The Great War
The Great War took place from 1108 to 1115 CE and was fought between a large force led by urtheonian King Laethis Soanis and the Southern Alliance between the kingdoms of Eleonis, Lupear and Aguilear. The diplomatic relationship between Eleonis and Urtheon had been strained, but peaceful, for many years leading up to the start of the war. The main point of conflict were the Silver Mountains located between the two Kingdoms and their valuable resources like silver and iron ore, which both sides felt entitled to. There was an agreement between both, which both sides grudgingly adhered to for many years.
This changed on March 22nd 1108, when the urtheonian King, Laethis's father, died, supposedly from the Fever, though many theorize that the King might actually have been poisoned. Laethis Soanis, the new King of Urtheon, was unwilling to keep to his ancestor's contract and decided to do something about it. Knowing that Urtheon alone stood no chance against the larger, very well-trained eleonian army, Laethis instead looked north and east and began to conquer the lands around Urtheon. After sucessfully conquering the north, Laethis turned east to conquer the people of Baitha and Valeor, hoping that with them he'd have a force powerful enough to obliterate Eleonis.
In the meantime, the eleonian King Micael Leandos, informed of Laethis's plans, began to expand his own army. He also turned to his neighbours in Lupear and Aguilear in order to ally himself with them. He achieved a rather stable alliance by promising one of his two unmarried daughters hands to each King's son as well as military support in case of an attack on either kingdom. When Laethis finally marched on Lupear to get from Valeor to Eleonis, he expected to simply absorb Lupear into his forces to have an even more powerful force against Eleonis. Instead, he was met by a strong, well-organized force comprised of the armies of the Southern Alliance in south-eastern Lupear. In pure manpower, Laethis' force was much larger than the Alliance's, but what the southerners lacked in numbers, they made up in strategy and individual skill of the soldiers.
Because of this, several battles were fought, but neither side could win. On July 16th 1115, after several of these unsuccessful battles, Laethis proposed to decide matters in single combat, but since the eleonian King was already badly wounded and thus incapacitated, he appointed a champion to fight in his stead. His son would have been his first choice, but he had fallen in battle, so he appointed his General, Lord Riarcos Angeleos. Riarcos fought valliantly and finally killed Laethis, which secured the victory of the Southern Alliance according to the terms of the duel.
In the aftermath of the battle, both King Micael Leandos and Riarcos Angeleos succumbed to their injuries, leaving Eleonis without a King and its army without a General. Since the Kings heir had also fallen, there was nobody to inherit the eleonian Throne, so the Lords of the four remaining noble houses came together to determine the next King. Because of the noble sacrifice made by Riarcos Angeleos, they decided to give the throne to Riarcos' eldest son Ealdir. House Angeleos has been the reigning family in Eleonis ever since.
Further consequences of the war were adressed in a meeting of the Kings of Eleonis, Lupear and Aguilear in Leandor, the former eleonian capital. The new King of Urtheon, a young man by the name of Marian Soanis, was also present, but since his father had lost the war, he had no part in the negotiations. The two main points of discussion were the reparations Urtheon would have to pay, as well as the fate of the lordship of Leandor.
It was decided, that Urtheon would have to pay each of the winning kingdoms a considerable amount, either in coin or in other valuable resources. The exact amount was different for each kingdom, depending on their individual casualties, both in both human and material resources. Additionally, the kingdom would lose a considerable amount of territory to Eleonis and Lupear. The lordship of Leandor was split between the three parties of the Southern Alliance, the capital city remained on eleonian territory.
This changed on March 22nd 1108, when the urtheonian King, Laethis's father, died, supposedly from the Fever, though many theorize that the King might actually have been poisoned. Laethis Soanis, the new King of Urtheon, was unwilling to keep to his ancestor's contract and decided to do something about it. Knowing that Urtheon alone stood no chance against the larger, very well-trained eleonian army, Laethis instead looked north and east and began to conquer the lands around Urtheon. After sucessfully conquering the north, Laethis turned east to conquer the people of Baitha and Valeor, hoping that with them he'd have a force powerful enough to obliterate Eleonis.
In the meantime, the eleonian King Micael Leandos, informed of Laethis's plans, began to expand his own army. He also turned to his neighbours in Lupear and Aguilear in order to ally himself with them. He achieved a rather stable alliance by promising one of his two unmarried daughters hands to each King's son as well as military support in case of an attack on either kingdom. When Laethis finally marched on Lupear to get from Valeor to Eleonis, he expected to simply absorb Lupear into his forces to have an even more powerful force against Eleonis. Instead, he was met by a strong, well-organized force comprised of the armies of the Southern Alliance in south-eastern Lupear. In pure manpower, Laethis' force was much larger than the Alliance's, but what the southerners lacked in numbers, they made up in strategy and individual skill of the soldiers.
Because of this, several battles were fought, but neither side could win. On July 16th 1115, after several of these unsuccessful battles, Laethis proposed to decide matters in single combat, but since the eleonian King was already badly wounded and thus incapacitated, he appointed a champion to fight in his stead. His son would have been his first choice, but he had fallen in battle, so he appointed his General, Lord Riarcos Angeleos. Riarcos fought valliantly and finally killed Laethis, which secured the victory of the Southern Alliance according to the terms of the duel.
In the aftermath of the battle, both King Micael Leandos and Riarcos Angeleos succumbed to their injuries, leaving Eleonis without a King and its army without a General. Since the Kings heir had also fallen, there was nobody to inherit the eleonian Throne, so the Lords of the four remaining noble houses came together to determine the next King. Because of the noble sacrifice made by Riarcos Angeleos, they decided to give the throne to Riarcos' eldest son Ealdir. House Angeleos has been the reigning family in Eleonis ever since.
Further consequences of the war were adressed in a meeting of the Kings of Eleonis, Lupear and Aguilear in Leandor, the former eleonian capital. The new King of Urtheon, a young man by the name of Marian Soanis, was also present, but since his father had lost the war, he had no part in the negotiations. The two main points of discussion were the reparations Urtheon would have to pay, as well as the fate of the lordship of Leandor.
It was decided, that Urtheon would have to pay each of the winning kingdoms a considerable amount, either in coin or in other valuable resources. The exact amount was different for each kingdom, depending on their individual casualties, both in both human and material resources. Additionally, the kingdom would lose a considerable amount of territory to Eleonis and Lupear. The lordship of Leandor was split between the three parties of the Southern Alliance, the capital city remained on eleonian territory.
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Land
Start Date
1108 CE
Ending Date
1115 CE
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