Battle of Ephemea

My Emperor, the day is lost. Lavrania is lost.

— Legate Tiberian toward Emperor Aneas

One of the largest battles to occur during the Diarchy, Ephemea marked a turning point in the way the Hegemony and the northern tribes interacted. While its repercussions have been overstated in following decades, there can be little doubt that it altered the course of the Hegemony.

Crushing Defeat

Occurring during the last days of Novem of 3060 DA, Ephemea is regarded as both a major military blunder and strategic masterpiece:

Imperial Infighting

Having forced his authority on the various Imperial Armies, Emperor Aneas marshalled a massive force for a full-scale assault on the north. The main goal was to drive the Nauretani out of their raiding grounds, bottle them up in the Lavranian highlands and starve them into submission. From day one, the operation was fraught with problems. Several elements of the army, especially those belonging to the Eastern and Western Field Armies, either ignored commands or fulfilled them with considerable delay. It took Aneas two months to reach Lavran, and by then, Euric was prepared.

Barbarian Cunning

Caught off guard at first, Euric quickly recovered. His forces harried the imperials every step of the way and gave their King time to prepare the perfect battlefield. A day south of Lavran, he forced the Emperor into battle in a narrow and rugged set of valleys and canyons. The Legions were simply mauled, trying to fight through strong defences and constant ambushes. All the while, other segments of Euric's army moved around their enemies' flanks via hidden passes. In danger of being surrounded and having suffered terrible casualties, Aneas was forced to withdraw on the third day of battle.

Ephemea shattered Aneas' fragile rule. Within days of the defeat, various army regiments were already trying to assert their independence from the Amorian. Within a year, his rule had collapsed into full-scale civil war. Euric, for his part had essentially gained control over northern Vardania, a fact that would not change for over a decade.

Ephemea is a lesson any commander ought to learn. Arrogance always leads down the road toward defeat.

— Adeon Vargan, Imperial Warmaster

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

27.11.3060

Ending Date

30.11.3060

Conflict Result

Strategic Nauretani Victory. Imperial Offensive Stalled. Beginning of the End for the Amorian Regime.

Location

Northern Vardania

Fourth Hegemony

led by Aneas the Amorian

~ 85.000 Soldiers

Subdue the Northern Tribes.

Heavy Casualties

Nauretani

led by Euric of the Thoromungi

~ 50.000 Soldiers

Halt the Imperial Advance.

Light Casualties.