Atropatene

Primary culture

Median (Iranian)

Capital territory

Gazaka (1515)

Government

Monarchy (Autocratic)

State religion

Zoroastrian

Military traditions

Persian tradition group

Heritage of Atropates

+6% National citizen output
−10% Heavy infantry maintenance cost
−4% National slave happiness

Atropatene is a regional power controlling less than half of the Media region and a portion of the Armenia and Albania regions. The Autocratic Monarchy is ruled by Atropates, one of the few Persian lords to survive in power after both the conquest of Alexander and the successor wars that followed. Media Atropatene, or simply Atropatene is in many ways the last bastion of the now lost Achaemenid Empire. It is a much smaller successor kingdom of the collapsed Argead Empire than its neighbors the Seleukid Empire and the Orontid kingdom of Armenia. In 450 AUC, Atropatene stands alone, ever since Atropates refused to pay allegiance to Seleukos Nikator. Historically, this independence would not last forever and in 222 BCE the great-great-grandson of Seleukos, Antiochos III Megas, would bring Atropatene to kneel. By the first century BCE, Atropatene was a client state of the Parthian Empire and met face-to-face with the Roman Republic during the campaigns of Marcus Antonius "Antony".

Background[edit | edit source]

At the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BCE) between the Achaemenid ruler Darius III and Alexander the Great, Atropates served as a commander beneath Darius. After the war and the fall of the Achaemenid Empire, Atropates expressed his loyalty to Alexander. In ~327 BCE, Alexander appointed him as governor of Media. Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, the Argead Empire was divided amongst the generals, governors, and friends of Alexander. The former Achaemenid satrapy of Media was divided into two states: the greater (southern) part — Media Magna — was assigned to Peithon, one of Alexander's bodyguards; and, the smaller (northern) part — formerly the sub-satrapy of Matiene — became Media Atropatene under Atropates, the former Achaemenid governor of all Media, who had by then become father-in-law of Perdiccas, regent of Alexander's designated successor. A united Media was seen as a threat to the other diadochi, and thus Atropates received his kingdom. Later during the Wars of the Diadochi, Atropates refused to submit to any of the successors.

Missions[edit | edit source]

Like all other countries, Atropatene always has access to the generic missions.

Decisions[edit | edit source]

As an Iranian primary culture country, Atropatene has access to the decision to form Media once it controls the relevant territories.

id

Form Media

The ancient Cyaxeres built upon the successes of his father, to unite the Medes, and forge the first true empire in our region. Overthrown by Cyrus himself, this this region has been the birthplace of conquerors and founders alike. After many long years of foreign oppression, it is time we cast off our shackles, and embrace our destiny once again.


Potential requirements Has at least 1 territory Country is in the Iranian culture group Is not 20px Media or 20px Persia The capital is in the region of Media Is not AI-controlled or has at least 15 territories Is not a Tier 2 or Tier 3 formable	Allow 20px Media does not currently exist Is not at war or in a civil war Owns the following territories: Ekbatana (1595) Gazaka (1515) Miyana (1593) Qom (6954)

Effects Current country becomes 20px Media If the country is tribal, adopt the Federated Tribe government form Otherwise, gain 150 political influence Move the capital to Ekbatana (1595) and make it a city if it is currently a territory Add 4 citizen pops and 4 freemen pops of the state culture and religion to Ekbatana (1595) Ekbatana (1595) gets the modifier Emergent Capital until the end of the game, giving: +0.15% Local Population Growth +8% Local Freeman Happiness +10% Local Civilization Level Get claims on all territories not currently owned or owned by a subject in the region of Media Get 3 free province investments

Formation requirements for Media. All fully coloured territories are required, while hatched territories will be claimed after formation.

As an Iranian culture group country, Atropatene has access to the decision to form Persia if it integrates Persian culture.

id

Form Persia

The days of Cyrus and Darius are long gone, but the Persian people remember the great empires built by their own. It is time to throw off the shackles of our foreign oppressors, and unite our people once again!


Potential requirements Has at least 1 territory Country is in the Iranian, Caucasian, or Anatolian culture groups Is not 20px Persia Is not AI-controlled or owns at least 40 territories Is not a Tier 3 formable	Allow 20px Persia does not exist If the country is not AI-controlled and there are Persian-cultured pops in the country, has Persian as a primary or integrated culture Is not at war or in a civil war Owns the follow territories: Babylon (918) Ekbatana (1595) Pasargadai (4951) Persepolis (4799) Nostana (6561) Arbela (880) Gazaka (1515) Opis (914) Hormirzad (4791) Zadrakarta (3435) Artakabana (6559) Sousa (946)

Effects If the country is AI-controlled, there are Persian-cultured pops in the country, and Persian is not the primary culture, add Persian as an integrated culture If the game is ironman, the country is not AI-controlled, and the country is or started as Heraclea Pontica, award the achievement Heraclea Persica Country becomes 20px Persia If the country's ruler is in the same family as Amastris Achaimenid (82), set the name and flag to Achaemenid Empire If the current government form is a monarchy and not Empire or Imperial Cult, set the government form to Empire Otherwise, gain 300 political influence Get the event Seat of Power Get the modifier Unification of Persia for 20 years, giving: +15% Integrated Culture Happiness +12% National Freemen Output Get claims on all unowned territories in the regions of Persis, Media, Parthia, Ariana, Mesopotamia, Bactriana, Gedrosia, and Assyria Get 5 free province investments

Formation requirements for Persia. All fully coloured territories are required, while hatched territories will be claimed after formation.

Pantheon[edit | edit source]

Atropatene starts with the following pantheon:

War: Atar
Economy: Sraosha
Culture: Zoroaster
Fertility: Tishtrya

Population[edit | edit source]

Atropatene has a population of 400 at the beginning of the game. Culturally, the population is majority Cadusian, an unintegrated culture, with the only 98 integrated Median pops. This large proportion of wrong culture pops means that cultural unity and levy size is low at start and will remain so unless the country integrates some minority cultures or acquires more Median pops by conquest. The country's population makeup is also biased towards tribesmen (~30%), with the citizens (20%) concentrated in the cities of Kyropolis (4985), Shiram (3389) and Miyana (1593). A low population density means that Atropatene will struggle at the start to research technology.