Epirus
- This article is about the country in Greece. For the DLC, see Epirus (DLC).
Epirote heritage
+2.5% Levy Size Multiplier
+10% Light Infantry Discipline
−5% National Commerce Income
Epirus is a local power in northwestern Greece, a federation of tribes on the fringes of the Greek world united under the Aiakid dynasty of the Molossions. With dynastic ties to the Argeads of 
Macedon, Epirus has risen to become a significant power in the region, intervening in the affairs of the Italiotes just across the sea at the invitation of 
Tarentum and briefly bringing several of those cities under its control in the campaigns of Alexandros I, though by the beginning of the game its influence has largely dissipated as a result of various internal and dynastic struggles. Ingame, Epirus begins as one of the larger powers in the area with a strategic position bridging Italy with the Greek city states, close and strong enough to easily extend its influence to both while sufficiently isolated to avoid the immediate attention of the Diadochi, under the rule of the young but brilliant Pyrrhos I; if it can consolidate its power and bring the many small states of the area under its control, Epirus will be in an excellent position to challenge to the Antipatrids for the throne of Macedon and unite all of Greater Greece for the glory of the Aiakid dynasty.
Historically Epirus would briefly rise to greatness under Pyrrhos I, a brilliant general who defeated the 
Romans and 
Carthaginians to take control of much of Magna Graecia before Italiote discontent forced him to withdraw, following which he took control of Macedon and launched invasions of 
Sparta and 
Argos where he was killed in battle. Epirus would persist as a local power in contention in the Illyrians, becoming a republic in 231 BC and eventually annexed by Rome after the Macedonian Wars in 167 BC.
If Epirus is destroyed, it can be reformed by an Epirote-cultured country that has conquered all of its main cities.
Missions[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Epirote missions
With the Epirus Flavor Pack DLC, Epirus has a unique set of 3 missions centered around the life and ambitions of its most famous king, Pyrrhos I, focusing on developing the kingdom and centralizing power away from the restive nobility, pursuing the ambitions of Alexandros I to unite the Italiotes under Epirote rule, and pressing the Aiakid claims on Macedon to gain control of all of Greece. As part of these missions, Epirus can attempt to form 
Macedon under Aiakid rule and release special 
client states out of the the oppressed cities of 
Thessaly as well as from potential Italian conquests in 
Magna Graecia and 
Sikelia. To represent Pyrrhos's mercurial ambitions and lack of focus, while he is ruler Epirus can uniquely switch between the two conquest missions without any cooldown or loss of progress.
With the Heirs of Alexander DLC, Epirus can access the special Hellenistic Empire mission once the Greece-focused Hellenic Contender mission has been completed.
Regardless of whether or not the DLC is enabled, like most Hellenistic culture group countries Epirus can also get access to the Euxine Sea Hellenistic cultural mission tree The Hospitable Sea if it makes conquests in the Asian, Bithynian, or Thracian regions, directing it to expand its influence and dominate the Euxine Sea region. Like all other countries, Epirus also has access to the generic missions regardless of whether or not the DLC is enabled.
Events[edit | edit source]
- Main articles: Epirote flavor events, Deluxe Edition Pyrrhus events
All of Epirus's unique events, unless otherwise noted, require the Epirus Flavor Pack DLC to be enabled. Note that this does not include the Macedonian Antipatrid Crisis events, which do not require any DLC.
Marriage of Deidamia[edit | edit source]
If the Epirus Flavor Pack DLC is not enabled, Epirus will have the opportunity to offer the hand of Deidamia Aiakid, the sister of Pyrrhos, in marriage to Demetrios, prince and heir of the 
Antigonid Kingdom, which significantly improves relations. If the DLC is enabled, the marriage can instead be done as part of the Epirote Molossian Consolidation mission tree.
Exile and Return of Pyrrhos[edit | edit source]
In 452 AUC, the Molossions, never content with the reign of Pyrrhos, will demand that he be deposed and replaced with their preferred candidate, the future Neoptolemos II. Following through will anger 
Taulantia and send Pyrrhos into exile into one of the Diadochi countries, while insisting that Pyrrhos stays will significantly destabilize the country. If Pyrrhos is sent into exile, he might move from court to court, either as a hostage or to gather more support, and will eventually decide to return to Epirus to reclaim his throne after about 5 years, which his host can decide to support with gold and troops. If he was supported with an army, he will forcibly retake the throne as co-king with Neoptolemos II with Epirus gaining the troops and gold he was supporting with, while if not Epirus can choose if he will be become king again or not.
After Pyrrhos returns, or if he was never exiled in the first place, the co-kings of Pyrrhos I and Neoptolemos II will begin to plot against each other. Epirus will receive an event on which king to support, with the supported king becoming or remaining ruler and the other killed.
Marriage of Pyrrhos[edit | edit source]
Once Pyrrhos is king and of age, 
Syracusae can make an offer to marry Lanassa Agathoklid, Agathkles' daughter, to Pyrrhos. Epirus can accept and repudiate any existing wives for a significant boost in relations, and accept the dowry of either Korkyra if it is owned by Syracusae or significant sum of gold otherwise.
Italian Ambitions[edit | edit source]
If a Greek city state in Magna Graecia is being attacked by Rome or another Italic power, it can appeal to Epirus if Pyrrhos is king to help. If the offer is accepted, Epirus will get claims on all of the attacker's territories in Magna Graecia in preparation for an invasion, simulating the beginning of the Pyrrhic War.
If Syracusae is at war with Carthage, they can also appeal to Epirus for help if Epirus has expanded into Italy or has dynastic ties through Pyrrhos's marriage. If the offer is sent and accepted, Syracusae will become a client state of Epirus, who will in exchange join the war against Carthage. In all cases, whether or not the offer is sent and/or accepted, Epirus will also gain claims on Sicily to pursue its ambitions one way or another.
Pyrrhos flavor events[edit | edit source]
In addition to the other event chains, there are various other minor events that can trigger for Pyrrhos, such as improving relations with 
Thrace in pursuit of an alliance, engaging in a duel with an enemy commander, and being saved from a cavalry charge by Leonnatus the Macedonian.
Once Pyrrhos dies, if he was king the Panoply of Pyrrhos treasure will be created for Epirus to store in its repository or place in one of its owned holy sites.
Oracle of Dodona[edit | edit source]
Epirus has a unique decision to expand the Oracle of Dodona, one of the most important holy sites of the Hellenic religion. Doing so will expand the oracle into a 
great wonder, as well as giving a permanent modifier to the territory and creating a 
holy site for the Epirote Hellenic deity Zeus Naios. After the wonder is built, further events can trigger from time to time with various economic or military bonuses.
Antipatrid Crisis[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Macedonian events
A few years into the game, Kassandros of Macedon and then his heir Philippos IV will fall significantly ill, forcing a succession crisis once the basileus and the primary heir die that may ensue in 
civil war. If civil war does break out, the rebelling claimant will approach another one of the Hellenic powers for assistance, with Epirus being particularly likely to be asked if Alexandros V is the rebelling claimant. If a plea for help is sent, Epirus can agree to form an alliance with the rebelling claimant in exchange for annexing the Macedonian tributary states of 
Ambracia and 
Akarnania.
Decisions[edit | edit source]
Epirus has a couple of unique decisions available with the Epirus Flavor Pack DLC as part of the mission trees and event chains added in the content pack. The decisions can be found in /ImperatorRome/game/decisions/dhe_dde_pyrrhus_decisions.txt.
Expand the Oracle of Dodona
The oracle of Dodona is the oldest in all of the Greek world, and was once among the most important religious centers of Hellas. The temple complex is centered around the ancient sacred oak tree of Zeus Naios, whose sanctuary covers a holy spring. Over the years the temple complex has fallen into shabbiness and decay as other more famous oracles have overshadowed it.
By building an amphitheater, renovating the temple of Zeus, and establishing regular festivals at Dodona, the site may once again take its rightful place among the hallowed homes of the gods.
Potential requirements
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Allow
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Effects
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Install Greek Claimant
Once the illegitimate ruler has been vanquished, their rightful leader can at last take the crown.
Potential requirements
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Allow
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Effects
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As well, if the Epirus Flavor Pack is not enabled, Epirus can form Macedon by decision (instead of through its missions) if it conquers the area and destroys the existing Antipatrid kingdom. As a Hellenistic culture group monarchy, Epirus also has access to the decision to form the 
Argead Empire.
Form Macedon
The Barons of Macedon have always favored the strong and able over the weak and feeble. Let us seize the kingdom away from those that are leading it to ruin and create a new stronger state for the Macedonians to serve.
Potential requirements
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Allow
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Effects
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Reunite Alexander's Empire
That one power could not possibly come from any dynasty but our own. Only a family that respects the Argead traditions can legitimately claim its legacy.
Potential requirements
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Allow
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Effects
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Formation[edit | edit source]
If it is destroyed, Epirus can be reformed by any country that has Epirote primary culture and has its capital in the province of Epirus, which at the beginning of the game include 
Korkyra and Ambracia. Note that forming Epirus will not give access to any of its unique events, decisions, or mission trees.
Form Epirus
The Epirote tribes found great glory when they united under the leadership of the Molossians, whose kings led them to prominence in the wars for control of Greece and Magna Graecia. Under our leadership, the glorious legacy of the Epirotes will be restored once more, and our past feats eclipsed by future victories.
Potential requirements
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Allow
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Effects
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Diplomacy[edit | edit source]
Epirus begins 
allied with the kingdom of Taulantia to the north.
Pantheon[edit | edit source]
Epirus starts with the following pantheon:
- War: Heracles
- Economy: Hades
- Culture: Zeus
- Fertility: Demeter
Population[edit | edit source]
Epirus begins with a 
population of 108 pops at the beginning of the game divided across its 
7 territories, making it the largest of the Greek states after the Diadochi. All of its pops are Epirote Hellenic.
Unique deities[edit | edit source]
- Main article: Hellenic#Epirote deities
These deities are available to Epirus or countries that were formed from Epirus, as long as it is Hellenic, or polytheistic and has enough Hellenic pops / controls the deity's holy site, and the Epirus Flavor Pack is enabled (Dione and Apollo Aktiakos are unlocked in the unique Epirote mission tree Molossian Consolidation, Achilles is unlocked in the unique Epirote mission tree Hellenic Contender and is also not available for Italic culture group countries):
| Deity | Category | Rarity | Passive effect | Omen effect | Apotheosis effect | Holy site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Aktiakos | War | Very Rare |  -2.5% Navy Maintenance Cost
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 +12% State Religion Happiness
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Up to 5 pops in a random territory  convert to the deity’s faith
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— |
| Achilles | War | Rare |  +3% Discipline
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 +5% Morale of Armies
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Gain  1,000 Manpower, multiplied by the deity’s  Martial, and an extra 1,000 if the deity’s Martial is at least 11, if manpower is below 80%Gain  2.00 Military Experience, otherwise
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— |
| Zeus Naios | Culture | Very Rare | +4% State Religion Happiness
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+5% Morale of Armies
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Up to 5 pops in a random territory convert to the deity’s faith
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— |
| Dione | Fertility | Very Rare |  +10% Global Monthly Food Modifier
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 +10% National Freeman Happiness
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Up to 5 pops in a random territory convert to the deity’s faith
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— |
Achievements[edit | edit source]
