the wars of stephan the mighty

when he assumed the throne at the age of 18 stephan hallsberg wished to expand his empire and its power.

The Conflict

Prelude

after the death of his father Fredrick 3rd (783YBCW-731YBCW) died at the age of 52 Stephen ascended the throne at the age of 18. he was a soldier through and through and wished to expand the empire in the north and in the south.
the sacking of hells-landing during the reign of Stephan-In the first year of his reign a massive fleet of longships descended from the northern isles. it sailed down the rivers of heligoland looting the towns. hells-landing was sacked with the dukes castle being destroyed. the duke summoned his armies in the south of the duchy and with the help of the marcher lords including the jarls of derkhof, rookstone the lords of venhomhall and the counts of marchfeld rose an army of around 10000 men. the leaders of the attacking fleet retreated before any major battle could be fought. the young emperor seized at the chance to expand his boarder. he ordered a mighty fleet to be made and he ordered the raising of 50000 men for a war with the northern invaders. the fleet he made would be the framework on which the verianberg imperial navy would be made.

The Engagement

war with the northern isle kingdom-Stephan order the fleet to start an invasion of the northern isles in the summer of the next year. the fleet was massive some 600 longships and 40 war gallys. over the next mouth he conducted an island hopping campaign. new revania was the first target. 5000 men under the command of Stephans Uncle landed in the new revaqninan isle. the jarls of 


so Stephan moved to attack sverka the capital island and the seat of the king. Stephan knew that this would be a big task. scouting had show that the coast was well defended by coastal fortresses and by the northern fleet. yet this didn't stop him he landed at the undefended fishing town of omuii. Stephan then lead the knights of a thousand years personal along with his army of 40000 men. the northern isle kings Erik 3rd and ulrick 1st lead and army of 30000 men with 100 knights. the campaign came to a head at the battle of asahiem.
battle of asahiem-king Erik took the knights into the wood east of the town leaving his co king brother ulrick was left to command the army. Stephan ordered his archers to lay down spikes and to begin firing the northern army out side asahiem. after 2 hours of arrow attack he ordered his infantry to attack in three way. one would attack the center and the two others would go around the flanks of the town with the knights in the rear. when the invaders reach there lines the northern knights charged out of the forest. Stephan however had guest this and he camouflaged his cross bow men in the grass and they began firing at the nights. then he lead the charge against the northern kings not one was left and Stephan had the 30 year old king Erik head mounted on a spear. urlik saw his brothers dead head and ordered a retreat. the campaign lasted for another 3 mouths before Stephan tired army were halted before the sverkan capital. Stephan still only a teen was then handed a treaty and peace between the powers was signed. he gave the new lands to his uncle who became grand duke Adolf of the northern isles. for this great victory Stephan stopped being just Stephan he became Stephan the mighty hammer of the north.
war against Recaniks-at the age of 24 Stephan was looking to expand his influence. he saw the nations problems in the recanik peoples. these horse men had refused to integrate them selves. Stephan lead a mainly magaran army to attack the community of recaniks. he slaughtered hundreds of them but they were able to escape south and when his back was turned return to there homes. Stephan made the order of the black knights which were the precursor to 14th magaran lancers and it is believed he began the ethic cleaning to the recaniks from the magaran lands. after his campaign in these lands his wife had his first son Maximilian.
subjugation of the badlands boarders-at the age of 30 Stephan wanted to expand his northern boarders. the boarder lands with the northern badlands had be fought over since they were set. Stephan wanted to stop the wolfkin from invading his northern lands. so he lead an army 10000 men north. he meat the northern horde at the boarder settlement of ingahofen. the positioned his archers on a hill which rained arrows down at the horde. the then order 5000 of his men into the town to attack the northern men while the other half went around the flank and attack the northern men from the rear. the horde was destroyed and he march north across the boarder. he was able to gain the loyalty of three lords. on the boarder he found the ancient and ruined fortress of asbang. its strategic position guarding the only road south and in thick forest Stephan ordered the creation of the winter march and he insulted the leader of his guard as the first lord of the march with his son Charles as his successor.
when mighty fall-704YBCW the ailing Stephan decided to march an army from the frontier kingdom and invade setercha hopefully destroy them and invade the sultanates. at the age of 45 he know had 3 son. his eldest was maxmillian who was 24 his second son Hugo was 18 and his favorite and youngest son Charles was 16. for the invasion of setercha he gathered an army of 15000 men. most were from the frontier it self but he brought the knights of a thousand yearsneglectedthe twin sultanate imperial army and the seterchan army countered the invasion. Stephan still had a card up his sleeve he order his heavy eleven cavalry and heavy infantry to attack the city. this failed and the siege lasted into the winter. this was when the bulk reinforcements arrived and Stephan ordered a retreat. his army had lost 10000 men.

Outcome

Stephan wars had expanded the empire boarders. and had brought possible the greatest point in verainberg medieval history.

Aftermath

as he campaigned for so long Stephan died at the age 47. he however didn't want his sons to fight one another so he divided his empire between the three. this however would result in the nations first bloody civil war.

Historical Significance

Legacy

Stephan was heralded as the empire greatest hero and this is reflected in the elite of the imperial guard regiments being given the name the Stephan the mighty regiment. the order of black knights were the predecessor to the 14th lancers and he ultimate brought the violence to the recanik people

In Literature

the wars of Stephan the mighty are tough in schools across the empire.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Belligerents

verianberg empire

Strength

40000 for the invasion of the northern isles
20000 for the recanik war
10000 for the war with the badlands
15000 men for the invasion of the principality of setercha

Casualties

Objectives

expand the empires territory.