Cyrenaica wars and their generals

[IsaacCAT]

Before Agis dies, he wants to conquer lower Egypt from the Lagid family. In Egypt the third Kleopatra Lagid is in the throne of Basilissa. Before it is too late for him, Agis recruits the best mercenaries in Cyrenaica and some more from Egypt to his final adventure. This time he is bringing only the 1st levy of Cyrenaica. Only in case of dire need he will call the 1st levy of Greece to help him against Egypt.

The first Hellenic League war against Egypt starts with Agis landing in the central Delta and the mercenaries hired from Memphis marching to Ammon to keep that front secured. The idea is to move into Parva and down from the Central Delta to Memphis and Heptanomis to control as much of the region as possible. The first battle seems a win for the Cyrenaicans thanks to their numbers. The Egyptians have a better tactic and troops but they are outnumbered in the farmlands of Babylon Agyptou. The battle turns out a defeat at the last moment when the Egyptian forces reinforce. Now it is time to retreat to Alexandria to avoid a massacre.

At the same time, the large Egyptian navy has engaged the Hellenic navy at the Delta's mouth. The Egyptian have more boats but the Greek ships are bigger. The battle is even and it is not clear who will win. Finally, the Cyrenaican bad tactic, the sheer numbers of the Egyptian ships and his admiral are the winners. Pixodarus Karin is wise to retreat to Alexandria.

Another big battle is happening in Boubastos, Agis has moved to encounter the Egyptian troops that defeated the Greeks and knowing that they like the Phalanx tactic, he has chosen an envelopment tactic. However, the Egyptians are reinforcing and Agis might lose this battle too. Certainly, the win is for the Egyptians, Kleopatra will be ecstatic now, Agis has been defeated! her mother and grandmother are partially avenged.

Agis reorganizes his troops and calls in Alexandreia mercenaries to beat the Egyptians. This time the battle in Moemphis is not going to be a defeat, he is bringing all in. Almost lost at the last moment, the reinforcement has allowed the Cyrenaicans to stay in battle! When Agis arrives, it is time to retreat the Alexarchid Mercenaries to reorganize, they are demoralized and they are not helping in the battle. They will recover in Naukratis while Agis holds the front. Only by retreating this demoralized army, the average morale of the Cyrenaican troops is increased.

The 1st Levy of Egypt should also leave the battlefield, they are too depleted to make any difference in the battle. The only problem by doing this is that Agis 1st Levy of Cyrenaica has not enough men to cover the field and the Egyptians start flanking the Greeks. This is the case right away, but the increased morale of the Hellenic troops is also helping defeat the Egyptians that lose many troops due to low morale. Finally, the victory is for the Greeks, but it has been a close call this one!

After this close win, Agis pushes further south to keep the pressure on the Egyptians, however his troops are not yet recovered when another big battle starts in Babylon Agyptou. Agis has a surprise for the Egyptians, the mercenaries that went to Ammon have arrived through the Nile and they are joining the battle from the south. If they arrive on time, this will win the battle for the Greeks, and possible the war, too. They arrive on time and Agis retreats Theodoros mercenaries to have the fresh troops finish the Egyptians. Timoleon wins the battle for the Greeks, that pay a high price for the victory with almost double casualties than the Egyptians.

This battle sends the Egyptian forces in retreat and allows Agis to control the central Delta and a good portion of the lower Nile region. Agis sends emisaries to Kleoaptra and she accepts her defeat, giving up three provinces from the lower delta region to Agis. The war has been very taxing to both nations but the Egyptians have finally lost and the magnificent city of Memphis is Hellenic.

With this expansion, the Hellenic league is able to embrace the Graeco-Levantine Influence, this should help the greek improve their Heavy Infantry and other units. The truce with Rome expires next year, will Agis survive another year? Will Rome attack the Hellenic Kingdom before they can ready their legions? Everything will be answered hopefully in the next chapter of the Cyrenaican wars and their generals.

 

[IsaacCAT]

One year before the truce ends and the Roman Republic already is plotting against the Hellenic League. If we are not able to avoid a civil war, Rome will come to the aid of the rebels. Very clever. Paionios, the blind, is still a child but he has developed a friendship with Nysa. All this succession crisis is becoming more and more strange by the day. Is the Artiaxids family moving this to increase his influence to the young Paionios?

The truce is over and Rome is at war with the Bosporan Kingdom. Agis is struggling with his health problems and he is near death. Hi instructs Epimenes to become the tutor of the your Paionios for a martial ambition. Epimenes can be many things, but he is not corrupt, ambitious or cruel. He will be a good tutor.

Finally, dead is knocking Agis bed, no medic in Cyrenaica can help Agis with his ailment and nature shall take its course. Paionios I Charinid is the new king with only 13 yeras old! Epimines has learnt to accept his pupil as the new king of Cyrenaica. They have grown a bond that may help Paionios abort a civil war that will be suicidal for the Hellenic League as Rome is supporting Epimenes.

Paionios is too young to implement any policy in the kingdom, he is still learning from Epimenes. The trick will be to arrange a good marriage when is old enough so the couple can overcome any weakness Paionios has. The obvious candidate is his long time friend Nysa from the Artiaxid family. Epimenes is taking care of the Hellenic League the best he can, trying to improve its stability. We will follow Paionios growing up to start exercising as the blind king of the Cyrenaicans.

 

[IsaacCAT]

After 3 years, Paionios becomes of age the 7th of July. Epimenes being his tutor has given Paionios an increased martial knowledge and the aggressive trait. Epimenes immediately arranges marriage with Hypsicratea, an adopted women to the Charinid family. He does not want the friendship with Nysa Artiaxid to become a marriage between the Artiaxid and the Charinid family when Nysa becomes of age. Meanwhile, Rome has finished his long war with the Bosporan Kingdom annexing lands in Sarmatia and Taurica.

Now that Paionios is an adult, Epimenes wants to finish what Agis started and conquer all of Phrygia for the Hellenic League. Mercenaries are hired in the Anatolia front and the first levy of Cyrenaica will be lead for the first time by Paionios the blind. The war starts extremely well for the interests of Cyrenaica. Demetrios II Antigonid and his kingdom are no match for the Hellenic League. Finally, Paionios gets to face Demetrios in battle. The odds are against the Antigonid, whose tactic has been countered by the greeks and their troops are scarce. The defeat is impressive. Paionios has chosen a weak enemy for his first war.

The war is over very fast after this dishonorably defeat. Demetrios Antigonid is accepted in Kyrene after the peace deal that gives all the Antigonid land to Cyrenaica. Paionios after the great victory against Antigonid has became generous, known by his victory celebrations in Kyrene.

The future looks bright for the Hellenic League after the clouds of the succession have banished the same as the doubts of having a blind king. Next step for Paionios is to finish the professionalization of the army, the Romans will not be as easy to beat as Antigonid.