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(This is my first map made with effort any constructive criticism on the timeline and map itself is welcome).
World of Alexander
More than a thousand years have passed since the death of The Conqueror, The Divine, and The Great. Alexander was many things, but chief among them was a great unifier. While his dream of conquering the world never came to full fruition, he got closer than any before or after him. After his illness was miraculously healed, it seemed that the great king became convinced of his own mortality and the fragility of his own empire. He became calmer, realizing that the time of his great conquests was over, and now it was time to ensure the longevity of his empire. Of course, Alexander never truly lost his conquering edge, as evidenced by minor campaigns in Arabia and Ilyria, but the grand ambition to reach the Pillars of Herakles remained unfulfilled.
What is a conqueror without a legacy? Nothing. That was something that Alexander knew very well, and so he dedicated himself to the development and consolidation of his empire. Great building projects flourished across his dominions, monuments to his ambition and vision. Roads crisscrossed the landscape, uniting the many cities that bore his name. It was during this time that the phrase 'All routes lead to Pella' entered common parlance, a testament to the centrality of his capital in the known world.
Greek colonists were dispatched far and wide, carrying with them the language, customs, and ideals of Hellenic culture to new lands. From the shores of Asia Minor to the banks of the Nile and beyond, Greek influence spread like wildfire, forever altering the cultural landscape of the ancient world. The cities they founded became bastions of Greek civilization, centers of learning, trade, and innovation.
Temples dedicated to the gods of Olympus sprung up in every corner of the empire, serving not only as places of worship but also as repositories of art, knowledge, and tradition. These temples became focal points for the faithful, offering a tangible connection to the culture and heritage of their homeland.
Under Alexander's visionary leadership, the boundaries of the Greek world expanded beyond imagination, and his legacy endured not only in the annals of history but also in the hearts and minds of countless generations to come.
But his legacy was to be more than just marble structures; it was to be written in blood. Alexander, wise in his understanding of the fleeting nature of conquests, ensured the continuity of his empire through his two legitimate children, Alexander IV, and Hephaestion I. Named after himself and his beloved friend, these heirs were destined to inherit not only their father's vast domains but also his unquenchable thirst for greatness.
Both Alexander IV and Hephaestion I were afforded the finest education the world could offer. Teachers from Greece, Egypt, and Persia flocked to their courts, imparting upon them the knowledge and wisdom of the ages. It was said that these children, not their father, would be the true architects of the world as it would come to be known.
By his will, Alexander decreed that his empire would be divided between his two sons. Alexander IV would inherit everything west of the Euphrates River, while Hephaestion would rule over the vast territories to the east. Thus, the empire of Alexander was to be perpetuated through the dynastic succession of his bloodline.
Both brothers, heirs to the mightiest empire the world had ever seen, followed in their father's footsteps as conquerors. Yet, despite their ambitions and rivalries, no men from these 'two' empires would ever draw their blades against one another in the field of war, so long as both brothers lived.
Alexander IV, known as The Uniter, embarked on a series of ambitious military campaigns across the Great Sea, solidifying his reputation as a conqueror without equal. His first target was the Greek colonies of Italós, stretching from south to north. With strategic brilliance and unmatched military prowess, Alexander IV swiftly brought these territories under his dominion. As the empire expanded, the lands were linked through Ilyria, and even formidable powers such as the Samnites, Umbrians, Romans, and Etruscans succumbed to the might of Macedon.
In Italós, Alexander IV founded Alexandria by the Tiber, a city destined to become the greatest in the region, a shining beacon of Hellenistic culture and power. Meanwhile, in Africa, the city of Karchedon met its downfall at the hands of the Macedonian army led by General Herakles, a close friend of Alexander IV and rumored to be his half-brother. The conquest of Karchedon solidified Macedonian control over the southern reaches of the Great Sea.
To the west of the Great Sea, Alexander IV continued his relentless march, uniting Greek colonies in southern Gallia, including the prosperous city of Massalia, through a combination of military force and diplomatic finesse. His ultimate goal lay beyond, in Iberia, where his friend Herakles was carving out his own path of conquest across the fertile lands of Lybia.
Eventually, the two friends would meet at the Pillars of Herakles, the western edge of the known world. It was here, amidst the crashing waves and towering cliffs, that Alexander IV, overcome with emotion, uttered the famous words, 'Father, I/we did it.' Sources conflict on whether he used 'I' or 'we' in the phrase, but the sentiment was clear: the legacy of Alexander the Great lived on through his successors, shaping the destiny of nations and echoing through the annals of history.
In the East, Hephaestion, also known as the Wise, inherited his father's mantle of rulership and continued his policies of cultural assimilation and expansion. Hephaestion, unlike his brother, was not as inclined towards military conquests but possessed a keen intellect and a deep commitment to his father's teachings. Following in Alexander's footsteps, Hephaestion sought to suppress the Zoroastrian faith (The Old Faithful), endeavoring to replace it with the pantheon of Greek gods, syncretized with many Mesopotamian deities. Also, despite the rising popularity of Buddhism in many circles, Hephaestion remained steadfast in his adherence to Greek teachings.
While not as military-minded as his older brother, Hephaestion nevertheless displayed a talent for strategic planning and leadership. His greatest conquest came in the form of northern Indus, a region teeming with riches and ripe for expansion. Though records of these campaigns are scarce, tales abound of epic sieges, pitched battles, and the presence of mysterious castle-like beasts capable of carrying men on their backs. In less than two decades, Hephaestion's dominion extended across the entirety of northern Indus, leaving only the southern tip beyond his control.
To this day, whispers persist of the enduring influence of Greek culture in these distant lands. Rumors abound that the two great rivers of Indus still bear traces of the Greek language, a testament to the indelible mark left by Hephaestion's conquests.
After the reigns of Alexander IV and Hephaestion I, the empire entered a period of transition and expansion. Successive generations of rulers, both Basileus and Kings of Kings, grappled with the legacy of their forebears, each striving to maintain and expand upon the conquests of their ancestors. Some sought to consolidate their domains, ensuring that the empire endured beyond a single lifetime, while others were driven by ambition to carve out new realms and extend their influence.
However, the passage of time brought about a gradual decline, and the once-great empire of Alexander began to fracture. Now, the city of Pella, once the glorious capital of the world, and much of Alexander's former dominions, are held by the descendants of the Sklavinian tribes. The northern regions have become a patchwork of many kingdoms, a far cry from the unified empire of old, fractured, and weakened during the ages of darkness.
To add insult to injury, the rulers of these realms have adopted a tradition reminiscent of ancient Athens. Upon the death of a ruler, a new leader is elected to become the 'Great Archon of the League of Pellas,' overseeing the disparate kingdoms that once comprised the heart of Alexander's empire. From the northernmost reaches of the Istros River to the once-proud heartland of Hellas, every Basileus is eligible to be chosen as the Archon, symbolizing the faded glory of a bygone era.
In the aftermath of Alexander's IV reign, the lands of Italós underwent a tumultuous period of transition. Prior to his conquests, these territories were a patchwork of kingdoms, and tyrannies, each vying for dominance over the fertile lands of the Great Sea. With the collapse of the Macedonian empire and the encroachment of the Sklavinian tribes, proper Hellenic citizens sought refuge in these lands, fleeing the oppressive rule that had befallen their homeland.
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the ages of darkness, many nobles closed their borders, seeking to protect their domains from outside threats, while others were moved by the pleas of their compatriots, offering sanctuary to those in need. However, their efforts were ultimately in vain, as anarchy soon took hold of the land, and the authority of the empire crumbled.
Today, the lands of Italós remain divided and fractured, with numerous competing polities vying for supremacy. While stability has been restored in many regions, the scars of conflict and division still linger, a testament to the tumultuous history of the region. However, amidst the chaos, one city stands as a beacon of civilization and culture: Alexandria by the Tiber. Despite enduring many turbulent times, the city remains the greatest in the region, a testament to the enduring legacy of our civilization.
Following the conquests of Alexander IV, the lands of Gallia and Iberia were brought into the fold of the Macedonian empire, becoming bastions of Hellenic culture and influence. In Gallia, Greek colonies such as Massalia thrived along the southern coast, while the Galátai in the northern regions maintained their way of life, sometimes as trade partners and other times as a thorn in the side of the empire.
However, the arrival of the Sklavinian tribes during the ages of darkness precipitated a dramatic shift in the region's fortunes. The Germanoi, pushed into the lands of Gallia by the migrations, swiftly conquered the tribes already reeling from broken trade, famine, and other hardships. The once-prosperous region fell into chaos as Germanic tribes continued to push southward, leaving only Massalia as a lone bastion of Hellenic culture amidst a sea of invaders.
The tide of conquest did not stop at Gallia's borders, however, as the Germanoi continued their relentless advance into Iberia. In the time of The Uniter, this was the land of Keltoi and Iberian tribes, the coasts were ruled by Karchedonians and Hellenic colonies, all brought under the yoke of empire. At the southernmost tip, at the Pillar of Herakles, General Herakles and Alexander founded the city of Alexandria by the Atlas, time would pass and eventually the entirety of the peninsula would come into our hands, a testament to their conquest and our enduring legacy.
Yet, despite their efforts, the entirety of the region eventually succumbed to the onslaught of the Germanoi tribes, leaving Alexandria by the Atlas as the last bastion of Hellenic culture in these once-proud lands. Rumors tell that the great sailors of the region are completing voyages south into the Aethiopian continent but these are most likely rumors.
In the vast expanse of Lybia, one kingdom stands out among the sands and seas: the Kingdom of Karchedon. Conquered by the indomitable General Herakles at the command of Alexander IV, the Karchedonians were known for their prowess as seafarers and traders, yet their military strength paled in comparison to the might and spirit of the Macedonian forces. Despite their wealth and influence in matters of trade, the Karchedonians were swiftly subdued by the overwhelming power of the Macedonian empire.
Unlike many of their neighbors, the Karchedonians were not renowned for their cultural pursuits, preferring instead to focus on matters of commerce and wealth. Such was their prosperity that it was said each Macedonian soldier was able to wear a purple tunic, symbolizing the riches plundered from the city upon its conquest. Under the rule of General Herakles, the city prospered and flourished, becoming a bastion of Hellenic influence in the heart of Lybia.
Upon Herakles' death, his bloodline, though indirectly, continued to rule over the kingdom, ensuring stability and prosperity for generations to come. In the present day, the people of Karchedon have not only retained their mastery of trade but have also become lovers of art and culture, thanks to the efforts of Herakles and his descendants.
The Kingdom of Aigyptos, our beloved homeland, stands as a bastion of culture and civilization amidst the shifting sands of time. From the glory days of ancient history to the present, the great city that adorns our shores continues to attract scholars, traders, and prophets from all corners of the world. The life-giving waters of the Nile still flow, ensuring the fertility of our crops and the prosperity of our people.
To the south, the Tasetians remain steadfast in their loyalty, paying tribute to the kingdom year after year. In the east, the Ioudaians and Surians, though occasionally experiencing tensions, largely maintain their allegiance to Aigyptos. However, our greatest challenges lie to the north, where the Anatolian princes cling stubbornly to their independence, even as they cry out for aid against the encroaching Sklavinian despots.
In the midst of these trials, our hope lies in the young prince, Alexander XXV, whose destiny seems intertwined with that of his great ancestors. His journey mirrors theirs in many ways, and only time will reveal whether he possesses the strength and wisdom to rekindle the fires of greatness that once burned brightly in our land.
There are countless other lands and kingdoms across the world, each with its own stories and struggles, from the distant realms of Albion and Iournia to the broken kingdoms of Persia, where the memory of the Saoshyant lingers. But alas, time is fleeting, and there is much yet to be done.
May the prophet's fire guide you in your studies, young Hephaestion, and may the blessings of our ancestors be upon your older brother as he seeks to navigate the challenges of leadership in these troubled times.
