141 AD 160 AD: Turn 8
Domestic Events
History is rife with irony.
It is a truism, in the world, that small events can spiral out of control, that actions can have unintended consequences. This fact is demonstrated in Gaul, when the new King, Tincomaros, son of Bituitos, grew paranoid. The change of a tribal confederacy into an empire is no easy task, and perhaps, some scholars suggested after the fact, that Tincomaros simply was not adept enough for the task at hand.
His first action, simple enough, was enacted to turn Gaul into a true empire. The nation was renamed the Celtic Empire, amidst much fanfare, that largely fell flat. Many Gallics thought that since they had conquered their empire, there was no need to generalize the name to include all of the vanquished tribes, vanquished tribes that were slowly assimilating, as it was. However, there were enough patriots that supported the move to largely cancel out the unrest, but still, a shockwave rippled though the nation, as the conservatives got more conservative, and the liberals got more liberal.
Tincomaros second major act, as ruler, however, was the one that incited the Mediterranean War. His soldiers having had caught some Roman spies inquiring about the state of Gallic defenses on the Rhone, Tincomaros instantly jumped to the conclusion that the Romans were about to launch a full blown attack.
This was the irony- in truth, the Romans had no such designs, and were merely trying to learn more about the fortifications. As events unfolded, Tincomaros learned this, but by then, it was too late to stop. With a massive army already heading south, Tincomaros decided to not stop them. The Cornwall settlement was abandoned as the troops there were sent south, and twenty seven thousand soldiers of the Celtic Empire, most newly raised, rushed at the Roman province of Cisalpine Gaul.
(-1 Celtic Army Training)
(See Spotlight)
Lusitania, ever the Gallic comparison, was much more placid. It paid its last payments to the Romans in exchange for being given Tingis, and its leaders made yet another technical error, this time, thinking that they could only raise a thousand soldiers with what treasury they had left, instead of five thousand. At least, that mistake was a happy one.
There was further northern coastal expansion, and the colony of Morroco was organized as to be more integrated with Lusitania, averting a possible civil war. The Lusitanians also encourage the Punics of their eastern territories to marry with Lusitanians, though a variety of programs, diluting the Punic blood, and generally integrating this region better, as well.
(-2 000 Lusitanian Regulars)
If the Lusitanians will come to their ally Romes aid in the Mediterranean War, however, remains to be seen.
Alemannia, the newly forged nation of central Europe, gets off to a rocky start. The Romans extend a hand of friendship to the nation, and donate to its treasury to help Alemannia establish itself, but this is shortly thereafter followed by a wave of assassinations against Alemannian chieftains, crippling the nation. Evidence seems to point that Rome was behind the killings, but many of the Alemannian people dont believe it, and think of the Celtic Empire as the source of the trouble.
(-1 Alemannian Leadership)
In Rome, with the Icosium bandits organization collapsing, their North African territories become calmer, and more productive. Carthage finally returns to its old status as a center of trade. Cagliari, by contrast, is far more gone, and the integration of the former Minoan trade city of Aleria into the province of Balearia dooms that citys recovery, as Aleria now serves much the same purpose that Cagliari once did.
(+Carthage as a Roman Economic Center)
The former nation of Barcelona is intergrated into Balearia as well, and with few issues, as the people of that nation are by now glad to be part of something greater.
That gladness, of course, turns to horror when the Celtic hordes come, but that story will have to wait.
(See Spotlight)
In Minoa, the blockade on the island of Crete is lifted, not so much because the Byzantine commanders actually ordered such an action, but because the fleet Oceanus is needed elsewhere. The Minoans, suddenly freed of the blockade, and worried that they might loose everything yet again, as a massive Roman fleet was coming to take Malta-
(See Spotlight)
-signed an agreement with the Aegyptians. Aegypt, now increasingly Mediterranean focused, and seeing in Minoa and opportunity to expand its power, convinced Minoa to sign a vassalage agreement, so that the merchant nation could be protected from Rome. The Minoans handing all power over foreign policy to the Aegyptians, who also took control of Minoas fleet. Or, at least, tried to.
(See Spotlight)
The Aegyptians also send a small number of their soldiers to fight in the Saharan Wars, on behalf of the tribes that aided them by occupying Cyrene, for a time. Conflicts between the Libyans are very confusing, and before long, the thousand soldiers sent on the expedition loose contact with the homeland and disappear without accomplishing much, but by the time that happens, the Aegyptians have far more pressing concerns.
(-1 000 Aegyptian Royal Guard)
The Aegyptian army and navy are both greatly grown.
(-1 Aegyptian Army Training, -1 Aegyptian Navy Training)
In Axum, King Yarden ben Yehoshua passes away, and Shmuel ben Yarden becomes the new monarch. The early parts of his rule are a happy time for Axum; he oversees the last of Axums tributes to Aegypt, and orders the construction of the great Axum Road, which when completed, is to connect the Horn of Africa to Matara. Axumite soldiers pour east to occupy the coastal land necessary to complete the great undertaking, and, from the other end, those of the Union of Arden, lured by promises of greater wealth for their nation as well, as the Road will begin in their nation, send their own small army to meet up with the Axumites.
The tribes between the two nations, while putting up a larger fight than expected, are crushed, and now that their bloodthirsty rulers have been killed, are adjusting well to life under the two Hebrew nations.
(-3 000 Axumite Regulars, -2 000 Aden Regulars)
Meanwhile, King Shmuel also begins luring Indian learned men across the great ocean, to his nation. While the distance discourages many, many come as well, lured by promises of high status in Africa, and rumors that those promises are indeed fulfilled.
(+1 Axumite Education)
In the Union of Aden, as well, the Indians are having a positive effect. The Greater Indian Wars grow larger, cutting off much of Indian eastern trade, and so, the rich nation of the Indus sends its merchants west. Arden prospers, as it is the primary focal of the trade, due to tensions between Greater India, and Persia.
(+Socotra as an Aden Economic Center)
North, the Arabian fanatic nation of Bachiria travels a more warlike path then the Hebrew trade states of Africa. Increased missionary activities mean that while some tribes are eager to join them, others seek to end the growing Bachirian power. Declaring a holy war in defense of True Judaism, a tribal chieftain in southern Arabia named Samuel bands a horde together, and sends it northward.
His plan doesnt work all that well, however, as King Negev of Bachira is well prepared for the attack. As his people flock to recruit themselves into the army, Negev marshals his forces, and does battle. When the dust settles, Samuel is dead, the Bachirans are victorious, and the throne in Medina finds itself occupying far more territory than it knows what to do with.
(+13 000 Bachiran Skirmishers, -9 000 Bachiran Skirmishers, -3 000 Bachiran Kanaim)
Holding lands up to the southern Arabian coast, now, the Bachirans find themselves less struggling to defeat the natives, as those were mostly wiped out, but rather, struggling to deal with the onslaught of diplomacy that has assaulted them. The Union of Aden, now surrounded by the Bachirans, is trying to find out what the Bachiran plans are for the trade state, and the Greater Indians are meeting the Bachirans directly for the first time, even as the Bachirans try unsuccessfully to be left alone.
The Bachiran isolationist policies are also hurting the nation in other ways. Aegypt has encouraged its merchants to seize all of the Red Sea trade, which caused the Axumite and the Aden merchants to try to stop them, and the increased traffic on the region is pulling commerce away from Mecca. Something must be done, and soon, to prevent the loss of that citys status.
North of Arabia, there is Byzantium, and Greece, and a multitude of wars associated therein.
Emperor Demos of Byzantium declares that Bosporan, which his father had ignored, to focus on Assyria, is an illegal entity, and will be restored to the Byzantine fold. He also declares war on Athens and Sparta, claiming that the Greeks need to be united once again, so that together they can face the evil of Assyria.
(See Military Events)
Assyria meanwhile, under David III, realizes the impossibility of offensive operations. With Persias declaration of war against Assyria burning Davids ears, he realizes there is nothing to be done, but force the Byzantines and the Persians to pay for every step of ground they took. He builds massive lines of fortifications at both ends of his empire, calling him to be called by some, the Turtle. He also encourages a revival of Assyrian sprit, and receives another batch of volunteers. Orders for the Hittite people, and the people of Syria to rise up and rebel against the Byzantine occupiers, however, fall flat, as two decades of warfare in their lands have removed the spines from these groups, at least temporarily.
(+10 000 Assyrian Skirmishers)
Persia, meanwhile, as already mentioned, enters the Eagle War, but does so in a rather odd manner. King Xerxes orders his men to invade and capture the Persian rebels in Assyria. His generals arent quite sure what to make of this, but they try their best to follow his orders anyway. They march their banners into ethnic Persian lands, and reoccupy them with little fuss, to the joy of the populace, but, not having orders to go farther, they do not.
(-1 000 Persian Regulars)
Ur, in the midst of this all, founds a new city, Apologos, but does little else.
On the subcontinent, Greater India decides to expand the Greater Indian Wars, growing its army immensely. Even as the peace treaty that turns what remains of Bengal into a vassal state is signed, the Army of the Deccan invades Satavahana. Rumors that this action will cause Bengal to redeclare war against Greater India prove to be unfounded, but Pandya, in an informal alliance with Satavahana, comes to the aid of its ally.
(-1 Greater Indian Army Training)
As the patriots rejoice, saying that all this means is that soon, the entire region will be ruled by Delhi, the naysayers wonder if Greater India has bit off more than it can chew
(See Military Events)
A second Greater Indian expedition to the mythical island of Zanzibar gets underway, and this time, the exploratory fleet somehow manages to make it. Of course, Zanzibar is very much distant from the homeland, and brings no economic benefits to Greater India, whereas maintaining the outpost is a significant drain on resources. However, with a Greater Indian flag at last planted on the island, perhaps the brave soldiers and sailors upon it will soon be allowed to go home.
(-1 000 Greater Indian Regulars, -2 Greater Indian Ships)
In Bengal, tributes to Greater India have nearly bankrupted the nation. Its people are starving, and its rulers beg the lords of Delhi to remove the crippling tributes.
(-1 Bengali Confidence)
Pandya advances to the Iron Age.
(+Pandya in Iron Age)
Cambodia, aided in part by its military commander, Qifing Huo, begins a new birth, similar to the new birth that half the nations in the world have seemed to be experiencing, recently. A new city, Ghangzhou, is built at the very south of Cambodias holdings, and the new Indian-Chinese trade in the region promises to grant Ghangzhou greater status in the world, soon.
In addition, the entire nation is mapped out, in a series of journeys by cartographers. New elite soldiers have begun to be trained, though much about them is shrouded in mystery, and they are not yet in large numbers.
Cambodia, aided by its navy, begins to expand southwest, colonizing the Malay peninsula. The Malays are not all that happy about this, and skirmishes and minor battles occur, but the Cambodian colonists have begun to dominate the region, and there is little the Malays can do about them now, short of banding together
(-3 000 Cambodian Regulars)
In the Middle Kingdom, the Stick War
continues.
(See Military Events)
Zhou grows a massive navy for this purpose, and is hit by the inherent penalties.
(-1 Zhou Navy Training)
Military Events
Taiwan explodes into bloody civil war. The great great great grandson of the Admiral Zhao who fought in the Taiwanese War, is backed by the Zhou, and attempts to seize power on the island nation. This man, General Zhao, splits Taiwanese allegiances, with roughly half of the nation supporting him, so that he can restore Taiwan to glory, and the other half supporting the Chu-backed monarchy.
The military, oddly enough, is mostly pro-Chu, and so, Zhao finds himself on the defensive almost immediately. After a failed attempt to take Kaohsiung, Zhao and his supporters retreat to the north, foiling endless attempts by the Taiwanese government to defeat them.
(-4 000 Taiwanese Regulars)
Meanwhile, the government of Nan, expecting Taiwanese soldiers to come to their aid, but receiving only a navy to weakly blockade the rebels, witnesses a growth in their power. The blockade, and the general chaos of the war, end Julu as an economic center of the rebels, but the rebellion, unable to be contained by just Loyalist Nan troops, as the Chu are busy elsewhere, spreads through the south of the Middle Kingdom, and even into Chu lands that are majority Nan. The Nan central government hangs on by a thread.
(-Julu as a Rebel Economic Center, -3 000 Nan Regulars, -5 Taiwanese Ships)
The naval front of the Stick War is very confusing. The scattered yet well trained Chu fleet is ordered to cut Zhou supply lines, defeat what Zhou ships in can, and cause general havoc. Fighting in the south, in Chu regions, and aided by loyalist fishermen, the Chu navy prevents the Zhou from controlling all the sea, and force the majority of their ships north of the Yangtze River.
(-15 Zhou Ships, -10 Chu Ships)
North, the Koryo send their army to the aid of their Chu allies, and invade the Zhou northern territories, in force. Ready and waiting for them, the Zhou were outnumbered in the region, yet better trained. After a variety of indecisive battles, the Zhou prevented the Koryo from taking the trade city of Jiaoli.
(-9 000 Koryo Regulars, -2 000 Zhou Teo-Wakan Warriors, -2 000 Zhou Regulars)
However, while the Chu suffered their losses, they also experienced victories. In Liang, the Chu succeeded in turning the tribal chieftains against each other, removing Liang from the war, as the different tribes fought each other over who was to claim the newly conquered Chu lands. The central government of Liang, never strong, is now close to collapse.
(-5 000 Liang Regulars)
But all of the theaters already mentioned were nothing at all, compared to the epic Battle of Ying that took place in the early years of the new decade. At their capital, fourteen thousand Chu soldiers fortified the city like hell, even as twenty two thousand Zhou soldiers massed, and attempted to take it. Casualties were horrific, and the battle lasted on and of for years, but in the end, superior Zhou numbers were just too much for the city. What remained of the Chu armies in the region retreated, managing to get their Emperor to safety, and the city of Ying burned.
(-Ying as a Zhou Economic Center, -10 000 Chu Regulars, -5 000 Zhou Teo-Wakan Warriors, -5 000 Zhou Regulars, -1 Chu Confidence)
All seemed hopeless for the Chu, and their nation seemed on the brink of collapse, until Emperor Mang of the Chu decided that desperate times called for desperate measures. He called upon the steppe barbarians of the west, and bribed them to come to Chus aid. They were his last hope.
But they served him well.
The Zhou army, bunched up near the newly captured ruins of Ying, was unprepared for the onslaught that was to follow. The Horse Demons, as they quickly became known, raced northward, and recaptured Chengdu from the Zhou with little resistance.
(-1 000 Chu Horse Demons, -1 000 Zhou Regulars)
Emperor Si, quite disturbed, by now, and his primary plan, one of defeating the Chu through naval domination, defeated, hesitated, when asked by a general for orders.
And so, when another army of Horse Demons struck at Shanghai, the small Zhou garrison was confused on what to do. Shanghai and environs was recaptured, and gaining momentum from the stunning successes, the Chu have managed to push the Zhou back over the Yangtze River in the east, and capture a tiny amount of Zhou territory.
(-2 000 Chu Horse Demons, -4 000 Chu Regulars, -1 000 Zhou Teo-Wakan Warriors, -3 000 Zhou Regulars)
Stunning successes have come to the Chu, in the latest years of the war, but it remains to be seen if the Horse Demons can stand up to the Zhou prime army, an army that has never lost a battle of the Stick War.
Heading west, we come to India. The Second Greater Indian War, or rather, a new stage of the Greater Indian Wars, has begun. The sixteen thousand of the Army of the Deccan tramples into Satavahana, and they, of course, cannot be stopped by the armies of Satavahana in fair and equal combat. However, guerrilla warfare delays them. North Satvahana falls, after a deadly battle, that destroyed much of the Satavahanan capital city of Nagarjunakonda, but the armies of Greater India get bogged down in the south, as they face off against superior numbers. The anti-Greater Indian coalition actually manages to make two successes. First, their fleets, greatly larger than the Greater Indian navy, destroy commerce on the east Indian coast, and secondly, an attack by Pandya occupies the entirety of the island of Ceylon. But if, or rather when, the Prince of Delhi decides to pour more troops into the conflict, even the diehards of the South Indian alliance believe they do not stand a chance.
(-Nagarjunakonda as a Greater Indian Economic Center, -Nagpur as a Greater Indian Economic Center, -9 000 Greater Indian Regulars, -9 000 Satavahanan Regulars, -6 000 Pandyan Regulars)
And even further west, the Eagle War drags on. At the eastern edge of the Assyrian Empire, a substantial Assyrian force sits behind barricades, waiting for a Persian attack that doesnt happen.
However, in the west, there are most certainly battles. The Hermes and the Ares armies of Byzantium led by Emperor Demos himself, head out to deal with the Assyrians once and for all. Communication problems, or rather, math errors, lead the Byzantine command to think there are two thousand more soldiers in the Ares army then there actually are, but this is made up for by two thousand Aegyptian Royal Guards attached to the Ares army, fighting in a war not their own due to some bizarre diplomatic deal, which appears not to have gone through.
In any case, Demos armies are initially successful. Heavy spending in the field of logistics, and good preparations, render Assyrias hit and run tactics null and void, but before long, Demos armies find themselves against Assyrias wall of fortifications, which they were unprepared for. To their horror, the Byzantines find themselves outnumbered, and faced by troops almost as well trained as they are. In the end, the Byzantines do manage to break through the fortification lines, but are then stalled at the Euphrates River.
(-1 000 Aegyptian Royal Guards, -6 000 Byzantine Myrmidons, -6 000 Assyrian Skirmishers, -3 000 Assyrian Regulars)
Fierce fighting breaks out, Demos tries to cross the river, discovers he cant, and does his best to consolidate his position, all the while fending off Assyrian raids, which are slowly grinding his army down.
(-4 000 Byzantine Myrmidons, -1 000 Assyrian Desert Princes, -2 000 Assyrian Skirmishers, -2 000 Assyrian Regulars)
The Byzantine soldiers in Syria wonder at what cost the next successes will come.
West, the other Byzantine operations occur. In Athens, for some reason, it seems the Byzantines had been trying to get Athens to declare war against Sparta, and when that failed, they declared war against both nations. Odd. But nevertheless, the Byzantines began the war, by soundly defeating the Athenian navy.
(-10 Athenian Ships, -6 Byzantine Ships)
However, as Byzantine troops invade the Attic peninsula, they find the massive, well trained army of Athens waiting for them, just as they had been waiting for decades, for one nation or another to try to break their nation. The Byzantines fell into that trap. Out numbered, out trained, and no longer with the benefit of surprise, the Byzantines fall back to Thebes, and stall the armies of Athens there, but are very much forced on the defensive. The Byzantine blockade of Athens, however, destroys the citys trade, negating any good feelings the Athenians might have about their government.
(-7 000 Athenian Hoplites, -4 000 Byzantine Marines, -4 000 Byzantine Myrmidons, -Athens as an Athenian Economic Center)
Sparta, while officially at war with Byzantium, notes that if they try an amphibious invasion, the superior Byzantine navy will crush them, and so, does not try to attack, even as the Byzantines, occupied with Athens, do not try to attack Sparta, either.
North, the campaign against Bosporan is perhaps the least infuriating of them all. Soundly destroying the Bosporan Navy in a swift campaign, the Byzantines attack their old colony with superior numbers, kill the government, install a new provincial government, and depart, leaving the rather tired Bosporans no real reason to try to rebel again, as the wealth of the dead aristocrats of the Bosporan government was distributed amongst the populace, generating good feelings towards Constantinopolis, once more.
(-Bosporan as an Independent Nation, -3 000 Byzantine Marines, -2 000 Byzantine Regulars, -4 Byzantine Ships)
