The Hadrian-Raevendrecht War
| The Hadrian-Raevendrecht War | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 1530 - 1532 A.F.S. |
| Location | The Duchy of Flüssland |
| Result | Hadrian Military Victory
Raevendrecht Strategic Victory
Electoral Imperium of Hadriana
|
| Belligerents | |
 The Hadrian Empire
|
 The Republic of Raevendrecht
|
| Commanders and Leaders | |
| Kaiser Philipp II von
Lichtenfelts
von Lichtenfelts
von Lichtenfelts
Tzyrnowski |
 Stadtholder Silas van Leuveren
|
Prelude
The Hadrian-Raevendrecht War also referred to as the Great Northern War was a major conflict that took place on the north-western border regions between the Hadrian Empire and the Republic of Raevendrecht. Tensions between the two powers have been on an all-time high as the two leaders, Kaiser Philipp II, and Stadtholder Silas van Leuveren have been preaching the sentiment of war for some time now in public letters sent back and forth after Kaiser Philipp sent out a pressing ultimatum in which he demanded the two human empires to unite under his banner, disbanding the Republic. The spark that made the two powers come to blow was a false flag attack from the Enlightened Kingdom of Luminion in which Fynenar Aey’flir and a band of elven warriors disguised themselves as Republican soldiers and attacked a border fortification of the Hadrian Empire, claiming it as their own before quickly vanishing into the night. As the news reached the Imperial Capital, Adelsburg, the Kaiser summoned his Imperial Duma where a unanimous vote for war passed as the nobles of the Empire were enraged by this severe Republican transgression. A declaration of war was drafted within a saints day and delivered to the surprised Republic’s court. The Imperial court began gathering troops for the conflict, hiring the renowned but still relatively unknown mercenaries of the Order of Lazarus to make up the bulk of their forces before marching north into the Republic. This conflict was a clash of titans and its outcome would determine the political situation and continental balance of power for decades to come.
Skirmishes, Battles, and Sieges
- The Attack on the Flüss Bridge, 1530 A.F.S. - Luminion False Flag Attack
- The Raid of Raevendrecht, Moonday 30, Highbloom, 1532 A.F.S. - Imperial Victory
- The Siege of Lünburg, 1530 - 1532 A.F.S. - Imperial Victory
- The Holdout of Avalheim, Marketday 5, Greenfall, 1532 A.F.S. - Avalheim Victory
- Der Flüss Landing, Marketday 6, Greenfall, 1532 A.F.S. - Imperial Victory
Timeline
1530 A.F.S.
- Following a series of heated letters between Kaiser Philipp II of the Hadrian Empire and Stadtholder Silas of the Republic of Raevendrecht, Philipp decides to send an ultimatum to the people of the Republic. Offering them to merge with the Empire or "stagnate alone".
- The Ultimatum was rejected by the Republic, prompting the Empire to send a second ultimatum, this time swapping stagnating alone with a threat of war.
- A High Elven raiding party stealthily enters Imperial Lands wearing Republic uniforms and having covered faces. They launch a surprise attack on a border fortification, overwhelming its small garrison and decorating the fort with Republic banners before vanishing in the night. This event is known as "The Attack on the Flüss Bridge."
- As news of the attack reached the capital, Chancellor Sine Verrador called for an emergency Duma to vote for war.
- Simultaneously with these events, the Republic rejects the second Ultimatum.
- The Hadrian Duma voted for war unanimously, outraged over the supposed surprise attack from the Republic.
- Kaiser Philipp calls for a general mobilization of the armed forces and authorizes the army command's request to hire The Order of Lazarus to make up for gaps in the army.
- A declaration of war is sent out to the Republic who in turn swiftly mobilizes a force of militiamen and crosses the now unmanned Flüss Bridge to lay siege to Castle Lünburg.
- The bulk of the Hadrian army marches north following another crossing, missing the republic's army and capturing New-Wakkerdam without resistance.
1531 A.F.S.
- A standoff between the two armies ensues as regular raids and skirmishes are performed back and forth, seeking for an opening in the enemy lines.
1532 A.F.S.
- Frustrated with the lack of results, the Hadrians abandon the plan to break the siege of Lünburg for the time being, turning their wrath north as they attack and successfully raid the Republic's capital, Raevendrecht. Capturing Stadtholder Silas on Moonday the 30th of Highbloom, 1532. This event is now known as "The Raid of Raevendrecht"
- Silas is taken to Adelsburg where Kaiser Philipp awaits him. Once there he is pressured to surrender or lose his life right there and then. Yet Silas remained firm and rejected any demand of surrender. One of his ears is taken before against all odds, he was released with Philipp who said he'd see him on the battlefield instead. Frustrating the army command since all they saw was more bloodshed now that their hostage was freed.
- The order of Lazarus launches an attack on Avalheim as they were suspected of wishing to join the war on the Republic's side. The Order's target was Avalheim's leader, Lily Roseshade. Yet the militiamen and women of Avalheim were swift to act and threw the Order's forces back into the sea. This event is now known as "The Holdout of Avalheim."
- Shortly after the failed attack on Avalheim, the Imperial commanders decided a direct attack on the Republic's forces was needed to break the now desperate siege of Lünburg.
- Not long after this decision, the Imperial and Republic's forces prepared for battle as both sides noticed the other preparing for a crossing.
- The Hadrian army and troops of the Order of Lazarus engage the Hadrians in a skirmish over the river, drawing their main force away from Lünburg castle and towards the Flüss Bridge. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Hadrian forces was positioned further west, and after the area was clear of Republic forces, small boats were pulled from the tree line, and the Hadrians and remaining Order troops crossed the river, destroying the Republic's camp before decimating the Republic's army through a swift attack from behind. This event is now known as "Der Flüss Landing."
- The remaining troops of the Republic's forces retreat back north and dig in for a follow-up attack that would most certainly come soon.
- The Siege of Lünburg is broken as the Republic's forces rout from the area.
- The Kaiser recalls the commanders and heroes of the battle back to Adelsburg before continuing their campaign for a medal ceremony to celebrate their deeds.
- Before the ceremony, Sine Verrador and Siegfried od Albion meet with the recalled heroes of the Order of Lazarus, stating their intend to use this ceremony to strike down Kaiser Philipp due to his continuous absence from the front and the casualties he caused by letting Silas go free.
- Kaiser Philipp II is executed by Sine's company during the medal ceremony alongside Crown Prinz Karl, and Ser Wyatt who refused to lay down arms when the bloodshed began. This event is now known as "The Red Ceremony" and was carried out on Marketday 22, Greenfall, 1532.
- Remaining loyalists of the Hadrian Crown were swiftly rounded up around the Imperial Capital and the army on campaign, drastically reducing its size and making them unable to resume their campaign, making them stay put.
- Herzog Janczyck-Mariusz Tzyrnowski was summoned to Adelsburg to swear loyalty to the new regime but refused, instead declaring his independence from the Empire, starting the Third Hadrian Civil War.
- Luminion, who had been carefully observing the war and sending massive amounts of arms and money to the Republic during the conflict stepped in and invited both sides to come to Luminion to sign a peace agreement now that Philipp was gone and the west was in complete chaos.
- The Treaty of Luminion was signed, ending the war.