The Battle of Ulemna (746 FD)

The battle that won an empire

The Conflict

Prelude

After declaring war upon Nascadet, the First Emperor, Akenit I of Sunas, marched out to meet them in the field. He would soon discover, though, that several other cities had marched out to support his enemies, out of a fear of his ambitious and expansive behavior.
Besides these new allies, the Nascadeti had also brought in a sizable host of desert tribesman as mercenaries. It would fall on to these nomads, with their unparalleled mastery of light cavalry, to encircle, and corral Akenit's army into meeting the larger coalition in battle.
Outnumbered nearly three to one, Akenit almost immediately turned his host around, in an attempt to return to the safety of his fortified capital at Sunas.

Deployment

Racing up ahead of the First Emperor's host, the mounted tribesmen employed by Nascadet rapidly circled around Akenit's slower force, and cut off their retreat to Sunas. Wanting to force his way through, Akenit first attempted to rush the small mounted force in a overwhelming assault, but suffered serious casualties as a result, and instead opted to make for the large hillside overlooking the Plains of Ulemna.
Reaching the relative safety of the large outcropping, the Sunarian host quickly dispersed the majority of its number within the densely packed rock. Wanting to appear desperate and panicked, Akenit, made his force appear far smaller than it was, and even went so far as to have a portion of his army branch off to fein the appearance of desertion. These troops soon turned around, however, and regrouped with the main host as planned once it appeared they had learned escape impossible.

Battlefield

The plains of Ulemna exist to this day, and sit south of the Sunarian capital of Sunas. Arid, and incredibly flat, the land around Ulemna is contrasted solely by a singular hill upon which the main part of the battle occurred.
Pockmarked in a vast number of tremendous boulders, the hillside is ravaged by deep crevices and small canyons, which hide small trickles of water seeping up from the earth. These small streams, ultimately trickle across the lower levels of the hill crop, before draining into the Sun River, which flows along the hill's western side.
The presence of the Sun River in the west, makes the hill of Ulemna a highly defensible position, that can only be properly approached from the east.

The Engagement

As Akenit had wanted, the Nascadeti coalition misjudged his behavior and saw in his pitiful force of men, an army on the brink of collapse. Over exerting itself to rush to the battle, the Nascadeti would be the first of their coalition to arrive, leaving many of their men winded and need of rest. Rather than provide it though, the Nascaedti quickly sent out a scouting foray, but because of over eager commanders and unnecessary time restraints, Akenit's hidden forces were not uncovered.
Beginning their assault before the bulk of their allies could arrive, Nascadet's army entered and was destroyed in the narrow passages and steep hillsides leading up to the hills summit where Akenit's army saught refuge.
Seeing their allies cut to pieces by the heavily armored warriors of Sunas, the allied levies of Amatanet and Zoteph refused their leader's orders to enter the frey. Deserting their post, the levies fled the field of battle on foot, believing the day to be lost. What they did not realize though, was that Akenit would never be content with simply Nascadet.
Once victory over Nascadet was assured and their king Akenit's prisoner, the Sunarian cavalry descended from the hill and entered the open and flat plains. Leading the riders peronsely, Akenit led them on a spectacular charge in pursuit, riding down the vast but lightly armored, and panicked horde of infantry in what would go down as one of the most crushing routes in Sunarian history.
Their armies destroyed and leaders captured, the coalition as a whole would surrender not long after the battle. Swearing fealty to Akenit as their emperor, each of the three kings would be made provincial governors over their individual cities, buying Akenit their loyalty for a time as he consolidated his conquests and organized his empire.

Outcome

The First Emperor subjugated the cities rallied against him, and brought them under the mantle of his growing empire.

Aftermath

The Battle of Ulemna would go down as one of The First Emperor's greatest military victories, cementing his reputation as a legendary commander. It would furthermore, bring the First Intermediate to a close within only a few years as the First Sunarian Empire established itself in roughly 750 FD.
Following his victory at the Ulemna, Akenit became a commander of near god-like renown; who was afterwards feared by his adversaries; with many choosing to avoid conflict all together. Able to defeat a massive force of some of the strongest cities in Sunar at the time, few others saw victory as possible against the rapidly advancing armies of the First Emperor and onward many a king would swear fealty, the moment a Sunarian army marched upon them.

Historical Significance

Legacy

Today the battle is still remembered as a paramount event in the foundation of the First Sunarian Empire, with Akenit's legacy as an empire builder known far and wide.

Conflict Type

Battle

Battlefield Type

Land

Conflict Result

The First Emperor emerged victorious, defeating the coalition against him in a glorious and unexpected victory.

Belligerents

Nascadeti Coalition against Sunas

The Army of the First Emperor

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Led by

• Akenit I

Strength

Total: 15,400 troops
Nascadet (6,000)
Amatanet (3,000)
Zoteph (5,500)
Desert Tribesmen (600)
Other Cities (3,000)

Total: 4,800 troops

Casualties

Estimated Total: 11,853 killed or captured
Nascadet (6,000 killed or captured)
Amatanet (2,200 killed or captured)
Zoteph (2,600 killed or captured)
Desert Tribesmen (53 killed or captured)
Other Cities (1,000 killed or captured)

Estimated Total: 604 killed or captured

Objectives

To defeat Akenit I of Sunas, otherwise known as the First Emperor, and put a halt to Sunas' aggressive expansion

To defeat the coalition, and subjugate them in the name of expanding Sunas' hegemony.