The Sacred War

by H A CULLEY

  Chapter Ten – The Conquest of Chalkidike

  349 BC

  ‘What do you think?’

  Iphitos was riding beside Endemion, Lysis and Kleandros as he inspected the work on the various forts, all of which were now nearing completion. As his assistant chief of artillery, Lysis wouldn’t normally have accompanied him to visit construction projects but he wanted to visit the artillery units in Attalus’ army and Iphitos sought his views on the replacement for Dardanos.

  Lysis felt uncomfortable having his opinion asked. The possible replacement they were talking about was Chronos. He was torn two ways. He didn’t want his lover to leave the headquarters staff, where he saw him every day, but he realised that this was a tremendous opportunity for him. He sighed. He knew that he had to put his personal feelings aside and be professional about this.

  ‘Well, as far as the artillery is concerned, he knows as much about it as I do and he’s a better mathematician. None of the senior phylearchs commanding the six sections we have with us know anything about construction engineering so you can’t promote one of them into the post. On the other hand, he won’t be seventeen for another month, so he’s very young for such an important role. I suppose the main question is, would he gain the men’s respect.’

  ‘I agree,’ Kleandros added. ‘Chronos is a good engineer too. As far as knowledge goes, he’s the obvious choice. Anyone else would have to learn a new skill. I can think of a couple of tetrarchs who might be candidates but they know nothing about artillery and would have to learn, and learn quickly. However, as Lysis says, he is very young and might not have the ability to command as yet.’

  ‘Endemion, you’re doing the same job in Parmenion’s army and you know Chronos well. Do you think he’d be the right choice?’

  The young man nodded. ‘Yes, as far as expertise goes there isn’t a better man for the job. It may be something to think about in the future though. Artillery is a relatively new section of the Macedonian army and so it was lumped in with the engineers. It may be that now is the time to change that. If I was killed there is no-one who could do my job without training and during a campaign is not the time to have to deal with that. In my view it’s time we split the artillery and the engineering officers into two separate branches with a command and promotion structure. As to Chronos’ command ability, he did a good job when you put him in charge of constructing that cavalry fort. Furthermore, I seem to remember, kyrios, that you became Parmenion’s chief engineer when you weren’t that much older than Chronos is now.’

  ‘Hmm. Thank you. You’ve all given me good advice. I need to think about what you’ve said and also to talk to Attalus; after all he’s the man who Chronos will be serving under and advising.’

  By this time the party had reached the cavalry fort. Lysis carried on to the main fort to visit his artillerymen there whilst the others dismounted to talk to the engineer supervising the construction.

  After visiting the other two forts, Iphitos expressed himself satisfied that the small fort at the top of the pass was just about finished and the main fort would be completed by nightfall. They collected Lysis and rode back to the fort that housed the king and his staff. The others chatted amongst themselves. Iphitos had deliberately left Chronos behind so that they could discuss him in his absence but, in any case, he wanted him to be with Callimarcos when Uzava debriefed him. It would help the boy to have him there as Uzava could be a little intimidating and he also wanted Chronos’ opinion of the boy as a possible replacement for him as his aide. Of course, he couldn’t ask for that until he’d made up his mind about his possible promotion.

  He’d had a quiet word with Attalus whilst he was at his camp but he wasn’t a lot of help, merely saying that he trusted Iphitos’ judgement. He’d been annoyed when he’d lost Dardanos but accepted Iphitos’ decision when he was told the background to it. Now he just wanted a chief engineer again to advise him, particularly on the use of his mobile artillery in battle, and didn’t seem to mind who it was. In truth he didn’t seem that interested.

  By the time that he’d returned to his tent he’d made his mind up and he sent for Chronos.

  ‘How did Callimarcos’ debriefing go?’

  He’d get a proper report from Uzava as soon as he’d finished with Chronos but he wanted a different prospective about the boy.

  ‘Very well, kyrios. He’d done an excellent job in gathering information about the garrison, its strengths and weaknesses, and about the layout of the city. ‘It’s built on two hills with a…’

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ he smiled. ‘Uzava will brief me fully later. What I really want to know is what you thought of Callimarcos.’

  ‘Oh. Well, he’s very bright, especially academically. He seems to have a thirst for knowledge. The reason he was late in getting out was because he was enthralled with being taught by Aristotle and didn’t get on with his mission until the philosopher had returned to Athens. He knows he committed a cardinal sin in forgetting what he was there for and is ashamed about it. He expects to be punished and I would guess that he needs to be if he is to put it behind him. He has a strong sense of moral values and is very serious; not someone to get drunk with. When he gets older I mean,’ he added hastily.

  Iphitos was well aware that Chronos had imbibed a little too much on occasion but he always hid his hangovers well the next day.

  ‘So he’s serious, conscientious and an eager learner. Is that a fair summary?’

  ‘Yes, I’d say so.’ He paused. ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, kyrios, but why the interest in this boy. Are you thinking of using him as a spy again?’

  Chronos knew that he was being impudent but he was curious and he and Iphitos had a close relationship built up over the past three years. If he was being too presumptuous Iphitos would tell him so and wouldn’t get annoyed. The next question startled the youth.

  ‘Do you think he would make a good aide?’

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’ He paused to consider the idea and then nodded. ‘Yes, he’s clever, picks things up quickly and is keen to do a good job. Who would he serve?’

  Iphitos ignored the question and told his aide to come and sit down.

  Chronos was never invited to sit is his commander’s presence, consequently he was apprehensive and it showed on his face.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Iphitos smiled reassuringly. ‘I think, I hope, I have good news for you. I’ve discussed the question of Dardanos’ replacement with all those involved, including Strategos Attalus, and I want to offer you promotion to iliarch as Attalus’ chief engineer.’

  Chronos couldn’t have been more surprised if Iphitos had told him that he’d decided to become a priestess of Athene.

  ‘Me? Replace Dardanos? But I’m not yet old enough even to be a soldier.’

  ‘That doesn’t matter. It might be in the infantry or cavalry but you’re the best man for the job and your expertise in both artillery and construction is second to none. Well, do you accept?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Thank you very much. I’ll make sure you’re proud of me.’ Suddenly his face fell. ‘But I’ll be sorry to leave your service, kyrios. I couldn’t have had a better master.’

  ‘Yes, well.’ Iphitos was embarrassed. ‘You’re to report to Attalus at his camp tomorrow morning so he knows who you are and then get to know your officers and the men. I want you back here by nightfall though. I’ve no doubt that you’ll want to spend your last night here with Lysis.’

  He smiled at the startled look on the boy’s face. Did he really think that he didn’t know?

  ‘You are to brief Callimarcos on his duties before moving up to Attalus’ camp permanently the day after that. I’ll give you a day or two to settle in before I come and see how you’re getting on. Right; you’d better go and find your father, give him the good news and ask him to get you kitted out as an iliarch .’

  Once he’d gone Iphitos sent for Uzava and Callimarcos. It was nearly midnight before he’d finished questioning them and
by then the boy was struggling to stay awake. When Uzava left, Iphitos told Callimarcos to stay.

  ‘Well done, I’m extremely pleased with you. Of course, the delay in carrying out your mission will have to be punished and I’ll consider what I think would be appropriate. In the meantime I need to think what I should do with you now.’

  ‘I’m due to start training as an ephebe in two months, kyrios. As my father is now back in Pella I suppose I should return there?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sorry that he and I fell out. He’s a good engineer.’

  ‘Was it because he was worried about me?’

  Iphitos nodded. ‘It was natural, but I couldn’t accept the way he spoke to me.’

  ‘I understand. Father was always hot-headed and mother bullies him, which doesn’t help.’

  ‘Am I to understand that you are not altogether keen to return to Pella?’

  The boy looked at the ground and Iphitos had to strain to hear what he said next.

  ‘I know it’s wrong of me but I’m happier away from them. They are difficult parents to love.’

  ‘Would you like to stay here and serve me instead?’

  The boy looked up and studied the chief engineer’s face to see if he was being serious.

  ‘As a spy, you mean?’

  ‘No, as my aide.’

  ‘Oh! But what about Chronos?’

  ‘He’s being promoted to take your father’s place in Attalus’ army.’

  ‘Oh, I see.’

  He was about to ask if Chronos wasn’t a bit young but he stopped himself in time. His mind was in a whirl. He had liked Chronos in the short time they had known each other and he had envied him his role as Iphitos’ aide. He had never expected to be able to step into his shoes and a feeling of euphoria swept through him. A grin slowly spread across his face until he was positively beaming his pleasure.

  ‘I take it that the idea isn’t entirely disagreeable to you?’

  ‘Nnno ,’ he stuttered. ‘Not at all. Do you really…. I mean thank you very much. I’d be delighted.’

  ‘Good. Now you’d better go and get some sleep before you fall down. Use Chronos’ bed. It’s yours now.’

  Callimarcos did as he was bid but he was too excited to get to sleep. He got up quietly so as not to disturb Iphitos’ skeuphorus and went for a walk. The two sentries at the entrance to the tent nodded at him and one congratulated him. It seemed that the grapevine had already spread word of his new appointment. Suddenly the gut-clenching tension that he had felt for the past twenty four hours left him and he relaxed; so much so that he had to make a dash for the latrine area.

  -o0o-

  Iphitos stood beside Philip and Parmenion as they watched Emyntor’s infantry rush through the shattered South Gates that his lithoboloi had finally succeeded in destroying. According to Callimarcos there were three thousand hoplites and five thousand light infantry and peltasts in the city but they would be no match for Parmenion’s professional soldiers.

  Iphitos deplored what he knew would be happening inside the city. He was depressed enough in any case without imagining the fate of the inhabitants. He had just received news that Chloe had lost their baby. She reassured him that she was well, but the baby had aborted when she was four months into the pregnancy.

  He sighed and brought his mind back to what Philip was saying. The king had decreed that the city should be sacked and population enslaved – those that survived the rapine and murderous attentions of the Macedonian and Thessalian troops, that is – and the city be slighted, just like Potidaea. His excuse was that they had broken the oath sworn at the Delphic Oracle.

  Iphitos deliberated whether Philip had actually convinced himself that this was the case or whether it was just a cynical reversal of the facts. He stopped watching the city as wisps of smoke started to appear and wondered how Chronos was faring. Attalus’ army had deployed to meet a relief force from the other city states that made up the Chalkidikean League. The wonder was that it had taken them so long to mount it. Uzava had told him that, even so, many cities had refused to send troops to join the relief army. It seemed that several members of the league were fed up with Olynthus’ domination and would be only too happy to see it destroyed. A few had even sent messengers to Philip indicating that they would welcome joining Macedon, provided that they could retain their own laws, customs, religion and freedom to trade.

  More worrying was the fact that Thrace had sent a contingent to join the relief force. Attalus had set out four days ago to confront this army but no word had yet been received at to their success, or otherwise. Iphitos wondered anxiously how Chronos was getting on. Callimarcos was proving to be a more than adequate replacement but he was terribly intense and serious. Iphitos missed his previous aide’s sense of humour and witty remarks. However, Callimarcos had begun to smile a little so perhaps he would relax more as time went on.

  -o0o-

  Three days after the fall of Olynthus Attalus’ scouts made contact with the advancing relief force. Strangely it was moving in two columns, one Thracian and one Chalkidikean, some five miles apart. The scouts estimated that the two columns contained seven thousand and eleven thousand men respectively. Attalus was faced with a dilemma. If he tried to confront one army, which he would outnumber or at least roughly equal and so should be able to defeat without too much of a problem, he risked the second army attacking him on the flank once he was committed. On the other hand, if he waited for them to combine, he would be outnumbered by nearly two to one.

  He eventually decided to confront the larger column but send cavalry to monitor the second one and, if the opportunity arose, to delay it. Having made his decision, he set off to find a suitable site on which to take up a defensive position.

  Despite what he had told Iphitos, Attalus obviously didn’t take Chronos seriously. The youth had soon come to the conclusion that the strategos was an arrogant man who thought he knew best, even if he understood less than nothing about the matter in question. He evidently had no idea how to use artillery and didn’t realise how it could be used effectively on the battlefield. He didn’t even know how best to use his peltasts, something which became evident when he started to look for a suitable killing zone in which to trap the enemy. His idea of using peltasts was to line them up in front of the infantry, fire a few volleys, and then withdraw, which was exactly what Greek armies had been doing for centuries.

  He obviously hadn’t learned anything from Philip’s more novel use of peltasts and he suggested that the gastraphetes should just be deployed with them. When Chronos pointed out that they could be fired by one man but they were too heavy to carry for any distance, he was asked what use they were. He tried to explain but the strategos cut him off. When he asked about deployment of the katapeltikons, he was told that they wouldn’t be needed.

  He saw Amyntor, Attalus’s taxiarch, shake his head slightly, warning Chronos not to say anymore.

  ‘Amyntor, I want you to take three of the four hipparchia of cavalry to delay the Thracians. Is there any other forces you might need?’

  ‘I know that you need all the hoplites and the peltasts for the battle with the Chalkidikeans strategos, but if you don’t need them, perhaps you could spare the katapeltikons and the gastraphetes?’

  ‘I certainly can’t see a use for them, I’m not even sure why Philip gave them to me, but I would have thought that they would be even less useful to you as you’ll be fighting a mobile delaying action.’

  ‘I’ve found a useful killing zone where I can ambush the Thracians. They are ill disciplined and, if I can panic them enough, they might flee without putting up much of a fight.’ He paused. ‘I hope to be able to protect the artillery but a lochus of light infantry and another of peltasts would certainly help.’

  Attalus looked at the younger man and then nodded.

  ‘Very well, you can have the men you ask for but you better make sure that the Thracians don’t get past you.’

  -o0o-

  After surveying
the site that Amyntor had chosen, Chronos was impressed. It was a perfect killing ground. The valley was steep sided and the hillsides were densely afforested. The valley bottom was covered in grass but both banks of the stream that flowed through the left hand side of it were boggy, forcing the Thracians to keep to the middle and right hand side.

  Chronos sited his artillery just inside the tree line where the valley bottom was narrowest. To get at him the Thracians would have to wade through soft bog, ford the stream and then wade though more bog. Whilst they were doing this the artillery and the peltasts would be pouring missiles into them and, as few wore armour, except for two chiliarchies of hoplites, Chronos’ force should be able to inflict considerable damage on them.

  At first the lochagos commanding the light spearmen and the one commanding the peltasts had protested when Chronos was put in overall command of the detachment but the taxiarch explained that they were there to protect the artillery and added that Chronos would consult them as necessary. They still regarded him with contempt - after all he should still be an ephebe – but they reluctantly agreed to accept his orders.

  Amyntor positioned one cavalry epihipparchia in the woods opposite to Chronos’ position but half a mile further along the valley, and he split the other one. Half took up a blocking position in advance of the Thracians’ line of march and the remainder hid further back along the track ready to emerge and attack those who attempted to retreat.

  Chronos’ next task with the light infantrymen and his twenty engineers was to build a high palisade right across the valley and dig pits in the woods at either end. The three tetrachia waited the other side of the palisade to deal with any Thracians who managed to get over it.