181 AD 200 AD: Turn 10
Domestic Events
It is odd, that after so much warfare, after the humbling of Rome by the Celtic hordes, and the Aegyptian elites, after the fall of Assyria, after the sack of Lanitan, that the world still has the strength to endure more conflict. More lands are bathed in war, now, and some old conflicts seem unable to die. Fathers and mothers cry out for their lost children, but those cold intelligences that drive it all seem unable, or unwilling to stop.
In the far north, the isle known as Britain undergoes invasion by Germanic tribes. The Anglo-Saxons arrive, drive the native Celts northward, and set up two states, Wessex, and Mercia. Mercia, to the north of Wessex is the larger of the two, but Wessex is more settled, and consequently, more rich.
(+London as a Wessex Economic Center)
Attempts thus far by the Wessex king to unite the thrones of the two countries have failed, however, and, as both the Anglo-Saxon states are new, they are constantly threatened by Celtic raids from both the northlands, and Wales.
In Scandinavia, another northern state is formed. The city of Stockholm in Scandinavia rises to prosperity after many successful raiding campaigns, and seems ready to conquer new lands.
(+Stockholm as a Stockholm Economic Center)
The Celtic Empire standardizes its theology. The three gods, Taranis, Lugus, and Teutates are proclaimed to be primary. Interestingly, this causes very little in the way of a negative ripple effect, as the people are still allowed to worship the gods they wish. However, this reformed Celtic polytheism spreads at a rapid pace, and has already begun to dominate the south of the nation. The north is slowly converting, and the Celtiberians and Germanics to the south and east of the Celtic Empire are doing the same. In the Roman areas under Celtic occupation, the new, more centralized beliefs diffuse to the Roman people, who, relived that the Celts have a religion somewhat close to theirs, and not wanting to offend their new lords, begin to accept Taranis, Lugus, and Teutates as deities as well.
This comes with a backlash, of course, as Roman theology and Roman god-worship spreads north, but nevertheless, the integration brings stability. Upon that principle, the Celtic government integrates its eastern territories.
The humbling of Rome is propagandized to no end in the Celtic Empire, and this makes its people joyous. The army is, of course, greatly grown for one last final push.
(+1 Celtic Confidence, -1 Celtic Army Training)
To the north, the Cornwall trading settlement is established without incident, though its is surrounded by Wessex lands. Another trading settlement is established at Coruna, at the northwest tip of Iberia.
In Lusitania, attacks by the Third Punic Empire intensify, prompted by Celtic support. The Lusitanian people repel these attacks, and, while abandoning Punic Iberia, consolidate in their homelands. Forcibly, the Celtiberian barbarian attackers are evicted, a rebellion in Morocco is put down. Assasinations of important Lusitanian leaders abound, but somehow, the nation manages to hold together. However, the Lusitanian people know that once Aegyptian forces land, they are doomed. And so, a strange plan begins to be formulated
(-3 000 Lusitanian Regulars, -1 Lusitanian Leadership)
From the horribly weakened and embattled Rome, General Psidus leads thousands of his legionaries and thousands of refugees westward, into central Iberia. Declaring that Rome, is finished, but Roman culture does not have to be, he founds Madrid, and, with his soldiers, easily conquers the local Celtiberian tribes, weak from fighting Lusitania. Psidus declares himself King Psidus I, and his nation, known as Madria, is proving oddly successful.
(6 000 Roman Legionaries to Madria as Regulars, -1 000 Mardian Regulars, +Madrid as a Mardian Economic Center)
Rome continues to fall apart. Internal strife nearly ends the nation alone, and the fact that the senate is scattered doesnt help much either. Good news does come to Roman ears, as its seems Aegypt concluded a peace treaty with their nation, but by now, it is quite clear that the Celtics are more then enough to finish them off.
(See Military Events)
Byzantium, after the hard fought Eagle War, solidifies its overlordship over the northern Levant. In former Assyria, Byzantine armies conquer the anarchic trade city of Dura, and then formerly proclaim they have no further ambitions east. Completely ignored for decades, a small piece of what was once Byzantium, now the last refuge of some free Hittites, has been officially abandoned by the Byzantines.
(-3 000 Byzantine Myrmidons)
And so, the Byzantine Empire enters a period of consolidation. All lands conquered in the Attic and Eagle Wars are annexed, and a system of regions is set up, giving Bosporas, Hellas, Megas Byzantium, Megas Phoenicia, and Constantiopolis each their own governor. Changes are made on the city level as well, as the Byzantines institute a system of Basileus Archons. The military is also inflated to more reasonable prewar levels, and all of these changes, combined with the promise that peace has finally come, generally makes the people of Byzantium quite happy. Hellenization is also proceeding apace.
(-1 Byzantine Army Training, -1 Byzantine Navy Training, +1 Byzantine Confidence)
Of course, there is a counter to all this good fortune. The cities sacked in the wars still are barren and lifeless, and the lands of Greece and Asia Minor, while united, are much poorer then they were before Byzantium began its rise to the top. Advisors suggest that economic investment might enliven the economy.
South, Aegypt, now at peace with Rome, consolidates. The Onyx Pyramids are finally completed, and their glory has spearheaded Aegypt into a new golden age. And in that golden age, Aegypt conquers North Africa.
(See Military Events)
Even further south, Axumite expansion cuts off the African territories of the Union of Aden from the possibility of their own future expansion.
(-1 000 Axumite Regulars)
In addition, though continued trade with Greater India, the Axumite people enter a new stage of development.
(+Axum in Middle Age)
In Arabia, the Union of Aden, frightened that Bachira will soon dominate the peninsula, expands its little corner of desert, to create a buffer zone around its capital.
(-1 000 Union of Aden Regulars)
As per Adenese fears, even more tribes swear their allegiance to Medina, and the lands of Bachira grow drastically.
North, the end of the Eagle War only brings more suffering. The Persian king marries one of David IIIs daughters, which nominally increases support for him in Assyrian territories. Then, that same king decides that he wants all of southern Mesopotamia, and so, he decides Ur must fall. However, it seems the Urrians were ready for him
(See Military Events)
Persian expansion in Arabia continues, but now, they have borders with Bachira, and this could prove to be a problem in the future.
(-1 000 Persian Regulars)
In India, problems appear as Zoroastrianism spreads eastwards into the Iranian lands, threatening the unity of the nation. However, Greater Indian expansion, at least, continues, with Tibet invaded, the Andaman Islands occupied, and small colonies at Java and Rangoon set up.
(-5 000 Greater Indian Regulars)
And yet, something seems wrong. The empire appears too be getting to big for itself, as it stretches from Iran to Singapore, from Tibet, to Zanzibar. A great project under development, in the form of roads, will bring unity to the subcontinent, but some wonder if it will be completed fast enough.
(-1 Greater Indian Confidence)
Further east, Cambodia stagnates, and the Stick War
ends.
(See Spotlight)
Japan founds Izumo, and conquers a variety of Ainu tribes.
(-2 000 Japanese Regulars)
Military Events
Interestingly enough, Lusitanian fears that the Aegyptians will invade prove to be unfounded. Lusitanian anger against the Celtic Empire grows, as it becomes clearer and clearer that that nation is behind all the Lusitanian chaos. And so, in a manner quite similar to General Psidus, a small number of Lusitanian council leaders, a number of soldiers loyal to them, and a number of Lusitanian civilians all take off on ships, and sail north, to bring the fight to the Celts.
Despite horrible conditions on the journey, a sizable force of Lusitanians arrives at Brittany, and lands, catching the Celts as their armies are campaigning in the south. Celtic hordlets are called up, to repulse the invaders, but quite simply, there are not enough soldiers in the region to prevent the Lusitanians from wreaking havoc in the north.
(+5 000 Celtic Skirmishers, -3 000 Celtic Skirmishers, -3 000 Lusitanian Regulars, -4 Lusitanian Ships)
After the initial battles, however, it seems clear that the Lusitanians do not have such high goals. Once Brittany was secured, further major attacks stopped, and a Kingdom of Brittany was established, as a completely independent state from Lusitania. Playing on northern Celtic fear of southern Celtic modernization, the Lusitanians manage to set up a somewhat stable state, supplied by trade with the Anglo-Saxon nations, and intermarriage already has established a sort of proto-Celtilusitanian culture in Brittany. Raids still occur between the nations of Brittany and the Celtic Empire, but the war is more or less stagnate. When the Celtic armies return from their campaigns in the south, it is predicted that Brittany will meet a quick end, but that has not happened yet, and so, there is still hope.
(2 000 Lusitanian Regulars to Brittany, 6 Lusitanian Ships to Brittany)
South, the Mediterranean War, which is now more of a misnomer than anything else, continues on between the Romans, and the Celts. In Barcelona, a small Roman army is goaded northwards, crushed, and the Celts occupy the region with the help of pro-Celtic rebels.
(-2 000 Roman Legionaries, -3 000 Celtic Warriors of Taranis)
In Italia, at least, the Romans put up somewhat more fight. A marine invasion of Pisae is beaten off, and in the northern regions of the peninsula, the Romans actually fight the Celtics to a stalemate for a time, until low morale gets the better of them, and the army simply starts dissolving, as per Psidus example. When that begins to happen, the Celtics, taking full advantage of the proceedings, defeat the remnants, and cause remaining loyal Roman soldiers to flee south. Northern Italia is occupied, Pisae is taken by the Celts from the north, rather than the west, and the Roman nation disintegrates, as the provisional senate called up after the sack of Rome simply cannot hold the nation together, amid stereotypical Celtic assassinations of everyone important and remotely patriotic.
(-7 000 Celtic Warriors of Taranis, -Rome as an Independent Nation)
Even as Rome descends into chaos, the Celts find they can go no farther then Pisae, or else be completely overstretched. As the watch from the areas of their enforced control, warlords fight over what remains free of Celtic hands.
Byzantium, aware of all the proceedings in Roman lands, sends an army to Illyria, which quickly defeats local warlords and occupies the region, much to the joy of the Romans there, many of which see Byzantium as their last hope for stability.
(-2 000 Byzantine Myrmidions)
On the southern side of the Mediterranean, Aegypt declares war on Cyrene, as that nation violated their alliance by failing to declare war on Rome, and also declares that the Third Punic Empire rebels in Carthaginian lands will not be recognized, and the lands they currently hold will be integrated into Greater Aegypt.
The general brilliance of Aegyptian leadership, combined with overwhelming numbers, conquers Cyrene easily. The Punics are more difficult to deal with, but they never truly managed to set up a stable government in the first place, and hit and run tactics are only so effective against an Aegyptian city-hopping campaign.
(-5 000 Aegyptian Regulars, -4 000 Aegyptian Royal Guards, -Cyrene as an Independent Nation)
Deprived of a nation, the sizable Cyrene fleet turns to piracy in the Northwestern Mediterranean, making that region all the more chaotic.
In Mesopotamia, the Urrian War begins. A massive Urrian army is grown, even as the Persian attempt to flood across the Tigris.
(-1 Urrian Army Training)
Outnumbered, but utilizing good tactics, the Urrians, while unable to stop the Persian advance across the Tigris, make then pay for it. Once across the Tigris, the Persians run into line after line of Urrian soldiers, which generally bog them down. Lack of significant planning or logistics hurts the Persian cause substantially, and in the end, they are repelled, even as fortifications are set up by the Urrians on their side of the Tigris, to deter the Persians from attacking again. The Urrian War, thus far, has accomplished nothing.
(-6 000 Persian Regulars, -4 000 Urrian Regulars, -1 000 Urrian Archers)