Not overly? I mean, we're importing massive amounts of Metics into the city anyway, we're still increasing in size by several percent, even as we export the poorest and most dissatisfied Metics out to the colonies where they can become citizens.
If anything we're reducing civil strife, but at the cost of a portion of our, still larger than average, personal growth. A more stable plan, in essence.
That's actually an important consequence of Eretria saving Kymai -- it helps to cement Eretria as being a city that helps those who are otherwise doomed, which will pay dividends in our immigration intake.
@Cetashwayo promised at the time that this would not lower our freemen population, just cut into the population growth rate a bit, so that's not a worry. But trading freemen tenant labourers subsisting on wage labour for an equal or possibly even bigger colonial citizens is actually a pretty damn good trade. In the long term, it's likely to be very good for Eretria's economy as well. The bunch of Adriatic trade routes we can eventually develop won't hurt either.
Societies which can rely on large labour pools have a lot less incentive to invest or innovate, so if this pushes up the cost of agricultural labour a little, it will both help all of our Metic tenants who stay, and it will also probably be good for our agriculture and productivity in the long term. Our farmers might start looking to the Pueketii or other locals to find tricks for getting more out of their labour.
Before I launch into an elaboration on all of the major powers of the Mediterranean at this time, there are some simple but very significant changes I've made to the military system. I'll bullet-point them.
The maximum levy a city or power can now call upon at a single time is referred to as the Levy Pandemos or the levy of all the people. It can only be sustained for as short as a single week and is 75% of the entire adult freeman population of the power. You will rarely if ever call upon this levy, but it represents the "upper bound" of who you can call upon.
The ratios for hoplites and cavalry have been changed to be a proportion of the entire population of freemen. This is simpler to understand.
The Hieros Ekdromoi will subtract from the overall potential levy of Hoplites. The Kleos Exoria will subtract from the overall potential levy of cavalry.
Most importantly, naval rowers no longer subtract from a single shared pool, but from the city's psilloi, or light infantry. This means you can maintain a much larger fleet without subtracting from your hoplites and cavalry, and since most psilloi are effectively useless to you as troops as they represent the poorest citizens of the city, this is in your interest.
This means that about 3,300 manpower has been added back into the general pool. Expect your hoplite and cavalry numbers to rise considerably next turn, but keep in mind this change in universal; Taras' hoplite numbers have also risen.
If this is confusing to you, here is your new numbers before I apply the population growth for next turn (so this is purely the mechanical change, not pop growth): 500 Hieros Ekdromoi, 50 Kleos Exoria, 4,077 Hoplites, 636 cavalry, 8,599 Psilloi, 3,300 Rowers.
Keep these numbers in mind as I start to introduce you to the manpower of all the different powers of the Mediterranean. Factions are listed left to right, so if you're wondering which icon is which, follow the order in which I talk about them.
THE HEGEMONS
These are the powers that have transcended obscure conflicts and regional fame and launched themselves into the annals of history. Whether because of their vast populations, extreme wealth, prestige or their cultural output, these states are above and beyond any other in the Mediterranean.
Laikadaimon, with its capital of Sparta, is the foremost state of mainland Hellas and its main land power. Although there are only 2,700 Spartiates, the combat-ready citizens which make up the core of its armies, Sparta can also count on 9,000 Periokoi, freemen in its core territory, and 600 Skritai, light infantry from a mountainous border region. Laikadaimon also commands the Peloponnesian League, with 120,000 allied freemen not counting Korinthos in that territory, though Sparta has rarely ever rallied the member states in force. The Peloponnesian League helps fund Spartan armies in the field, but it is being challenged by a new, rising power, Athenai. In order to maintain its army and society, Sparta relies on 55,000 Adult Male Helots, which it rarely if ever drafts but certainly exploits.
Athenai is the maritime superpower and upstart hegemon among the mainland Hellenes. Able to count on 51,000 adult male citizens and 21,000 adult male metics, Athenai has the largest freeman population among any state in Hellas. Thanks to tribute from the Delian League, Athenai's network of tributary allies, and the silver mines of Laurion, Athenai is able to maintain a fleet of 250 Triremes, though only a fraction will see deployment at any one time. Athenai's entire Delian League has a population of 290,000 Allied Freemen, but in reality Athenai has more to fear than to gain from this vast number, as it is more often putting down revolting allies than relying on their aid.
The Persian Empire is an empire of unimaginable scope and scale that stretches into lands no Hellene has ever seen. It has an almost infinite reserve of manpower, or at least so beyond the level of imagining for any other state that it is not worth estimating. The Persian Empire's main limitation is precisely how massive it is, as it has decentralized over the past few decades and much of its power lies in the hands of the satraps. Through the cities of Syria, Anatolia, and Phoenicia the Persian Empire can raise a fleet of 700 Triremes in the Mediterranean. The Empire is a byword for wealth and has inexhaustible reserves of gold and silver hoarded over decades.
Carthage is the premier trading and maritime power of the Western Mediterranean, already a century old according to some suggestions when the Hellenes started to explore to the west. Thanks to its age and rich lands, it can count on 55,000 Adult Male Freemen. It has a fleet of 175 Triremes, and a network of allied Phoenician cities that can muster an additional 35,000 Adult Male Freemen. Carthage also has a famed sacred band of 2,500 Citizens, comprising the best and wealthiest of the city's people. Thanks to its contacts and extreme wealth, Carthage can also call on a mercenary reserve of 30,000 mercenaries.
Odryssian Thrace is a Thracian confederation under a single king which is able to bring to bear the resources of an entire region, composed out of more than 40 different tribes. Emerging after the withdrawal of the Persians from the western side of the Hellespont, Odryssian Thrace is the most powerful state in Europa north of the Aegean. With more than 200,000 Adult Male Tribesmen to call upon, the main limitations the state has is its decentralization and separation into different tribes, and is thus the most liable to combust or divide due to the vagaries and divisions of tribal politics.
THE REGIONAL POWERS
Whether through their wealth, position, manpower, or ingenious leadership, these states have risen above the rest of the powers in the Mediterranean and dominate significant hinterlands or strategic ports. These powers together may be able to challenge some of the hegemons, but even apart they are a formidable opponent and among the most powerful of all the states of the Mediterranean.
Korinthos is the second city of Hellas after Athenai and once the greatest power in the Adriatic. Even in its long decline, Korinthos can count of a population of 35,000 Adult Male Freemen and a fleet of 90 Ships. Indeed, if Korinthos was left alone it would surely rapidly reclaim its position in the Adriatic from the Eretrian upstart, but with the Athenians dogging them, it has no such opportunities. Nevertheless, it remains a very wealthy port, and can count on commercial contacts as far west as Massalia, and can at least say it dominates its Adriatic colony of Epidamnos.
Eretria Eskhata is a rapidly growing Italiote power with truly revolutionary origins. Eretria Eskhata can count on a population of 22,883 Adult Male Freemen as of the last census, and a fleet of 22 ships. It can count on several thousand more (OOC: Haven't calculated this with new numbers until the census) from its allies, both barbaroi and Hellene. Eretria Eskhata's greatest attributes are its great adaptability, its dynamic and stable political system, and most important in a contest of equals, its powerful tributaries and rapidly growing population. Still a colonial state, and with an insatiable demand for labor, Eretria Eskhata's population continues to explode where those of erstwhile rivals grows more slowly or stays stagnant.
Thebai is the great middle power of Hellas, a gateway to northern Hellas and occupying a choice position on the plains of Boeotia. Even though its population of 14,000 Adult Male Freemen is large but not exceptional, it able to count on an additional 32,000 Allied Adult Male Freemen from the surrounding Boeotian League which it regained control of a few decades ago. With fine infantry and even better cavalry, it is a force to be reckoned with and stymied mostly by its proximity to Athenai.
Taras is a strange candidate for the fourth slot, but with its recent gains in the war with Eretria Eskhata, and its excellent natural harbor and position, it is bound to grow rapidly just like its neighbor and sometimes rival to the north. Taras can count on 21,600 Adult Male Freemen, which includes 900 Adult Male Freemen from its allies. It has a modest fleet of only 15 Ships.
THE ITALIOTE CITIES
Although like Hellas Italia has a few smaller cities, due to the centralized and colonial nature of these settlements a few major cities have grown vastly larger than any of the others. Although apart they are not on the same tier as the regional powers, if they were to be united they would create a powerful bloc.
Metapontion is the smallest of the Italiote cities, though its strategic position allows it to act as a diplomatic hinge upon which trade between the Epulians and Italiotes rests. It has 8,000 Adult Male Freemen to count upon, and a meager fleet of 5 Triremes.
Lokri Expiphyrii is an Italiote city aligned with Syrakousai and Sparta in decline which nevertheless remains a formidable power among its neighbors, able to count on 9,000 Adult Male Freemen and a fleet of 15 Triremes.
Krotone is the old hegemon of Western Italia but has long since been in decline compared to Taras, Eretria Eskhata, or Thurii. Threatened by its northern neighbor of Thurii, Krotone can call upon 11,000 Adult Male Freemen including its dependent cities and a tiny fleet of 10 Triremes.
Thurii is the rising power of the bunch. Founded as a Pan-Hellenic settlement sponsored by Herakles and heavily populated by Athenians, Thurii has changed the balance of power in Italia and still continues to expand. With 14,000 Adult Male Citizens with the addition of Herakleia Lukania it is second only to Taras, and also has a decent fleet of some 20 Triremes.
THE SICILIAN HEPTARCHY
A long period of peace and prosperity in Sicily has allowed the development of a number of incredibly rich and comparatively powerful Sicilian cities. The seven greatest powers of Sicily constitute a Heptarchy, and if they were to be united they would be the largest power in the entire Greek World.
Syrakousai is the traditional center of Sicily, though recent events have left it sorely weakened diplomatically. Able to draw on 24,000 Adult Male Freemen, it is indisputably the largest state on Sicily, though the Sikeliote League is nipping on its heels. It can also draw upon a large fleet of 35 Triremes.
Akragas is a trading and maritime power that occupies the central southern coast of the Sicilian isle. A traditional ally of Syrakousai, Akragas can count on 19,000 Adult Male Freemen. A naval power like Rhegion and Selinous, Akragas has 25 Triremes.
Gela is the spiritual and ceremonial center of Sicily and a cult center for the worship of Herakles. Although smaller than its neighbors with 16,000 Adult Male Freemen, Gela remains pre-eminent in its prestige on the island, and has recently moved away from alliance with Syrakousai. It has a fleet of 15 Triremes.
Selinous is the most Phoenician of the Sicilian cities, and has strong trading ties with Carthage and the western Mediterranean. With 11,000 Adult Male Freemen, Selinous is among the smaller of the Sicilian powers and thus avoids getting involved in power games. It has a fleet of 20 Triremes which it deploys mostly to protect its merchant marine from piracy and to act as a deterrent to Carthage.
Rhegion occupies one of the most valuable trading locations in the Western Mediterranean at the straits of Messana and is a rapidly growing naval power. With 13,000 Adult Male Freemen, however, Rhegion has committed itself to being mostly a naval power in order to maintain its fleet of 25 Triremes.
Himera is the smallest of the heptarchy and the closest to the Sikeliote League. With 8,000 Adult Male Freemen to count on, it is heavily reliant on its ally, the Sikeliote League, but maintains some prestige for being the point where the tyrant Gelo was killed. It has a fleet of 10 Triremes.
The Sikeliote League is the second largest power in Sicily, and with the war against the Sicels, the most poised to dominate them and become the first power. A truly federal state with island-wide ambitions, the Sikeliotes can count on a population of 22,000 Adult Male Freemen. They also have a modest fleet some of 15 Triremes.
These are all the major powers of the Mediterranean. In time, of course, the course of history may change, and some of these powers may fall or be obliterated forever. Fortune is a fickle mistress, but it also gives great rewards, and perhaps one day new powers will take the place of the old at the pinnacle of history.
The biggest thing I'm taking away from this change is that we can build and staff a hell of a lot more ships than we used to. While we don't exactly need Korinth's 90 at the moment, building up to 60 or so would allow us to cow any of the Sicilian powers in a contest for naval supremacy. Better to convert those psilloi to rowers, and rely on the Peuketti and Messapi to provide us truly effective skirmishers.
The biggest thing I'm taking away from this change is that we can build and staff a hell of a lot more ships than we used to. While we don't exactly need Korinth's 90 at the moment, building up to 60 or so would allow us to cow any of the Sicilian powers in a contest for naval supremacy.
Dayum Korinthos, you scary. I'm glad they managed to get into a fight with the one city state that is even scarier than them, Athens. I am also immensely glad that Eretria has decent relationships with the Atticans.
Huh. A fully united Sicily could actually make a fight of it against Carthage. Particularly with many of their forces distracted by the Numidians.
Granted, I'm still glad we didn't go that route, because holy crap, what a war that would be, and Eretria would probably get caught in the blast radius.
Huh. A fully united Sicily could actually make a fight of it against Carthage. Particularly with many of their forces distracted by the Numidians.
Granted, I'm still glad we didn't go that route, because holy crap, what a war that would be, and Eretria would probably get caught in the blast radius.
This is quite historical. Sicily under Dionysius I and II, despite sacking several Sicilian cities and diminishing the overall population of the island with his (and the Carthaginian) antics, was able to go toe to toe with Carthage and beat them hard.
Yeah, I am now definitely advocating increasing our fleet size now. Basically, Drakonian Proboulos and Exorian Xenoparakletor for the next Two Terms, to build up the fleet and solidify our control over the Iapgyians.
We need to beef up before Korinthos can turn its attention back to us. Sicily is distracted and divided for now, Taras is friendly, though growing disturbingly rapidly, as is Thurii, we can focus on the Adriatic and Epulia and try and solidify ourselves fully as first amongst the Italiotes and equal to any single member of the Sicilian Heptarchy, and, hopefully, equal to Korinthos too.
You know, looking at all the symbols shrunk down, ours are so busy compared to the others. Everyone else has simple symbols that are easily and instantly recognizable. Our tree though is hidden by the sun.
Vexilology yo.
Maybe remove the rays of the sun? It is supposed to be resting in the branches of the olive tree after all . . .
I think this also lends itself well to the Kymai rescue, that gives us at a minimum another 7,500 and some trimeries in a friendly power aligned with us. And if we play our cards right if Corinth ever comes they face more then just Etria. Also if we could ever fully restore bonds with Taras, wow that would be a big boost to basically double our levy size.
Wow, while intellectually I understood that a united Sicily was powerful, just seeing the numbers is a while other thing. No wonder everyone is so committed to shutting down Syrakousai.
Meanwhile, it looks like Taras actually garnered a net gain from their war with us, which is kinda infuriating. Admittedly, we've proven who's the winner in a toe to toe contest and are almost certainly going to grow faster than them, but still. The moment we find a way to get around their walls, we should go for the kill. Having things once again slowly diplomatically deteriorate would be a disaster.
They had a fleet of around 15 Triremes which they mothballed when the siege began. Kymai had around 7,500 Adult Male Freemen before the war with the Oscans began, but that has since been slashed to around 3,000 between its allied cities being lost and its overrun countryside. Only around half of that is a very effective fighting force.
Wow, while intellectually I understood that a united Sicily was powerful, just seeing the numbers is a while other thing. No wonder everyone is so committed to shutting down Syrakousai.
Meanwhile, it looks like Taras actually garnered a net gain from their war with us, which is kinda infuriating. Admittedly, we've proven who's the winner in a toe to toe contest and are almost certainly going to grow faster than them, but still. The moment we find a way to get around their walls, we should go for the kill. Having things once again slowly diplomatically deteriorate would be a disaster.
We made peace with them, have them penned in with Thurii as an ally on the other side and can begin courting them as brothers. In addition we have the Mesapii to over time turn like the Puketii except with more land and more growth possible.
If a united Sicily is powerful, how powerful is a united Italy from Etria to Reghnion and if we include those of Kymai that we can evacuate into that number. More so if we can continue to turn the locals into allies either after the manner of the Puketti or the Entoi.
Meanwhile, it looks like Taras actually garnered a net gain from their war with us, which is kinda infuriating. Admittedly, we've proven who's the winner in a toe to toe contest and are almost certainly going to grow faster than them, but still. The moment we find a way to get around their walls, we should go for the kill. Having things once again slowly diplomatically deteriorate would be a disaster.
Yeah, I am now definitely advocating increasing our fleet size now. Basically, Drakonian Proboulos and Exorian Xenoparakletor for the next Two Terms, to build up the fleet and solidify our control over the Iapgyians.
We need to beef up before Korinthos can turn its attention back to us. Sicily is distracted and divided for now, Taras is friendly, though growing disturbingly rapidly, as is Thurii, we can focus on the Adriatic and Epulia and try and solidify ourselves fully as first amongst the Italiotes and equal to any single member of the Sicilian Heptarchy, and, hopefully, equal to Korinthos too.
Still need those reforms to Hoplites and Vassal Levies. Especially with the interior tribes on the move, its entirely possible that the Dauni explode from a Lucani invasion and in such a scenario we would want to have a better land force. Where as Corinth is currently held in check by Athens and while dangerous, us helping Athens a little could go a long way to keep Corinth bottled.
Which isnt to say that it is necessarily more important than the Navy or that I want us to be involved in that clusterfuck, but still. We will have to see what the situation is like during election year.
[X] [Colony] Pharos. The excellent natural harbor at Pharos would make it a fine place for a central Adriatic port, even if it has a larger indigenous population. [-40 talents of grain and construction costs, 600 colonists found Pharos, -100 pop from Eretria, 400 colonists found Issa, -50 pop from Eretria].
[X] [Lykai] Settle them in the new Illyrian colonies [+600 settlers in primary Illyrian colony, +200 in second Illyrian colony].
[X] [Kymai] We cannot risk such an expedition [-10 talents per turn until city falls or the siege is relieved by another power, Eretria will provide grain shipments to the city and ferry its people wherever they wish. Chance of picking up some of Kymai's citizens at random].
I can't help but see all our Psiloi and our Ekdromoi and feel super hyped for the development of Thyreophoroi and Thorakitai to start developing solid intermediate troops between hoplites and our allied skirmishers.
If a united Sicily is powerful, how powerful is a united Italy from Etria to Reghnion and if we include those of Kymai that we can evacuate into that number.
Very very roughly 103,000 Adult Freemen and 107 Triremes. Before we get into the fact we can now expect a large boost in the ships we can field now due to the manpower rework, and will no doubt take advantage of that, and reducing Kymai to about two thirds or so of its Adult Freemen during the voyage and 5 Triremes. And factoring in Rhegion as 'Italian'
This also doesn't factor in the Iapgyians, or the rest of Eretria's growing colonial sphere and rapid immigration growth, nor does it factor in Thurii and Taras' own new rapid growth or potential allies.
So essentially there's nowhere to go but up.
If Sicily or Italia became unified, it'd become a beast all of its own, in a decade, a unified Italia could match a unified Sicily, even factoring in their current consolidation of the Entire Isle. And either would be the greatest power in the Hellenic World.
Both are sleeping giants, and Selinous and Eretria are going to be watched very carefully in the coming years.
You know, looking at all the symbols shrunk down, ours are so busy compared to the others. Everyone else has simple symbols that are easily and instantly recognizable. Our tree though is hidden by the sun.
Vexilology yo.
Maybe remove the rays of the sun? It is supposed to be resting in the branches of the olive tree after all . . .
It is interesting. I dont know how I feel about it. I still think it would be worth it to see the version without the sun rays. I still need to program more.
