Macedon

The **Kingdom of Macedon** or Argead Kingdom, also called **Macedon**, was an oilycraft Season 3 nation located on the Southern Balkans and on the Northwest of the Aegean Sea. It was founded on day 8 (year 1014) and dissolved on day 16 (year 1030) when it joined the Hellenic League together with the Hellenic Republic. Its capital city was Pella, located in the Emathian plain.

## History

Macedon was founded in Day 8 (year 1014) of the server by its first leader kaiser5034, founding the settlement of Pella, from where the nation would expand its influence to near valleys and coastal regions. Its current leader, GnzNicator deposed his brother in **Day 10** (year 1016) during a dynastic crisis.

### Prehistory

The region of Macedon was inhabited by several migratory peoples at different times due to the existence of several mountain passes that connected the regions of Greece, the Upper Balkans and Thrace.

### Ancient Era

The first peoples who settled in the region of Macedon were a collection of Thracians, Illyrians and Hellenes, who lived in small independent tribes, until an exiled nobleman from the city of Argos, unified the several tribes under his banner, starting the beginning of the first Argead dynasty. As such, the Argeads claimed being descendants from Heracles, reason that caused many dynastic struggles, justified by the seek of glory as their great ancestor. For this reason the Argeads stayed in almost constant civil war, until the greatest king of the dynasty, Alexander, managed to reform the nation and expand its domain to the edges of the known world. He would later be assassinated by his generals during a political crisis, causing his children to go into exile, from who only one, Demetrius, would survive. He fled to Northern Italy with a group of followers, with who they would preserve the dynasty for generations. Meanwhile, Macedon fell into the hands of Alexander's generals, and would fall into civil wars until it got invaded by a migratory nation and ceased to exist.

### Exodus

Generations after Demetrius' exile, kaiser5034 became the head of the Argead dynasty and decided to leave North Italy in **Day 7** (year 1014) with his followers and settle somewhere on the Mediterranean coast. He left the city of Venice and sailed into Istria to then follow the Dalmatian coast into Albania, from where he would sail to Sicily. In this island he and his followers explored possible locations to settle, but he was not convinced although he remained in the island for some time. It was then when a priestess mentioned him that the gods had gave her a vision about their future homeland, mentioning the land where the sun was the brightest. kaiser5034 then sailed with his followers to Africa, where a sandstorm covered the sky, to then sail to Asia Minor, where it rained. It was then when they sailed to the Balkans and the sun started to shine. kaiser5034 saw this as the gods' wish to settle back in the land of their ancestors, in Macedon. The priests agreed on this since Macedon's historical flag was a bright golden sun. They then arrived at Emathia and founded Pella in **Day 8** (year 1014).

## Reign of Kaiser

The first days of the Kingdom of Macedon under **King Kaiser** (or kaiser5034) were difficult, having to fight several tribal peoples (mobs and pillagers). The Emathan plain was firstly secured, where a small building in Pella was built and farmlands beside the river Haliacmon were established. The farmlands were consecrated in the name of the ancient city that once sat there, Aigai. Later on the western flank of Macedon would be secured by expanding against the Bermion and Barnous mounts, allowing Kaiser to focus on slowly expanding East. Chalkidike was secured next, expanding East until the Strymon river.

By **Day 9** (year 1016), Macedon's expansion was noticed by the nation of Bulgaria in Thrace, and a claim rush started along the Strymon river, whose lover part was claimed by Macedon and upper part by Bulgaria. The island of Thassos fell under Bulgaria too, completely cutting Macedon's Eastern expansion into Thrace. These events kick-started a diplomatic play with other near nations, eventually forming an alliance with the Hellenic Republic. Talks briefly took place with the Dacian Kingdom but the Macedo-Bulgarian border crisis faded as the border was solidified. As a result, Macedon and the Hellenic Republic signed a treaty where they divided their expansion routes into Greece: Macedon claimed *Thessalia, Epirus* and the *Northern Aegean* while the Hellenes would keep *Aetolia, Attica*, the *Peloponese* and the *Southern Aegean*, including a future outpost in *Eastern Thrace*. With an alliance and their borders secured, kaiser5034 started to set a fort in *Krestonia,* on the Western bank of the Strymon river.

It was in this context of new peace that kaiser5034's brother, GnzNicator rallied his supporters to make a coup to seize power. On **Day 10** (year 1018), GnzNicator imprisoned the faction leader in the Krestonia fort prison and forced him to abdicate in his favor. GnzNicator justified his struggle as a continuation of his ancestor's seek of glory (Heracles), stating that his brother was not worthy of his position. Macedon itself had a great tradition of dynastic power and the coup was rapidly accepted.

## Reign of Nicator

**King Nicator** (or GnzNicator) started his reign in **Day 10** (year 1018) by securing all mountain paths into Macedon proper and building a palisade along the coast. It was clear: national defense would be his first objective. The Macedonian core was rapidly secured (with torches) and its land and sea accesses were limited. By doing this, Nicator wished to be free to develop his mainland. Large mines were established north of Pella, were various minerals and metals were extracted, being coal and emeralds very abundant. Various varieties of stone were discovered, allowing the construction of the Kresonia fort to continue.

On **Day 11** (year 1020) the Hellenic Republic got in contact with Nicator to ratify the treaty previously signed with Kaiser. It was successfully ratified and relations were reestablished. Following this event, King Nicator wished to conmemorate the Argead heritage and his personal glory, by demolishing the core of Pella with the objective of building the great Palace of the Argeads (also Argead Palace) in its place. The initial section of the palace was planned and construction started rapidly. Macedon would focus the nation's resources on this project and the mines of Pella focused in the extraction of various stones and clay.

**Day 12** (year 1022) started with a need of more exotic stones for the palace, and Nicator decided to use of several terracotta varieties, which were abundant in the Levant. This forced Macedon to seek fast methods of transport, horseback riding being the first option. The near region of *Thessalia* was famous for their horses, so Nicator secured a path towards the core of this region, named *Larissa*. At least 2 Thessalian horses were tamed, but the nation lacked quality saddles. This meant horses would not serve as transportation method for now, and Nicator sailed for the Levant in search of terracotta. Nicator would travel a few times to the region, passing by his Hellenic ally's island of Cyprus and visiting the Ottoman Empire. At the end of the day, Nicator encountered a group of pillagers, sending them to meet the gods. This cursed the faction leader with a raid, which took place in Poland-Lithuania. After this Nicator visited the near town of Verberg, meeting its mayor.

**Day 13** (year 1024) saw the Palace of the Argeads progress greatly, having already two courtyards, a residence and royal baths. As a result, several Macedonian paths were replaced to serve the palace and the Strymon river now had access by path to Pella. Several farmlands were established in this river valley. Following this, the Temple of the Nether was consecrated on a hill East of Pella and a *tholos* was built around the Nether portal. Nicator then had to secure the Macedonian Nether, fighting several creatures. Shortly after, Macedon was connected to Vienna through a Nether highway with the help of a member of the nation of Victoria. At the end of the day Nicator traveled to the nation of Ukraine to finalize a trade deal.

**Argead Kings of Macedon**

## Confederation

On **Day 16** (year 1030), Macedon confederated with the Hellenic Republic to form the Hellenic League, ending the independent Kingdom of Macedon.