Post by Thebes on Sept 19, 2010 15:51:30 GMT -5
OOC: Ok so as I mentioned, Thebes had been destroyed by Alexander after it rebelled. It was rebuilt but never was able to attain its former glory after that event. This is the alternate history version of what happens after the city is rebuilt. Much of the events have been built around things that actually occurred.
IC:
"Oh Gods. Blood and fire have provided worthy sacrifice. The fields are stained crimson red with the blood of barbarian and greek alike. As thanks for our offering I ask only this; protect my people and help me forge a Kingdom that will stand no matter what dark horde comes our way. I pledge my loyalty and honor on this pact." - Argenus King of Thebes, after the Battle of Spercheios
Rebellion. The downfall of Thebes. Alexander's righteous hand dealing what was meant to be a death blow. But the Fates can be cruel, as Cassander's hatred of Alexander once more rose Thebes from the ashes like the mighty Phoenix (315 BC).
It was here that Argenus returned. A boy when Thebes first fell, sent to live with his Uncle Herodotus in Corinth. The balanced feel of the Hoplite's Lance became as familiar as his callaced hands. Stories were told by the large one eyed Corinthian over dinners of roasted lamb. Stories of war, stories of mighty Thebes when her walls still stood strong. Tales can breed love, but also hatred, and as young Argenus listened over the years he felt a strange mix of both.
It was for this reason that Argenus felt as though the sea was churning in his stomach as they made their way down bumpy cobbled roads and into the newly rebuilt city of Thebes. The place was not much at the time, and Thebans who had escaped Alexander's wrath were now returning to their homeland. It is in this place that old Herodotus, merchant and former warrior, began to make a name for himself, and his young nephew. A mercantile monopoly that soon poured glimmering golden coins into the coffers.
Secret Theban meetings began to take place, led by Herodotus and especially the very vocal voice of Argenus. Their claimed descent from Cadmus himself, founder of Thebes, provided them with a broad base of support, and their meetings continued to swell, flickering torch light providing ambience for messages of Theban glory and independence.
The death of the mighty cycloptic Herodotus did not weaken the message and Argenus, who now took the surname Cadmeas as a further symbol of his Cadmean bloodline. Even using the burning pyre of Herodotus as a call to his people.
With his mercantile business flourishing and trade deals bringing vast amounts of money to the city and himself, Argenus began taking action. He remembered the words of Herodotus "Money, my boy, money can buy an army, and army's build Empires."
His coffers almost ran as dry as the salt flats as he instituted and paid for many grand public works projects, the support and additional funds from his followers. This also paid for the training of additional Hoplites with new armor and weaponry which very much resembled the Corinthian style that Argenus was fond of.
Over the years Thebes quickly turned into the jewel of Boeotia. Its polished Hippodrome brought people from all over Greece to monthly horse and chariot races. Its massive marketplace that wafted the scents of herbs and spices throughout the air brought treasures from around the known world. Its professional and quite loyal Theban Hoplites kept order. And all the while the Macedonian Kings paid little attention as long as the taxes came steadily in.
With the moves for independence with the Aetolian League, the Achaean League, and other Greek City-States around the begining of the third century BCE, Argenus saw his chance. As other Greek states were consolidating their power, so too did Argenus. Theban legions left the city, their shields matching the new banner of Thebes which held the symbol of a moon which referred to the legend of Thebes founding. It was there Boeotia quickly came under Theban control and Argenus Cadmeas declaring himself King of Thebes. The conquered cities which now flew under a Theban banner were quickly the attention of the new King as he began instituting public works programs in them to build loyalty and trust by offering jobs and payment to the poor lower castes of those Boeotian cities. Trying to instill a new sense of nationhood and pride, Argenus declared all Boeotian people citizens of Thebes.
King Cadmeas was busy at the time as well raising his young young children, whose mother, Hypatia had died to illness not long after the birth of Princess Jocasta, their third and last child. Though not as gentle as Hypatia, Argenus was eager to teach his children the responsibilities of the throne, even bringing his sons on campaigns and teaching them the way of the sword.
With the aggressive taking of Delphi by the Aetolians (290 BCE), representative of the farming rural communities of Phocis came to Thebes asking for aid and protection. Protection that King Argenus was eager to provide, and it was not long before what was left of Phocis and what little remained of Phthiotis came under Theban control, and given the same rights and protections as the Boeotians. With this Argenus set out to consolidate his power.
For a time the Kingdom of Thebes was at peace and thriving off of trade. However the Celtic migration and invasions that hit Macedon with fury, began to spill into Greece. A combined Greek army was able to finally drive them off, but not without viscious fighting and bloodshed (279 BCE).
The realization that there was much more beyond Greece that should be thought of for the security of a Kingdom, came to be realized. This was one of the last worries that Argenus expressed to young Pericles before finally dying in 274 BCE.
The year is now 275. King Pericles has begun looking beyond Greece, seeking to acknowledge the wishes of his dying father, as he ponders the future of his Kingdom and the people of Thebes...
IC:
The Rising of Thebes
"Oh Gods. Blood and fire have provided worthy sacrifice. The fields are stained crimson red with the blood of barbarian and greek alike. As thanks for our offering I ask only this; protect my people and help me forge a Kingdom that will stand no matter what dark horde comes our way. I pledge my loyalty and honor on this pact." - Argenus King of Thebes, after the Battle of Spercheios
Rebellion. The downfall of Thebes. Alexander's righteous hand dealing what was meant to be a death blow. But the Fates can be cruel, as Cassander's hatred of Alexander once more rose Thebes from the ashes like the mighty Phoenix (315 BC).
It was here that Argenus returned. A boy when Thebes first fell, sent to live with his Uncle Herodotus in Corinth. The balanced feel of the Hoplite's Lance became as familiar as his callaced hands. Stories were told by the large one eyed Corinthian over dinners of roasted lamb. Stories of war, stories of mighty Thebes when her walls still stood strong. Tales can breed love, but also hatred, and as young Argenus listened over the years he felt a strange mix of both.
It was for this reason that Argenus felt as though the sea was churning in his stomach as they made their way down bumpy cobbled roads and into the newly rebuilt city of Thebes. The place was not much at the time, and Thebans who had escaped Alexander's wrath were now returning to their homeland. It is in this place that old Herodotus, merchant and former warrior, began to make a name for himself, and his young nephew. A mercantile monopoly that soon poured glimmering golden coins into the coffers.
Secret Theban meetings began to take place, led by Herodotus and especially the very vocal voice of Argenus. Their claimed descent from Cadmus himself, founder of Thebes, provided them with a broad base of support, and their meetings continued to swell, flickering torch light providing ambience for messages of Theban glory and independence.
The death of the mighty cycloptic Herodotus did not weaken the message and Argenus, who now took the surname Cadmeas as a further symbol of his Cadmean bloodline. Even using the burning pyre of Herodotus as a call to his people.
With his mercantile business flourishing and trade deals bringing vast amounts of money to the city and himself, Argenus began taking action. He remembered the words of Herodotus "Money, my boy, money can buy an army, and army's build Empires."
His coffers almost ran as dry as the salt flats as he instituted and paid for many grand public works projects, the support and additional funds from his followers. This also paid for the training of additional Hoplites with new armor and weaponry which very much resembled the Corinthian style that Argenus was fond of.
Over the years Thebes quickly turned into the jewel of Boeotia. Its polished Hippodrome brought people from all over Greece to monthly horse and chariot races. Its massive marketplace that wafted the scents of herbs and spices throughout the air brought treasures from around the known world. Its professional and quite loyal Theban Hoplites kept order. And all the while the Macedonian Kings paid little attention as long as the taxes came steadily in.
With the moves for independence with the Aetolian League, the Achaean League, and other Greek City-States around the begining of the third century BCE, Argenus saw his chance. As other Greek states were consolidating their power, so too did Argenus. Theban legions left the city, their shields matching the new banner of Thebes which held the symbol of a moon which referred to the legend of Thebes founding. It was there Boeotia quickly came under Theban control and Argenus Cadmeas declaring himself King of Thebes. The conquered cities which now flew under a Theban banner were quickly the attention of the new King as he began instituting public works programs in them to build loyalty and trust by offering jobs and payment to the poor lower castes of those Boeotian cities. Trying to instill a new sense of nationhood and pride, Argenus declared all Boeotian people citizens of Thebes.
King Cadmeas was busy at the time as well raising his young young children, whose mother, Hypatia had died to illness not long after the birth of Princess Jocasta, their third and last child. Though not as gentle as Hypatia, Argenus was eager to teach his children the responsibilities of the throne, even bringing his sons on campaigns and teaching them the way of the sword.
With the aggressive taking of Delphi by the Aetolians (290 BCE), representative of the farming rural communities of Phocis came to Thebes asking for aid and protection. Protection that King Argenus was eager to provide, and it was not long before what was left of Phocis and what little remained of Phthiotis came under Theban control, and given the same rights and protections as the Boeotians. With this Argenus set out to consolidate his power.
For a time the Kingdom of Thebes was at peace and thriving off of trade. However the Celtic migration and invasions that hit Macedon with fury, began to spill into Greece. A combined Greek army was able to finally drive them off, but not without viscious fighting and bloodshed (279 BCE).
The realization that there was much more beyond Greece that should be thought of for the security of a Kingdom, came to be realized. This was one of the last worries that Argenus expressed to young Pericles before finally dying in 274 BCE.
The year is now 275. King Pericles has begun looking beyond Greece, seeking to acknowledge the wishes of his dying father, as he ponders the future of his Kingdom and the people of Thebes...