. While was getting ready for an expedition in Mesopotamia, Ptolemy II dies and that forced Ptolemy III to return in Egypt thus ending the Ptolemaic-Seleucid war in the current status quo.
  • The Decree of Canopus, also called "Table of Tanis", is a memorial stone promulgated by an assemblage of priests in honour ofPtolemy III Euergetes and his consort Berenice. The decree, written in Greek, demotic, and hieroglyphs is an ancient bilingualEgyptian decree that provides a key for deciphering hieroglyphic and the simpler demotic script
Persia

Seleucid Empire
  • Antiochus II son Antiochus Hierax, who is governor of Seleucid Anatolia, sends an army into Syria ostensibly to assist Seleucus but actually to seize the rest of the empire. After achieving peace with Egypt, Antiochus II promptly invades Anatolia and begins the "War of father and son".
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236 BC Vol II

Extra infos and maps.

The population of Massaliot League have now more than one million population.
The Greeks are close to four hundred thousands , the Gauls* more than seven hundred thousands and another one hundred thousands (maybe more) various smaller tribes. My numbers are without counting the slaves(around four hundred thousands)

*The seven hundred thousands Gauls are free people with citizenship (except the Gauls in the new territories that have something like a second tier citizenship/more than two hundred thousands)

Major Polis/cities are:

Massalia, close to three hundred thousands(one hundred thousands Gauls)
Tolosa, around sixty thousands.(The Gauls are more than the Greeks)
Emporium, almost fifty thousands.
Naucratia, around thirty five thousands.
Lillybaeum more than thirty thousands.

The population of the major colonies is:

Kassitia, around five thousands.
Agrinio, one thousand two hundred.
Ligeia, one thousands six hundred.
Kallikrateia, three thousands seven hundred.
Abacus, one thousand eight hundred.
Ypervoreia, nine hundred.
Chalkis, one thousand seven hundred.

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236/235 BC

The expedition of Argiros

A new massive expedition of forty Venemeres* and several smaller ships with a total of nine thousands crew and settlers with the support of both companies and Federal council, set sail from Naucratia to explore and settle new trade hubs in modern day Portugal and the Atlantic coast of Africa.
The first stop of Argiros was in the land of a small Celtic tribe near modern day Porto were he establish a new trade hub colony Orestiko and exchange gifts with the local chief. From there he sailed to the independent/ex Carthage town of Tagus.The sheltered harbour in the Tagus Riverestuary was an ideal spot for an Iberian settlement and would have provided a secure harbour for unloading and provisioning Phoenician ships.The Tagus settlement was an important centre of commercial trade with the inland tribes, providing an outlet for the valuable metals, salt and salted-fish they collected, and for the sale of the Lusitanian horses renowned in antiquity. After a small battle and siege the city felt to Argiros forces. From there they passed through Barcid kingdom lands without a problem. Hamilcar Bacra, to secure good relations with Massaliot League, even open the harbor and market of Onoba to Argiros expedition.
Argiros sailed from Onoba to Lixus a semi independent/Carthage small colony. The people of Lixus pledge their alliance to Massaliot League and help Argiros fleet. From there he sailed to Thymiaterion/safi an old Greek colony, now with a mix Greek-Carthaginian Population of five hundred. A new Fortress builded in Safi before Argiros sail leaving six hundred people behind.
From there Argiros sailed even more south to the island of Arguin were he set up a new fort and a major trading colony of two thousands Neagathe, which acquired gum and slaves for Massaliot League. With a fleet of ten Venemeres and two thousands crew and settlers went even more south to delta of the Senegal river were he set up another new fort and colony Ypernoteia. After staying for some months in Ypernoteia he even sailed inland through the Senegal river with three small ships. There he made contact with a number of clans of proto-Soninke, the oldest branch of the Mandé (Manding) people.
This clans comprised a confederation of independent, freely allied, “states”. Located midway between the desert, the main source of salt, and the gold fields of the upper Senegal River to the south, the confederation had a good location to take advantage of trade with the surrounding cities. They traded with Massaliot League by Senegal river route leading to Ypernoteia. After the contact with the Soninke Argiros decided to finally to return home.

*Venemeres was a atlantic sea type of ship, a large "galley" that used two masts(fore-mast and main-mast), a deck and a stern-hung rudder. It was equally in size with a hexareme and was inspired by the Venetii tribe ships.The descriptions of the Venetii ships describe a very different style of vessel. Higher sides than the Roman types opposing it and relying upon sails exclusively. The water they plied was the channel and western France, rougher seas were to be expected. But also, since the area had a lot of shallows, a deep draft would be a detriment. This implies a wide beam (to stabilize for the masts and sails and carry a worthwhile load) and later vessels of the region had wide beams, so it is likely the Venetii ships did also.
stern-hung rudder: Duplidus a hellenised Gaul, mathematician and engineer, who studied in the past st the museum of Massalia under Archimedes, while he was working in the naval arsenal of Naucratia trying to find solutions for some contolling issues in the handling of the new bigger venemeres came up with the idea of a stern-hung rudder.

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By place

Turkey
  • Antiochus Hierax inflicts a crushing defeat on his Father army at Ancyra in Anatolia. Antiochus II leaves modern day Turkey to his son.Thus the kingdom of Hierax is now established.
Egypt
Asia Minor


234 BC

A small rebellion in Averni Nomos/lands is crashed easily by the local tagma stationed in Nemossos
  • Archimedes constructs his first planetarium/orrery.
  • Hibernian(Irish) pirates start to be a major problem for the colony of Agrinio.
Central Asia
  • The Greco-Bactrian king Diodotus II of Bactria with a impressive army of twenty five thousands(twelve thousands horsemans!) undertakes an expedition into Iran to try to regainParthia from Arsaces. In a major battle Arsaces is killed and Parthia falls again in Diodotus II hands.
Roman Republic
  • Despite the opposition of the Roman Senate and of his own father, the Roman political leader Gaius Flaminius Nepos wins the passage of a measure to distribute land among the plebeians. The Romans decide to parcel out land north of Rome into small holdings for its poorer citizens whose farms/fortunes have fallen into ruin during the Triandria war(263-257BC).
Megale Hellas
  • Hero II,king of Syracuse, is assassinated by the democratic party of Syracuse thus leading Megale Hellas to a more close to Massaliot League model of government.

233 BC

Archimedes while he was working with a lodestone(a form of the mineral magnetite that is a naturally-occurring magnet and aligns itself with the Earth’s magnetic field) for his planetarium, came up with a new device, the compass. To retain the compass magnetism for long Archimedes used steel “needles”.

By place

Barcid Kingdom

  • While Hamilcar besieged an Iberian town, Orissus, chieftain of the Oretani tribe, came to the assistance of the besieged town. Hamilcar died in the resulting melee. In several years, Hamilcar had secured an extensive territory in Hispania by force of arms and diplomacy, but his premature death in battle (233 BC) denied Barcid kingdom a complete conquest.
Bosporan Kingdom

  • A new museum(university) is build in the Bosporan Kingdom capital Pantikapeon.

232 BC

In the trip back up North, Argiros faced serious troubles with the currents and winds of Atlantic/Westen Africa. After reaching Neagathe he decided to take a different route deeper in the ocean were he found better sailing conditions. On the way back he made a new trade colony Akrai, in modern day Santa cruze Tenerife.
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By place

Athens
  • Following the death of his mentor, Cleanthes of Assos, Chrysippus of Soli succeeds him as the third head of the Stoic school. The many writings of Chrysippus, about the Stoic doctrines, will later earn him the title of Second Founder of Stoicism.
India


231 BC

An expedition of two tagmata under strategos Hermolaos, sponsored by palaioi company, went South of Emporion nomes to conquer the lands of the aggressive tribes of Llercavones and Edetani.

By place:

Bosporus kingdom/ Pergamon
  • A new trade deal is signed between Pergamon and Bosporus kingdom. From now own Pergamon will take most of its grain from Bosporus kingdom. Bosporus the last years had lost(from Ptolemaic empire*) in the face of Athens, one of the most profitable and reliable buyers of the bulk wheat.This new deal boosted significantly the economy of Bosporus kingdom.

*In 235 BC a Bosporus Embassy visited Egypt and led in Alexandria some negotiations with the king Ptolemy III. In these negotiations, it raised the issue of delimitation of spheres of influence in the grain trade between Egypt and the Aegean Sea to the Bosporus markets. The results of this meeting were bad for Bosporus…

Inside infos about Bosporus kingdom:

Spartocids, following the example of the Hellenistic monarchs called themselves kings of the Bosporus state.Class foundation Spartocids were primarily wealthy merchants and landowners and industrialists - the owners of large ergasteria (industrial workshops). In all these groups/class, which consisted primarily of Greeks, poured gradually increasing number of representatives of the upper social strata of the local population from the barbarian tribes that were part of the Bosporus state.

Ps: Many thanks to @WotanArgead for his infos about Bosporus kingdom

India

A major succession war started in India after the death of emperor Ashoka.
The main rivals were Dasharatha(Heir and grandson of Ashoka) and Sampati(grandson and second heir).
Jalauka : Uncle of Dasharatha who declared independence.
Sophagasenus: Ex governor who declared independence
Kalinga : Kingdom that was conquered by Ashoka and now declared independence.
Satavahana: Client state that now declared independence.
Vidarbha: Client state that now declared independence

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230 BC

The Barcid war

After some small battles the Massaliot League forces manages to conquer the lands of Llercavones and Edetani tribes. Hearing rumours that the league will march against Barcid kingdom( and loose the precious silver mines of Mastia/ Carthago Nova) Hasdrubal the Fair allied himself with Celtiberi and Carpetani tribes and marched against Massaliot league.
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By place

Rome
  • With Roman merchants being killed by Samnite pirates, envoys are sent by Rome to the Samnites . After the Roman ambassadors lucius Coruncanius and Fabius Rullianus are murdered by Samnite soldiers after causing offence to king Gavius Egnatius, Roman forces mobilised with the aim of humbling Gavius Egnatius.
Illyria
  • King Agron of Illyria dies. Pinnes, the son of Agron and Agron's first wife Triteuta, officially succeeds his father as king, but the kingdom is effectively ruled by Agron's second wife, Queen Teuta (Tefta), who expels the Greeks from the Illyrian coast and then launches Illyrian pirate ships into the Ionian Sea, preying on Greek shipping. She continues her husband's policy of attacking cities on the west coast of Greece and practising large-scale piracy in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.
Egypt
India
  • Jalauka to deal with Sophagasenus asked the help of Diodotus of the Diodotian Kingdom( Greco-Bactrian)


229 BC

Hermolaos forces( roughly twelve thousands ) were caught by surprise when the two armies of Carpetani/Celtiberi( twenty thousands)tribes and Barcid kingdom (thirty five thousands/six thousands cavalry) reach them. Heavily outnumbered the League army suffers a crushing defeat. Seven thousands League soldiers died and another four thousands sold as slaves. Hermolaos was killed during the battle by a young Barcid nobleman(Hasdrubal the Fair,brother-in-law) Hannibal Bacra. Another Barcid mercenary army of five thousands marched from Gadir to conquer Tagus.

By place

Epirus/Illyria
  • The First Illyrian War starts when Alexander II of Epirus invades with an army of twenty thousands to Illyria to deal with the piracy. Epirus forces the withdrawal of Illyrian pirate garrisons in the Greek cities of Epidamnus, Apollonia, Corcyra and Pharos and establishes a protectorate over these Greek towns.
  • The Illyrian tribe of the Ardiaei is subdued by Alexander II.
  • The involvement of Epirus in Illyria leads to strengthen the relations between Epirus and the Aetolian League ( a semi independent vassal of Epirus), which approve the suppression of Illyrian piracy. This was a crucial move that help Alexander II to stabilise his realm.
Rome
  • The roman army under consul Centumalus won a major battle against the Samnite army near Asculum. The Samnite king Gavius Egnatius, desperate by this loss asked for help from the Megale Hellas League(an unofficial ally). The Greeks fearing of Roman aggression decide to help Gavius Egnatius.
India
  • Jalauka together with Diodotus won a major battle against Sophagasenus(died in the battle).
  • In a epic bloodbath, Dasharatha's army is repelled by Samprati's army. More than one hundred thousands soldiers died in that battle.

228 BC

Barcid must be destroyed!

Hearing the news about Hermolaos, the federal council of Massaliot League furious declare an all out war against the Barcid kingdom. A massive army of eight tagmata(around fifty thousand man) under strategos Diocletos marched from Tolosa to Iberia. Another army of two tagmata(around fifteen thousand man) under strategos Epiktetos sailed with a fifty venemeres strong fleet to protect the Atlantic ocean colonies and attack Barcid Kingdom from behind. The Mediterranean League fleet went to conquer the balearic islands. Meanwhile Hasdrubal the Fair continued preparations to deal with the League. He managed to recruit another ten thousands Numibians mercenaries and send them to sack Lixus, then cross the sea to Iberia. By skillful diplomacy pursued the Celtici,Lussitani and Vetones tribes to join him. He even send emissaries to Carthage, asking to join forces against the common enemy.
  • Tagus is burned to the ground by the Barcid forces.
  • Arginio is stormed by Hibernian pirates. Around two hundred survivors manage to flee in Kassitia.
By place

Italy

In a battle near Paestum the Roman army(around thirty thousands) was victorious against the Megale Hellas league forces(around twenty five thousands) but in the near by sea battle the Megale Hellas navy repelled easily the Roman fleet. Emissaries send from Megale Hellas to Sparta and Massalia to ask for help. Not wanting to give a further step to Ptolemaic Empire*, Megale Hellas decided to not ask them for help. Plus five thousand Zama mercenaries paid to come to aid also.

*The base of the Ptolemaic Empire in Sicily was a big problem for the trade routes of Megale Hellas.

Illyria/Epirus
  • The Illyrian Queen Teuta's governor, Demetrius of Pharos has little alternative but to surrender to the overwhelming Epirus force. In return, the Epirotes award him a considerable part of Teuta's holdings to counter-balance the power of Teuta. Meanwhile, the Epirotes army lands farther north at Apollonia. The combined Epirotes army and fleet proceed northward together, subduing one town after another and besieging Shkodra, the Illyrian capital.
Asia Minor
Seleucid empire
  • Antiochus II died mysteriously. His son Seleucus II is now the new king.
Ptolemaic empire
  • In an expedition south of Egypt, Ptolemy III conquered the lands of the nomadic Nubian tribal kingdom of Blemmyes.
India/Bactria
  • In a celebration over the victory against Sophagasenus, Diodotus assassinates Jalauka and several indian nobles/officers thus gained control of both Jalauaka and Sophagasenus realms. The cynical and charismatic Diodotus was now the ruler of a vast empire.
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227 BC

Hasdrubal the Fair scorched much of the land marching South with his army from Edetani lands in an attempt to deprive Diocletos of the resources and safe haven of the towns and villages along Diocletos march South. Hascrubal camped well outside of Carthago Nova and focused on conducting harassing engagements of the advancing Massaliot League units led by Diocletos and his chief lieutenant Briccius. Epiktetos army landed in Orestiko and marched south to Lussitani lands.
  • After a two months siege, Lixus felt to the Barcids.
  • In a short campaign Balearic islands felt to Massaliot League.
  • Carthage denied to help Barcid Kingdom.
By place

Italy
  • Thurri felt to Romans after three months of siege. The Romans slaughtered nearly the entire population of twenty five thousands leaving only one thousand alive. The Megale Hellas League army regroup at Locri, were they meet with the eight thousands Spartan reinforcements. Occupied by the war in Iberia, Massaliot League although wanted to help Megale Hellas League decided to support them only with four thousands mercenaries paid by Palaioi company.
Illyria
  • Queen Teuta of Illyria finally surrenders to Epirus forces and is forced by Alexander II to accept an ignominious peace. The Epirotes allow her to continue her reign but restrict her to a narrow region around the Illyrian capital, Shkodra, deprive her of all her other territory, and forbid her to sail an armed ship below Lissus just south of the capital. They also require her to pay an annual tribute and to acknowledge the final authority of Epirus.
Seleucid Empire
  • Antiochus Hierax tries to raise revolts against his brother Seleucus II in Syria and the east of the Seleucid Empire. However, he is captured and exiled to Bosporus Kingdom, where he lives as a virtual prisoner.



226 BC

Diocletos reached Hasdrubal camp near Carthage Nova. Realising its mountainous location made a frontal assault risky, he decided to rely on his superior artillery tactics and lure Hasdrubal in open field battle. Upon arriving, Diocletos discovered that there was a small hill that the Barcids held that was essential to their holding Carthage Nova itself. From there, they were able to provide water, corn and forage. Diocletos took this in a night raid, and swiftly stationed his army upon this same hill.

With fresh reinforcements and supplies getting low, Hasdrubal decided to meet the League army in a major battle.

The Massaliot league army of fifty thousands won the battle against the larger Barcid army of sixty thousands. Once again,the enemy was no match for the artillery tactics and advanced cavalry of the Massaliot league. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the young King Hannibal Barca, the Barcid army was saved by total annihilation and the major bulk of it retreated south.
  • Epiktetos army forced to return North to deal with a Vettones/Lussitani army sieging Asturica.
  • After three months siege Carthage Nova felt to Diocletos.
Italy

In a stalemate battle outside Croton the Megale Hellas League army manage to repel the Roman army. The Spartan reinforcements played a crucial role to to this outcome by saving the rest of the army(while rooting) and counter attack the Romans. The second army of Rome under consul Fullo while on the way to conquer Tarentum, forced to turn back due to an invasion of Gaul tribes in the North. With two fronts active Rome decided to accept the peace deal proposed by Megale Hellas League. Samnites lands were officially annex by Rome.
  • A formidable host of Gauls, some of them from across the Alps, threaten Rome.
Greece
Seleucid Empire

  • Antiochus Hierax, brother of the Seleucid King Seleucus II manages to escape from captivity in Bosporus Kingdom and flees to the mountains to raise an army, but he is killed by a band of Scythians.
  • Seleucus II dies after a fall from his horse and is succeeded by his eldest son Seleucus III Soter. Dynastic power is upheld by a mercenary army and by the loyalty of many Greek cities founded by Alexander the Great and his successors. The strength of the empire is already being sapped by repeated revolts in its eastern provinces and dissension amongst the members of the Seleucid dynasty.



225 BC

Epiktetos army, with the help of the Vaccaei tribe, manages to defeat the Vettones/Lussitani army and lift the siege of Asturica. Hasdrubal and Hannibal continued the scorched earth strategy and denied to meet the League army on open field. Diocletos dispatched two tagmata under Briccius to conquer the Carpetani and Celtiberi lands.

By place

Roman Republic
Seleucid Empire



224 BC

In his first solo campaign, Hannibal attacked and caught by surprise the advancing Massaliot League units led by Alkaios, one of the chief lieutenants of Diocletos, near Malaca which promptly led to their surrender.

The battle of Malaca

In another storm/night cavalry attack, against Diocletos camp outside of Malaca, Hannibal was repelled after a crossbowman killed his horse. The next morning Massaliot League army resolved to confront Hannibal and marched North from Malaca. Hannibal capitalized on the eagerness of Diocletos and drew him into a trap by using an envelopment tactic. This eliminated the Massaliot League numerical advantage by shrinking the combat area. Hannibal drew up his least reliable infantry in a semicircle in the center with the wings/flanks composed of the Iberian and Numidian horse. The League tagmata forced their way through Hannibal's weak center, but the Libyan mercenaries on the wings, swung around by the movement, menaced their flanks. In another move Hannibal send one thousands light cavalry to harass the Massaliot League artillery. The onslaught of Hannibal's heavy flank cavalry was irresistible until Massaliot League noble “stirrup-war saddle” heavy cavalry confronted them. After several hours the battle ended with no clear winner. Both sides had heavy losses. Diocletos lost half of his thirty thousands troops and Hannibal ten thousands of his twenty two thousands troops.
  • with Lussitani and Vettones lands under control Epiktetos army marched to Carpetani lands to meet with Briccius army.
  • While in Africa to recruit more Numibians mercenaries, Hasdrubal was assassinated by a Numidian chief (friend of Carthage)

Roman Republic

223 BC

With Hasdrubal the fair dead,the treasury almost empty and no reinforcements for his army, Hannibal Barca realised that resistance against Massaliot League was futile. In the peace negotiations Massaliot League demanded, besides Barcid kingdom to become a small vassal, Hannibal's surrender. Hannibal thereupon went into voluntary exile. He journeyed to North Africa and then to Rome, where he was honourably received by consuls Flaminus and Philus. With the conquest of Iberia peninsula, the League reached an "Empire status".
  • Two new cities, Edessa and Akrotiri, builded to Iberia to control better the new territories. As usual lands distributed to the tagmata soldiers.
  • Callaeci,Vaccaei and Barcid Kingdom are now Massaliot League vassals.
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By place

Seleucid Empire
India
  • Samprati and Kalinga kingdoms join forces and march against Dasharatha. In another major battle Dasharatha wins but sustains heavy losses thus not able to capitalise over the victory.
Ptolemaic Empire
  • In a exhibition further in Red sea Ptolemaic forces conquer the Sabaean kingdom, making Red sea a "Ptolemaic lake”

South Red sea/Arabic update

Besides a couple of polis/cities on the South red sea, under direct control,Ptolemy appointed as mukarribs(vassal king) of a council of tribal leaders, a man of their own ethnic tribes.

Qataban or Katabania (Arabic,مملكةقتبان) was the major vassal kingdom of Ptolemaic Empire in South Red sea. Its heartland was located in the Baihan valley. It gained great wealth from the trade of frankincense, myrrh and Indian incenses which were burned at altars. The kingdom was heavily influenced by the Greek culture especially in architecture. This tribes became so influenced by other cultures such as those of Greece and Egypt that their gods eventually became anthropomorphic and were represented with human features. Also the koine Greek was the new trade language. The capital of Qataban was named Timna and was located on the trade route which passed through the other Ptolemaic vassal kingdoms of Hadramaut, Sheba.

Rome
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Ofc there are more resources but further research would kill me :p

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Top 10 cities

Alexandria 350000 pop
Pataliputra 350000
Massalia 280000
Syracuse 250000
Pratisthana 250000
Carthage 200000
Seleucia 200000
Antioch 150000
Ujjain 150000
Rome 100000

Top 5 richest states

Ptolemaic Empire
Seleucids Empire
Diodotian Empire
Satavahana Kingdom
Massaliot League

Estimate of the Population of this ATL

Greek peninsula 2,5 mil pop
Anatolia 7 mil(1 mil Greeks)
Greater Syria 4 mil(0,4 mil Greeks)
Egypt 4,5 mil(0,4+ mil Greeks)
Italy 3 mil(0,3+ mil Greeks)
Sicily 0,7
Iberia 3 mil
North Gaul 3mil
North Balkans 2 mil
South Gaul 1,8mil(0,5+ mil Greeks)
Persia/central asia 25+ mil(0,5+ mil Greeks)
India 45+ Mil

Many thanks to @RogueTraderEnthusiast for his tips!

Some pop data links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_Roman_Empire
https://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/fischer-bovet/100701.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_demography#Further_reading

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222-220 BC

Diogenes of Thessaly, a student of Ctesibius in Alexandria museum, introduce in Massalia the hydraulis, a water organ that is considered the precursor of the modern pipe organ, and an improved water clock or clepsydra.
  • Two new major roads are build to connect Massalia with the new territories.
By place

Rome

Hannibal Bacra came real close with consul Publius Cornelius Scipio and his family, especially the young Scipio(Africanus in OTL). Hannibal introduced to the Consul and the Romans the stirrup/war saddle tech and some new cavalry tactics.
Seleucid Empire

Antiochus III inherited a disorganized state. Not only had Asia Minor become detached by Pergamon, but the easternmost provinces had broken away, Bactria and Parthia under the GreekDiodotus of Bactria. Antiochus proved to be a worthy and visionary statesman. He reorganise his nomes and put’s trusted friends as governors. He marries Laodice(daughter of Mithridates II, king of Pontus/vassal of Seleucids). Another of Mithridates daughters, also named Laodice, is married to Achaeus, a cousin of Antiochus. Antiochus III gives his sister Antiochia in marriage to King Xerxes of his semi vassal Armenia who acknowledges Antiochus III's suzerainty and pays him tribute. Antiochus III sister arranges for the assassination of Armenia’s king Xerxes, whom she has recently married. Antiochus III then divides the Armenia into two nomes/satrapies. The submission of Lesser Media/ Atropatene(vassal of Seleucids), which had asserted its independence under Artabazanes, followed. To copy with the Ptolemaic Empire artillery he builds a Museum/university in Seleucia and invites more than one hundred scholars/engineers/Mathematicians. He also invites more than twenty thousands new Greek cleruchs to join the ranks of the army and settles them in Armenia and Atropatene.

Ptolemaic Empire

The realisation of their military importance during the expedition/war in Red sea leads to demands by native Egyptians for greater privileges .A revolt of native Egyptians is put down by Ptolemy III in 221 BC. Fearing of more rebellions, Ptolemy III grants semi cleruchs rights to thirty thousands native Egyptians thus settling them to South Red sea.

Diodotian Empire/Greco-Bactrian.

From Alexandria Eschate the Greco-Bactrians led several trade expeditions as far East Xinjiang, leading to the first known contacts between China and the West around 220 BC. Several statuettes and representations of Greek soldiers have been found north of the Tien Shan, on the doorstep to China, and are today on display in the Xinjiang museum at Urumqi. Greek influences on Chinese art have also been suggested. Designs with rosette flowers, geometric lines, and glass inlays, suggestive of Hellenistic influences, can be found on some early Han dynasty bronze mirrors. Greco-Bactrians also received Buddhist emissaries and some of them converted to Buddhism while the rest somehow tolerated the Buddhist faith,

Carthage
  • In a two years war(221-220 BC)Carthage conquered the state of Zama with the help of the young Numibian King Masinissa.
 
Sersor

Sersor

This thread is to serve as the story only version for the timeline. The discussion thread is here.
Part five 219 BC- 200 BC

219 BC

1st Iberian revolt

The Celtiberi tribes moved toward an open rebellion. In a sudden attack they defeated the local tagma and sacked Edessa. An army of three tagmata under strategos Patroclus marched from Tolosa to deal with the rebellion. For the rest of the year the tactics of the Celtiberi were of guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct attacks on the League forces because of their inferior numbers. Their better knowledge of the difficult and mountainous terrain allowed them to conduct quick surprise strikes, with ambushes followed by quick retreats, causing great damage to the League supply lines.

By Place

Ptolemaic Empire

After the native revolt, Ptolemy become even more liberal towards Egyptian religion than his predecessors. He supported, promoted, and contributed towards various cults, particularly those of the Apis and Mnevis Bulls.The Egyptian priesthood praise him and his wife as "Benefactor Gods" for this religious support, as well as for maintaining peace by strong national security, and for good governance.

Bosporus Kingdom
  • A Scythian invasion is repelled by the Bosporus army with the help of Pergamon Reinforcements and Scythian mercenaries.

218-217 BC

Patroclus betrayed the Olcades people( a Celtiberi tribe) he had invited to peace talks and had roughly 5000 massacred.This would be later proven to have been a costly mistake as the Celtiberi tribes became embittered and began open warfare against the League and its allies. Not only that, but future Celtiberian leader Viriothus had escaped alive from the massacre, having now developed a vendetta against Massaliot League.
In 217 BC, the Celtiberians elected Viriothus after rescuing a great number of Celtiberians warriors pinned down by a Massaliot tagma after reminding them of League’s betrayal last year and convincing them not to accept any Massaliot League offers. Upon preying on the tagma unwillingness to break formation, he succeeded in saving the entire band from massacre or capture, an incredible feat. With this success he was elected leader by the Celtiberi tribesmen.
Later that year the Iberian revolt escalated. The Celticberi tribes under the leadership of Viriothus managed to persuade Vettones,Carpetani,Celtici and Lusitani tribes to join their cause.

Greece

Nikephoros an Athenian statesman and general, issues the Decree of Nikephoros, creating an alliance between Sparta, Athens, and Ptolemaic empire. The origins of this alliance lay in the continuing desire of many Greek states, notably Athens, for a restoration of their former independence, along with the desire of Ptolemy III to create troubles for his rival Alexander II, King of Epirus. Ptolemy III's ambitions in the Aegean Sea are threatened by Epirus fleet, so he carefully builds up a coalition against Epirus in Greece. He especially cultivates Athens by supplying the city with grain.

Seleucid Empire

in order to divert eastern trade from Egypt and into the Persian Gulf and Seleucid ports, Antiochus III formed and alliance with the Kingdom of Muscat urging and funding them to practice heavy piracy against the Egyptian Indian ocean fleets. Besides that Antiochus III started to build a new major royal fleet in the Persian gulf to dominate the Indian ocean.


216 BC

Iberia/Massaliot League

In a major battle near Edessa, the three tagmata army under strategos Patroclus sustain heavy casualties from the Viriothus army of more than forty thousands warriors. With the help of heavy artillery use, Patroclus army managed to retreat North-East where a new army of five tagmata under Aineas was marching to their support.

Greece

The great war

Fearing of the Ptolemaic expansion, Pergamon and Rhodes League decided to join Epirus against the Ptolemaic coalition(Ptolemaic empire,Sparta,Athens). Bosporus kingdom honours its alliance with Pergamon and joins shortly after. In a major naval battle with more than 300 ships participating, the Ptolemaic coalition fleet wins but sustains heavy losses.

Carthage

the blatant corruption of the oligarchy in Carthage gave Hannibal a chance to re-emerge in the Carthaginian affairs. With the help of old Barcid supporters (who were fed up with the current administration) and backed by the Scipio family, he enters in Carthage one night with 300 men. After the arrest and the assassination of several oligarchy members, he took charge of Carthage. The citizens of Carthage saw him as the man who will restore Carthage's glory and they fully supported him. Hannibal soon showed that he could be a statesman as well as a soldier.
By leading a populist reform movement, Hannibal managed to restore a measure of popular rule. He was elected suffete (chief magistrate). The office had become rather insignificant, but Hannibal restored its power and authority. He also reformed the Hundred and Four, stipulating that its membership be chosen by direct election rather than co-option. He also used the citizen support to change the term of office in the Hundred and Four from life to a year, with a term limit of two years.



215 BC

In a major battle near Carpetani lands the Massaliot league army of six tagmata(nearly forty thousands troops) crushed Viriothus army (around fifty thousands). More than twenty thousands iberians died and another ten thousands sold as slaves. For the rest of the year Viriothus changed his tactics back to guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct attacks on the League forces because of their inferior numbers.

By place

Greece
  • In a major battle North-East of Thebes, the Ptolemaic coalition army of forty thousands(twenty thousands Ptolemaic Empire,ten thousands Spartans,ten thousands Athenians and allies) won against the thirty thousands Epirus army(Epirus,Macedonia,Aeolian League troops).
  • In a naval battle north of Chios island, the combined forces of Pergamon and Rhodes League repelled the Ptolemaic coalition fleet.
  • An army of twenty five thousands under strategos Demetrios( Fifteen thousands Pergamon kingdom troops,ten thousands Bosporus kingdom troops) marched from Ephesus, South-West to conquer the Asia minor lands of Ptolemaic Empire.
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India
  • Dasharatha is assassinated by one of his uncles. That led to a civil war within Mauryan Empire.
Diodotian empire
  • An invasion of Sarmatians is repelled by Diodotus army.
214 BC

For one more year the situation in central-West Iberia is unstable. Viriothus continued his guerrilla warfare tactics, avoiding direct attacks on the League forces.

By place:

Greece
  • Ptolemaic coalition forces conquers Aetolian League lands.
  • Ptolemaic Empire’s “Asia minor” holdings falls to strategos Demetrios Forces.
Seleucid Empire
  • Since Ptolemaic Empire is engaged in war in Greece, Antiochus III sees the perfect opportunity to reclaim the old Seleucids holdings in Syria. After some months of preparations, an army of sixty thousands troops march from Seleucia to conquer Antioch.
Rome
  • With all major Hellenistic states in war, Rome decides to Invade once again Megale Hellas League.
Carthage
  • Hannibal sends a fleet of forty quinqueremes to help Rome.
India
  • Samprati takes advance of the civil war in Mauryan Empire and conquers new lands


213 BC

Viriothus was killed in his sleep by three of his companions (they were Tartessians, Lusitanian allies). The three men had escaped by the time the Iberians discovered the death of their leader. Unable to avenge him they instead held feasts and a grand funeral. These three men who had been sent as emissaries to the Massaliotes had been bribed by Patroclus into betraying their mission. The death of Viriothus marked the end of the 1st Iberian revolt.

England/ Kassitia
  • Inspired by the use of coal by the locals tribes, Eirenaios a merchant and hydraulic engineer, modifies a laconicum bath. A new system of undrerfloor heating the Hypocaust was invented.
By place:

Greece
  • A battle South of Larrissa ends in a stalemate.
Syria/Seleucid Empire
  • Antiochus III recaptured Antioch,Seleucia Pieria as well as cities in Phoenicia, amongst them Tyre. Rather than promptly invading Egypt, Antiochus waited in Phoenicia for over a year, consolidating his new territories and listening to diplomatic proposals from the Ptolemaic kingdom.
Ptolemaic Empire
  • Ptolemy III began recruiting and training a new army. With lots of his forces in Greece he recruited once again not only from the local Greek population, as Hellenistic armies generally were, but also from the native Egyptians, enrolling at least forty thousand natives as phalangites promising to them second tier citizenship and lands.
Italy
  • In a battle near Paestum/Posidonia, a Roman army of thirty thousands under consul Maximus crash the twenty thousands army of Megale Hellas League. Another army of twenty thousands under consul Gracchus laid siege to Tarentum. In a naval battle near Messana the Carthaginian/Roman fleet wins the smaller greek fleet. Megale Hellas send emissaries to Sparta and Massaliot League asking for help.



212 BC

Massaliot league fearing rebellions in Iberia and in Aedui lands decided to not help Megale Hellas League in their war against Rome. Nevertheless Dynatoi company helped "unofficial" Megale Hellas League by sending two thousands mercenaries from Lilybaeum.

By place:

Greece
  • Epirus and Ptolemaic coalition agreed in a peace deal. Athens is now independent. Aeolian league is now a vassal of Sparta and the Aegean islands are now under Ptolemaic empire control.
Syria
  • A new massive Ptolemaic army of seventy thousands troops marched from Alexandria to Syria. In a major battle against Seleucids army near Judea, Ptolemaic army repelled the attack but sustained heavy losses.
Italy/Sicily
  • In a battle near Syracuse, Megale Hellas league army managed to repel the Roman army. Crucial factor for this victory was the death of Consul Maximus during the battle.
  • In Italy one by one all greeks cities felt to Roman control.

211 BC

The Romans while sieging Messana in the Northen-Eastern part of Sicily, they closed the strait of Messina with the help of the Carthaginian fleet. This action didn’t fit well with Massaliot League since some major trade routes were cut off. Massaliot League, under heavy pressure from Dynatoi company, decided to send a fleet of twenty ships ,together with emissaries, to deal with the situation and open the straits for the league traders. While this move was made to ensure the trade routes of the league, Carthaginians and Rome saw it as an aggression move. In a sudden attack the Carthaginian-Roman fleet destroyed five and captured another six League ships.

By place:

Greece
  • In a naval battle near Rhodes, the combined Rhodes League-Pergamon-Bosporus Kingdom fleet managed to repel the bigger Ptolemaic Empire fleet.
Syria
  • In another battle South of Antioch, Seleucid empire won a decisive victory against Ptolemaic Empire thus consolidating the area under Seleucids control.


210 BC

The great Punic-Latin war

A major fleet of one hundred eighty ships( 60 heptares,90 quinqueremes and 30 venemeres) sailed for Sicily together with an army of four tagmata. In a naval battle in the straits of Messina the league fleet crushed the Carthaginian-Roman fleet(100 quinqueremes). Although the Romans and Carthaginians used a new invention the Corvus , the heavy artillery use of the eptares/venemeres and especially the use of crossbows against the corvus boarding attempts were no match for the Punic-Latin forces. In Sicily the combined forces of the League and Megale Hellas annihilated the remains of the roman army that was trapped in Sicily. Both Scipio’s(Africanous) father, Publius Scipio, and uncle, Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, were killed in the battle.
At the election of a new proconsul for the command of the new army which the Romans resolved to send to march against Massalia itself, Scipio was the only man brave enough to ask for this position, no other candidates wanting the responsibility, considering it a death sentence.In spite of his youth (26 years old), his noble demeanour and enthusiastic language had made so great an impression that he was unanimously elected. The idea of marching against Massalia directly was part of a plan suggested by Hannibal. Hannibal would start first by marching to Iberia and at the right moment the Roman army would strike at Massalia.
  • Hannibal assembled an army of thirty thousands( ten thousands Numibians mercenaries)and marched for the hercules pillars to conquer Massaliot League holdings there and cross to Iberia.
By place:

Cyprus/Asia minor
  • in a naval battle near Cyprus the ptolemaic fleet won the Pergamon coalition fleet.
Syria
  • In exchange for a peace, Ptolemy was forced to lose territories on the northern coast of Syria, including Seleucia Pieria and Antioch.


209 BC

The great Punic Latin war

Iberia theatre

Hannibal rushed for the pillars of hercules with the main part of his forces(twenty five thousands). The rest of his army(ten thousands, of which five thousands were new Berber mercenaries) conquered easily the League’s African holdings and the nomes capital Lixus. In a small naval battle in the straits of Hercules, the small fleet of hannibal(20 quinqueremes) caught by surprise the few Leagues warships stationed there. With the straits under his control Hannibal crossed with his army from Africa to Iberia. From there Hannibal rushed to reach Gadir/Barcid kingdom were he was seen as a liberator.
In the meantime in Naucratia a Massaliot League fleet with an expedition force was assembled, under Dynatoi company efforts, to sail in Iberia to protect the Pillars and the League’s holdings there. The fleet was composed by forty venemeres and several transport ships.The army was composed by 3 tagmata and five thousands merceneries* a total of around twenty two thousands. Its commanders, Parmenion and Gobanitix were surprised that Hannibal had crossed the pillars and rushed to sail fast.

*Imanuentius, the young chief/king of the Trinovantes tribe, was heavily influenced by the Greeks and was really curious to see the “mythical”/great city of Massalia. So together with two thousands of his troops, decided to help the League as mercenaries/allies. They marched to Kassiteia and from there with transport ships, provided by Dynatoi company, reached Naucratia. Trinovantes tribe was one of the major tribes in Britain (both in OTL and in this ATL). Their previous king Mandubracius had establish good relations with the League colonies in the area and was their major trade partner for trade in South-East Britain. The influence of the Greeks were tremendous. Infact Mandubracius even had a greek tudor for his children’s.

South Italy theatre

With Sicily and control of the seas secure, Massaliot league and Megale hellas league marched to south Italy to liberate the greek cities. After some small sieges they liberated Regium and Locri. Shortly after the liberation of Locrii an expedition force of ten thousands Spartans under Philopoemen joined them there. Meanwhile the roman army in south Italy under consul Flaccus, marched from Heraclea to meet them.

North Italy theatre

Scipio with an army of forty thousands(mostly sochi legions) marched all the way up to Cremona. From there he crossed the Alps, surmounting the difficulties of climate and terrain,and the guerrilla tactics of the friendly to the League native tribes. Scipio arrived with thirty one thousands infantry, four thousands cavalry in the territory of the ex Allobroges lands near Rhone river. While this crossing was expected by the League,after reports from friendly tribes in the Alps , they had not anticipated such an early arrival and their new tagmata were still in preparation mode. Scipio’s crossing of the alps, was considered one of the greatest achievements in military logistics, as he did so through hostile territory in late autumn with minimal supply lines. His surprise entry into South Gaul led to the termination of Leagues main intended thrust, an invasion of Rome.
  • Twenty League’s quinqueremes, based in Aleria in Corsica, loaded with one thousands soldiers, raided constantly the coasts in central /west Italy( from Populonia to Tarquinii.)
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By place:

Asia minor
  • In exchange for a peace with Pergamon and Rhodes League, Ptolemy was forced to lose his territories on the south coast of modern day Turkey.
Central Asia

208 BC part 1

Gaul theatre

Scipio tried to use diplomacy to pacify the Gallic tribes in the ex Allobroges lands but the local population was rather hostile. From there he marched South to Mesachora were he meet fierce resistance from the locals. After a small siege he sacked the city. From Mesachora he marched to Avenio were after a small battle with the local garrison he conquer the city.
Meanwhile in Massalia a new army of four tagmata under Pantaleon(a total of thirty thousands)was raised fast to march against Scipio. Another army of three tagmata (a total of twenty thousands) was raised by Palaioi company in Tolosa and an army of two tagmata (a total of twelve thousands) was raised by Dynatoi company in Emporion. The two armies meet North of Agathe and marched under Strategos Nikephoros to Arelate.

By the time that the companies army reached Arelate, Scipio and Pantaleon armies meet each other in Durance river near the city of Cabelio.

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After reaching the North bank of the river, Scipio decided to rest for one day. The Romans collected boats and built rafts as they prepared to cross the river. Pantaleon army encamped in the South bank and awaited the Roman crossing attempt.

Scipio put Phillo in charge of a mobile column made up of infantry and cavalry and sent this force upriver(East) under cover of darkness to find another suitable crossing place. Phillo located a crossing about 20 km to the East of the Roman camp and crossed the river undetected with the aid of hastily built rafts. Some even crossed the river using inflated animal skins. This detachment then rested for a day. They moved south on the following night (the second night after leaving the main army) and arrived behind the League camp at dawn.

Phillo signalled Scipio by lighting a beacon and using smoke. A small Roman decoy force started to cross the river by small boats. The League, seeing the boats being launched, massed on the South riverbank to oppose the Romans. An artillery rain started to hit the Romans pretty hard. Phillo, timing his attack, sent part of his force to set the League camp on fire while the rest of his force fell on the rear of the League army and especially in the artillery of the League. Some of the Massaliotes then moved to defend the camp and the artillery. At the same time the main Roman army started to cross the river. The rafts carrying the “elite” cavalry units were furthest upstream,while boats carrying dismounted cavalry crossed below them, with three or four horses in tow, tied to their boats. These took the brunt of the river's current and the mobile infantry in canoes were placed below them. Some soldiers crossed the river by swimming. Scipio himself was among the first to cross, and the rest of the Roman army assembled on the North bank to cheer their comrades while they waited their turn to cross. Battle was soon joined on the South shore but the Romans despite heavy losses managed to establish a foothold. After an hour that Scipio’s group established a foothold, a Massaliot tagma ,of new recruits, that caught in the middle of Scipio’s and Phillo forces panicked and started to root. Soon after the whole League force started to root. It was a great victory for Scipio although a costly one. The League lost twenty thousands troops and Scipio around nine thousands. His army now was less than twenty six thousands.

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***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***

After this victory Scipio rushed to march against Massalia itself. The next day, the companies army caught up with him and blocked his way to the capital. The same night, Scipio tried to ambush the League army by approaching by stealth and setting fire to their camp, but the attempt failed due to league’s scouts reports. The next day the two armies meet in the battle field. Scipio led a pre-Marian Roman army quincunx, along with a body of stirrup/war saddle cavalry. Nikephoros led an army composed of tagmata, stirrup/war saddle heavy cavalry,stirrup/war saddle cavalry archers and artillery. Nikephoros deployed his troops facing northeast, while Scipio deployed his troops in front of the Massaliot League army facing southwest. Both armies put their infantry in the center and the cavalry on the flanks.The greatest concern for Scipio was the League artillery. He came up with an ingenious plan to deal with them. He put most of his cavalry on the flanks but kept a significant number in the center behind the infantry. When the battle started he ordered his center infantry, after the initial march, to move slightly back before the skirmish start and then split in the middle and charge in the left and the right leaving an open spot in the middle of the center. Then his cavalry charged the middle. This unorthodox move made the Massaliot league artillery confused and thus delayed to start shooting. The center of the League surprised and heavily pressed by the Roman cavalry was close to route. At that moment Nikephoros ordered his artillery to start shooting in that area, without caring about shooting even the League troops! This was the turning point of the battle. The roman cavalry in the center was almost annihilated. Meanwhile in the left flank Massaliot league cavalry rooted the Roman cavalry. Then the League cavalry attacked the Roman line from behind.This was the beginning of the end for the Roman army.The Roman infantry was encircled and annihilated. Still few thousands of Romans, including Scipio, managed to escape the slaughter. The League army lost seven thousands and the Romans more than fifteen thousands plus four thousands prisoners.

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***The map above is 208 BC and not 209 BC***


Iberia theatre

The Dynatoi company expedition on the way to Hercules pillars took an open sea route to avoid any conflict with the Carthaginians near Gadir. After some time they reach the pillars and defeated the small Carthaginian fleet. With the pillars again secure they marched to liberate Lixus. In a battle near Lixus the won easily the Carthaginian army. The Trinovantes mercenaries made quite an impression in that battle.
Meanwhile In Iberia Hannibal marched to Malaca where after a small siege liberate it. From there he marched to the ex Carpetani lands where he was seen as a liberator. The Vettone,Carpetani and Celtiberian tribes rebelled and joined Hannibal army. With a massive army of fifty five thousands marched to liberate Carthago Nova.
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South Italy theatre

In a battle near Croton, the Massaliot League,Megale Hellas and Spartan coalition army of forty thousands crashed the thirty thousands Roman army.The coalition lost only four thousands troops while Romans more than fourteen. During the battle, The Roman consul Flaccus charged directly against Spartan general Philopoemen with his spear. Bravely, Philopoemen didn't retreat, but waited with his lance, which he mortally thrust into Flaccus chest. By this action, Philopoemen’s fame increased across the coalition troops. After that major victory the Greek coalition planned to liberate the South Italy but under Philopoemens suggestion and huge support from the troops they decided to use Massaliot League, near by, major fleet and go direct for Rome! So After a few weeks of preparation an army of thirty five thousands sailed for Ostia(The port of Rome).

208 BC Part 2


italian theatre

The Massaliot League, Megale Hellas and Spartan coalition army of thirty five thousands landed in Ostia. The Romans surprised by this move, raised fast a new army of thirty thousands and marched to meet them.

The battle of Rome

When the coalition army arrived near Rome, they found the Roman army occupying strong positions on two nearby hills. The socii/allies and mercenaries were stationed on the right hill, while consul Crispinus held the left hill. On the small flat area between the hills, Crispinus deployed his cavalry and the remainder of his mercenaries. The strength of the Roman deployment prompted the coalition army to not launch an immediate assault against the Romans.

The Massaliotes placed their tagmata facing the Crispinus legions on the left hill, with the order to advance and take the heights. The coalition cavalry under the command of Alexander of Massalia, were arrayed in front of the enemy cavalry in the center. The Megale Hellas,Spartan troops in the right wing advanced against the Socii/allies on the right hill, but were attacked in the flank by enemy infantry that was initially arrayed with the cavalry. Without cover, the advancing allies were hard pressed by the Romans from the rear and the front, untilPhilopoemen, disregarding the orders, charged with his cavalry. This timely initiative saved the Greek troops on the right hill from annihilation and paved the way to victory, as the Spartans soon drove the Romans from the hill and then help the Greek cavalry in the flat ground in the center. The battle on the other hill lasted longer, but when the Spartans and Megale Hellas reinforcements from the other hill took the enemy in the flank, the Romans fought almost to the last man, until their Consul fled the field with a handful of companions. , out of thirty thousands Romans, only four thousands survived,
The defeat put the Romans in an immense state of panic, fearing for the very existence of their city. The Senate decided to resort to the traditional emergency measure of appointing adictator, a temporary commander-in-chief who would unite military authority, which was normally divided between the two consuls, for six months. The person appointed as dictator was the ex consul Nero. Shortly after Rome was under siege.

Iberian theatre
  • After three months of siege Hannibal conquered Carthage Nova and camped there for the winter. Meanwhile Celtici and Lusitani tribes also rebelled from Massaliot league control and sacked Tagus.
  • The Dynatoi expedition in Africa after securing the holdings there started to recruit Berber mercenaries.
South Gaul theatre
  • Scipio with an army of just a few thousands marched back to the North with Nikephoros right behind him.

By place:

Bosporus Kingdom
  • Bosporus kingdom repelled a minor Scythian invasion.

207 BC part 1

Hannibal left a detachment of 8,000 troops to garrison the newly conquered region and departed from Cathago Nova in spring of 207 BC. After a small siege he conquered Akrotiri. Then he fought his way through the Massaliot League allied northern tribes to the foothills of the Pyrenees, subduing the tribes through clever mountain tactics and stubborn fighting. At the Pyrenees, he released 5,000 Iberian troops who showed reluctance to leave their homeland. Hannibal reportedly entered South Gaul with thirty four thousands foot soldiers and seven thousands horsemen.
Hannibal's march brought him into the heartland of the League’s territory and frustrated the attempts of the enemy to fight out the main issue on foreign ground. The League army under Nikephoros was rushed to Emporion and the federal council had ordered the League’s army in Italy to make peace with Rome and bring his army back from Italy.

Italy theatre

The League with Hannibal on her heartlands decided to accept the Roman offer for peace and lift the siege of Rome.

Although Hannibal was near, the end of the war with Rome did not meet with a universal welcome in Massalia. When the federal council decreed upon a peace treaty with Rome, Alkiviadis, a former general, said he did not look upon the termination of the war as a blessing to Massalia, since he feared that if Rome was not completely destroyed it would soon regain its power and pose new threats to the League, he pressed for harsher peace-conditions. Even after the peace, Alkiviadis insisted on the destruction of Rome, ending all his speeches with “Rome must be destroyed”, even if they had nothing to do with Rome.
In the peace agreement Rome lost South Italy,Cisalpine Gaul and the League firmly established her power there over large areas(via vassals). The league imposed a war indemnity of 10,000 talents, limited the Roman navy to 5 ships (to ward off pirates), and forbade Rome from raising an army without the League permission. The League, on the other hand, by her victory, had taken a key step towards what ultimately became her domination of the west Mediterranean world. The Meagale Hellas League,by popular demand of their democratic assembly, was disbanded and joined as new members of the Massaliot League. A new nomes under the jurisdiction of Syracuse was formed. A new company/political party Neoi was formed also, representing Megale Hellas polis. Taratnum/Taranto(a former Spartan colony) and the near by area decided to join the Spartan Kingdom.

Iberia theatre

The dynatoi expedition in Africa left a detachment of five thousands in Lixus nomes and departed for Orestiko were another tagma from Asturica together with fifteen thousand Callaeci and Vaccaei tribes allied troops waiting to join them.

Italy map update.
Ligurian,Insubres and Boii tribes are loose vassals/allies of Massaliot League.

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207 BC part 2

The battle of Emporion.

In anticipation of the battle, Nikephoros with an army of forty five thousands set up an entrenched camp protecting the approach to Emporion and the rest of the heartlands. Hannibal had successfully crossed the river with his forty thousands troops and set up a camp only about four km from the camp of Nikephoros. Hannibal’s further advance from his camp was made with the river protecting his back and Right.
The battle began with a charge by the Carthaginian flanks. There was a charge on the right by the Carthaginian cavalry wing commanded by Hannibal himself, which broke their opposing infantry leading to a pursuit by the Carthaginian cavalry, leaving the field to unsuccessfully attack the League camp. At roughly the same time, on the Carthaginian left, a mounted archers counter attack by the League, disrupted the Carthaginian cavalry charge on that wing.
Hannibal led a charge to exploit a gap opened in the League left but the attack failed. The League tagmata then charged the first Carthaginian line, while their flanks were still protected. The Carthaginian center successfully and tirelessly pushed back the tagmata.
As the League’s infantry fought, Nikephoros ordered the cavalry on his left flank to attack Hannibal’s cavalry, as expected they successfully pushed back Hannibal’s cavalry, Hannibal then revealed his hidden line of infantry and surprised Nikephoros cavalry charge, Hannibal’s men were ordered to leap up and use their spears(pilla type) to thrust at League’s cavalry instead of throwing them. The league’ cavalry panicked and suffered hundreds of casualties. After failing to reform, the rest of the cavalry retreated, leaving the left wing of the league’s tagmata exposed. Hannibal then ordered in his third line, containing his most battle-hardened veterans. These broke Nikephoros left wing troops, and they fled the battlefield. Shortly after, all League forces rooted back to their camp. After finishing off the remains of league’s men in the battlefield, the Carthaginians furiously attacked the camp walls. The League troops defended bravely, but were not able to fend off the assault. This lead to a bloodbath battle for several hours. Hannibal had won a great victory. He lost around ten thousands and the League almost thirty thousands. While regrouping and preparing for the siege of Emporion, Hannibal learned that another League army just arrived from Italy and was marching against them from Massalia.
Hannibal replied “I thought all this will be enough, yes, quite enough, for the League, but they are even more avaricious”.

Iberia theatre

The dynatoi expedition joined forces with the Callaeci and Vaccaei in Orestiko and marched South.

By place:

Rome
  • Scipio manages to reach Rome with few hundreds companions after a very hard trip through Alps and enemy lands.
Ptolemaic empire
  • A military expedition in Cushites lands is organised to settle native Egyptians soldiers far from the Ptolemaic Empire heartlands


206 BC

With reinforcements from Italy and with major efforts from the Dynatoi,Palaioi and Neoi companies, a massive army of fifty five thousands troops marched from Massalia to Emporion. Hannibal after hearing the news and thus heavily outnumbered, decided to move back to Iberia and fill up his ranks with new recruits. After arriving in Iberia, and for the rest of this year, he fought a successful guerrilla campaign against the League forces thus earning time for his army regroup.
  • In a battle North-East of Tagus, the Lussitani and Vettones tribes are defeated by the Dynatoi company general Anaxagorix(Gaul/Greek). The Trinovantes mercenaries once more made quite an impression in the battle.
  • In a small naval battle the League fleet sunk several Carthaginian ships.
By place:

Ptolemaic Empire
  • Ptolemy III dies of old age and is succeeded by his son Ptolemy IV. Ptolemy IV immediately ordered his ministers to make serious preparations to invaded and take back Syria from Antiochus III.
Bosporus Kingdom
  • With a mixed army of Bosporus Greeks,Scythian mercenaries/allies and Pergamon allies, Eumelos II led an expedition North/West of his kingdom to deal with the aggressive Scythian tribes that raided his kingdom the previous years.
205 BC

With a League army of fifty five thousands coming from the north/east and one of thirty thousands coming from the north/west and no reinforcements coming from Carthage( Carthage was basically landlocked by the League fleet.) Hannibal was in a really difficult position. The Vettones and Carpetani tribes fearing for the fate of their people changed sides and betrayed Hannibal also. With less than twenty thousands troops Hannibal realised that the best he could do is to ask for a peace treaty before total defeat. In the peace treaty Carthage lost all her holdings in Iberia forever. The League imposed a war indemnity of 15,000 talents, limited the Carthaginian navy to 10 ships (to ward off pirates), and forbade Carthage from raising an army without the League permission.

▪Besides one month of celebrations for the victory against Rome and Carthage, a new temple with a nine metres golden statue of Nike builded in Massalia.

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By place:

Diodotian empire

Diodotus II died of old age.His oldest son Diodotus III is named the new king but his younger son Agathocles claimed that Diodotus II had named him the heir of the throne while on his deathbed. Shortly after Agathocles declared war on the newly crowned king, Diodotus III, and campaigned with success. He won victories over Diodotus III in Pattala and Pura, and occupied the major city of Rhambacia, the port of the Diodotian empire fleet.

India

Chola kingdom( minor kingdom of south east india)

a Chola prince known as Elaka, invaded the island Sri Lanka and conquered it with an army of 8000 and 10 elephants.
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Bosporus Kingdom
Eumelous II expedition in the north/west was a big success. After several battles during the last two years, he managed to defeat all the local tribes and add to his kingdom a vast area.

Ptolemaic empire
The native Egyptian population in Upper Egypt rises in rebellion against their Greek rulers. Ptolemy III fights the rebels in upper Egypt , exhibiting great cruelty toward those of their leaders who capitulate.



204 BC
  • In Syracuse the Neoi company builded the second museum/university of the League
By place

Diodotian empire

Diodotus III still in control of most of his empire(and most important of the core areas), gathered a massive army and marched against his brother. In a battle 100 km north of Rhambacia, the army of Diodotus III won a major victory. With what left of his troops Agathocleus withdraw to Rhambacia. There after couple of months under siege by Diodotus III, Agathocleus desperate decided to leave with his followers by sea using the Diodotian fleet and sailed South to Indika to regroup and try to raise a mercenary army.
With a fleet of 80 ships( a mix of hexares,eptares and various types of trade/transport ships) he sailed, together with 12000 troops and followers, north to the city of Togarum in the kingdom of Satavahana. There the local King Abrahla was hostile against Agathocleus and they had to quickly sail even southern. After a while, Agathocleous reached Pandas kingdom capital, Muziris where they paid a tribute to the local king Dartha to let them stay for a few days to resupply. After two days in Muziris, the Greeks discovered that the King Darha was gathering troops. They quickly regroup and sailed from Muziris within the day. During their stay In Muziris they heard about the rich island of Sri Lanka so they decided to go there. Finally after some time they reached South Sri Lanka where they establish a new polis(town) Eschatia. Sri Lanka was under loose control of Chola prince Elaka but his area of control was basically in the North area of the island. In the South the local population under the local chief king attacked the Greeks with five thousands troops but they were easily repelled by the superior Greek troops.
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203 BC

Although Iberia was once again under Massaliot league control, several rebel groups were still active.To deal with the small guerrilla Iberian rebel groups, the League formed a new unit the Peripolia. Peripolia was a group of 50 stirrup/war saddle-charge/archer horsemen's that were part of a unit of 6 Peripolia, the Peripolos. The Peripolos were stationed in a fort/military colony. This 300 cavalry troops together with 200 garrison troops where responsible for patrolling large areas in Central Iberia. 3 peripolia where always in the move and the other 3 where stand by. The patrol lasted ten days and then was replace from the stand by unit. The League formed a total of 4 Peripolos in the area of Celtiberi tribes and 2 in the area of Carpetani. This new approach had really good results for the League and quickly stabilise the rebel areas in Iberia.
  • With two major (Massalia and Syracuse) and hundreds of small private libraries the demand of papyrus was big and Egypt skyrocket the prices. A trader/inventor Nearchos attached to the Museum of Massalia created a sheet of paper using mulberry and other bast fibres along with fishnets, old rags, and hemp waste.
Britannike

Kassiteia was the main trade city in the North for the League, a link between the mainlands, north Gaul, north Britannike and the Scandinavia colonies. The trade of tin was flourishing and a new trade good, the coal( thanks to hypocast invention)was starting to flourish also(especially in the north Gaul and scandinavia). The city was constantly receiving new colonist from the mainland and reached fifteen thousands pop in 203 BC. Under local governor Dimitrios( a dynatoi party member) the city founded 4 new trade hubs colonies in England and Ireland and build several water mills to boost the local agriculture production. Dimitrios also received 30 new venemeres from the league council to control the north seas and lead an expedition to deal with the Hibernian Pirates. He also expanded the control of the league north-east in the lands of the aggressive tribe of Durotriges. With the help of the Belgae allies he enslaved couple of thousands and burned several villages. 3 forts/military colonies were build in the area to stabilise the control of the area.
During the Roman/Punic war Kassiteia wasn't affected so much. Like all the rest of the Europe-Atlantic colonies of the League, kassitieia was far away from the theatres of the war. Never the less around 600 soldiers left from kassitieia to join the ranks of the league army during the war. Together with them, the league ally King Imanuentius together with his troops, sailed from there for the war.

Trinovantes Kingdom

The trinovantes king Imanuentius and his troops, during the war gained quite a reputation for their fight skills. After the war he was officially invited from the League council to take part in the celebrations of the victory. After a couple of months in Masallia, Imanuentius returned to his kingdom with a big amount of war spoils. Heavily influenced from the Hellenistic culture Imanuentius converted to dodekatheism and upon his arrival in his capital he ordered in a Greek sculptor to build a Nike sculpture dedicated to the victory and a temple dedicated to Athena. He also ordered to greek architects to build a quite big building to be used as an army arsenal and kind of an "academy" to educate the children's of the nobility. At the start he had trouble to find Greek scholars to settle in his capital but after some months he managed to invited 3-4 of Greek/Gaul scholars to come for some years by paying them really big salaries. Also around 100 Greek speaking Roman woman slaves where now working in the houses of the local nobility. This changes didn't fit well with some elders of the nobility but with they majority of the Warriors/nobles stand by his side Imanuentius easily eliminated the few opposed. Trinovantes capital, Braughing, was growing fast and had now more than 7000 population with several Greek type buildings poping up all over. Hypocaust and baths was a huge trend to the locals. Trade with Kassitieia and the League in general was flourishing. Trinovantes loved Massaliot wine/oil and their exports to the league was mostly coal and wool. Imanuentius also managed to aggressively expand his kingdom considerably, with several successful expeditions against neighborhood tribes of Catuvellauni and Iceni where his veteran and far better equipped/ tech advanced army was no match for them
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Scandia
Scandia/Sweden

The trade colony Ypervoreia in Sweden was in good relations with the locals and the major trade hub in Scandia The city had now more than 3000 pop( a mix of Greeks and hellinised Gauls). The city had among others, a Wooden wall, a gymnasium, a small theatre,a temple of Athena and a public bath. The hypocaust invention had spread up in the area the last couple of years and was used a lot by now. Ypervoreia even founded 3 trade colonies by herself also. Neavoreia(600 pop) to the north , Aktio(700 pop) to the south and Argio(900 pop) in Jutland peninsula . During the Punic/Latin war Ypervoreia wasn't really affected. Around 50 man left to join the ranks of the League army and the ratio of new colonist from the motherland dropped a little bit.

The Suiones kingdom

The local tribes in the north/east were friendly with the League and in fact they were really affected by the presence of the League. By trading and interacting with the League the Suiones tribe under their chief Habra, evolved from a loose tribe confederacy to a small kingdom. Their city/ capital Suona was basically the first city in all of Scandinavia that was build by locals. They started using stone for their buildings,agriculture technics,hot tubs and leagues drachma coins also. With the help of 30 league mercenaries they organised their army and bought new better weapons and armour from the Greek/Gauls. With their new army they expanded their rule to their neighbours tribes in the north. The kingdom of Suiones was now a strong local power with a capital city of 3000 pop and hundreds of villages under control. Last but not least a epicurean Druid settled in their area and started to spread the druidic Epicureanism .

Meanwhile in the north of Neavoreia the local tribe of Sitones were more aggressive against the League. They made couple of raids to Neavoreia but they where no match against the Greekgauls superior tactics and equipment. To deal with the situation Ypervoreia organised together with their allies, the Suiones kingdom, a couple of expeditions in the north, where they burned several villages and took more than 2000 slaves.

Abalus was now basically a island city with a population of 2700. The trade of Amber was flourishing and the city was a trade link between kassitieia,north Germany,north Gaul and the Scandinavian colonies.

Baltic Sea

Chalkis was making really good profit from the trade of Amber but had serious problems with the local Baltic tribes. The city although wealthy was not the first choice for the colonists and the population was growing slowly. Chalkis had in 203 BC around two thousands pop and had just finished her new stone wall (with 6 towers with siege engines)to deal with the countless raids from local tribes. Repeated calls to the Leagues council didn't do much cause besides 300 troops that arrived several years ago not any other official help arrived to deal with the problem. Nevertheless the city was in close contact with the colonies in present day Sweden/Denmark and that helped them a lot dealing with the local tribes.
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Belgae region

Kallikrateia was trading mostly with the local Frisii tribe and served as a supply port for the trade between Scandinavia with the rest of the League. The population was nearly 3000. Kallikrateia founded a new colony, Potami south/west where Rhone river meets the sea.

Potami colony was flourishing by basically dominating the trade in north Germany via Rhone river. The local Germanic tribes, after the initial aggressiveness of a couple of years, they were heavily trading with Potami. Although influenced by the Greek culture the local Germanic tribes were still loose confederations of tribes with not much difference with their culture status before the contact with the Greeks. Most notably change was the start of use of League drachma in their trade deals with the League merchants. They ideal position of Potami made to become the main colony in the area with more than 5000 pop.
Ligeia was trading mostly with the local Morini and Menapi tribes and served as a supply port for the trade between Scandinavia with the rest of the League. The population was nearly 1500.

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West Africa

The colony of Safi(1000 pop) during the Punic-Latin war was raided by a small group of Carthaginian forces but the garrison of the small fortress colony managed to repel them. Besides that, Safi was mostly a quiet supply port between the northern colonies and the rest of the League.

The colony of Akrai was a small supply port of 200 people, that was mostly used from ships coming from the north to avoid the currents.To expand their influence in the west Africa(since all colonies where under Palaioi and Dynatoi companies control) the Neoi company send 1000 colonist from Syracuse in a attempt to make there their own base in the Atlantic.

Neagathe had reach four thousands pop and was Under Dynatoi control. Gum and slave trade was highly profitable for the city. Besides that, Neoagathe served also as a link between Southern colonies and the rest of the League. During the Punic-Latin war Neoagathe and the southern colonies in Africa were not affected heavily. The trade suffered when Lixus was conquered for a year by Carthage but even then, the Atlantic Ocean type, league trade ships didn't have a problem to take a more wide sea route. Other than that, during the war, there was a decrease in the arrival of new colonists.

Ypernoteia was growing rapidly. The city was ideally placed on the delta of Senegal river making her the biggest trade port in west Africa.The trade with the proto- Soninke tribes was highly profitable. Slaves,gold and salt was exchanged with league’s wine,pottery and jewellery in ridiculous profitable prices for the League. Ypenoteia’s wealth attracted lots of new colonist. The league brought the new agricultural techs in west Africa and new massive farms with water mills builded around the area near Ypernoteia. Thousands of local tribesman started working as serfs in the new massive farms( in a similar model of Ptolemaic Egypt.) The massive numbers of slaves and serfs helped for large scale building projects. The last years under governor Anastasios( Palaioi company) a new big port and several other buildings was builded and three new trade hub colonies where builded. In less than 40 years the city reached 8000 pop( not counting another 10000 slaves and 8000 local serfs living in the close area) A professional mercenary force of 1000 was permanent stand by,guarding and controlling the area, mostly repelling small aggressive local tribesman group from the south.
The three new colonies where: Messopotamos on Senegal river to strength the trade with the photo-Soninke and Posidoneia and Astypylaia during an expedition South of Ypernoteia.

Mesopotamos was basically a small fortress/trade hub of 400people, deep in Senegal river were most of the trade with inland tribes occurred.

Agapio’s expedition south of Ypernoteia.

During the expedition they made a new trade colony Posidoneia in modern day Cote d ivore and then they reached Niger river were they founded a new trade hub colony Astypylaia. Then they sailed inland through Niger river with three small ships. There they made contact with the Nok civilisation/petty kingdom. The Nok people( as in OTL) were an iron age society with refined art and organised worship, metal smelting, and sufficient population to support these activities. They were the earliest producers of life-sized terracotta in the Sub-Sahara. They had horses and used iron spears and small knives,metal tools,pottery, bracelets, etc. The area was rich in Ivory,Palm oil,peanuts,limestone,iron and tin.
The capital city Taruga had more than 5000 population with a big factory area of more than 15 big furnaces.The beehive and cylindrical furnaces of Taruga was quite different in form from those of North Africa and Mesopotamia.The iron workers at Taruga certainly seem to have developed the innovation of pre-heating the air entering the furnace so as to obtain higher temperatures. After establish formal relations with the local chief/king argiros sailed back.
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By place:

Ptolemaic Empire

The native Egyptian rebellion is finally crashed by Ptolemy III.

Sri lanka

Agathocleous troops repelled a small attack by Chola troops from the north of the island. A new wooden wall was builded in Eschatia. In raids deep in the island the greeks took 3000 locals as slaves.


202 BC

By place:

Epirus/Greece.

A great Gaul/Celtic tribes army, comprising about 55,000 warriors, coming from Pannonia , marched south in a great expedition to Macedonia/Greece. The army was initially led by Aciberius who led them as far as North Macedonia, where they stopped. When they decided to advance again they split their forces into two divisions. One division was led by Carthrius against West Macedonia/Thrace and the other by Aciberius against the central Macedonia. Aciberius’ expedition inflicted heavy losses on the Macedonians and killed their king, Alexander III but was repulsed by the Macedonian nobleman Dimitrios.

Sri Lanka.

The Eschatians signed peace treaties with the local island kingdoms.They were now a small city-state kingdom in the south/west part of the island. Maya rata a semi vassal kingdom of the Cholas was in control of the west and Ruhuna kingdom was in control of the east. Pihiti Rata was in control of the North under the control of a Chola Prince.

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202 BC facts/data update.


Seleucid Empire

Administration/Army

The Seleucid Kings ruled over a vast Empire that had no common religion, language or ideology. They were foreigners to the lands they ruled yet they were not colonialists either, as they neither owned nor had the support of Macedonia. The diverse lands they controlled were theirs not by some divine favour or because they were natives, but due to the fact that they had conquered them. By the Spear is the term they used to describe their ownership of those lands, meaning that they owned them through the right of conquest. As such, the Kings had to prove that they were capable military commanders and had to maintain order in the Empire through the show of force and military campaigns.
The Empire was essentially a military regime held together only because of the martial prowess of the Kings. No a really sophisticated bureaucracy developed and the Empire was ruled by the King, his friends and the army. The friends were the Kings court, men from all over the known world, from which the King chose his generals and ministers. Those were ambitious men who sought fortune and fame. They, as their King, had no roots in the lands they resided, and so they were as foreigner as their King and had to rely on him as he had to rely on them. So the good will of the King and his friends was essential in the administration of the Empire.
The Seleucids preserved the Satrapies of the old Achaemenid Empire. The Iranian Satrapies were under the supervision of a Viceroy who resided in Ecbatana. The Satrapies were subdivided into districts called Places(Topoi). Those districts could be native villages, Greek cities or military wards (Phylakes). A lot of Greek cities were constructed in Iran, in royal land. Those colonies helped maintain some stability in the Empire and were outposts of Greek civilization. The colonies were established in favorable positions. For example, a colony was established in Ai Khanum on Oxus, which was defended from rivers and by a hill. Colonists received land in the surroundings of the city and in exchange they had to render military aid to the King.
The cities (polis) were formally autonomous but overseen by an epistastes, the royal overseer. The cities would typically have their local magistrates (Archons), in the same way the city-states in Greece itself had their own magistrates. The cities were also self-sufficient economically due to the land allotted to the citizens. The landowners resided in the city but the rich ones also had luxurious manors with baths in the countryside. The city was protected by wall. Cities in Mesopotamia, such as Nisibis and Edessa, had the right to coinage, but the cities in Iran did not.
The Seleucid Empire was able to field a well-trained army of more than 70,000 men. About 20% of them were recruited from among native Iranians, and the vast majority of them from wild tribes such as the Cissii. Those Iranians served mostly as light infantry. The Seleucids had good reason not to want to recruit locals; they did not have any reason to be loyal to their lords, so how could they trust them not to revolt? The Ptolemies, who eventually recruited Egyptians in their army in large numbers, despite an initial boost in manpower which gave them some victories, had to deal with this threat which led to local revolts.

Economy/Culture

The monetary system was mostly uniform throughout the Empire. The unified silver coinage boosted trade. Agriculture and commerce were encouraged by the Seleucid Kings. They granted hereditary possession of land to farmers who planted on that land. They also undertook public projects of improving roads and harbours and canalised the river Eulaios (Karun), thus establishing a route between Susa and the Persian Gulf. Antiochus III opened the bazaars of India to Seleucid merchants in the East. Spice from India came to Susa and proceeded to the West while western merchandise proceeded from Susa to the East. Land was divided into three categories: royal land, which was owned by the King and sometimes granted to farmers as stated above, land which belonged to the citizens of the Greek cities, which was allotted to them in exchange for military service, and land allotted to holy temples.

The countryside of Seleucid Iran was dominated by villages where the Iranians lived and were the main fiscal and economic unit. Underground irrigation canals played a major role in the economy and agriculture. The native chieftains continued the exploitation of peasants as they had done before the Greeks came. The Seleucids intervened little in the life of the natives, caring only for peace, security of the roads and taxation. The Iranians were ignored and the only link between the central government and Iranians were the tax officials. This neglect kept peace. The Iranian aristocrats were charmed by Greek civilisation and even accepted nudity in male statues, Greek plays and learned Greek language, but common Iranians were aloof to their overlords and retained their traditions.

Never the less the Greeks was a minority in Seleucid empire with less than 500000 population, mostly in Syria and Mesopotamia.


Diodotian empire

Administration/Army

The Diodotian Empire followed the Hellenistic type of governance. That is reliance on the army and Greek cities-colonies. The King was the supreme ruler of the Kingdom. When the King needed to campaign in a faraway place, he usually named a relative of his (brother, son, etch) as Co-King or Viceroy. Although an absolute monarch, being in a foreign land the King had to rely on the army, which ensured the stability and defended the Kingdom from invaders, and the Greek cities-colonies, where the few Greeks of the Kingdom continued living in the same way as their ancestors in mainland Greece had done. Those cities secured strategic regions of the Kingdom. Diodotus III was known to be city-founder. Unlike Seleucids, marriages with local nobles were encouraged and helped also with the stability of the kingdom.
The Kingdom was divided in provinces led by nomarchs(Generals). The provincial governor had both military and civil responsibilities.
The Diodotian Empire fielded powerful and large armies. Diodotus III could field 70,000 infantry, 12,000 horsemen(mostly bactrians) and 800 elephants.

Economy

Diodotian Empire had highly developed coinage. While the Maurya Emperors produced punch-marked coins, the coins of the Diodotian Empire were of excellent quality and with the king image on them. The coins were not only meant to be means of propaganda, stating the rule of the King, but also fostered interregional trade which was especially important for the economy. Diodotian Empire traded with the southern Indians, the Chinese in the east and the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empire in the west.With the coming,the last years, of new techniques from the western Hellenistic states, agriculture developed even further.

Culture

Diodotian empire retained the basic characteristics of Greek culture, somewhat surprising considering that they were far off from mainland Greece. Nevertheless, they were influenced by Indian culture and especially by Buddhism, which the kings patronised. Diodotus III supported and protected Buddhism(that helped a lot with the stability of the kingdom) while many Greeks were converted to that religion. Before the Greek presence, Buddha was not depicted with a human form, but symbolically. The Greeks changed this and their statues depicted Buddha as a human. They used as inspiration the statues of Greek gods like Apollo and Hercules but at the same time they were influenced by Indian art. Those Gandhara Buddhas were highly influential. Through Sinkiang, this Greco-Buddhist art spread to China and from there to Korea and Japan.

The Greek cities in Bactria/India were build according to the system of Hippodamus. Walls fortified the cities and temples have been found which were build according to the Ionic and Corinthian orders. The Greek language was used by the educated and aristocrats

Never the less the Greeks was a small minority in India/Bactria with no more than 50000 population. Together with 200000 hellenised Bactrian/indians made the core of the Diodotian Empire.

201 BC
  • With Iberia somewhat steady, the league started to build a new massive road network to connect Iberia with the core provinces.
West Africa trade update

The magical nut…

Greek merchants from the trade colony of Astypylaia while in Taruga, Nok kingdom capital, they where invited to a local wedding. There they were offered a mysterious nut to chew. The Greeks hesitate at start since the nut had a bitter flavour. After a while and thrilled by its effects, the Greeks wanted to learn everything about this magic nut.

  • The Kola nut has been a major commodity in West Africa for many centuries. Red,white or of shades in between the Kola nuts were valued because they cleansed the mouth, provided a spurt of energy and were credited with numerous medicinal and other properties. They were also mildly addictive. The local people chewed it, at naming ceremonies,weddings and it constituted a luxury. Grown only in the forest, Kola found with the Greek merchants a ready market immediately.
  • The kola nut, also know as cola acuminate, is a caffeine-rich nut that is native to tropical Africa. Kola nut is a stimulant in its own right, containing 1.5% - 2% caffeine, plus theobromine, which increases cerebral circulation. Theobromine is the alkaloid compound that can be found in chocolate and is thought to contribute a sense of alertness and well-being. This combination of caffeine and theobromine may be a contributing factor for the mild sense of euphoria that’s often reported after chewing the nuts.
Indika

The Mauryan Empire King Bindusarha together with his ally king Brihadraha of Kalinga kingdom declared war on the king Shalishuka of the Samprati Empire. Shalishuka realising his difficult position asked for help from Diodotus III. Diodotus III find this as a perfect opportunity to expand his empire and happily agree. Diodotus III led his army to the Gangetic basin and went south to Ujjain were he meet Shalishukas army. In one of the biggest battles of antiquity( a total of nearly 400000 troops) Diodotus and Shalishuka beat the armies of Bindusarha and Brihadraha.

Greece

  • Macedonian noble Dimitrios with the help of Thessalians allies managed to repel Carthrius army also. After their defeat the Gauls moved in Thrace and settle down. After this victories (leading to his being given the title of Soter /Greek for "saviour") Dimitros declared himself king of Macedon.
  • In Epirus the young son of Alexander III, Ptolemy keraunos II was declared new king of Epirus. His regent Nicomedes managed to kill Aciberius and to destroy his army, but sustain heavy losses.
 
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