[Timeline Idea] Scythians Conquer the Persian Empire

I was thinking of ideas from which I could make a short time line and this came into my head. What if some charismatic Sythian ruler manages to conquer the Persian Empire. It probably won't be super plausible as it is my first timeline. Who would be interested in reading something like that?
 
I was thinking of ideas from which I could make a short time line and this came into my head. What if some charismatic Sythian ruler manages to conquer the Persian Empire. It probably won't be super plausible as it is my first timeline. Who would be interested in reading something like that?

I would definitely be interested; although I don't know much about either the Persians or Scythians during this era, I find them both fascinating.
 
The Middle East had a history of nomad invaders coming down very once in awhile and overthrowing the powers that be only to be later overthrown by more nomads. So I certainly think it is possible for a steppe tribe (the Greeks called them all scythians so there really was no Scythia) unde ra couple strong successive rulers to displace the Persian empire. Cyrus the grew died fighting the scythians after all.
 
The Middle East had a history of nomad invaders coming down very once in awhile and overthrowing the powers that be only to be later overthrown by more nomads. So I certainly think it is possible for a steppe tribe (the Greeks called them all scythians so there really was no Scythia) unde ra couple strong successive rulers to displace the Persian empire. Cyrus the grew died fighting the scythians after all.
They did have a common culture. It seems likely that a Scythian "Genghis Khan" could unite the tribes, and then conquer the Persian Empire in a few strategic battles. Luckily for the Scythians, they spoke an Iranian language closely related to Avestan, so they won't have a hard time assimilating the aristocracy if they stay in power.
 

katchen

Banned
Why not? Scythian "Sakas" conquered much of India before they were conquered in turn by the Yuehzhi "Kushans" or "Kusanas". So why not Sakas or Yuehzhi for that matter in Persia?
Or--and here is something nobody else seems to have thought of yet, try this:
I read on our sister forum, Chinese History Forum an opinion that the Zhongnu were the most powerful nation in the world in Middle Antiquity ca 150 BC. By their assessment, more powerful than Rome or even Han China. So why not a Zhongnu invasion of Persia?
 
They did have a common culture. It seems likely that a Scythian "Genghis Khan" could unite the tribes, and then conquer the Persian Empire in a few strategic battles. Luckily for the Scythians, they spoke an Iranian language closely related to Avestan, so they won't have a hard time assimilating the aristocracy if they stay in power.
And the Scythians have ravaged the entire middle east a century before Cyrus, throughout the 7th century BC. Even though they don't write, through oral tradition they should remain quite familiar with their ancestor's deeds; and improve on them through better tactics and conquests under the birth of a military genius (Which would be the PoD). You know what? That would work! If that sort of development akin to the Mongol's rise in Scythia, said military genius could unite many of the Scythian tribes under one banner, and do far more damage upon killing Cyrus and his army (fill 'em with arrows!) that they could re-invade Persia proper and convince the suppressed populations (Babylonians, Lydians, etc) to revolt against the crumbling Persian Empire in return for guaranteed independence/autonomous vassalage. This Scythian Empire would envelop remaining Persia, Media and eastwards, thus conquering the Persian Empire in it's crib! :D
 
Preview

Heres a small excerpt that I have. How do you guys like it?

The shores of the Bosporus

A small group of 100 men stood on a plain outside their village. All along the line there was a babble of voices.

"What are the Scythians doing here? The raiding season is over!" Said one of the few men affluent enough to own bronze armor.

"We haven't seen a raid this far inland since my fathers time." said another man-this time unarmored except for a cloth shirt.

"look out on the horizon." Screamed another.

A cloud of dust was steadily making its way across the field. As the storm of dirt came closer the militia took formation. Spears jutted outwards, those that had shields lifted them up, and every man tried to steady themselves for the upcoming attack. The Greeks braced for a charge. But suddenly the horsemen stopped.

One man rode out. His armor was elaborately adorned with golden scales and around his neck there was a shining gem.

"I come in the name of the Lord of Lords. Lay down your arms, accept the Lord's taxes and you will not be harmed. Do otherwise and we shall slaughter you to the last man."

"Shut up with your theatrics you barbarian. We have defeated you pitiful women before. How about this you leave and we don't slaughter you." shouted the Greek's leader.

"Hmmp. So you don't believe me then." The Scythian tossed a sack into the Greek line. The entire Greek line trembled. Inside the sack was the head of a local farmer, hollowed out and made into a wine skin.

A lone militia man cried out, "You Horse Fucker!" and threw a javelin at the Scythian emissary. It missed the mark, landing right in front of the man. The rider turned round and raised his hand. At that moment the Sythians raised their bows.
 
Issyk_golden_man.jpg


This is pretty much how a envisioned the emissary. Minus the hood though.
 
The "Parthians" who took over from the Seleucids were actually a Saka (eastern equvialent of Scythian) dynasty who'd led their people south to occupy the province of 'Parthia' itself a generation or few earlier.
 
It is likely that the same dynasty ruled in Scythia during most of its history. The name of Koloksai, a legendary founder of a royal dynasty, is mentioned by Alcman in the 7th century BCE. Prototi and Madis, Scythian kings in the Near Eastern period of their history, and their successors in the north Pontic steppes belonged to the same dynasty. Herodotus lists five generations of a royal clan that probably reigned at the end of the 7th to 6th centuries BCE: prince Anacharsis, Saulius, Idanthyrsus, Gnurus, Lycus, and Spargapithes.

This courtesy of Wikipedia; now, most of these rulers come from Greek sources like Alcman and Herodotus, so take them with a grain of salt, but I think there's certainly a possibility of a Genghis Khan style ruler uniting the tribes. The only question is, would this Scythian kingdom be able to LAST like those of the Mongols, or will it fragment once it's leader dies, like the Hun 'Empire'?
 
Why not? Scythian "Sakas" conquered much of India before they were conquered in turn by the Yuehzhi "Kushans" or "Kusanas". So why not Sakas or Yuehzhi for that matter in Persia?
Or--and here is something nobody else seems to have thought of yet, try this:
I read on our sister forum, Chinese History Forum an opinion that the Zhongnu were the most powerful nation in the world in Middle Antiquity ca 150 BC. By their assessment, more powerful than Rome or even Han China. So why not a Zhongnu invasion of Persia?

Usually transliterated as Xiongnu. They were a fascinating tribal conferacy -- probably the longest lived steppe nomad confederacy in history.
OTL their attentions were always focused on China (richest spoils) in terms of expansion, but if one could come up with a POD that makes them go West, you might get your invasion of Persia by them. Again, OTL, I think pressure by them drove the Sakas and Yuezhi Southwards where they finished off the Bactrian Greeks, invaded India, and eventually set up shop as the Kushan Empire. Just have the Xiongnu follow on their heels when the Han throw them out, perhaps. Maybe the Parthian or Sassinid empires will beckon.
 
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