Atallid Pergamene

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Historical Overview Section


The Attalid dynasty was a Hellenistic dynasty that ruled the city of Pergamon after the death of the Early Successor Lysimachus, a general of the Alexandrian Macedonian conquest of the world and three-times pan-Bosporan lawn tennis champion. The Attalid kingdom was the rump state left after the collapse of the Lysimachian Empire. One of Lysimachus' officers, Philetaerus, took control of the city in 282 BC. The later Attalids were descended from his father, and they expanded the city into a kingdom. Attalus I proclaimed himself King in the 230s BC, following his victories over the Galatians.

The Attalids were among the most loyal supporters of Rome in the Hellenistic world. Under Attalus I (241-197 BC), they allied with Mid Republican Romans against Philip V of the Later Macedonians during the first and second Macedonian wars, and under Eumenes II (197-158 BC) during the third Macedonian War. Eumenes II also took an army to fight alongside the Mid Republican Romans at the Battle of Magnesia in 190BC against the Later Seleucids, commanding the Mid Republican Roman right flank including virtually all the cavalry. In return for support against the Later Seleucids and after their defeat at Magnesia, Eumenes gained control of the former Seleucid possessions in Asia Minor, including the use of former Seleucid garrisons. Pergamon forces subsequently campaigned with the Mid Republican Romans against the Galatians of Asia Minor, winning a decisive battle at Mount Olympus in Asia Minor in 189BC. The Mid Republican Romans seem to have been content to Ally with Pergamon and there is no indication that they desired direct rule over the region, giving up all annexed territory to be ruled by the Attalids. It can therefore be assumed that the relationship with the Romans was particularly cordial.

The Attalids ruled Pergamon until Attalus III bequeathed the kingdom to the Mid Republican Romans in 133 BC to avoid a likely succession crisis. Because the Romans were slow in securing their claim Aristonicus filled the power vacuum, claiming the throne and taking the dynastic name Eumenes III. Eumenes III was defeated and captured in 129 BC by a Mid Republican Roman force under Marcus Perperna, the consul for 130 BC. After his surrender, he was paraded through Rome and executed by strangulation.

User-contributed links about this army:

Tactical Tips

  • The big choice is whether to take the Theurophoroi as MF or HF. MF is more inherently interesting, and the army allows enough Cv and Lh to give you a reasonable stab at winning initiative if combined with an IC
  • Or, alternatively, going for a low aggression could allow you to race across the table in a first move.
  • The post 190 options are an all-or-nothing choice, which also skews your army maybe towards the dull HF Theurophoroi option as otherwise the MF will lose touch with a single pike unit.
  • The army is most often seen as an ally for the Late Republican Romans where the 4 lancer cavalry and unit of MF spearmen seem to offer something new.

Allied Contingents

  • Kappadokian : Date restrictions None Book: Rise of Rome Page: 38 - Not great. MF with Lt Sp only is not a battle winner, but you need them if you want the 6 Lh and 6 Cv this list offers
  • Galatian : Date restrictions 218 BC Book: Immortal Fire Page: 51 - If you are doing this, take the superior foot or you may as well add a can of allied dogmeat to your army.

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Name of Army / Date

  • 1 FC
  • 3 TC
  • 2 Bgs of 4 Cav, Arm, Sup, Drilled, lancers, Swordsmen
  • 1 BG of 4 Cav, Arm , Sup, Undrilled, Light SPear, Swordsmen
  • 1 BG of 4 LH, Unp, Ave, Undrilled, Javelins, Light Spear
  • 2 BGs of 8 MF, Prot, Ave, Drilled, Off SPear
  • 1 BG of 6 LF, Unp, Sup, Drilled, Bow
  • 1 BG of 6 LF, Onp, Ave, Undrilled, Sling
  • 2 BGs of 8 HF, Prot, Sup, Undrilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen
  • 1 BG of 4 Ct, Heavy Arm, Ave, Drilled, Lancers, Swordsmen


Remember to leave a line before you copy the above section as a template for your own list

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