Fahrig War
"When we elect an Emir, he is availed to the wise counsel of our civil servants, faithful priests, and admirals. Such advisors will make plain the financial and moral cost of war to any ruler. The boardroom of the Trade Company is not so blessed."In the august of 496, the Condominium directed the Red Sails to bombard the town of Spur Metus over a contract dispute. Clan Metus was one of the clans in loose alliance with the Duchy of Fahrig, the duke having pursued a policy of guaranteeing the independence of many clans neighboring the duchy to buffer against Condominium expansion. When word reached the duke, ships were mobilized for war, and the king of Kilth ordered the navy to sail from the mainland. Though the Kilthian navy enjoyed early successes against the Red Sails, many of the Emirs that backed the Condominium did not wish to see their colonial endeavor fail against a middling power. Thus, seven emirs sailed against Kilth in late 497, and defeated the Kilthians. In early 498, the duke of Fahrig revoked his guarantee over many clans, ending the war.
The Conflict
Deployment
The Red Sails encountered much more trouble than they expected as the Kilthians deployed almost their entire navy to meet their treaty obligations to Clan Metus. Many Eterti clans dogpiled on the situation, stretching the resources of the Red Sails close to its breaking point. Faced with the possibility of total loss, many emirs and Runberi councilors (many of whom were shareholders in the Condominium) began to support intervention. Ultimately, seven emirates (Hallaba, Faqairah, As-Sairhinah, Deidad, Zurawah, Quneish, and Tamis) voted to sail against the Kilthians, and even this third of the force of the Runberi soundly defeated the Kilthians.
Outcome
The Condominium took over sulfur and dye production in Clan Metus and the clans in its orbit, and Kilth had to pay war reparations to the Condominium. Far from a positive episode for the Condominium, the company had been near bankruptcy due to the war and their consequent inability to defend themselves against the Eterti. Ultimately, the war drained both Runberi and Kilthian, and resulted in minor gains for the Condominium.
Aftermath
Though the Condominium won the war, the episode became a cautionary tale. Effectively saved from complete destruction at the hands of the dwarves of Kilth by the intervention of the home cities, the Condominium attempted to lobby for a further invasion of the Duchy of Fahrig but did not get what they wanted. The emirs and their assemblies were displeased, and warned against further adventurism by the company. While the Duchy of Fahrig had to withdraw from its policy of supporting Grand Tescarana clans as a buffer, the Condominium has likewise been forced to tread carefully around the Duchy for they know that the Emirates might not bail them out again.
The Kilthians also received a harsh reminder of Runberi naval supremacy. Swiftly crushed by a mere third of the Emirati navies, the dwarves of Kilth have been forced to accept a reality where they may only act in ways that do not draw the ire of the emirs in any significant way.
Conflict Type
War
Battlefield Type
Naval
Start Date
496
Ending Date
498
Conflict Result
Limited Condominium victory
Location
Belligerents
Kingdom of Kilth
The Condominium
Strength
47 warships of the Kilthian navy, unknown number of Eterti raiding boats.
36 Red Sails warships, dozens of converted Condominium merchant marine.
After 497, 129 warships of the seven Emirati navies.
Casualties
Objectives
Maps
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The Tescaries
This is a really interesting conflict. I like that, even though the Condominium won, they ended up bankrupt. :)