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The Gerastrategoi War
Date 160 - 157 BCE Location Aristonid Empire Result Aristonid Dynastic Victory
Belligerents
Aristonid Dynasty	The Gerastrategoi
Commanders and leaders
Aristonous IV Keraunos Ashupala I of Antusa Miltiades Philometor Arsakes Akisheen of Amor	Isaeos Aetolikos Milon Eukaeros Aristophon of Kallidon Leonnatos
Strength
37,000 infantry 16,000 cavalry 200 war elephants 90 warships (various)	75,000 infantry 10,000 cavalry 38 war elephants 140 warships (various)

The Gerastrategoi War (160 - 157 BCE) was an civil war in the Aristonid Empire that occured at the start of the reign of Aristonous IV Keraunos. The principal cause of the conflict was the increasing prominence of non-Aetolian aristocrats in prominent positions within the army. This development began in the final years of the reign of Leontiades II Aniketos and continued through the reign of his son Aristonous III Hippios. These changes received strong pushback by the Aetolian aristocracy which had enjoyed overwhelming representation previously. These issues came to a head with the death of Aristonous III; with leading general Isaeos Aetolikos alongside a group of other prominent Aetolian generals, rose up in revolt.

The war was princpially fought in Untomā, Kana'an and Antusa. Their was a number of major field battles, including the Battle of Leontos, Battle of Ushata and the penultimate battle of the war, the Battle of the Na'aman River. Their was a significant number of smaller skirmishes and a few major sieges, including the Siege of Leontos, Siege of Tamassos and the Siege of Ankuwar.

Background

Throughout the reign of Leontiades II, the Aristonid Empire had come significantly increasing pressure from all sides. Leontiades waged numerous campaigns across the breadth of the empire, and manpower became an increasingly pressing issue which rose to a head during the Second Aristonid-Antusatar War; when Leontiades had to postpone for three years because of manpower issues. The Aetolian settler class had long been the foundation of Aristonid military strength, and the Aetolian aristocracy had dominated leadership positions. Both of these began to falter under the increased demands of Leontiades numerous campaigns which saw him begin to rebuild the army and it's recruitment practices from scratch.