Sparta: Rise to Glory AAR
Game: Europa Universalis: Rome Vae Victis
Start Year: 474 AVC
Mod: Hotfixes 212 (+lowered bribes)
Style: Diaries, memoires, overviews with maps, art and screenshots!
The defeat at Leuctra had seemingly been the beginning of the end. Epaminondas of Thebes had somehow defeated Spartan discipline and martial prowess. Cursed be that dog!
The subsequent Helot revolts destabilized our flawless society.
Since then the age of Macedonia has come and gone. Sparta stood outside the great Greek-Macedonian alliance and though it was Sparta that withstood vile Persia for so long, it was barbaric Macedonia and it's young upstart king that ended it.
Since Alexander's death, the world has changed. Sparta has lost it's dominions, it's society has weakened and the great Empires of the Hellenistic world bicker amongst themselves. The mighty Seleucid Empire and ancient Egypt seem to be the two remaining major players but they are weaker than one would assume... .
In the West an expansionist Eagle has arisen in the form of the indomitable Roman Republic. Africa has become the playground of money-loving Carthage, whose mighty navy seems destined to rule the seas.
Facing such behemoths... facing even weakened Macedonia... can Sparta rise again like the legendary Phoenix? Is there still hope for the true defenders of Hellas?
---Journal extract of Archidamus---
The Year of Great Reform, 474:
In his wisdom, King Archidamus has decided on several policies. The changes destabilized Spartan society but he deemed it necessary.
To bolster the thinned out ranks of the Spartan Citizens and thus the longterm strength of the state, a law was passed that granted citizenship to the more financially powerful of the free men. Capable of buying weapons and having on average the intellectual baggage and insight in Spartan ways to partake in Spartan politics, they would make a fine addition.
The Helots have always been a problem too us. And even now, we still have many slaves. Though Sparta will always rely on the work of the Helots, it has been deemed best to diminish their numbers and allow some to have property. Once more a radical law was voted and passed... .
Furthermore our national policies would be modified too.
Focussing on our famous and much feared Heavy Infantry, we imposed a rigid and demanding training of all our citizens, new and old alike. For these new citizens were not to weakene the whole. The Spartan Hoplite was not to become a shallow afterimage of the 300 heroes who faced the Persian Empire at the Hot Gates!
A second national policy was also imposed where citizenship would be made more appealing and accessible. Our goal would be to turn the upper echelons of Greek Society when conquered into true Spartan Citizens who would pass their demanding but strengthening agoge and live ascetic militaristic lives.
Immediately additional Spartan Hoplites were formed, because the King of Sparta knew that dangerous times were ahead. And as soon as opportunity struck, he would lash out and take a piece of Hellas for his own.
The military might of Sparta began to grow and it's Elite armies would have an important role to play, all too soon:
Sparta stood on a crossroads. Would it walk the path of glory or oblivion?
Game: Europa Universalis: Rome Vae Victis
Start Year: 474 AVC
Mod: Hotfixes 212 (+lowered bribes)
Style: Diaries, memoires, overviews with maps, art and screenshots!
The defeat at Leuctra had seemingly been the beginning of the end. Epaminondas of Thebes had somehow defeated Spartan discipline and martial prowess. Cursed be that dog!
The subsequent Helot revolts destabilized our flawless society.
Since then the age of Macedonia has come and gone. Sparta stood outside the great Greek-Macedonian alliance and though it was Sparta that withstood vile Persia for so long, it was barbaric Macedonia and it's young upstart king that ended it.
Since Alexander's death, the world has changed. Sparta has lost it's dominions, it's society has weakened and the great Empires of the Hellenistic world bicker amongst themselves. The mighty Seleucid Empire and ancient Egypt seem to be the two remaining major players but they are weaker than one would assume... .
In the West an expansionist Eagle has arisen in the form of the indomitable Roman Republic. Africa has become the playground of money-loving Carthage, whose mighty navy seems destined to rule the seas.
Facing such behemoths... facing even weakened Macedonia... can Sparta rise again like the legendary Phoenix? Is there still hope for the true defenders of Hellas?
---Journal extract of Archidamus---
The Year of Great Reform, 474:
In his wisdom, King Archidamus has decided on several policies. The changes destabilized Spartan society but he deemed it necessary.
To bolster the thinned out ranks of the Spartan Citizens and thus the longterm strength of the state, a law was passed that granted citizenship to the more financially powerful of the free men. Capable of buying weapons and having on average the intellectual baggage and insight in Spartan ways to partake in Spartan politics, they would make a fine addition.
The Helots have always been a problem too us. And even now, we still have many slaves. Though Sparta will always rely on the work of the Helots, it has been deemed best to diminish their numbers and allow some to have property. Once more a radical law was voted and passed... .
Furthermore our national policies would be modified too.
Focussing on our famous and much feared Heavy Infantry, we imposed a rigid and demanding training of all our citizens, new and old alike. For these new citizens were not to weakene the whole. The Spartan Hoplite was not to become a shallow afterimage of the 300 heroes who faced the Persian Empire at the Hot Gates!
A second national policy was also imposed where citizenship would be made more appealing and accessible. Our goal would be to turn the upper echelons of Greek Society when conquered into true Spartan Citizens who would pass their demanding but strengthening agoge and live ascetic militaristic lives.
Immediately additional Spartan Hoplites were formed, because the King of Sparta knew that dangerous times were ahead. And as soon as opportunity struck, he would lash out and take a piece of Hellas for his own.
The military might of Sparta began to grow and it's Elite armies would have an important role to play, all too soon:
Sparta stood on a crossroads. Would it walk the path of glory or oblivion?
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