Other chapters:
Spartocid dynasty :
Helioklides-Spartokides dynasty :
Interregnum (226 AD - 245 AD) :
Taurides dynasty :
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Other chapters:
Spartocid dynasty :
Helioklides-Spartokides dynasty :
Interregnum (226 AD - 245 AD) :
Taurides dynasty :
Prolog
_(Crimea)...jpg "Ancient_Greek_colonies_along_the_north_coast_of_the_Black_Sea,_Tauris_(Roman_Taurica)_(Crimea)...jpg")
Pantikapaion quickly grew rich thanks to its extremely favorable geographical location, being located on the Pantikapaian (Kerch) Strait; the city derived its wealth from fishing and wheat trade with Greece. In 530 BC the city began issuing its own coin, and the first in Crimea - silver tetrobol. However, this was only the beginning of the increase in the importance of this center, becoming the capital of the new kingdom in 480 BC, along with other Greek colonies, the importance of the city, which became the capital, significantly increased.
The first ruler of the kingdom was Archaeanax, the founder of the short-lived Archaenactid dynasty, he was the first and last representative of this dynasty which ruled the Bosporan kingdom for almost 40 years. Archaeanax was the strategist of a league of city-states established in the Cimmerian Bosphorus, formed to defend against the Scythians and Sarmatians. Taking advantage of his situation, he took over the power over the league, in fact leading to the establishment of the Bosporan kingdom, which resulted in the withdrawal of the cities of Theodosia and Nymphaeum from the league. Throughout his reign, Panticapaeum and its surrounding cities experienced a period of economic growth, the construction of new temples, and the re-planning of all parts of the city.
In 438 BC power in the state was taken over by Spartokus I, a mercenary Thracian commander, he was the founder of the Hellenized Spartokid dynasty, he was to supply Athens with grain, thanks to which he obtained significant financial resources. It was he who began the conquest of the Bosporan kingdom. His successor was Satyros I, who continued further campaigns to unify the Tauric (Crimean) peninsula. He reigned for over half a century and died during the siege of Theodosia.
He was succeeded by brothers, Leukon I and Gorgippos I. They conquered the surrounding territories. The second of them captured Gorgopia in Asia, which he made his capital. His brother, however, carried out conquests in Taurica (Crimea). He captured Feodosia after long battles. He also started attacking the areas of indigenous people and incorporating them into his country. He also waged war against Heraclea Pontus.
After the brothers' deaths, the state was taken over by Leukon's I sons, Spartakos II and Paerisades I. The first died after five years. The second married the daughter of Gorgippus. He continued his father's policy of conquest. He incorporated Tanis and the Asian coast of the Sea of Azov into the state. Ultimately, the Bosporan Kingdom absorbed all the Greek colonies on the shores of Lake Maeotian (today's Sea of Azov) and a wide expanse of land along the eastern shore inhabited first by the Meotians and later by Sarmatian or Sarmatized tribes.
In 309 BC, after the death of Paerisades I, a civil war broke out between Satyros II, who was the oldest and inherited the throne, and Prytanis I and Eumelos I, who had claims to the throne. The war was fought in two major engagements, beginning with the Battle of the Thatis River and later the Siege of Siracena, in which Satyros II lost his life. Eumelos, after defeating his older brother Satyros, tried to divide the kingdom with Prytanis I, but the latter refused, leading to his final defeat near Lake Maeotic at the hands of Eumelos I.
Under Eumelos I rule, the Bosporan Kingdom achieved many military successes, clearing the Black Sea of almost all pirates, and kingdom was large enough to rival the state of Lysimachus, one of Alexander's powerful generals. Eumelos's son, Spartokos III, was then able to re-establish trade agreements with Athens and was the first Spartocid ruler to assume the title of "basileus".
Bosporan Kingdom 304 BC
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A wonderful start! A good history book style AAR is always a treat to read.
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I appreciate this history lesson! It's a great start.
It's always nice to see megacampaigns, especially ones that start in I:R.
Do you have any goals for this campaign?
It's always nice to see megacampaigns, especially ones that start in I:R.
Do you have any goals for this campaign?
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Spartokos III (307 BC – 276 BC)
Spartokos III ruled the Bosporan Kingdom for nearly 31 years from 309 BC when he assumed power after the death of his father, Eumelos I. He inherited a thriving state, which, through the actions of his predecessors, had become a significant force in the Black Sea basin. As the first representative of the Spartocid dynasty, he adopted the title of Basileus, or King of the Bosporus, which increased the prestige of himself and the Spartocids in the eyes of other Greek states and Diadochi who were beginning to vie for control following the death of Alexander the Great.
One of the first actions taken by the new monarch was to establish friendly diplomatic relations with the generals of the great conqueror. Trade agreements were signed not only with Athens but also with Thrace, ruled by Lysimachus, and Antigonus. Spartokos III had no intention of involving himself in the conflicts among the Diadochi. Wars waged in Asia Minor and the Balkans had little impact on Spartokos III's policies; his main goal was to unite the Taurica peninsula (Crimea) under his rule.
The situation in the Greek world was chaotic, with wars between Alexander's successors and the migration of Celtic tribes into Asia Minor significantly destabilizing the geopolitical situation of the entire region. Despite less than ideal conditions, the Kingdom of Bosporus, located on the fringes of the Hellenistic world, remained relatively stable and secure.
In 293 BC, Spartokos III attacked the Chersonese and Kerkinitis League, ruled at the time by Archon Hegemachos Petihides. This war, lasting from 293 to 289 BC, was the first conflict Spartokos had to lead his armies in. The decisive moment of the conflict came in a battle north of Chersonese, where Bosporan forces emerged victorious over the League's forces. This success was largely due to the Scythian cavalry employed as mercenaries by Spartokos. Thanks to its strong fortifications, Chersonese did not surrender after this defeat, necessitating a four-year siege. When Chersonese surrendered in the spring of 293 BC, Spartokos III annexed both cities and all surrounding territories, incorporating them into his kingdom.
Following the annexation, the most prominent families of the Chersonese League were exiled, while the rest of the population was spared. Under Spartokos III's orders, all free people and citizens of the League were assured the preservation of their rights and property. These guarantees were meant to win the population's favor amidst the change in power, and the avoidance of looting and excesses after the city's conquest positively affected the subjugated populace.
The outbreak of conflict between the confederation of Scythian tribes and the Iazygian people provided Spartokos with an opportunity for further expansion. The war between the nomads, lasting from 290 to 286 BC, ended in Agarus, the Scythian ruler's defeat. Exploiting the weakened position of their northern neighbors, Spartokos III launched an attack on King Argus in 287 BC, initiating the Bosporan-Scythian War.
The war with the Scythians, fought from 287 to 285 BC, was a brief conflict. Bosporan forces seized the Scythian portion of Taurica (Crimea) in the first year of the war. The fighting was minimal and posed little challenge, mainly due to the significant losses suffered by the Scythian warriors in the previous conflict. The decisive battle occurred in the second year of the war when Spartokos III left Taurica and headed north.
This decisive battle took place on a summer morning on July 11, 285 BC, in the extensive marshes south of the Borysthenes River (Dnieper). The Scythian warriors under King Agarus were forced to fight for their survival. Thanks to numerical superiority and the recruitment of Scythian and Sarmatian warriors to strengthen his forces, Spartokos managed to defeat Agarus' already weakened armies in this battle.
Captured, the Scythian ruler had to accept the terms presented by Spartokos III. Under these terms, all Scythian lands on the Taurica peninsula (Crimea) were to become part of the Bosporan Kingdom, as were the territories north to the Borysthenes River (Dnieper). With little choice, Argus agreed to these conditions. His confederation lost all territories and pastures on the right bank of the Borysthenes (Dnieper) to the Bosporan Kingdom and the Iazygian tribes.
With the conclusion of a peace agreement with the Scythian tribes in December of the year 285 BC, the entirety of the Taurica peninsula (Crimea) came under the rule of Spartokos III. This moment is recognized as the beginning of the Kingdom of the Taurica, as from this moment Spartokos III began to style himself as the king of Taurica and the Bosporus, as well as all adjacent lands. Over time, this title became an indispensable element of the state governed by the Spartocid dynasty and their successors; many consider this to be the birth of the Taurian state.
The remaining years of his reign, precisely between 285 BC and 276 BC, were dedicated by Spartokos III to the consolidation of the newly acquired lands and economic development, primarily strengthening trade relations with Greece and the Diadochi states. Spartokos III encouraged Greeks to settle in the depths of the Taurica peninsula, and one of the most important cities Taphros, was founded. It would become one of the main urban centers of Taurica in the future. The city was also intended to be heavily fortified from the outset for the defense of the remaining part of Taurica (Crimea), given its strategic location. It was located precisely on the isthmus connecting the Tauric peninsula (Crimea) to the continental part of Europe, and it was meant to be heavily fortified from the beginning to defend the rest of Taurica (Crimea).
On August 14, 276 BC, Spartokos III died, leaving the throne to his eldest son, Spartokos IV. Spartokos IV was the eldest son of Spartokos III from his marriage to Kaneda Spartokid. Spartokos III, along with his predecessors, is recognized as one of the rulers who contributed to the rise of the Taurian state.
Kingdom of Taurica 276 BC
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To tell the truth, I have already played to the 450 AD. Initially, I wasn't going to write about this campaign. For this reason, I did not take screenshots and there will probably be few of them in the description. Overall, it's a rather tall gameplay.
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A fun start. And if you ever continue it as a megacampaign will be very interesting because of the location you chose.
What mod did you used?
Imperator tall games are always fun to see.
Good job forming Taurica!
What's the situation over in Alexander's former empire? Thrace survived, but how are the other Diadochi doing? Has anyone been annexed yet?
What's the situation over in Alexander's former empire? Thrace survived, but how are the other Diadochi doing? Has anyone been annexed yet?
Spartokos IV (276 BC - 267 BC)
Spartokos IV, the eldest son of Spartokos III, assumed power after his father's death in 276 BC. Spartokos IV focused his rule on consolidating the territories acquired by his father. He continued the settlement policy, granting land to citizens and free people in the depths of the Taurian peninsula. The city of Taphros, founded by Spartokos III, was expanded with the construction of an Acropolis and temples, and the city walls were strengthened and expanded. Taphros was vital for the security of the entire Taurian peninsula, and for this reason, Spartokos IV paid much attention to the development of this city.
Spartokos IV also did not neglect other major Taurian cities. Gorgippia, located on the other side of the Pantikapaion Strait (Kerch Strait), was also expanded. The same applied to the capital of the Taurian state, Pantikapaion. Construction projects, including aqueducts to supply fresh mountain water to the city, as well as the expansion of ports and city fortifications, were carried out in Pantikapaion and Gorgippia.
The new territories annexed by Spartokos IV's father brought new resources. The fertile land in the depths of the Taurian peninsula yielded rich harvests of grains, and the Scythians bred horses and cattle. The main export goods became grain and iron, the deposits of which were discovered near the capital Pantikapaion. Taurian iron was exported to the Seleucids and the Roman Republic on the Italian Peninsula. Roman merchants had arrived in Taurica during the reign of Spartokos III, importing significant amounts of grain and horses bred on the steppe. Timber, which was relatively scarce on the Pontic steppe, was imported mainly for the construction of new warships.
Diplomatic relations were maintained with Thrace and Athens. Spartokos IV continued the policy initiated by his father towards the Hellenistic world, which aimed to maintain good diplomatic relations with the stronger Diadochi states. The recent migration of Celts from the Danube, known as the Galatians, led to the downfall of several Greek city-states. These barbarians brought death and destruction as they migrated south and then crossed the Hellespont. These Celts settled in Asia Minor, establishing a country called Galatia.
This migration largely contributed to the downfall of the Antigonid Empire. Antigonus One-Eye lost his territories and his life in battles with the migrating Celts. His son was forced to settle for control over the island of Rhodes and the surrounding coast. The territories formerly ruled by Antigonus fell to the Seleucids and the Ptolemies of Egypt. Both dynasties vied for control over the Levant.
Spartokos IV died suddenly on May 31, 267 BC, without male heirs. The throne of the Taurian kingdom passed to his younger brother, Dikaios. Dikaios I, the younger brother of Spartokos IV, was the second son of Spartokos III from his relationship with Kaneda Spartokid. The sudden death of Spartokos IV cast suspicion on the new ruler, who might have been involved in his death.
Spartokos IV ruled the Taurian state for 9 years, from 276 BC to 267 BC. This period was mainly dedicated to the expansion of urban centers and the colonization of newly acquired lands by Greek settlers.
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Peace is always nice. Maybe in the future, Spartokos IV's reign will be seen as a golden age?
It's nice to see what's going on with the Diadochi. Do the Seleucids or the Ptolemies rule more of the Levant right now?
It's nice to see what's going on with the Diadochi. Do the Seleucids or the Ptolemies rule more of the Levant right now?
Quiet a lot : comander kings, bloodlines 2.0, delenda est, fomable taurica, great wonders refined, imperator invictus, interesting histories, interesting treasure, more marrieges, morbi perliculiosius, more nicknams, nicer traites, timline extension for invictus, virtual limes, verneys tiered traits, historical pack invictus.
HistoryDude
At the beginning of the game, I wasn't in a place where I could attack everyone without preparation, and in peacetime, prepare for war, as they say.
The Diadochi situation will be described in the world surveys planned every 150-200 years.
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Dikaios I (267 BC – 231 BC)
Dikaios I was the second son of Spartokos III of the Spartocid dynasty, with Kanada Spartokid. The death of Spartokos IV in 267 BC allowed him to ascend to the throne of the Taurican Kingdom. He inherited a stable state that had significantly strengthened economically and internally due to the actions of his brother and father. The policy of settling Greeks in the depths of the Tauric Peninsula, as well as expelling the Scythians from those lands, stabilized the situation on the peninsula. Until recently, Spartokos IV had to devote much attention to combating Scythian marauders who opposed the rule of the Spartocid dynasty in those lands.
Punitive actions against Scythian tribes, as well as resettlement and suppression of such groups during the reign of Dikaios's predecessor, led to the stabilization of the power of the Taurican Kingdom over all lands absorbed during the reign of Spartokos III. Dikaios I was aware of the problem posed by the nomadic population under his rule. The lifestyle of the Scythians and Sarmatians differed significantly from the settled lifestyle of the Pontic Greeks. Attempts to integrate these people, according to Dikaios, not only seemed impossible but were initially doomed to failure. Further territorial expansion into lands inhabited by these peoples could entail significant problems not only in maintaining control over the steppe but also with the population inhabiting it.
Trade with the Mediterranean world had flourished since the inception of the Kingdom of Taurica. During the reign of Dikaios's brother, Spartokos IV, many Tauric goods began to reach the Italian peninsula. Tauric merchants returning from these areas spoke of the growing importance of the Roman Republic. Rome, until recently a small city in the central part of this peninsula, had managed to grow into a local power over the past 40 years. Not only had they managed to conquer all other peoples inhabiting Italy, but they had also annexed Syracuse in Sicily. Their presence on this island put the Roman Republic in conflict with Carthage, which had been trying to occupy the island for decades.
These news seemed interesting but insignificant to the ruler of Tauric. The emergence of a new power in the Mediterranean basin raised some concerns, but Italy was far. Moreover, Rome had to deal with Carthage, which Dikaios considered a wealthier state than Rome. Above all, the Carthaginians were masters of the western Mediterranean, their galleys completely controlled those waters. Without a navy, the Romans seemed unable to threaten the Carthaginians.
The Taurian fleet could in no way match what Carthage, let alone Rome, possessed. The Taurian state had allocated many resources to the construction of new ships during the reigns of Dikaios's predecessors. Currently, they had nearly 30 ships, but this number could in no way be compared to what the Carthaginians could deploy. Dikaios intended to further expand the fleet, both for defensive purposes and for more ominous reasons.
As soon as Spartokos III ascended the throne, he realized the needs of his state regarding the population. The Taurian state needed hands for rapid growth, and the easiest way to obtain them was simply to enslave others. For these reasons, one of the main tasks of the Taurican fleet was to conduct slave raids within the Black Sea and Ionian Sea areas. The farthest the fleet had ventured for slaves so far was the Levant.
These raids organized by the Taurican rulers were usually disguised as plundering pirate expeditions. They didn't want the Hellenistic world to find out about this activity as it could severely damage relations with other states. The slaves obtained in this way mostly had no idea who was actually behind their fate; they ended up in the slave market in Pantikapaion.
Dikaios I decided to attack a coalition of the Meotian, Sindian, and Zyginian tribes bordering the his Kingdom in 260 BC. The lands of these tribes lay on the right bank of Lake Maeotis (Sea of Azov). The conquest of these lands had already been planned by Dikaios's grandfather, Spartokos III, but they had not been realized during his reign or that of Spartokos IV. The main reason why these lands had not been taken earlier lay in the problem of consolidating the territories occupied in wars with the Scythians and the Chersonese League. While the Greek citizens of the league quickly adapted to normal life in the face of changing power, the Scythians who did not become slaves as a result of the war posed a problem that required their resettlement beyond the Tauric Peninsula (Crimea), where Greek settlement was strongly promoted. This policy did not endear the Scythian population positively towards the rule of the Spartocids.
The war with the coalition of Meotian, Sindian, and Zyginian tribes, started in 260 BC, lasted for four years until 256 BC. During its course, there were several minor clashes with Caucasian tribal warriors, but the main battles focused on capturing fortified tribal settlements by the Taurian forces. Dikaios I, like his grandfather Spartokos III, strengthened his army mainly composed of Greek citizens with mercenaries. He supplemented them by hiring Thracian mercenaries, and also the services of Sarmatians and Scythians, who were very willing to fight for the right amount of gold. The mobility of Scythian and Sarmatian cavalry was utilized by Dikaios to combat smaller tribal bands.
By June 256 BC, when the last settlements were finally pacified, the leaders of these tribes had no choice but to negotiate a peace agreement with the Taurian ruler. Dikaios demanded complete submission to himself and the his Kingdom. Those who did not comply were to become slaves, while those who agreed to these terms could keep their property and freedom. Faced with total annihilation, the tribal elders agreed to these conditions. Three tribes were absorbed into the Kingdom of Taurica under this agreement: the lands of the Meotians, Sindians, and Zyginians became part of the domain ruled by Dikaios I. He kept his word; the members of these tribes only paid tribute and provided recruits to the Taurian army, retaining their freedom and that of their fellow tribesmen.
The Sarmatian of Kisko confederation have attacked the Sarmatian Iazygian tribe this conflict provided Dikaios I with a convenient opportunity, and like his grandfather Spartokos III, he intended to use it for the glory and benefit of the Taurican Kingdom. News of the outbreak of this war reached Pantikapaion in winter between 241 and 240 BC. The conflict seemed to be caused by the migration of the Sarmatian Kisko confederation onto the lands of the Iazygians, but the reasons why these two Sarmatian tribes began to fight each other were not of great significance.
Dikaios I exploited the conflict between the Sarmatians by attacking the borderlands of the Iazygians in the summer of 240 BC. The Bosporan forces encountered little resistance because the warriors of Iazygia were busy fighting the Kisko invaders from the north. As a result, Tanais, the only major settlement within the lands of Iazygia, was undefended, and this Greek colony surrendered without a fight upon seeing the Taurian forces besieging it. Throughout the duration of this war, the Taurian forces did not engage in battle with their opponents; the conflict ended when Dikaios received news that the Kisko had defeated the Iazygian forces in the autumn of 238 BC.
Iazygia ceased to exist as a cohesive entity; its lands were absorbed by the Kisko confederation. Thus, the Taurican Kingdom now bordered the Kisko confederation from the north. Tanais and the lands on the left bank of Lake Maeotis (Sea of Azov) were incorporated into the Taurian Kingdom as a result of this war. Dikaios also managed to extend control over the lands on the right bank of the Borysthenes (Dnieper).
Dikaios I died on January 1, 231 BC. On his deathbed, he forced his two sons, Spartokos and Kephisodotos, to share power over the Bosporan Kingdom. He wanted to prevent a succession war between them or fratricide. Spartokos V and Kephisodotos I jointly assumed the rule according to their father's will, but these brothers had two different mothers. Spartokos V was the first son of Dikaios I from his marriage to his cousin, the daughter of his brother Spartokos IV. Kephisodotos I, on the other hand, was the son of Dikaios's second union; his mother was the daughter of Lysimachus, the ruler of Thrace, one of Alexander the Great's generals.
He ruled the Kingdom of Taurica for 36 years, from 267 BC to 231 BC. During this period, he annexed new territories. The lands of the Meotians, Sindians, and Zyginians, located on the right bank of Lake Maeotis, were included during the war fought with the coalition of these tribes from 260 BC to 256 BC. Tanais, the Greek colony at the mouth of the Tanais River (Don), and the lands along the coast of Lake Maeotis were annexed during the war with the Sarmatian Iazygian tribe from 240 to 238 BC. This territorial expansion turned Lake Maeotis into an internal lake of the Taurian state, securing trade routes between Taurican cities and the capital, Pantikapaion.
This guaranteed control over this body of water, making the export of Tauricam goods safer. During these wars and throughout Dikaios I's reign, piracy, which significantly hindered the lives of merchants coming to Pantikapaion, was combated.
Kingdom of Taurica 231 BC.
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This AAR continues to impress. I like the chapters being short, but well written insights into each ruler.
I like the chapters being short, but well written insights into each ruler.
I'm gonna go ahead and follow this one too. Been trying to follow more playthroughs using Invictus and Terra Indomita.
Spartokos V (231 BC – 229 BC) and Kephisodotos I (231 BC – 205 BC)
Spartokos V and Kephisodotos I jointly assumed power according to their father's will. These half-brothers ruled the state for a period of two years from 231 BC to 229 BC. The death of Spartokos V on September 20, 229 BC, due to a severe fever, secured sole rule for Kephisodotos I. The swift burial of Spartokos V by Kephisodotos I raised some suspicions among the Taurian clans, but no one wanted to risk antagonizing the new ruler by casting suspicions upon him. Kephisodotos I, being related to the rulers of Thrace through his mother Histieia Alkimachid, had a strong position and could rely on the forces of his cousin Timotheos I Alkimachid in case anyone attempted to challenge his authority over the Taurian state.
The smooth assumption of full power over the Taurian kingdom was facilitated by the possibility of external assistance in case of any difficulties from other members of the Spartocid dynasty or other Taurian nobles. Kephisodotos I owed this primarily to his mother Histieia, who, being the sister of the current reigning king of Thrace, exerted strong influence at the court in Pantikapaion. She convinced the nobles that her son not only had nothing to do with the death of his half-brother but also that casting any suspicion upon him could be construed as treason. Histieia's actions convinced Kephisodotos I of the necessity of having strong family alliances. For these reasons, he entered into an official military alliance with Timotheos I Alkimachid, his uncle ruling Thrace. This alliance was intended to strengthen the position of the Taurian kingdom in the Black Sea basin, allowing Kephisodotos I to count on military support in case of an attack on his state by his Sarmatian neighbors. The Kiosko and Roxolan tribal federations posed a real existential threat to the Taurian Kingdom, and the lands they occupied were an ideal target for further expansion of the Taurian state. War with them seemed to be one possibility for the further development of the Taurian state, hence alliances were not only necessary but essential.
Aware of these realities, Kephisodotos I sent proposals to the Seleucids. A Taurian envoy was to express to Seleucus III the desire to form a union between the two dynasties and to explore the possibility of forming an alliance with the current ruler of the Seleucid Empire. Currently, the Seleucid dynasty ruled the most powerful Greek state that emerged from the breakup of Alexander the Great's empire. The territories under their rule extended from the mythical lands of distant India to the Levant. Kephisodotos believed that forming an alliance with such a powerful kingdom could only be beneficial for him and the Taurians, despite the potential for conflict with the Ptolemies of Egypt. Currently, both Egypt, ruled by the Ptolemaic dynasty, and the Seleucid Empire were in a state of peace. A recent war between these two powers for control over the Levant had ended without a clear victor. Under the treaty concluded between them, these lands were divided between the two states. However, this peace seemed fragile as both dynasties still sought to unify the entire empire conquered by Alexander under their rule.
The response from Seleucus III was partially positive; he agreed to the union between the two dynasties and sent his daughter Aristo along with an embassy to Pantikapaion to marry Kephisodotos. However, a military alliance with the Taurians was not in the interest of the Seleucids. Seleucus III believed that the Taurian kingdom did not offer sufficient military potential compared to what he possessed himself. Therefore, the Seleucid envoys who arrived with Aristo proposed that Taurica become a client state of the Seleucid Empire. This proposal was outrageous as it undermined the independence of the Taurian state ruled by Kephisodotos I. Nevertheless, this situation was resolved amicably through the dispatch of ambassadors to Seleucia on the Tigris. The Taurian ruler sent gifts and tribute, but his envoys made no mention of Kephisodotos agreeing to the terms of Seleucus III, leaving the situation open to interpretation.
In March 228 BC, a Thracian messenger arrived in Pantikapaion with disturbing news. The alliance with the Thracian kingdom proved to be less desirable for the Taurian kingdom because Timotheos I Alkimachid sent a request for assistance to Pantikapaion. According to the Thracian messenger, the constant attacks by the Galatians on the Thracian borderlands were becoming increasingly burdensome for Timotheos I. The situation worsened with the absorption of the Odrysian kingdom by the Celts, which had hitherto served as a buffer between them and the Thracian kingdom. According to the Thracian spy reports, they were now preparing to attack Thrace.
For some time, Kephisodotos I had been preparing for war with the Roxolan confederation, but the outbreak of war between Thrace and the Galatians delayed these plans. However, having no choice, mainly because Kephisodotos's mother, Histieia, demanded action on behalf of her brother, he assured the Thracian envoys that Taurica would stand on the side of Thrace in case of war. Less than two months later, the Galatian Celts invaded the Thracian borderlands, forcing Taurica to join the war. This war, which took place between 228 BC and 220 BC, delayed the plans of the Taurian ruler regarding war with the neighboring Roxolans.
Taurica sent troops to assist Timotheos I, mainly composed of Scythian and Sarmatian mercenaries who were increasingly finding employment in Taurian armies. These forces were placed under the direct command of the Thracian ruler, who was to use them as he saw fit. Kephisodotos himself decided to carry out a landing in Asia Minor and directly attack the territories of the barbarian Celts while their warriors were engaged in combat with Timotheos I's forces. The landing, organized by Taurian forces under the command of Kephisodotos I with a strength of 5,000 troops, landed in the vicinity of Heraclea Pontica in the summer of 226 BC. From there, he began his campaign of destruction. All Galatian villages were burned, the population enslaved or killed, while the Greek and other Asian settlements were spared. The purpose of this terror was to force the Celts to divide their forces. When news reached the Celtic warriors the following year that their families were being slaughtered and enslaved, it forced their leader Akichorios to divide his forces and send some warriors back across the Bosporus to resolve the crisis. By this time, Kephisodotos I had plundered a significant portion of Galatia, and the slaves and all the wealth were sent to Taurica.
Upon hearing of the Celts' crossing back into Asia, Kephisodotos I decided to confront them in a location of his choosing. This place was the crossing of the Sangarius River, near the settlement of Kalpe in Mariadynia. Forced to ford the river, the Celts then had to face the Taurian army waiting for them on the other side. The number of Celtic warriors was similar to that of the Taurian ruler. To destabilize their opponents, he ordered the execution of some slaves in a manner visible to the Galatians on the other side of the river. According to his predictions, the Celts launched a furious attack on the crossing. Their lack of coordination and the narrow crossing decided the victory in this battle for the Taurian forces.
Despite this loss, Akichorios continued the war, which lasted until 220 BC when Timotheos I, with the help of Taurian mercenaries, achieved a crucial victory in a battle near Byzantium. The war finally ended when Timotheos I and the Galatian ruler reached an agreement to make peace. Under this peace agreement, the Celts surrendered part of Odrysia to the Thracian king. For his participation in the war, Kephisodotos received a share of the war booty acquired by Timotheos I, and moreover, Kephisodotos obtained explicit confirmation from the Thracian king of his assistance in the war against the Roxolans that the Taurian ruler was planning. This war proved beneficial for the Taurian ruler himself, as despite the lack of new territories, a significant number of slaves were acquired, who would bolster the Taurian iron ore mines.
The Taurian forces that returned from the war with the Celts quickly found themselves back in the heat of battle. Together with the Thracian forces, Kephisodotos attacked the Roxolan confederation at the beginning of 218 BC. With the military assistance of his uncle and the use of the war booty from the conflict with the Galatians to employ mercenaries, the battles fought with the nomads on the steppes, despite their arduous nature, ended in Taurian success. The key role was played by the mercenary units of the same nomads. The fighting continued until 216 BC, when a peace pact was finally concluded with the Roxolan chieftain, a woman named Purohite. Under its terms, the eastern part of the Roxolan lands was to pass into the hands of Kephisodotos I.
Kephisodotos I was aware that the Sarmatian and Scythian cavalry, employed as mercenaries by all Taurian rulers, played a significant role in the successes that the Spartocids had achieved so far. Although his father, Dikaios I, did not see the possibility of their integration with the Bosporan Greeks, Kephisodotos I believed differently. More and more nomadic people were coming under the rule of the Taurian state, and some form of integration into the state structures was necessary from Kephisodotos's perspective. They constituted a tremendous potential for creating excellent cavalry units, which, if disciplined similar to the infantry units of the Hoplites, would certainly be a great force. For these reasons, Kephisodotos began plans to grant Scythians citizenship rights in the Taurian state.
With the beginning of 214 BC, news reached Pantikapaion of the fall of the Seleucid Empire. The massive migration of the nomadic Sakas from the Zanthian confederation led to the collapse of one of the most powerful Diadochi dynasties. This event shook the Hellenistic world, and Seleucus III, along with his entire family, had to take refuge on the island of Bubiyan in the Persian Gulf. The fall od this dynasty that emerged as a result of the division of Alexander the Great's empire, meant marking of the end of an era. The only remaining significant dynasty to emerge from this great conquest was the Ptolemies of Egypt, but they, in turn, were struggling with a civil war that could result in their loss of power. Kephisodotos's wife, Aristo, suffered a nervous breakdown shortly thereafter, resulting in her death. Seleucus III, until recently convinced of his power and superiority over all, was reduced to the ruler of a small island in the Persian Gulf.
Kephisodotos I died on April 5, 205 BC, ruling from 231 BC to 205 BC. He expanded the borders of the Taurian state to the east by occupying part of the Roxolan confederation's territories in the northern Caucasus. He initiated the process of integrating the Scythian population, which was to culminate in granting them citizenship rights in the Taurian state, but this was interrupted by his death. Like his predecessors, throughout his reign, he sought to strengthen the state's economy. Here, the Taurian-Galatian war proved to be extremely helpful; thanks to it, significant quantities of slaves were acquired, who were allocated to the most demanding sectors of the Taurian economy. After Kephisodotos I's death, his eldest son, Akrotatos I, ascended the throne.
Kingdom of Taurica 205 BC.
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The Seleucids fell quickly. Did the Saka annex all of their old empire? Can we have a map?
I'm sure that using pirates to gain slaves won't backfire on Taurica later...
What's the situation in Greece? Would Thrace drag Taurica into a war there?
I'm sure that using pirates to gain slaves won't backfire on Taurica later...
What's the situation in Greece? Would Thrace drag Taurica into a war there?
This AAR continues to impress.
Thanks, it means I haven't lost my touch, the last time I wrote on AAR was on my native language forum before it was closed sometime in 2018. As for the length of the chapters, I mainly use game saves to describe what more or less happened. I also have quite a lot of rulers and years to cover, so this form will probably last until the very end.
The fall of the Seleucids was a scripted migration event, I will describe the maps in the overview of the world I am working on now.
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The Known World - 200 BC
(Notes by the Memnon of Athens the Court Historiographer and Cartographer of Akrotatos I. Compiled at the behest of the Taurian ruler for the purpose of expanding knowledge about their surrounding world)
Egypt - 200 BC
(Notes by the Memnon of Athens the Court Historiographer and Cartographer of Akrotatos I. Compiled at the behest of the Taurian ruler for the purpose of expanding knowledge about their surrounding world)
Egypt - 200 BC
Egypt, a land so ancient that no one knew when its history began. The Ptolemies came to power in these lands with the conquest of Alexander the Great's Persian Empire. According to known sources, the Persians conquered this land in 525 BC, thus ending the rule of the native Egyptians. The Achaemenids, ruling the Persian Empire, had to deal with discontent from the local populace. Subsequent rebellions occurred throughout the Persian rule. The first rebellion took place after the death of Darius I, and in 463/462 BC, a great rebellion broke out under the leadership of Prince Inaros, which, despite his death in 454 BC, with the support of the Athenians, lasted until 448 BC. In 404 BC, the Egyptians sparked another uprising, which this time overthrew Persian rule. To resist the Achaemenids, the Egyptians formed an alliance with Sparta, and later with Euagoras of Salamis. In 373 and again in 351-350 BC, they managed to repel Persian invasions, but ultimately succumbed to the army of Artaxerxes III in 343 BC.
However, the second Persian rule lasted just over a decade, as in 332 BC, Alexander of Macedon entered Egypt. After Alexander's death in 323 BC, one of his commanders, Ptolemy I, took power in Egypt, becoming the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was to rule Egypt for centuries to come. The Ptolemaic dynasty, from the death of Alexander the Great until the fall of the Seleucid Empire in 218 BC, made Egypt the last significant heirs of Alexander the Great. Currently, Arisnoe I Lagis, the granddaughter of Ptolemy I, sits on the Egyptian throne, a 71-year-old ruler who, like her predecessors, had to deal with the native Egyptian population, currently suppressing another rebellion that began in 220 BC.
The Ptolemies ruled Egypt from their newly built coastal capital, Alexandria, a city that quickly became the largest metropolis in the Hellenistic world. The armies of the dynasty consisted of Macedonian Greeks as well as mercenaries from various peoples, including Celts, Nubians, and others. Their army and fleet were among the most powerful in the current Mediterranean basin. Currently, this dynasty ruled Egypt, the lands of Canaan, part of the Arabian Peninsula coast, and part of Nubia in the south.
Nubia - 200 BC (Ethiopia - Horn of Africa)
Distant lands lying to the south of the mighty Egyptian kingdom are shrouded in myths and uncertainties; knowledge about them is scarce and fragmentary. Everything known comes from Egyptian sources. According to these, the land was to be divided between barbarian kingdoms, and the people inhabiting them were to have a ebony complexion. There were to be at least several significant kingdoms, of which the most powerful was to be the Kingdom of Kush, ruled by a queen named Alakhebasken I. Kush was to border Egypt, and further along the Nile, there were to be several other smaller kingdoms named Syrbotia, Dabelia, Critenia Taragaga, and Gymnetia. These states were to be significant powers in this region but weaker than their northern neighbor, the Kingdom of Kush.
Arabia - 200 BC
As little is known about these lands as about the distant regions to the south of Egypt, perhaps even less. All the information available came from the Seleucid and Ptolemaic dynasties; the former dynasty fell only a few decades ago due to the migration of the nomadic Saka people, and the latter was not interested in this region enough to conduct proper research. According to the sources of the Seleucids available to us, it is worth mentioning the tragically deceased mother of Akrotatos I, Aristo Seleukid, thanks to whom this knowledge became available to us. There were to be numerous nomadic peoples there, while on the southern coasts of this desert peninsula, there were to be more favorable conditions for a settled way of life. There was to be a powerful kingdom called Yamnat, whose wealth was owed to trade in incense.
Indus (Indian Peninsula) - 200 BC
Even less knowledge is available about this region; we know of its existence and that it was ruled by the powerful Maurya Empire. However, all other information is difficult to obtain not only because of the distances but also because of the dangers that may await anyone who would venture there.
Persia - 200 BC
The lands of the former Achaemenid Persian Empire underwent significant changes in the last centuries. Persia, which arose from the conquests of Cyrus I, during whose reign from 551 BC to 529 BC, the Median, Lydian, and Babylonian lands were incorporated. His rule ended in 529 BC with his death in battle against the Scythians. His successors incorporated more lands, including Egypt, until they clashed with the Greek cities. In 480 BC, at least 200,000 soldiers from all over the empire, supported by over a thousand ships, set out through Thrace and Macedonia to Greece. However, at Salamis in 480 BC and at Plataea in 479 BC, the Greeks were victorious. The Persian rulers had to abandon their dreams of conquering Greece. The fall of this empire came with the accession to power in Macedonia by Alexander III of Macedon in 334 BC, who set out to conquer Persia at the head of 49,100 soldiers.
Alexander's campaign ended with his death in 324 BC. Almost a century has passed since then. After the death of the great conqueror, part of his empire passed into the hands of Seleucus I Nicator, one of his generals. The Diadochi wars that subsequently took place between Alexander's generals unfolded over decades. Antigonus I Monophthalmus was the first of the Diadochi to lose his life and his domain in Asia Minor; his army, after defeats in battles with Seleucus and the Ptolemies of Egypt, was ultimately destroyed and scattered as a result of the migration of the Celts. Antigonus I's son had to take refuge in Rhodes, from where the Antigonid dynasty continues to seek influence in the Hellenistic world.
Wars between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids in the following years usually ended without a clear winner, but as a result, a border between the two states was established. The fall of the Seleucids came with the migration of the nomadic Sakas from the Zanthian confederation in 215 BC; currently, this people rules over most of the territories that until recently were under the control of the Seleucids.
Greece, the Balkans, Asia Minor - 200 BC
The lands closest to us are quite well known, the cradle of our Hellenic civilization, divided between city-states as it was centuries ago and as it is now. The Kingdom of Macedonia, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, is currently embroiled in a civil war between claimants to the throne. Antipatros I Antipatrid is engaged in a fierce war with his brother for control of the kingdom; this conflict, which began in 210 BC, has been going on for ten years, and it seems that the current ruler of Macedonia may lose his throne. The Celts beyond the Danube, who migrated to Asia Minor in the last century, founded their states there, known as Galatia. Our troops fought them in a war waged during the reign of Akrotatos I, father Kephistodotos I. Despite suffering defeat in this conflict and certain territorial losses, they must still be perceived as a significant force in this region of the world. The situation is no different for the powerful Getae state bordering Thrace from the north.
North Africa, Iberia, Italy - 200 BC
Carthage is the only significant power in this part of the world, although it was not the first Phoenician settlement in Africa - Utica was older. The myth of its founder tells of Dido, who fled Tyre when her brother, King Pygmalion, killed her husband, and in 814 BC, founded Carthage. When the Libyans agreed to give her as much land as could be covered with the skin of an ox, Dido cut the skin into narrow strips, allowing her to demand much more land than expected, demonstrating cunning, one of the typical traits of the Punics. Later, Elissa chose death on a burning pyre instead of marrying the Libyan king Hiarbas, thus protecting her people and keeping faith with her deceased husband. Regardless of this founding myth, Carthage is one of the oldest and strongest states in this part of the world. The Carthaginians themselves have been gradually expanding their territorial influence since the time of their founding.
Initially, these conflicts were with neighboring Libyan tribes, but over time, they led to a confrontation with the Greeks. The competition between these two civilizations, with equal zeal exploiting territories for their own benefit, turned into open conflict, mainly for control of Sicily. This conflict was given a particularly bitter tone by deep religious differences between the two sides, often resulting in desecration of sanctuaries and temples. This situation somewhat softened when the Carthaginian state began to adopt some of our gods. The cult of Demeter and Kore was officially introduced in Carthage in 396 BC to appease the goddesses when, after the destruction of one of their temples in Sicily, the Punic army stationed there began to be decimated by plague.
During the long struggle for Sicily, fate smiled on one side and then the other. In 480 BC, the Greeks achieved a great victory at Himera (Northern Himeria), a success that coincided happily with the repulsion of Xerxes' invasion of Greece at Salamis the same year and at Plataea in 479, causing great satisfaction throughout the Hellenistic world. In 310 BC, Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse, landed with his troops at Cape Bon in North Africa and directly threatened Carthage itself. This caused panic and political upheaval in the capital. Agathocles defeated a much larger Carthaginian army, drawing soldiers away from Punic expeditionary forces. Ultimately, he was unable to storm Carthage and failed to incite enough of its Libyan subjects to revolt to fatally weaken it.
In the last century, Carthage continued to struggle with the Greeks for control of Sicily, but the situation changed drastically when the Roman Republic annexed Syracuse. By taking this city in 240 BC, the Romans entered into direct conflict with the Carthaginians. The first war between them took place in the years 236-210 BC; as a result of this conflict lasting nearly 26 years, Carthage lost control of the island to the Roman Republic. Despite the defeat by the Romans and the loss of their possessions in Sicily to the Berber Birrek Gerba'li, the current Suffet of Carthage, the state remains powerful. Carthage also holds possessions on the Iberian Peninsula, which is still mostly divided among local Iberian and Celtic tribes, the strongest of which can be considered the Vascones, but they came into conflict with Rome.
Gaul, Britain, Germania - 200 BC
These lands inhabited by barbarian Celts, Germans, Britons are not well known due to their distance. The peoples inhabiting them remain partly a mystery to more civilized societies. However, it is known that the territories of Gaul dominated by the warlike Celts are currently divided between two tribal confederations. The Aedui, who rule over most of southern Gaul, and the Venelli, who control the northern part of the region. Germania is divided among small tribes that fiercely compete with each other. Albion, located at the northern end of Gaul, is a land difficult to confirm its existence; however, there are reports that the Carthaginian explorer Himilco was the first to reach these shores, his expeditions in the years 510 to 480 BC are a valuable source of knowledge about the geography of the northern European coasts.
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Akrotatos I (205 BC - 171 BC )
Akrotatos I, the only son of Kephisodotos I born from a union with Aristo Selukid. He ascended to the throne of Taurica upon his father's death in 205 BC. Akrotatos maintained the existing military alliance with Thrace ruled by the Alcimachid dynasty while also seeking to strengthen his dynasty's ties through marriage with the Ptolemies of Egypt. A Taurean embassy sent to Alexandria in 204 BC received a positive response from the ruler of Egypt, Arsinoe I Lagis, who agreed to the marriage of Akrotatos I to her cousin Aristodike Lagis. Aristodike arrived from Alexandria to Pantikapaion less than a year later in the summer of 203 BC. The Taurean embassy, send by Akrotatos, not only established dynastic relations between the Spartocids and the Ptolemies but also initiated trade relations between the two kingdoms.
Taurica, increasingly known for the excellent quality of its horses, bred by the nomadic population inhabiting it, mainly the Scythians and Sarmatians. Taurean horses were highly desired in Hellenistic countries and beyond. Taurean envoys sent to Alexandria were to present Queen Arsinoe with 500 excellent stallions and an equal number of mares. This gift greatly pleased the Egyptian ruler. Thanks to it, Arsinoe favorably considered petitions for dynastic marriage and also agreed to a trade agreement between the two kingdoms. The establishment of trade contacts and the signing of agreements were meant to ensure the protection of Taurean merchants in Egypt under local law. They were to be treated equally with Egyptian merchants, and similar regulations introduced in Taurica effectively guaranteed free trade between the two states. The effects of these agreements were soon evident, as Egyptian merchants arrived in Pantikapaion offering luxury goods that were hard to come by in that part of the world, such as glassware, papyrus, and even exotic animals like camels and elephants. Taurean merchants, on the other hand, not only sold Taurean horses in Alexandria but also vast quantities of basic metals such as bronze, silver, and iron. Trade flourished, along with the taxes collected by the kingdom treasury.
Another important mission of the Taurican embassy was to assess the structure and urbanization of Alexandria. The rulers of Tauica always cared for the development of their capital, Pantikapaion. Alexandria was considered one of the largest and best-planned cities in the Mediterranean basin. Akrotatos entrusted his envoys to make detailed plans of the city, examine how it was governed, and gather any information that could contribute to the development of Pantikapaion. This mission was successful, and the information obtained by the embassy was extremely useful for the further development of the Tauican capital. Akrotatos began construction of a lighthouse that was to rival the one located in Pharos. This monumental building was to aid navigation for the increasing fleet of merchant ships heading to the port of Pantikapaion, making it extremely necessary. Construction began in 203 BC and lasted for decades.
Akrotatos intended to continue his father's policy of integrating the nomadic population into the structures of the Taurican state, starting with the Scythians. The wars fought by the Taurican kingdom under Akrotatos I's predecessors revealed certain problems with the army at it disposal. This army mostly consisted of citizens of Greek origin, who were called to arms in case of conflict. This model, common in most Hellenistic countries, worked well when the citizens of city-states had a strong sense of identity with their homeland and were willing to sacrifice their lives in its defense. However, recent wars had shown that this model was not entirely successful. Relying on compulsory mobilization of citizens in case of war was time-consuming. Not only did it take time for all members of the units to assemble, but these soldiers also incurred the costs of their own equipment, which served as both their protection and their weapon. There were also problems arising from the fact that these soldiers were drawn away from their daily livelihoods to serve in the army, negatively affecting not only the economy but also the quality of life of their families. Additionally, the pool of available Greek male citizens was limited. Therefore, by the end of 204 BC, Akrototas I carried out a military reform of the Taurican army. The existing model of citizen soldiers was to be partially replaced by the establishment of a royal guard. This guard was to consist of professional soldiers whose sole occupation was to spill blood for the state. The costs of their equipment, provisions, and pay were to be borne by the royal treasury. Initially, it was planned to organize a 5,000-strong army called the Stratos of Taurica, consisting of 2,000 heavily armored infantry, about 1,500 light infantry supplemented by 500 light cavalry. The strength of this formation was deemed sufficient for the needs and challenges facing the kingdom. The royal guard accepted not only those who held Taurican citizenship but also those with the status of free people. A 15-year period of service in the Stratos of Taurica was to guarantee them citizenship. This led to the formation of the first permanent army within less than a year. It turned out that there were more volunteers than anticipated, providing opportunities for further development. However, Akrotatos I had to balance the financial capabilities of the state with its military needs, and the further development of the Taurean army's numerical strength had to be postponed. The model created by Aratotos I, a partially professional army consisting of 5,000 soldiers, was to be supplemented by mercenaries and a citizen army, which had been used so far.
Another significant reform carried out by Akratotas in the early years of his reign was the implementation of his father Kephisodotos I's plans regarding granting citizenship rights to some of Scythian origin. The legal status of the Scythians, who could only be free people or slaves in the Taurican state until then, was changed by royal decree in April 203 BC. According to this decree, Scythians who had been under Taurican rule for at least three generations, roughly the time of Spartokos IV's reign, were granted citizenship. Scythians who served in his father's mercenary units during wars were also granted citizenship if they resided within kingdom borders. This reform met with some dissatisfaction among the Greek Bosporans. However, Akratotas I, sharing his father's views that the Scythians and Sarmatians must be integrated to some extent into the Taurica, believed that granting deserving Scythians citizenship rights was the best method for their slow integration. Akratotas hoped that changing the status of selected parts of the Scythian population would positively influence the remaining part of the group. The plan created by Kephisodotos I envisaged the gradual integration of the Scythians and Sarmatians into the structures of the kingdom. According to his plan, those granted citizenship became privileged in the eyes of their kinsmen, and achieving a similar status for the rest was to become their goal.
In order to further encourage the Scythian population and gain the favor of those who had already been granted citizenship by Akratotas, he decided to form a personal guard from the best Scythian warriors who were already citizens of Taurica. This group was to become an elite unit serving exclusively the king of Tauric; its members had to demonstrate valor and considerable skill in combat. Akratotas envisioned this group to be loyal only to the Tauric throne, and the size of the guard was not to exceed 500 people. Leading the newly formed guard was Suddhodane Yarkam, who quickly became a close friend and confidant of Akratotas I. Not only was this Scythian an excellent warrior, but also a military commander whom Akratotas relied on throughout his reign for military matters, assisting the Tauric ruler in all his military campaigns.
Akratotas I, with the onset of the year 190 BC, attacked the Roxolan federation, with which the kingdom of Tauric bordered to the east. The Roxolan Sarmatian confederation, which had lost the last war against the kingdom of Tauric during the reign of Akratotas' father, Kephistodotos I, allied with the tribal federation Kisko and Kurnsck. These three federations united to defend their lands against the increasingly aggressive kingdom of Tauric. Tauric forces had to face a united front of their nomadic neighbors this time. Akratotas I had to hire additional mercenaries and call citizens to arms because the Stratos of Taurica, numbering 5,000, seemed insufficient to face the three Sarmatian tribal confederations. He also sent an embassy to Thrace to request military assistance according to the terms of the alliance treaty between the two states. However, the current situation in Thrace, where a dynastic crisis and civil war erupted after the death of Timotheos I Alkimachid, prevented the fulfillment of these obligations.
The Tauric forces had to meet the challenge alone in the initial phase of this war. Akrotatos entrusted the command of the Stratos of Taurica to his trusted commander of the royal guard, Suddhodane Yarkam. He himself took command of the citizen soldiers who were quickly called to arms. However, Akrotatos also decided to send an embassy to the Armenian ruler Kozrid I Orontodita, intending to form an alliance and seek assistance in the war against the three Sarmatian confederations. Kozrid I demanded Akrotatos' sister in marriage in exchange for the alliance and military aid. Furthermore, Taurica was to assist him in his war against the Galatians, for which he had been preparing for some time.
This war, fought for nearly 10 years from 190 BC to 180 BC, culminated in the Battle north of Tanais. The battle, fought on November 20, 180 BC, gathered nearly 40,000 combatants on both sides. The Tauric forces, under the supreme command of Akrotatos I, numbered 15,000, with the Stratos of Taurica under Suddhodane Yarkam commanding 5,000, a 5,000-strong contingent of Sarmatian and Scythian mercenaries fighting for citizenship rights, and 5,000 hastily mobilized citizen soldiers, along with 5,000 Armenian soldiers of Kozrid I. Opposing them were nearly 18,000 warriors from three confederations led by the Kisko ruler Sidhasamgha. The battle began at dawn with the first rays of sunlight. Fierce and bloody fighting continued throughout the day until an unexpected maneuver by the commander of the royal guard, Suddhodane, lured the nomads into a trap, leading to the massacre of a significant portion of Sidhasamgha's forces. Those who survived had to flee to save their lives.
The outcome of this battle was the death of a significant portion of the able-bodied warriors of the Roxolan and Kurnsck confederations, while many of the Kisko warriors managed to escape the battlefield. The Roxolan and Kurnsck confederations essentially ceased to be, and those who remained alive decided to either submit to the mercy of the Tauric ruler or take their families and migrate, crossing the Oarus River (Volga). Sidhasamgha, on the other hand, entered into negotiations with Akrotatos I, agreeing to surrender all lands north of the city of Tanais to territories not currently occupied by any tribal confederations. With no better choice and unwilling to continue the war, he accepted the terms set by Akrotatos I.
This battle, later known as the Battle of Tanais, was the largest armed conflict in which the Tauric forces had participated thus far. It was also a significant moment in the history of the Tauric state; defeat in this battle could have been catastrophic for the Tauric kingdom. However, it was only the first of many battles that would play a key role in shaping the history of the Tauric state.
Kozrid I Orontodid, for the assistance provided to Akratotos I in the war against the nomadic Sarmatian tribes in 188 BC, sent an embassy to Pantikapaion with the task of fulfilling the agreement between the two rulers. The war between the Kingdom of Armenia and the Galatians was to begin with the arrival of spring the following year, and the Armenian ruler wanted to ensure that Akrotatos would honor the agreement. The Tauric ruler assured the Armenian envoys that he intended to participate in the Armenian conquest of Galatian lands. At the same time, he negotiated that all Celts captured by his forces would become their war booty. The Armenian embassy agreed to these terms. Akrotatos I decided to entrust the command of the Stratos of Taurica, this time to his close friend Suddhodane Yarkam.
The Second Tauric-Galatian War, as this conflict came to be known, lasted from 187 to 180 BC. During this seven-year period, Akratotas I spent his time in the capital of his state, overseeing the expansion and supervising the construction of a new monument intended to overshadow the Pharos lighthouse in Alexandria. The Stratos of Taurica, under the command of Suddhodane with a force of 5,000, supported the military actions of the Armenian forces. Throughout this conflict, the Stratos of Taurica mainly conducted offensive operations, avoiding direct confrontation with the Galatians. Raids and attacks were carried out on Celtic settlements and villages to acquire as many slaves as possible, who were then transported to Tauric.
Suddhodane, leading the troops under his command, participated in the decisive battle that decided this conflict. He responded to the Armenian king's summons to the vicinity of Tavium in central Galatia, where the decisive battle was to take place on April 11, 180 BC. The Celts, numbering nearly 10,000, clashed with the army of the Kingdom of Armenia, which numbered 15,000 soldiers, along with a 5,000-strong Tauric contingent commanded by Suddhodane. Initially, the Scythian commander knew that the battle was lost for the Celts; they had only half the number of soldiers compared to the Armenian king's army. However, the fierceness with which they fought in this battle clearly made an impression on him, as upon his return to Tauri, he asked his friend and ruler for the possibility of ransoming them from captivity and the opportunity to become free people.
The war between the Galatians and the Kingdom of Armenia ended with the near-total collapse of the Celtic state. Most of their lands in Asia Minor were absorbed by Kozrid I. They were left with a small amount of territory in Bithynia, and they ceased to be a terror in Asia Minor, where they had dominated their neighbors since their migration.
Akrotatos I died on August 8, 171 BC, leaving the throne to his eldest son, Kephisodotos II. The 34-year period of his reign was a time during which additional territories were annexed as a result of the war fought against the three Sarmatian confederations. Trade relations were established with the powerful Egyptian kingdom ruled by the Ptolemies. The Tauric ruler himself married a member of that dynasty, Aristodike Lagis, who became the mother of Kephisodotos II. A military reform was also implemented in the Tauric kingdom, which introduced a system utilizing a partially professional army through the establishment of the royal guard Stratos of Taurica. One of the most significant decisions was the introduction of the possibility of granting citizenship to those of Scythian orgin.
The Kingdom of Tauric, 171 BC.
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It was nice to see an update on the state of the world. The Ptolemies look to be doing very well, and Zanthia is massive. How long will the expansive Zanthian Empire survive? I can't imagine that governing all of that territory is easy.
Where are you getting the story about Elissa/Dido's death from? Did you make it up for flavor? Is it an actual obscure tale?
In game, does Taurica have a couple of legions now?
Does Taurica plan to expand into Anatolia or Greece? Or are they limiting their expansion to the Steppe?
Where are you getting the story about Elissa/Dido's death from? Did you make it up for flavor? Is it an actual obscure tale?
In game, does Taurica have a couple of legions now?
Does Taurica plan to expand into Anatolia or Greece? Or are they limiting their expansion to the Steppe?