Doric-Aijian War

The Doric-Aijian war was a nearly two-year-long conflict between the Grand Duchy of Canyndor and the Noble Republic of Aijia, the war had been declared by the Doric Grand Duke Arttu I as a means of claiming prosperous lands under the pretence of the predatory economic behaviour of the Republic. The start of the conflict would see Doric gains as they invaded Aijia and sieged the capital, Asjaer, and raided the surrounding lands. The siege lasted for nearly eight months but failed after a combination of a series of successful attacks by Aijian forces and disease amongst the besieging forces. Once the siege was broke, Doric forces would be on the back foot for the remainder of the war, being pushed back into their own territory by the Aijian forces who would make it as far as the fortress city of Pilkala near the Yarrow River before the Grand Duchy conceded defeat.

Chronology of Battles

7662 - 11th of Saati - Siege of Hestrja
7662 - 12th of Saati - Battle of Ebben Field
7662 - 16th of Saati - Battle of Alcort Bridge
7662 - 19th of Saati - Occupation of Ostriken
7662 - 21st of Saati - Siege of Asjaer
7662 - 23rd of Saati - Battle of Jaer River
7662 - 4th of Kesa - Battle on the Vol River
7662 - 12th of Kesa - Sacking of Vollun
7662 - 29th of Hejna - Massacre at Torsten
7662 - 11th of Loka - Battle of Red Copse
7663 - 4th of Tammi - Siege of Randleton
7663 - 13th of Tammi - Battle of Wheatash Bridge
7663 - 9th of Helmi - Battle at Rebelly Row
7663 - 2nd of Maali - Burning of Sjolund
7663 - 4th of Maali - Battle of Eaking Bridge
7663 - 24th of Maali - Battle on Tolta Hill
7663 - 9th of Huhti - Battle of the Baneswood
7663 - 15th Huhti - Siege of Pilkala

The Conflict

Prelude

The Grand Duchy of Canyndor was in general decline before the beginning of the war. Several years of ever-worsening harvests had brought anguish to many and had left the duchy in a widespread state of poverty. This, however, was in complete contrast to the situation experienced in the Noble Republic of Aijia. Trade flowing through Asjaer upon the Bryn was as hectic as ever, traders peddled valuable goods they bought within the city at the prosperous surrounding towns of Porowitz, Mertan and Camenlin. The republics second city of Vollun experienced a boom as new veins of ores were discovered amongst the mines that occupy the hills and wetlands in its domain. The Grand Duke, Arttu I found himself in a familiar predicament of Dorian monarchs, while many of his vassals suffered under the downturn and spoke of their desperate need of aide and anger at its lack of forthcomingness, other who had been less effected likewise bolstered their arguments of concessions and successions as they were tasked with picking up the slack. The most vocal member of this group was Eerikki Kappeli, the Surcount of Rydant, who frequently petitioned the Grand Duke to allow him reduced taxes and further rights as a vassal having been many times to royal palace in Canyndor. These interactions are often cited as the catalyst that drove Grand Duke Arttu to focus his efforts and public messaging towards blaming the misfortunes of the Grand Duchy upon the neighbouring Noble Republic of Aijia. He spoke publically accusing Aijia of funnelling trade away from Doria and stealing from local merchants trading upon the Bryn. Though some merchants attempted to counter the Grand Dukes claims through responses published in The Open Pulpit, however many of the signatories to the responses were arrested for conspiracy against the duchy, others later retracted their statements. Even the King-elect attempted to deescalate the brewing conflict by offering his help to investigate any wrongdoing by Aijian merchants, this offer was largely ignored by the Grand Duke and even by the populace after the Eakinhake Incident, a flashpoint event in which multiple storehouses containing valuable tools and utensils burned down, two Aijian tool merchants were arrested and executed for allegedly committing the arson. This was the final pretext to armament and declaration of war upon Aijia.

Prior to the beginning of mobilisation, Grand Duke Arttu was resident in the fortress of Pilkala, where he had the entirety of his personal retinue stationed, something which was unusual as he usually had at least a quarter of his men in Canyndor even when he was travelling elsewhere. The Eakinhake incident, which has largely been described as the day the war had begun by many, would occur only several days before the prominent Surcounts and Lords of the Grand Duchy would receive letters from Arttu I requesting their aid in fighting with Aijia. These letters, known as the Eakinhake letters, have been the subject of much debate since the war, many claiming they had been written prior to the incident at Eakinhake, that they had in fact been in the possession of their couriers weeks prior to delivery. These allegations even led to some amongst the nobility requesting a trial for Grand Duke Arttu to determine the truth after the war.

Armament on the Doric side was on a large scale in comparison to most conflicts, usually only the Grand Duke and a couple of other significant noble would be active in the fighting, however, the Doric-Aijian War would see a large proportion of the most influential nobles on both side taking active roles in the war. Grand Duke Arttu had intentions of capturing a large proportion, if not the whole of the republic, and would need to dispense out these newly acquired titles amongst his own vassals, this led to the phenomenon of widespread noble participation on the Doric side. From the Aijian point of view, the invading force would battle on their land indiscriminately, and taking part in the war was not exactly voluntary for most. Although the Aijian military was already famous for its extensive use of cavalry, due to the widespread noble participation and the prize of potentially invaluable titles up for grabs, this would see one of the largest proportion of cavalry deployed in the war compared to any other modern war.

It would take five weeks from the time the Eakinhake letters were sent till the forces of the Grand Duchy were assembled, those south of the Tora river assembling near Kilncross with Grand Duke Arttu, while those to the north would assemble on rebelly Row under the command of Surcount Hannu of Sjolund, at which point the official declaration of war was announced on the 3rd Saati, 7662. The Doric forces would then set out on their march over the Bryn.

Included Conflicts

• Battle at Rebelly Row
• Battle of Alcort Bridge
• Battle of Eaking Bridge
• Battle of Ebben Field
• Battle of Jaer River
• Battle of Red Copse
• Battle on Tolta Hill
• Burning of Sjolund
• Massacre at Torsten
• Sacking of Vollun
• Siege of Asjaer
• Siege of Randleton

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

3rd Saati 7662

Ending Date

14th Huhti 7664

Conflict Result

Aijian forces emergerd victorious, the Grand Duchy forced to sign a treaty of reperations for the war.

Belligerents

Doric Forces

• Grand Duchy of Canyndor

Led by

• Grand Duke Arttu I

Aijian Forces

• Noble Republic of Aijia

Led by

• King-Elect Justus of Aijia

Strength

Approx. 35,000 under Grand Duke Arttu A further 18,000 under Prince Turo

Casualties

Objectives

Occupy Asjaer and any additional Aijian lands