The Sacking of Peza

At the end of a series of wars lasting since about 490 NWJ, forces of the Akali Empire besieged and then destroyed Peza. The Pezan people who had not already fled were either captured or killed; it is estimated that no more than 5% of the inhabitants of the city escaped. Those captured were brought into the Akali empire and made into slaves, the first time the Akali had possessed slaves in large numbers. The city was then looted and burned to the ground, and its land was sowed with salt to ensure that it could never return. This event is generally considered one of the most horrific ever committed by the Akali Empire.

The Conflict

Prelude

Many wars had been fought between the Akali and the Pezans, starting around the year 490 NWJ. The last of these began in 363 NWJ, when the Akali used the excuse of a dispute over farmland in southern Pashko as casus belli in the hope that they could eliminate Peza, their longtime enemy. Early in 357, the Akali army routed a large portion of the Pezan military in Pashko, and then the Akali marched south facing almost no resistance until they had Peza under siege.

Outcome

The Akali army entered Peza, killed or captured nearly the entire population, looted all valuables, and razed the city to the ground. Living Pezans were brought north to the Akate and then spread out across the empire as slaves.

Aftermath

The sacking of Peza essentially destroyed all resistance to Akali rule to the south. Groups not under Akali control survived only in the mountains and on the Yijkitliihin Peninsula. Small numbers of refugees from Peza itself fled in all directions, and large numbers of refugees from lands which had been under the control of Peza fled as well; the Yijkitliihin Peninsula was generally the most common destination, the Cemalu were either brought into the cultures which already existed there or formed their own communities. There are three modern groups descended from the Pezans: the Lyiches, the Keez (both on the Yijkitliihin Peninsula), and the Naicu (in the southern Łéndzan Mountains).

Conflict Type

Siege

Start Date

357 NWJ

Ending Date

357 NWJ

Conflict Result

The city of Peza was permanently demolished