Arathelian Wars

The Arathelian Wars, also known as the War of the Nine Nations, was a series of disastrous conflicts which primarily took place on Arathel between 10,450 BCE - 9,961 BCE. The wars were fought amongst nine nations for control over Arathel, which was left decimated by the fighting. Millions were killed, wounded or left vagrant by the conflict. It originated from the rivalry between two nations - the Selkirk Empire and the Soteris Republic - and quickly escalated into a full-scale war which involved all nine nations from the Maeradina continent. The belligerent states were the Selkirk Empire, the Duchy of Fleurs, the Soteris Republic, the Kingdom of Argede, Tairane, Eupheata, Rumada, Ayubasa and Ulmuruk.

The Arathelian Wars were the most significant event in Arathelian history, and their impact is still felt for millenniums in Tairane. The wars left the majority of both continent in ruins, with significantly much of its population dead or displaced. It also led to the formation of the Kingdom of Tairane, as well as the subsequent formation of the First Empire of Tairane, which would go on to become one of the most powerful empires in Arathelian history. The conflict were preceded by centuries of conflict and tensions between the nine old nations of Maeradina, which had gradually escalated over time. The war began in 10,450 BCE when the Selkirk Empire invaded the Soteris Republic, and quickly spread to involve all nine nations of Arathel.

The term "Arathelian Wars" is a modern one, coined by contemporary historians to describe the conflict. It is not known what the participants of the war called it, as there are no surviving records from the time period. The wars were fought over a period of almost 500 years, and ended in 9,961 BCE with the Selkirk Empire's victory over the Soteris Republic, and the signing of the Treaty of Arathel. The treaty brought an end to the wars, and ushered in a new period of peace and stability on Arathel. It also led to the establishment of the Selkirk Empire as the dominant power on the continent, which would rule over most of Arathel and Maeradina for centuries afterwards.

Overview

Origins

The Imperial Flag of Selkirk Empire

The Arathelian Wars had their origins in the rivalry between the Selkirk Empire and the Soteris Republic, two of the nine nations which inhabited Maeradina. The Selkirk Empire was a large, powerful state which controlled much of central and northern Maeradina, while the Soteris Republic was a smaller, but significant nation located in southern Maeradina. The two states had different cultures, religions and political systems, and were often in disputes with one another. This rivalry gradually escalated over time, until it eventually led to open warfare between the two nations in 10,450 BCE.

The Flag of Soteris Republic

Much of the continent of Arathel was still undeveloped in the 10th millennium BCE, and was inhabited by various nomadic tribes, and minor colonies from the nine nations of Maeradina. The nine nations which would eventually go to war with one another began as small skirmishes, which gradually expanded their territory through conquest. These states were the Selkirk Empire, the Duchy of Fleurs, the Soteris Republic, the Kingdom of Argede, Tairane, Eupheata, Rumada, Ayubasa and Ulmuruk. The nine nations slowly developed into powerful empires which came to dominate the old continent of Maeradina. They became locked in a state of constant conflict with one another as they vied for supremacy over the new continent of Arathel. This led to a number of smaller wars being fought between them over the centuries leading up to 10,450 BCE. These conflicts served to increase tensions between the various states, and made open warfare more likely. The rivalry between the Selkirk Empire and Soteris Republic was particularly strong due to their different cultures and ideologies; this made it more difficult for them to resolve their differences peacefully.

The Selkirk Empire was a monarchy which was based upon the belief that the king had a divine right to rule. The Soteris Republic, on the other hand, was a democratic state in which power rested with the people. This made it difficult for them to find common ground, as their political systems were fundamentally different. The two nations also had different religions; the Selkirkians worshipped a pantheon of gods and goddesses known as the Seven Celestial Fathers, while the Soterisians followed monotheism and believed in one all-powerful god known as Aganter. These differences led to religious clashes between the two nations, which further increased tensions between them.

The Selkirk Empire had a long history of expansionism, and was always looking to increase its territory. The Soteris Republic was located in southern Maeradina, which the Selkirkians saw as ripe for conquest. They believed that the climate and resources of the region would be beneficial to their empire, and so they began to make plans for an invasion. In 10,450 BCE, the Selkirkians launched a surprise attack on the Soteris Republic, quickly conquering much of its territory. This marked the beginning of the Arathelian Wars.

The Selkirkian invasion of the Soteris Republic was the spark which ignited the Arathelian Wars. The other eight nations of Maeradina quickly became involved in the conflict, as each sought to take advantage of the situation and increase its own territory. The Duchy of Fleurs, located in western Maeradina, allied itself with the Selkirk Empire and invaded the Kingdom of Argede. The Soteris Republic formed an alliance with Ayubasa and Tairane, two powerful empires located in eastern Maeradina, and together they launched a counter-attack against Selkirk. Eupheata also became involved in the conflict, as it saw an opportunity to increase its territory at Selkirk's expense. Rumada joined forces with Ulmuruk to launch an invasion of Tairane, while also attacking Eupheata from the rear.

The war quickly spread across Maeradina, and promptly further into Arathel, as all nine nations became embroiled in fighting one another. It soon became clear that there could be no victor; each side had too much power and too many resources for any one nation to emerge victorious from the conflict. This led to a prolonged stalemate between the belligerent states, which lasted for centuries. Millions were killed or wounded during this time period; entire cities were destroyed and entire populations wiped out by disease and famine. The wars left Arathel in ruins; much of its population was dead or displaced by the fighting, and its infrastructure was left in ruins.

The Battle of Sothera (10,450 BCE)

Background

The Battle of Sothera from an ancient painting depiction, 10,450 BCE

The Battle of Sothera was a major conflict which took place in 10,450 BCE between the Selkirk Empire and the Soteris Republic. It marked the beginning of the Arathelian Wars, and was fought over control of the city of Sothera, which was located in southern Maeradina. The Selkirkians had invaded the Soteris Republic in an attempt to conquer its territory, and quickly laid siege to its capital city. The Soterisians were unprepared for war, and were quickly overwhelmed by the Selkirkian army. They attempted to retreat from the city, but were cut off by Selkirkian forces. This led to a large-scale battle being fought outside the city walls; it lasted for days and resulted in large death tolls on both sides. Ultimately, the Selkirkians emerged victorious from the conflict; they captured Sothera and began their occupation of southern Maeradina.

Portrait of General Kazimierz of the Selkirk Southern Army

General Kazimierz of the Selkirk Empire led the Selkirk Southern Army in its invasion of the Soteris Republic, and was also responsible for its capture of Sothera. He was a skilled military strategist, and his victory at Sothera was seen as a major victory for the Selkirkian Empire. It allowed them to gain a foothold in southern Maeradina, and put them in a strong position to conquer the rest of the region. The Battle of Sothera also had significant consequences for the other nations of Maeradina; it led to the Duchy of Fleurs declaring war on the Selkirk Empire, and also prompted The Kingdom of Ayubasa and Argede to form an alliance with the Soteris Republic.

The inhabitants of southern Maeradina were not used to open warfare, and quickly became overwhelmed by the fighting. They attempted to flee from the city en masse, but were cut off by Selkirkian forces. This led to a large-scale battle being fought outside the city walls; it lasted for days and resulted in a bloody affair on both sides. Ultimately, the Selkirkians emerged victorious from the conflict.

Prelude

The Selkirk Empire had been planning to invade the Soteris Republic for many years; they saw it as an opportunity to increase their territory, and believed that its resources would be beneficial to their empire. In 10,450 BCE, they launched a surprise attack on the Soteris Republic, quickly conquering much of its territory. This led to the Selkirkians laying siege to its capital city of Sothera.

The Soterisians were unprepared for war, and were quickly overwhelmed by the Selkirkian army. They attempted to retreat from the city, but were cut off by Selkirkian forces. This led to a large-scale battle being fought outside the city walls; it lasted for days and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides.

Opposing Forces

Selkirk Southern Army

The Selkirk Southern Army was the military force which invaded and conquered the southern region of Maeradina. It was led by General Kazimierz, and the exact size of the army is approximated to be around 250,000, with 10,000 cavalry, and 20,000 archers. The Southern Army was considered to be one of the best-trained and equipped armies in the Selkirk Empire.

Soteris Republican Army

The Soteris Republic was a small nation located in southern Maeradina; it was invaded by the Selkirk Empire in 10,450 BCE. The exact size of the Soterisian army is not known, but it is approximated to have been around 100,000. The vast majority of the army consisted of infantrymen, with only a small number of cavalry and archers. The Soterisians were not prepared for war, and were quickly overwhelmed by the Selkirkian army.

Battle

The Selkirk Empire quickly laid siege to the city of Sothera after invading the Soteris Republic. The city was located in southern Maeradina, and was the capital of the republic. It was heavily fortified, and had a large number of soldiers defending it. However, the Selkirkian army was much larger, and better equipped; they quickly began to make progress in their assault on the city.

The Selkirks set up camp outside the city walls of Sothera, and began to prepare for their assault on the city. The Southern Army was divided into two groups; the first group would attack the city from the north, while the second group would attack from the south. General Kazimierz led the second group, and was responsible for its capture of Sothera.

After a few days of heavy fighting, the Selkirkians had managed to breach the walls of Sothera. The Selkirks entered the city and began pillaging and massacring its inhabitants; they killed men, women and children without mercy. The Selkirkians were ruthless in their conquest of Sothera, and showed no mercy to its citizens. This led to many of them attempting to flee from the city; however, they were quickly cut off by Selkirkian forces. This resulted in a large-scale battle being fought outside the city walls; it lasted for days and resulted in great losses on both sides.

The Selkirk Empire emerged victorious from the Battle of Sothera, This led to the Selkirkians coming into conflict with the other nations of Maeradina, particularly The Kingdom of Ayubasa and Argede. It also resulted in the Duchy of Fleurs declaring war on the Selkirk Empire.

Aftermath

The Battle of Sothera had significant consequences for both sides; it led to massive losses on both sides, and changed the balance of power in southern Maeradina. The Selkirk Empire had gained a foothold in the region, and was now in a strong position to conquer the rest of Maeradina. The Soteris Republic was left weakened and vulnerable; its capital city had been captured, and its people were severely demoralized. This led to the Selkirkians conquering most of southern Maeradina within a few years.

The sudden abrupt shift of powers within the continent was a major cause of concern for the other nations of Maeradina; it led to the Duchy of Fleurs declaring war on the Selkirk Empire, and prompted The Kingdom of Ayubasa and Argede to form an alliance with the Soteris Republic. These events would eventually lead to the outbreak of the Arathelian Wars, which would last for centuries to come.

The Battle of Carica (10,390 BCE)

Background

The Battle of Carica, (10,390 BCE)

The Battle of Carica was fought between the forces of the Selkirk Empire and the Maeradonian Alliance, a coalition of several Arathelian nations which had formed in order to resist Selkirkian expansion. It took place in the city of Carica, which was located in central Maeradina. The Selkirkians had been steadily expanding their territory for years, and had already conquered much of southern Maeradina. They now turned their attention to the north, and began their invasion of the Maeradonian Alliance. The alliance was unprepared for war, and its members were quickly overwhelmed by the Selkirkian army.

The battle began when Selkirkian forces entered Carica and laid siege to the city. The alliance attempted to resist, but were quickly overpowered by the Selkirkians. They retreated into the city, and attempted to hold out against the Selkirkian onslaught. However, they were outnumbered and outgunned, and eventually succumbed to the Selkirkian assault. The city was sacked and looted by Selkirkian troops, and its inhabitants were massacred or taken captive. The Selkirkians emerged victorious from the conflict, and continued their advance northwards. The Battle of Carica was a significant victory for the Selkirk Empire, and allowed them to gain a foothold in central Maeradina. It also led to the collapse of the Maeradonian Alliance, and paved the way for Selkirkian conquest of the region.

Setting

The Battle of Carica took place in the city of Carica, which was located in central Maeradina. The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Argede, and had a populace of around 100,000. It was situated on the banks of the River Argede, and was surrounded by fertile farmland. The city was defended by a large wall, which had been built to protect it from attacks. The Selkirkians quickly expanded their territory, and by 10,390 BCE they had already conquered much of southern Maeradina. They now turned their attention to the north, and began their invasion of central Maeradina.

The Maeradonian Alliance was a coalition of several Arathelian nations which had formed in order to resist Selkirkian expansion. It consisted of the Kingdoms of Ayubasa and Argede, as well as the Duchy of Fleurs. The alliance had been formed in 10,389 BCE, in response to Selkirkian aggression. Its members were united by their shared opposition to Selkirkian expansion, and their desire to preserve their independence.

Selkirk Deployment

Portrait of General Silamia of the Selkirk Eastern Army

The Selkirkian army was divided into two main forces; the Eastern Army and the Southern Army. The Southern Army, under the command of General Kazimierz, had been responsible for the conquest of southern Maeradina. It now turned its attention to the north, and began its invasion of central Maeradina. The Eastern Army, under the command of General Silamia, was responsible for the conquest of eastern Maeradina. It began its advance southwards, in order to support the Southern Army's offensive.

The Selkirkians had a combined army, consisting of around ~400,000 soldiers. They were well-equipped and well-trained, and had been battle-hardened by years of campaigning. The Selkirkians also had a large number of war archers and heavy cavalry, which they used to great effect in battle.

Maeradonian Deployment

The Maeradonian Alliance was unprepared for war, and its members were quickly overwhelmed by the Selkirkian army. The alliance attempted to resist, but were quickly overpowered by the Selkirkians. They retreated into their respective capitals, and attempted to hold out against the Selkirkian onslaught. However, they were outnumbered and outgunned, and eventually succumbed to the Selkirkian assault. The Kingdoms of Ayubasa and Argede were conquered by the Selkirkians, and their inhabitants were massacred or taken captive. The Duchy of Fleurs was also conquered, but its inhabitants were spared.

Battle

The Selkirkians quickly expanded their territory, and by 10,390 BCE they had already conquered much of southern Maeradina. They now turned their attention to the north, and began their invasion of central Maeradina. The Selkirkian Southern Army, under the command of General Kazimierz, began its advance northwards. It quickly laid siege to the city of Carica, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Argede. The Selkirkians bombarded the city with war elephants and catapults, and eventually breached its walls. They entered the city and began slaughtering its inhabitants; those who attempted to flee were cut down by Selkirkian forces. The city was sacked and looted by Selkirkian troops, and its populace was massacred or taken captive. The Selkirkians emerged victorious from the conflict, and continued their advance northwards.

Aftermath

The Battle of Carica was a significant victory for the Selkirk Empire, and allowed them to gain a foothold in central Maeradina. It also led to the collapse of the Maeradonian Alliance, and paved the way for Selkirkian conquest of the region. The Selkirkians continued their advance northwards, and by 10,385 BCE they had conquered all of central Maeradina. The Selkirks had now turned their attention to the west, and began their invasion of western Maeradina.