Pontus vs SeleuKidia: 285 BC?

Started by MengJiao, December 14, 2020, 07:11:44 PM

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MengJiao


  Pontus (meaning "Sea" -- meaning the Black Sea) arose as a more-or-less intact satrapy from the post-Alexandrine wreckage of the Persian Empire.  The first history of Pontus in English came out in 2020 and there we find the first victory of Pontus' first ruler (Mithradates I) was against a Seleukid army under Diodorous at some time after 302 BC and before 281 BC or maybe around 285 BC even.  At that stage, Pontus would have fielded a satrapal army with plenty of Greek elements.  A big part of a satrapal army was the Kardakes or "territorial troops" which were probably equiped like hoplites in a loser formation with some missile weapons (javelins).  Anyway, they destroyed a more hellenized Seleukid force and maybe that looked something like this:


MengJiao

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Quote from: MengJiao on December 14, 2020, 07:11:44 PM

  Pontus (meaning "Sea" -- meaning the Black Sea) arose as a more-or-less intact satrapy from the post-Alexandrine wreckage of the Persian Empire.

   So about half-an-hour into the battle, it looks like the Pontine forces are breaking through the middle of the Seleukid array.  Losses are equal and most of the Seleukid army is fine so things might develop any any direction from here, maybe: