Overview
The foundation of the Maurya Empire in 321 B.C. by Chandragupta Maurya was a unique event in history. Particularly in view of the fact that it was found shortly after Alexander’s victorious campaigns in North-West India during 327 B.C. – 325 B.C.
There is no unanimity with regard to the ancestry of the Mauryas. The Puranas describe them as Sudras and uprighteous probably due to the fact that the Mauryas were mostly patrons of heterodox sects. The Buddhist works (e.g. Mahavamsa and Mahavamshatika) have attempted to link the Mauryan dynasty with the tribe of the Sakyas to which the Buddha belonged. In the Divyavadana, Bindusara, the son of Chandragupta, is described as Kshatriya Murdabhishikta or annointed Kshatriya.
According to the Buddhist writers, the region from which the Mauryas came was full of peacocks (Mayura in Sanskrit and Mora in Pali), and hence they came to be known as the Moriyas (Pali form of Mauryas). It is obvious from this that the Buddhists were trying to elevate the social position of Asoka and his predecessors.
Jain tradition given in Hemachandra’s Parisisthaparvan relates Chandragupta as the son of a daughter of the chief of a village of peacock-tamers (Mayura-Poshaka). The use of the term ‘Vrishala’ and ‘Kula-hina’ in the Mudrarakshasa of Vishakadatta for Chandragupta probably means that Chandragupta was a mere upstart of an unknown family.
The Greek classical writers describes Chandragupta Maurya as a man of humble origin, but does not mention his exact caste. The Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman (150 A.D.) mentions the Vaisya Pusyagupta as the provincial governor of the Maurya king Chandragupta. There is a reference to Pusyagupta being the brother-in-law of Chandragupta which implies that the Mauryas may have been of Vaisya origin.
Chandragupta Maurya succeeded to the Nanda throne in 321 B.C. after dethroning the last Nanda ruler (Dhanananda) at the age of 25. He was the protege of the Brahmin Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta, who was his guide and mentor both in acquiring the throne and in keeping it.
The acquisition of Magadha was the first step in establishing the new dynasty. Once the Ganges valley was under his control, Chandragupta moved to the north-west to exploit the power vacuum created by Alexander’s departure. The areas of the North-West fell to him rapidly.
Moving back to Central India he occupied the region north of the Narmada River. But 305 B.C. saw him back in the north-west involved in a campaign against Seleucus Nikator (Alexander’s general who gained control of most Asiatic provinces of the Macedonian empire) which Chandragupta finally won in 303 B.C. Both signed a treaty and entered into a marriage alliance.
Who married whose daughter is not clearly known. But it seems that Chandragupta made a gift of 500 elephants to the Greek general and ob*tained the territory across the Indus viz., the Satrapies of Paropanisadai (Kabul), Aria (Herat), Arachoisa (Kandahar), and Gedrosia (Baluchistan). Seleucus’s ambassador, Megasthenes, lived for many years at the Maurya court at Pataliputra and travelled extensively in the country.
An important idea of the Mauryans was the central government. Chandragupta Maurya established the imperial capital at Pataliputra, and then split the empire into four provinces for organizational and ruling purposes. Tosali was the capital of the eastern province, Ujjain in the west, Savarn in the south, and Taxila in the north. The Kumara was the head of all the provincial administration. He ruled as the king’s representative and was helped by Mahamatyas, the Council of Ministers. In the national government, the Emperor was also assisted by a Council of Ministers called Mantriparishad. The councils advised the leaders but the ultimate authority in the kingdom was the Emperor’s. A united military was also wielded by the Emperor, which made the defense and expansion of the empire possible. Consisting of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry and 9,000 war elephants, it was the largest standing army of that time. The Mauryan Emperor also controlled a vast spy system that was depended on both for internal and external security. This combination of the strong central government and the huge military force was an important part of the Mauryan dynasty.
The economy of the Mauryans was another big accomplishment. Under the Indo-Greek friendship treaty, international trade was thriving. The Silk Road provided a way to get their goods to other areas, and the Khyber Pass, located on the modern border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, developed into a strategically important place of trade and contact with the rest of the world. Through the Khyber Pass on the Silk Road the Mauryans could trade with Greece, Hellenic kingdoms, and the Malay Peninsula in West Asia. The main exports sent to those empires were silk, textiles, spices and exotic foods. Technology and science ideas were also exchanged with Europe and West Asia. Because of the peace and tranquility that the Mauryan dynasty was experiencing, internal trade within the empire flourished as well. The political unity allowed people from different areas of Mauryan India to travel and sell their merchandise at markets around their domain. The trade and economy of the Mauryan dynasty was one of their most influential achievements.
This faction revamp will be released in 1.1 - special thanks:
-to as0017 for the vedic turban model
-to dontfearme22 for importing the turban and give permission to use it for this mod
-to Dictator of the Roman Republic for the Gada mace and long axe models
-to Hadrien 1er for importing the mace models
-to Ahiga for positioning and importing the indian axe
Thank you for your kind help, without you it would not have been possible!
Units
This faction overhaul is a complete new roster of indian units, and adds 14 new units to the indian faction and 4 new AOR units. Here are some pictures of the new units:
Melee Infantry
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(Indian Heavy Swordsmen) These swordsmen carry metal round shields and are armed with Khanda swords. They do not wear heavy armour, making them lighter than macemen. These warriors make quite good assault infantry and they can stand against most other infantry.
(Indian Swordsmen) Armed with big chopping swords and tall shields, these swordsmen are the shock infantry of Indian armies. The kukri swords they wield have a curved shape, resembling the Greek kopis, but are bigger. They are likely the product of Hellenic influences on Indian armament, where the Indians have adapted the shape to fit other purposes as well.
(Indian Macemen) Warriors from the higher tiers of the Kshatriya caste, these men have chosen to fight with the mace, a weapon with substantial symbolic importance in India. These men are professional soldiers, paid by the government and very well trained in combat. Heavily equipped and well trained, these men are excellent infantry to send into the fiercest melee.
(Indian Axemen) These axe-bearers are not guards, but regular soldiers. They wield long two-handed iron axes with wooden or bamboo handles. Since they wear little to no armour and do not carry shields, they are vulnerable to missile fire, but their halberd-like poleaxes can cut through infantry and cavalry alike. Axemen like these can be seen on grave paintings in the Ajanta Caves.
(Indo-Hellenic Medium Infantry) Hoplitai Indoi are the lightest component of the regular Indo-Greek phalanx line, equipped with a fairly light linothorax and pteryges, and an equally light helm, though a heavy thureos shield and bronze greaves afford them substantially greater defensive coverage then the traditional hoplitai of distant Hellas.
Spear Infantry
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(Indian Levy Spearmen) Most of these warriors are dressed in their everyday clothing, which includes loincloths, skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. The majority fight bare-chested, however. Spears and shields are cheap and easy to make, and spearmen make up a large part of the melee infantry.
(Indian Spearmen) These men, armed with spears and shields, are the mainstay of the Indian infantry. Some of the warriors wear a simple armoured corselet, made from strips of hardened leather. Their spears, which they wield in an underarm position, are made of wood or bamboo, with iron spearheads.
Missile Infantry
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(Indian Longbowmen) These men are armed with the weapon most closely associated with the ancient Indian warrior: the longbow. These archers can use their bows with great efficiency, and though they may not have the best aim, the power and range of their weapons more than makes up for this, and their broadswords make them more capable in melee than most archers.
(Indian Skirmishers) Most of these light skimishers are dressed in their everyday clothing, which includes loincloths, skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. The majority fight bare-chested, armed with daggers and throwing spears. These troops require relatively little training and financial investment, relying mostly on widespread natural skills and scant gear, while still providing some useful service.
(Indo-Hellenic Peltasts) Gone is the close phalanx formation and the long spear, replaced by a somewhat looser but more skilled melee formation. They wear Phrygian style helmets, light cotton Thracian trousers, and carry javelins, in addition to a smaller and lighter shield. The Indo-Greeks have adapted quite well to the environment of India and have prospered. Many have become Buddhists, though they still remain fierce warriors, true to their Hellenic forefathers.
Cavalry
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(Indian Light Cavalry) Armed with javelins and swords, Indian light cavalry is very good for skirmishing duties and pursuing routing enemies. These warriors are light skirmishing cavalry, not intended for charging or fighting in melee. They are primarily used for support and screening purposes, and will quickly break if caught in close combat by enemy troops. They are best used for harassing the enemy’s flanks, and their speed makes them excellent for chasing down routing enemies.
(Indian Medium Cavalry) The Gandharans are famous for their horses, as well as cavalrymen. They are also popularly known as Ashvakas, "the horsemen," and their land is known as "Home of Horses." They carry spears and round shields, which allows them to hold their own in melee, although they are more adept at spearing down fleeing enemies.
(Indian Female Bodyguards) All personal services to the king are performed by women, including female guards armed with bows and swords to protect his person. The guardswomen escort the king on hunts, riding horses, elephants and chariots. If they actually fight in battle, which is rare, then they also fight mounted.
(Indo-Iranian Light Cavalry) Master horsemen and horse traders, Kambojas never leave an opportunity to plunder using their light cavalry. Living on both sides of the Khyber Pass, they are a part of the "Arya" races which stormed and conquered India, some 1500 years before. Their helmet is an evolved Boiotian one, and their primary cuirass is a quilted silk one. Their weapons are clearly Hellenic: a round aspis shield, a short kontos spear that could be held underarm in a couched stance, and a sturdy kopis for when the spear gives way.
(Indo-Iranian Heavy Cavalry) These Indo-Iranian horsemen combine elements of both Hellenic weaponry and armour mastery, as well as the excellent Indian iron forging traditions. Wearing a Hellenic facemask and leather cuirass, and armed with a small aspis shield, as well as a spear and kopis for close work, their equipment alone would classify them as heavy cavalry.
Chariots
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(Indian Chariot Archers) Riding in horse-drawn chariots, these warriors come from the elite section of the Kshatriya caste, superseding most other warriors in both skill and wealth. They take honour in fighting in the same manner as the ancient Vedic-Aryan heroes of bygone days, and attempt to equal the bravery of Krishna and Arjuna in battle. They are skilled in all types of fighting, but their favoured weapon is the composite bow. Please note, currently its not possible to add more chariot entries to the tables, so we have to use the "neutral" celtic chariot as a placeholder
Elephants
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(Indian War Elephants) The warriors in the towers on these elephants' backs are equipped with longbows of the kind used by much of the infantry. They wear no armour except the occasional leather corselet of the type seen at Sanchi, and are dressed in everyday clothing. They carry quivers of hardened leather slung across their backs, and there may also be spare quivers in the tower, to prevent the archers from running out of ammunition.
(Indian Armoured Elephants) Towering over most other creatures, these elephants can easily scare men and horses alike, with both their size and smell, though elaborate bells and trappings often add to their intimidation. The mahout (rider) is armoured, as well as the elephant itself, protecting its head and sides. A howdah (tower) is also attached to the elephant's back, which serves as a fighting platform.
A few artworks, i use for creating the units:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Last edited by Ritter-Floh; June 13, 2015 at 07:56 AM.
I have a few questions, Because of the fact that in rome 2 we dont have india, does this faction will have bonus ? (Base income or something like this ?)
And what will be the starting position of Taksashila ?
how do you intend to add this faction? Getting rid of another faction like you did for Cyrenaica? If not like this, is it possible to completely create new factions?
Wow, i'm quite impressed of what you do, however, i would like to see more colours on headband, clothes and shields.
Also it could be cool to see some new shield models.
But wow, this is so ambitious !
You guys should reference the work from 0AD(open sourced AOE type game), which has a Mauryan faction. Some things that arent so great is that the horses are still persian placeholders.
[PREVIEW] - Taksashila (Mauyran Empire)
