The Achaemenid Empire has had many conflicts with the steppe people on its' borders, from the Scythians and Sarmatians to the Dahae, and their Iranic cousins in Central Asia. Most famously this was embodied in Darius' invasion where he attempted to subjugate them, but failed. Fast forward to the mid 4th-century BC, and Philip II is establishing his authority in Macedonia and Northern Greece, turning his kingdom into a great power. It was he who, after a series of transgressions by the Scythians and their king Ateas, invaded their land and defeated them in 339 BC, killing him. But what if Ateas had survived, and had managed to pull a draw? He then decides to invade the Achaemenids for easy loot, instead of attacking the strong Macedonians, and manages to attack Armenia, interestingly ruled by satrap and postmaster Artashata, the future Darius III. This isn't just a number of raids, this is a full-scale migration and invasion. Would the Achaemenids be able to repel them, and if not, and the Scythians are raiding and looting it at will, how would this affect both Philip II and Alexander's campaign? And if Alexander's conquest goes like OTL, would he come into conflict with the Scythians, and would he manage to break their morale at the Jaxartes? How would the Scythian and Saka tribes differ from OTL in this respect, and what impact would an event like this have? Could it set the precedent for a unified Scythian state? And would Armenia end up under Macedonian control?
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