Well, Greece is Roman now. But Greek rulers still exist... so the Diadochi must be brought under control.
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Just in case you are wondering. This is not forgotten. But I agreed to do Translation work for a game in Development and that takes a huge amount of time. I will return to making Rome great again as soon as possible. 
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Congratulations on the translation job!Just in case you are wondering. This is not forgotten. But I agreed to do Translation work for a game in Development and that takes a huge amount of time. I will return to making Rome great again as soon as possible.
Holy shmoly. 9.5 months without update. I always knew I had to finish this thing here. But don`t despair, I finally have time again. I dusted off my savegame, looked at what I was doing and am good to go. Expect the continuation this weekend with Chapter 45: "Egypt - Electric Boogaloo". Okay that is just a working title.
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Great!Holy shmoly. 9.5 months without update. I always knew I had to finish this thing here. But don`t despair, I finally have time again. I dusted off my savegame, looked at what I was doing and am good to go. Expect the continuation this weekend with Chapter 45: "Egypt - Electric Boogaloo". Okay that is just a working title.
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45 - The Thessalian War (234 - 233)
By the mid 230s, the Republic had established its dominance over southern and central Greece. After the elimination of the small city states, the remaining territories were either under direct control of Ptolemaic Egypt respectively the Antigonid Kingdom or their client states. A clash between the Republic and these entities was inevitable in the long run. One of the first encounters between them over the control of Greece was the Thessalian War (also called the First Ptolemaic War in older publications). Some historians have also dubbed it "Rome`s Great Blunder".
The war began in early 234. From the available sources it is not quite clear, whether the conflict began with a Roman or Egyptian attack, although the majority opinion among historians deems a Roman aggression more probable. Shortly after the start of the conflict, Rome suffered two defeats at Cullis and Dion at the cost of roughly 8.000 casualties. Although the Republic would stabilize the situation with victories at Pelagonia and the Second Battle of Dion, the year 234 basically ended how it had begun.
Early in the year 233, Rome was able to seize the city of Thessalonice for a short while, before it had to give it up again after the lost battle close to Methone. In the south the battles of Pherai and Opous were won, although none of them were decisive victories and came with a high cost for the Republic either. In late 233 the Republic and the Ptolemaic Kingdom came to an agreement to end the hostilities and maintain the borders before the war.
Important battles of the Thessalian War
Without any doubt, the Republic had encountered an equal opponent in Thessaly and the result of the conflict was not flattering. Roman historians tried to explain away the outcome by shifting the blame on a surprise attack of the Egyptian forces, the unfavorable terrain and the obvious wrath of the Gods. Only Polybios dared to hint toward a failure in the general execution of the war as far as the Roman Commanders are concerned.
Modern history agrees with that and identifies two main reasons for Rome failing to make any progress. First of all the Roman Navy, although having increased in size, failed to hinder the movements of its counterpart. Hence the Egyptian forces received constant reinforcements from the mainland. Secondly the movements of the land forces were erratic and lacked a clear objective and focus. The Roman Legions acted all over the place and it is probable, that they just reacted to the Egyptian movements.
Eventually some authors point out a third factor. Roman hubris. In the 30 years prior to the Thessalian War, the Republic had experienced a triumphal march through Illyria and large parts of Greece without facing an opponent actually able to defeat them. It is possible, that the Republic began the war without providing the ressources in manpower, that would have been necessary to bring Egypt to its knees. But as frustrating as the result had been for the Legions, they would learn their lesson.
By the mid 230s, the Republic had established its dominance over southern and central Greece. After the elimination of the small city states, the remaining territories were either under direct control of Ptolemaic Egypt respectively the Antigonid Kingdom or their client states. A clash between the Republic and these entities was inevitable in the long run. One of the first encounters between them over the control of Greece was the Thessalian War (also called the First Ptolemaic War in older publications). Some historians have also dubbed it "Rome`s Great Blunder".
The war began in early 234. From the available sources it is not quite clear, whether the conflict began with a Roman or Egyptian attack, although the majority opinion among historians deems a Roman aggression more probable. Shortly after the start of the conflict, Rome suffered two defeats at Cullis and Dion at the cost of roughly 8.000 casualties. Although the Republic would stabilize the situation with victories at Pelagonia and the Second Battle of Dion, the year 234 basically ended how it had begun.
Early in the year 233, Rome was able to seize the city of Thessalonice for a short while, before it had to give it up again after the lost battle close to Methone. In the south the battles of Pherai and Opous were won, although none of them were decisive victories and came with a high cost for the Republic either. In late 233 the Republic and the Ptolemaic Kingdom came to an agreement to end the hostilities and maintain the borders before the war.
Important battles of the Thessalian War
Without any doubt, the Republic had encountered an equal opponent in Thessaly and the result of the conflict was not flattering. Roman historians tried to explain away the outcome by shifting the blame on a surprise attack of the Egyptian forces, the unfavorable terrain and the obvious wrath of the Gods. Only Polybios dared to hint toward a failure in the general execution of the war as far as the Roman Commanders are concerned.
Modern history agrees with that and identifies two main reasons for Rome failing to make any progress. First of all the Roman Navy, although having increased in size, failed to hinder the movements of its counterpart. Hence the Egyptian forces received constant reinforcements from the mainland. Secondly the movements of the land forces were erratic and lacked a clear objective and focus. The Roman Legions acted all over the place and it is probable, that they just reacted to the Egyptian movements.
Eventually some authors point out a third factor. Roman hubris. In the 30 years prior to the Thessalian War, the Republic had experienced a triumphal march through Illyria and large parts of Greece without facing an opponent actually able to defeat them. It is possible, that the Republic began the war without providing the ressources in manpower, that would have been necessary to bring Egypt to its knees. But as frustrating as the result had been for the Legions, they would learn their lesson.
46 - Into Thracia (232)
Although it is rather an epilogue to the Thessalian War, some authors deem the Campaign of 232 as an independent chapter of it due to its strategic implications.
After the end of the Second Athenian League in the middle of the 4th Century and the dominating status of Macedonia afterward, Athens influence was reduced to Attica and the islands of Limnos and Imvros (today: Gökceada) close to the Dardanelles. In the late 260s, Attica was overrun by the Antigonid Kingdom and the islands were the only place left, run by an Athenian government in exile, which linked itself to the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
As one of Egypt`s client states, it entered the Thessalian War as one of Rome`s opponents. But although Ptolemaios III agreed to the peace of 233, Athens remained at war with the Republic. The reasons for this development are unknown. Either the peace treaty did not include Athens or Athens did not agree with it. Anyway, Egypt did not object to the following events.
In early 232, a Roman force made landfall on Limnos and after a siege of just four months, the local capital city had to surrender. The two islands were annexed by the Republic, that gained a foothold in the northern Aegean Sea, controlling the southern access to the Dardanelles.
The Republic deemed these islands with their estimated population of ten thousand people important enough to establish the province of Thracia with its own governor. On the other hand, the choice of the first man to hold that office has cast doubts about the actual short-term importance the Republic attributed to that region. Mettius Antistius was the one voted into that position. Quintus Fabius Pictor, a contemporary witness of the events, described Mettius as "a worthy companion for the Greeks: educated, eloquent and effeminate".
Although it is rather an epilogue to the Thessalian War, some authors deem the Campaign of 232 as an independent chapter of it due to its strategic implications.
After the end of the Second Athenian League in the middle of the 4th Century and the dominating status of Macedonia afterward, Athens influence was reduced to Attica and the islands of Limnos and Imvros (today: Gökceada) close to the Dardanelles. In the late 260s, Attica was overrun by the Antigonid Kingdom and the islands were the only place left, run by an Athenian government in exile, which linked itself to the Ptolemaic Kingdom.
As one of Egypt`s client states, it entered the Thessalian War as one of Rome`s opponents. But although Ptolemaios III agreed to the peace of 233, Athens remained at war with the Republic. The reasons for this development are unknown. Either the peace treaty did not include Athens or Athens did not agree with it. Anyway, Egypt did not object to the following events.
In early 232, a Roman force made landfall on Limnos and after a siege of just four months, the local capital city had to surrender. The two islands were annexed by the Republic, that gained a foothold in the northern Aegean Sea, controlling the southern access to the Dardanelles.
The Republic deemed these islands with their estimated population of ten thousand people important enough to establish the province of Thracia with its own governor. On the other hand, the choice of the first man to hold that office has cast doubts about the actual short-term importance the Republic attributed to that region. Mettius Antistius was the one voted into that position. Quintus Fabius Pictor, a contemporary witness of the events, described Mettius as "a worthy companion for the Greeks: educated, eloquent and effeminate".
47 - Venetian Containment (229)
During most of the 3rd Century, a power struggle for the control of the eastern Alps and the northwestern edge of the Balkan (today`s Slovenia and northern Croatia) raged between two very distinct people. On one side the Eravisci. A Pannonian Tribe with roots at the northern bank of Lake Balaton in today`s Hungary. On the other side the Veneti, a Latin people with cultural and religious characteristics familiar to the Romans, who lived at the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
As of 300, both people vastly expanded their influence. The Eravisci expanded westward into the Alps and south of it into today`s Slovenia. The Veneti northward to the other side of the mountains, where they established holdings in today`s southern Germany. By 275, these aggressive expansions had resulted in a long shared border. In a short but severe conflict, the Eravisci pushed the Veneti out of their northern holdings and reduced them to their native lands along the Adriatic.
This situation lasted for roughly ten years, before the Veneti began a counteroffensive. Between 265 and 245, the Veneti gained their northern holdings back and pushed the Eravisci out of the Alps back into the Hungarian plain. As a result, the Veneti had raised to an important regional power.
The Republic, being occupied with the Campaigns in Greece, may or may not have paid much attention to these developments. But it must have felt concerned, when the Veneti advanced further westward and reached the Po River in the mid 230s. In 233, probably supported and paid for by the Republic, a coup brought the Apronii family into power and the Veneti signed a Treaty with the Republic.
Veneti and Neighbors around 230
Nevertheless the Republic must have felt inclined to act, as the power of the Veneti increased in the region. During the next years, it began to expand its Illyrian holdings further eastward. Whether that happened primarily to gain a broader base in the region or to limit the Veneti`s possibilities for expansion southward is still debated.
To the southeast of the Veneti dwelled a number of Illyrian and Pannonian tribes, among them the Deuri, Breuci, Cotini and Oxuaioi. These seemed to have established a loose Alliance as a result of the growing influence of Romans and Veneti.
In 229, the Republic began a short Campaign versus the Deuri. Within eight months their capital was captured and their territories seized, after an allied Illyrian-Pannonian force of maybe 12.000 warriors was defeated by a Roman army. This swift victory was the beginning of a short period of realignments of Rome`s borders in the east.
During most of the 3rd Century, a power struggle for the control of the eastern Alps and the northwestern edge of the Balkan (today`s Slovenia and northern Croatia) raged between two very distinct people. On one side the Eravisci. A Pannonian Tribe with roots at the northern bank of Lake Balaton in today`s Hungary. On the other side the Veneti, a Latin people with cultural and religious characteristics familiar to the Romans, who lived at the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea.
As of 300, both people vastly expanded their influence. The Eravisci expanded westward into the Alps and south of it into today`s Slovenia. The Veneti northward to the other side of the mountains, where they established holdings in today`s southern Germany. By 275, these aggressive expansions had resulted in a long shared border. In a short but severe conflict, the Eravisci pushed the Veneti out of their northern holdings and reduced them to their native lands along the Adriatic.
This situation lasted for roughly ten years, before the Veneti began a counteroffensive. Between 265 and 245, the Veneti gained their northern holdings back and pushed the Eravisci out of the Alps back into the Hungarian plain. As a result, the Veneti had raised to an important regional power.
The Republic, being occupied with the Campaigns in Greece, may or may not have paid much attention to these developments. But it must have felt concerned, when the Veneti advanced further westward and reached the Po River in the mid 230s. In 233, probably supported and paid for by the Republic, a coup brought the Apronii family into power and the Veneti signed a Treaty with the Republic.
Veneti and Neighbors around 230
Nevertheless the Republic must have felt inclined to act, as the power of the Veneti increased in the region. During the next years, it began to expand its Illyrian holdings further eastward. Whether that happened primarily to gain a broader base in the region or to limit the Veneti`s possibilities for expansion southward is still debated.
To the southeast of the Veneti dwelled a number of Illyrian and Pannonian tribes, among them the Deuri, Breuci, Cotini and Oxuaioi. These seemed to have established a loose Alliance as a result of the growing influence of Romans and Veneti.
In 229, the Republic began a short Campaign versus the Deuri. Within eight months their capital was captured and their territories seized, after an allied Illyrian-Pannonian force of maybe 12.000 warriors was defeated by a Roman army. This swift victory was the beginning of a short period of realignments of Rome`s borders in the east.
48 - The Valley Campaign (228 - 227)
In early 228, the Republic began the second stage of increasing its influence in Illyria by pushing further away from the coast. This operation is now known as the Valley Campaign, since the Republic sent its Legions into the valleys of the Piva, Drina and Bosna rivers in what is today Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively Montenegro.
These valleys were inhabited by two people who were called Oxuaioi and Armistii by contemporary Roman authors, although little is known about their identity. The Valley Campaign got little attention by Roman (and also modern) Historians due to the remote location, the brief campaign and the questionable importance of the operation.
It is believed, that the Romans advanced into the territory of the Oxuaioi first and quickly captured their main settlement Pecina, near today`s Foca. It is debated, whether the Republic had initially planned to advance further into the lands of the Armistii, but soon their resistance was broken too.
It is reported, that at the same time a large battle between Rome and more than ten thousand Oxuaioi was fought further to the north. But the stated amount of Illyrian warriors as well as the location far away from their own settlements makes it highly unlikely. It is debated, whether such a battle took place. And if it did, whether the opponents were maybe sent by the Scordisci, a tribe that dwelled on the northern bank of the Sava River.
Anyhow the Campaign came to an end in mid 227, with all territories of the Oxuaioi and Armistii being annexed by the Republic.
In early 228, the Republic began the second stage of increasing its influence in Illyria by pushing further away from the coast. This operation is now known as the Valley Campaign, since the Republic sent its Legions into the valleys of the Piva, Drina and Bosna rivers in what is today Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively Montenegro.
These valleys were inhabited by two people who were called Oxuaioi and Armistii by contemporary Roman authors, although little is known about their identity. The Valley Campaign got little attention by Roman (and also modern) Historians due to the remote location, the brief campaign and the questionable importance of the operation.
It is believed, that the Romans advanced into the territory of the Oxuaioi first and quickly captured their main settlement Pecina, near today`s Foca. It is debated, whether the Republic had initially planned to advance further into the lands of the Armistii, but soon their resistance was broken too.
It is reported, that at the same time a large battle between Rome and more than ten thousand Oxuaioi was fought further to the north. But the stated amount of Illyrian warriors as well as the location far away from their own settlements makes it highly unlikely. It is debated, whether such a battle took place. And if it did, whether the opponents were maybe sent by the Scordisci, a tribe that dwelled on the northern bank of the Sava River.
Anyhow the Campaign came to an end in mid 227, with all territories of the Oxuaioi and Armistii being annexed by the Republic.
A Cold War against the Veneti in the west and a mighty opponent in the Ptolemies in the east. Rome is going to have her hands full.
I like that you have maps that are not screen dumps directly from the game. Do you make them completely out of hand or do you have a way to export them from the game?
When you start the game in debug mode, you can open the console and make screenshots of different map modes. The political maps are of course the most interesting ones. Then I simply open the screenshot with Paint, add some text and ready.
49 - The Island Campaign (226)
After expanding its influence further inland of Illyria, the Republic eventually turned its attention on subjugating the remaining unaligned islands in the Adriatic Sea. The result was the so-called Island Campaign of the year 226.
Most of the Islands on the Illyrian side of the Adriatic Sea were already under Roman control. The last remaining independent entities were Cherson in the north, that controlled the islands of Krk and Cres. In the center of the Adriatic coast was the realm of Issa, ruling the island of Vis.
Both entities were attacked at the same time in early 226. In May the cities of Curicum and Chersos in the north had been captured already, with roughly one third of the population being massacred during the looting. The island of Vis was able to hold out until August, before it had to surrender. Contrary to the events in the north, only a small number of inhabitants got enslaved.
Illyria in 226
With the Campaign coming to a swift end, the Illyrian expansion of the early 220s was completed, that had resulted in a consolidation of the Roman holdings and the acquisition of vital strongholds in the valleys of Central Illyria. The Republic was prepared to return to the Macedonian Theater again.
After expanding its influence further inland of Illyria, the Republic eventually turned its attention on subjugating the remaining unaligned islands in the Adriatic Sea. The result was the so-called Island Campaign of the year 226.
Most of the Islands on the Illyrian side of the Adriatic Sea were already under Roman control. The last remaining independent entities were Cherson in the north, that controlled the islands of Krk and Cres. In the center of the Adriatic coast was the realm of Issa, ruling the island of Vis.
Both entities were attacked at the same time in early 226. In May the cities of Curicum and Chersos in the north had been captured already, with roughly one third of the population being massacred during the looting. The island of Vis was able to hold out until August, before it had to surrender. Contrary to the events in the north, only a small number of inhabitants got enslaved.
Illyria in 226
With the Campaign coming to a swift end, the Illyrian expansion of the early 220s was completed, that had resulted in a consolidation of the Roman holdings and the acquisition of vital strongholds in the valleys of Central Illyria. The Republic was prepared to return to the Macedonian Theater again.
Thanks. I will try thisWhen you start the game in debug mode, you can open the console and make screenshots of different map modes. The political maps are of course the most interesting ones. Then I simply open the screenshot with Paint, add some text and ready.