Hail, Carthage! Light of Civilization!

[Grandmaster]

Civ: Carthage
Map: Marla Singer's Worldmap 3C3- Modified by Plexus, minorly modified by me
Difficulty: Monarch
Goal: Reverse history. Win the Punic Wars and make Carthage, not Rome, the dominant power in the Mediterannean.

Hannibal stood on a cliff overlooking the sea. He watched as the waves crashed against the shore. It had been those waves that brought his people here, many miles from their ancestral homelands. Long ago they had lived far away, in a land remembered now only in name: Phoenicia. Hannibal's ancestors had been traders, sailing throughout the Mediterannean Sea in search of new markets for Phoenician goods. Their ship, the Cartago, had been en route to an island called Sicilia when it had been caught in a tempest and thrown off course. This part of their history Hannibal's people remembered well. What came next was only legend, albeit legend that most people accepted as fact. The Cartago was said to have run aground, badly battered, some miles to the east. Here the survivors had tried to find food and shelter, but had been denied. The land was dry and barren, forsaken by the gods and ignored even by the desert lizards. The crew of the Cartago had wandered slowly westward, always in search of a place to camp. In a strange and distant land called Tripolitania they had come across other people. Alas, these people were not men like the civilized Phoenicians; they were barbarians, vicious murderers. They chased the few remaining members of the Cartago party from their lands, pursuing them all the way to the Gulf of Gabes. Here the barbarians had broken off their pursuit and returned home. The men, almost ready to give up, continued north along the coast, until one day their eyes fell upon a miraculous site. They crested a hill and from atop it spied a great valley. The valley was filled with lush pastureland and rich soil, and grew wild with wheat, grapes, and other produce. At the northern end of the valley was a tall cliff that over looked the sea. They also met here a local tribe, and over time intermarriage between the two peoples led to the creation of Hannibal's tribe.

And so here Hannibal was. His people had elected him as their leader, and bestowed upon him the title of General. He was responsible for their survival. His predecessors had protected these people by arming ever able-bodied man and training them to defend their own subsistance farm. But Hannibal had another plan. He would bring all the people together inside a large encampment, a city, and build a wall around it. The best warriors would serve to protect the city, the best farmers would feed everyone, and the best artisans would create manufactured goods. In this way, Hannibal believed his tiny tribe could grow to greatness. Perhaps they could even rival the long-lost utopia of Phoenicia itself.

It took some 100 years to build the city. The people of the tribe toiled in the heat of the sun to build homes, streets, and even a palace form which Hannibal could rule. Finally, in 4000 BC, the city was complete. The people asked Hannibal what they would call it. He know immediately that only one name would fit this great city: Carthage.

 

[Jason The King]

Wow, great start and interesting goal, Grandmaster.

I wonder if you can make it by 0 ad?

Jason

 

[Hooray]

Numidian Mercs versus Legionaries? It's gonna be a close one. Good luck.

 

[Grandmaster]

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to the war with Rome; should be a close fight, and fun to write about. But before I take on Caesar I have to build my North African empire.

And Jason, I accept your challenge. By 0 AD Carthage will control the Mediterannean.

 

[Grandmaster]

Carthage had grown quickly. In the green valleys and open plains to the south, herders raised cattle and farmers grew wheat that fed the entire city. A force of soldiers had been trained and armed with stone weapons, and served to protect the great city from attack. But now Carthage was getting crowded. Hannibal knew that his people would need to expand to other lands if they wanted to thrive. And so he raised a party of strong, adventurous men and fertile women to move west and build a new settlement. Hannibal gave an historic speech before they set out for the wilderness:

"Friends, countrymen, lend me your ears! Today we set upon one of the greatest undertakings in our history. For many hundreds of years we have lived within the confines of this city and its surrounding country. Few of our number have ever left this immediate area. But this land is too small for our people to build a great nation on. That is why the future of our race falls upon the shoulders of the brave men and women who stand before you. It is they who must travel beyond the horizon, to the land of the setting sun. It is they who, once there, must build a new Carthage in which our people can live and our culture can thrive. Go west, brave settlers! Go west to the lands where cattle may graze and men may live! You are undertaking a glorious mission to spread the light of Carthaginian civilization to the darkest regions of the earth! I, Hannibal, salute you."

With the address completed, the caravan of settlers took off to the west, following the life-giving coastline in search of fertile lands.

They found the site for their new settlement in a region very much like their home of Carthage. They bedded down by a mighty river, on wide-open plains that bordered green pastures. The southern reaches of the plains grew wild with grain, and were as fertile as the plains of Carthage. The entire party agreed that this would be a fine place for a great city.

Hannibal's son, Scipio Uticus, had led the settler party. He was made leader of the new city, and put in charge of the building project. He also gave the city its name, Utica. Word soon reached and Carthage, and Hannibal declared a day of celebration for the founding of his son's city.

 

[Grandmaster]

Carthage had spread its culture along the western coast. Utica occupied a large portion of a land known as Numidia. The Numidians were known as fierce warriors and skilled tacticians. It was for this reason that Hannibal sent an embassery to the Numidian tribes around Utica. The smiths of Carthage had recently discovered how to work bronze, and were putting it to use in the making of spears, shields, and armor. Hannibal knew that in the hands of professionally trained Numidian soldiers, these weapons could be devastating effective. He offered the Numidians a deal: if they would fight for Carthage, then they would be well paid and rewarded with Carthaginian citizenship. Many Numidians agreed, and becmae Numidian Mercenaries.

The first of these Numidian divisions was sent to the Atlas Mountains in the southern desert. Hannibal had heard rumors of a tribe called the Illuryians living in these mountains. They were said to be highly aggressive, prone to raiding the settlements of civilized nations. And so the General ordered his Numidian troops attack and destroy the Illuryian villages in the mountains.

At first the Carthaginian/Numidian force thought it would be easy to disband the Illuryian encampment. When they first arrived in the mountains they found a friendly-looking town that seemed to be undefended. They entered the settlement, and were suddenly ambushed by a number of Illuryian fighters. Looking to their west, they also saw another, hostile-looking camp with a clearly-visible garrison. The Numidians knew they were in for a fight.

The Numidian Mercenaries charged into the Illuryian camp shortly after being ambushed. They quickly overwhelmed the primitive garrison, armed only with stone axes and completely untrained. The superior arms and armor of the Carthaginian soldiers allow them to destroy the entire camp and kill all of its defenders. Sacking the tribal chief's home yielded great riches for Carthage. But the battle was not over. The Numidians were still surrounded by enemies. Some of the barbarian raiders had even traveled north to threaten Carthage itself. The Carthaginian garrison of stone axemen, as well as the Numidians in the south, continued to fight on. The Numidians attacked southward into the hills, their long bronze spears making quick work of the untrained warriors of the Illuryians. On the northern plains, the axemen fortified their position against the Illuryians, while Carthaginian workers busy mining the plainsland retreated to the city's defenses. For the first time in many years, Carthage itself was under direct threat from the enemy.

 

[Ukraineboy]

Hey, could you give me a link to this map by itself? also, does this map have realistic starting points?

 

[Grandmaster]

The people of Carthage had always known they were not the only people on earth. They had fought against the Illuryians, and their legends told both of the Phoenicians and of the Tripolitanians. But they had always assumed they were the only civilized nation of the world. This proved to be false, when two new nations appeared on the scene: Rome and Egypt.

Agents of Rome and Egypt appeared to Hannibal's men as they traveled the sea and coast. Carthaginian fishermen had discovered Sicilia and Italia while deep-sea fishing north of Carthage. Along the coast of Italia, these fishermen had come into contact with a force of Roman archers. The Romans had been polite enough, happy to trade with Carthage. But Hannibal was worried. His father, on his deathbed, had warned him of a dangerous people that existed to the north. Hannibal had dismissed it as a fantasy of a dying man, but now his words rang true. Hannibal's father had told him that unless these people were destroyed they would attack Carthage, burn it to the ground, and salt the earth so nothing would grow their again. Again, Hannibal had ignored it as a madman's fancy. But now the threat seemed real enough. Hannibal made up his mind. As soon as he was able, he would launch a campaign into Italia and destroy this Rome, where ever it was.

Egypt had been discovered by a settler party heading east ino the land of Tripolitania, which had been abandoned following the strange disappearance of the marauding Tripolitanians. The Egyptian soldiers said their lands were farther east, along the banks of a mighty river they called Father Nile. But the settler not concerned. Unlike the Romans, the Egyptians had the same complexion as the average Carthaginian, spoke a similar tongue, and lived along a grat river. The two nations were very similar, and got along well.

Simultaneously, the campaign in the south was over. The Illuryians had been routed and destroyed, without getting within striking range of Carthage. The Numidian forces had learned well from their combat experience, and had become Elite troops. They would serve Hannibal well in the coming years.

 

[Grandmaster]

@ukraineboy: Yeah, its a real worldmap with accurate start locations. Made by Marla Singer, modified for C3C by Plexus. Just click the link below.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads5/msworldmap3Q.zip

 

[Grandmaster]

Shortly after meeting the Egyptians in Tripolitania, the eastern settler party found a site by the sea to make camp. Here they settled the small village of Leptis. Within 100 years it would grow into a city, known now as Leptis Magna. The people fed on wheat and other grains grown on the eastern plains, as they continued to build the city. They enjoyed good relations with Egypt, even trading food and trinkets. The third outpost of Carthaginian civilization was thriving like the other two.

 

[Grandmaster]

Hannibal had sent another party of settlers west, beyond Utica, to build a fifth city. But when they arrived at what appeared to be the most fertile land in the area, they discovered a problem: colonists from Europe had already built a small town on the land. A distance people called the English had sent people by sea all the way to Africa to settle. Hannibal was shocked and angered that these people would steal his people's land. Didn't they have their own continent to live on? Luckilly, these settlers were escorted by Numidian soldiers, and so Hannibal gave the order.

"Make unrestricted war on England. Evict them from our continent, push their colonists back into the sea. Burn their homes and trample their fields! They must learn not to take the land that rightfully belongs to Carthage.!"

The first wave of attack failed. At first the Numidian's superior training and weapons allowed to massacre the stone-age garrison of Coventry. But the English warriors were able to build up the courage to fight back, charging madly at the Numidians and overrunning their positions. The battle became a route, and the Numidian force was destroyed, though the English troops suffered two-thirds casualties. Hannibal ordered two more mercenary divisions from Carthage to attack the city.

 

[Grandmaster]

After a long, difficult battle, Coventry fell in 1675 BC. The Numidian mercenaries entered the city. Residual damage from the fighting killed some of the city's citizens, but Hannibal ordered that the city be preserved. It was too large and too well-located to burn. However, it would be renamed. Coventry would forever be known as Hippo. It would be a nice addition to the Carthaginian kingdom.

 

[Grandmaster]

The Hannibal had awaited for years finally came in 1500 BC. Hannibal had been building up his forces in southern Italia for some time, to protect his holdings on the peninsula and in Sicilia from possible Roman aggression. However, it would be Roman culture that would push back the borders of Carthage's empire. The culture of the city of Rome spread over southern Italia, overtaking the positions of Hannibal's Italian Army. Julius Caesar, leader of Rome, had taken advantage of the situation, demanding that the Carthaginian defenders return to Africa and leave his new border region. Hannibal refused, and Rome delcared war on Carthage.

The Carthaginian swordsmen, with their weapons of iron, and their Numidian counterarts moved north into Rome proper. There they discovered something that lightened their hearts: Rome was defended only by spearmen. The first troops to arrive in Italia had heard rumors of powerful Roman swordsmen called "Legionaires" which were the match of any army on earth. But these spearmen were only lightly armored, carried small shields, and wielded spears shorter and weaker than those of the Numidian mercenaries. Hannibal believed the battle would go well.

 

[Grandmaster]

Hannibal sat in his throneroom in the palace in Carthage. He was reading over some reports from Hippo and Utica when a messenger burst through the doors. Hannibal looked up in surprise.

"What message do you bring, runner, that you feel free to enter my throne unsummoned?" Hannibal demanded. "Beggin' your pardon, sire, but my news is more great than any that has graced your ears before. Lord, Rome is fallen! Our troops are victorious! Carthage controls all Italia!" Hannibal nearly jumped out of his throne at the words "Rome is fallen." He reached for pen and paper and quickly wrote a message. "Boy, get these orders to the harbor. Have them ferried across to General Hamilcar. He is to press the attack, locate the rest of the Roman nation, and destroy it. These orders MUST get to Italia." "Aye, m'lord, they will. I will make sure of it. This is truly a great day for Carthage, i'n't it, m'lord?" asked the messenger. "Indeed it is, runner. Indeed it is."

 

[Ukraineboy]

Congrats man!

Hmmm.... Im a little passive when it comes to early wars.... I don't start wars that early usually, I like to wait for knights or gunpowder.... maybe its time to rethink my strategy

 

[Ukraineboy]

Also, shall you be renaming Rome to a more "Carthagian" name?

Also, I noticed you use the numidians as offensive units... I've never used them before like that

 

[lbhhh]

Great story, keep it coming!

 

[Grandmaster]

I usually don't start wars this early either, but the Numidian Mercenary is a great ancient age UU (one of the best UU's in the game so far as I'm concerned.) I needed the land occupied by Coventry if I wanted to have a half-way decent industrial core in North Africa, and I figured that if I was going to defeat Rome by 0 AD i needed to strike before they had legions. I didn't realize that the Celts controlled the iron near real-life Venice, meaning the Romans couldn't build legions anyway. Damned fog-of-war.

As to using the Numidian as an offensive unit, it actually makes pretty good sense. It's a bronze-age unit (like the spearman and archer.) It has an offense of equal strength as what is typically the bronze-age attacker (the archer), and a better defense than the spearman. Until the developement of iron, the Numidian is actually the best offensive unit available. By the time I attacked Rome, I had iron but hadn't had enough time to build a sizable sword force. Thus, I attacked with a bunch of Numidian mercenaries. Against spearmen, it was good enough. Against Legions (Defense of 3), I would've been slaughtered, and the battle wouldn've lasted at least another 5-10 turns.

And I think I'll keep the name of Rome. Historicaly, the Romans kept the name of Carthage, so I guess I'll give them the mutual courtesy.

And thanks Ibhhh.

 

[Ukraineboy]

Ummm....

You said this map had realistic starting locations?

if it did.. then why did Maya start in spain....

I wish I could use that dang editor, cause I would of edited it so each country starts in there respictable positions

 

[lbhhh]

As you can guess by my avatar, title and quote I am also a pretty big Carthage fan Those Numidian Mercenary are so versatile! What size map are you playing? Is that the standard size? Once Rome is out of the way will you going after Europe or consolidating in Africa?

P.S. My nick is actually Lbhhh, capital *I* and lower case *L* look exactly the same though... should've thought of that when choosing my nick in the first place. Oh well I'm looking forward to reading how your game turns out.