Difference between revisions of "Siege of Rhewengrad"

From Lord of the Craft
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 61: Line 61:
  
 
== Prelude ==
 
== Prelude ==
[[John I, Holy Orenian Emperor|Emperor John]]'s campaign against the [[Grand Kingdom of Urguan]] had proven to be successful thus far. The decisive victory at [[Battle of White Mountain|White Mountain]] had routed the remaining majority of the Urguanite forces, pushing them back into the fortress of Rhewengrad, one of two forts preventing any foreign invaders from attacking the capital of Kal'Akash. Josef Vladov and [[Henry Rothesay]] pursued the routing dwarves, setting up camp on a hill overlooking the fortress. On their part, the dwarves under the command of Belegar Ireheart attempted to create a defensive position in the fort. However, conflicting orders from the Urguanite government hindered their efforts, with no progress achieved.
+
[[John I, Holy Orenian Emperor|Emperor John]]'s campaign against the [[Grand Kingdom of Urguan]] had proven to be successful thus far, the decisive victory at [[Battle of White Mountain|White Mountain]] had routed the majority of the dwarven forces towards Rhewengrad, one of two main fortification preventing any foreign invaders from assaulting the capital city of Kal'Akash. Josef Vladov and [[Henry Rothesay]] pursued the routing dwarves, setting up camp on a hill overlooking the fortress. Belegar Ireheart took his army in a defensive position of the nearby hill, with around a fourth of his men garrisoned inside the keep itself. Belegar's requests for reinforcements, however, were denied by the Urguan government, instead bolstering their numbers at the nearby fortress of Kal'Ordholm.
  
In the [[Holy Orenian Empire|Empire]], [[John I, Holy Orenian Emperor| Emperor John]] had created a blood pact with Rex Ubba'Gorkil. On the eve of the assault on the fortress, Ubba'Gorkil's host arrived at the camp, much to the dismay of the dwarven forces. The next day, Rothesay ordered an attack on the fortress.
+
In the [[Holy Orenian Empire|Empire]], [[John I, Holy Orenian Emperor| Emperor John]] had created a blood pact with the orcish warlord Rex Ubba'Gorkil earlier in the war. On the eve of the assault on the fortress, Ubba'Gorkil's host had finally arrived at the encampment, much to the dismay of the dwarven forces. The next day, Rothesay ordered an attack on the fortress.
  
 
== Battle ==
 
== Battle ==
The dwarves, believing a victory was confirmed due to their larger numbers, slept peacefully the night before. Belegar Ireheart felt it appropriate that his men enjoy a proper night's sleep on the eve of their guaranteed victory. The [[Holy Orenian Empire|Imperial]] forces, however, arose much earlier in the morning. At Field Marshal Rothesay's orders, the men pushed their catapults to the rear of the fortress. Once set up, Rothesay ordered the bombardment to begin. The attack came as a surprise to the Urguanian force, who expected the attack to come from the front, and at a much later point in the day. Belegar quickly attempted to rally his forces to begin firing the fortress' ballistas towards the Imperial siege weapons.
+
Dwarven fortresses were well known for their defensive capabilities, with many on both the Urguan and Imperial sides doubting an Imperial victory from a direct siege of Rhewengrad. After nearly four months, starving out of the dwarves occupiers failed as the Imperial army was unsuccessful in cutting off the dwarven supply lines. Fearing eventual reinforcements from the Urguan government, which grew bolder in delivering more supplies to the garrison by the day, Field Marshal Rothesay attempted a quick assault of the castle. At Field Marshal Rothesay's orders, the men pushed their catapults to the rear of the fortress. Once set up, Rothesay ordered the bombardment to begin. The attack came as a surprise to the Urguanian force, who expected the attack to come from the front, and at a much later point in the day. Belegar quickly attempted to rally his forces to begin firing the fortress' ballistas towards the Imperial siege weapons.
  
 
The bombardment would continue for several days, with Orenian siege engineers forming a breach through Rhewengrad's walls. As the Imperial lines formed up, preparing to enter the fortress, Dunamian cavalry, led by Richard Revlis, poured out of the keep, heading directly towards Imperial men. [[Athirius Roke]], seeing the threat that these horsemen posed towards the assault of the fortress, took command of a small detachment of Imperial cavalry, and counter charged the Dunamian horsemen. His attempt proved fruitful, successfully repelling the attack, at the cost of Roke's life.  
 
The bombardment would continue for several days, with Orenian siege engineers forming a breach through Rhewengrad's walls. As the Imperial lines formed up, preparing to enter the fortress, Dunamian cavalry, led by Richard Revlis, poured out of the keep, heading directly towards Imperial men. [[Athirius Roke]], seeing the threat that these horsemen posed towards the assault of the fortress, took command of a small detachment of Imperial cavalry, and counter charged the Dunamian horsemen. His attempt proved fruitful, successfully repelling the attack, at the cost of Roke's life.  

Revision as of 04:39, 2 December 2016

Siege of Rhewengrad
Part of the Eighteen Years' War
henryrothesay.jpg
General Henry Rothesay
Date: 1536-1537
Location: Cascadia, Grand Kingdom of Urguan
Result: Orenian Victory
Preceded by: Battle of White Mountain
Followed by: Siege of the Iron Mountain
Belligerents
Holy Orenian Empire and Allies:
Holy Orenian Empire
Principality of Laureh'lin
Ubba'Gorkil's host
The Grand Kingdom of Urguan and Allies:
Grand Kingdom of Urguan
Dunamis mercenaries
Commanders and leaders
Holy Orenian Empire and Allies:
John I, Holy Orenian Emperor
Josef Vladov
Henry Rothesay
Athirius Roke †
Grand Kingdom of Urguan and Allies:
Belegar Ireheart
Richard Revlis
Strength
Holy Orenian Empire and Allies:
23,000 men and elves
Grand Kingdom of Urguan and Allies:
20,000 men and dwarves, around 5,000 garrisoned
Casualties
Holy Orenian Empire and Allies:
~3000 dead
Athirius Roke †
Grand Kingdom of Urguan and Allies:
~6000 dead

The Siege of Rhewengrad (Dwarven: Krazdan eron Kal'Rhewen) was a four month long siege during the Eighteen Years' War of the Urguanite fortress of Rhewengrad by the Imperial forces of John I, Holy Orenian Emperor and his generals Josef Vladov and Henry Rothesay. The dwarven forces were commanded by Lord Marshal Belegar Ireheart, with the notable Dunamis presence led by Richard Revlis. The fortress of Rhewengrad was a key fortification for both the Empire and Urguan, having been constructed on order of Grand King Rhewen Frostbeard near the beginning of the war.

Prelude

Emperor John's campaign against the Grand Kingdom of Urguan had proven to be successful thus far, the decisive victory at White Mountain had routed the majority of the dwarven forces towards Rhewengrad, one of two main fortification preventing any foreign invaders from assaulting the capital city of Kal'Akash. Josef Vladov and Henry Rothesay pursued the routing dwarves, setting up camp on a hill overlooking the fortress. Belegar Ireheart took his army in a defensive position of the nearby hill, with around a fourth of his men garrisoned inside the keep itself. Belegar's requests for reinforcements, however, were denied by the Urguan government, instead bolstering their numbers at the nearby fortress of Kal'Ordholm.

In the Empire, Emperor John had created a blood pact with the orcish warlord Rex Ubba'Gorkil earlier in the war. On the eve of the assault on the fortress, Ubba'Gorkil's host had finally arrived at the encampment, much to the dismay of the dwarven forces. The next day, Rothesay ordered an attack on the fortress.

Battle

Dwarven fortresses were well known for their defensive capabilities, with many on both the Urguan and Imperial sides doubting an Imperial victory from a direct siege of Rhewengrad. After nearly four months, starving out of the dwarves occupiers failed as the Imperial army was unsuccessful in cutting off the dwarven supply lines. Fearing eventual reinforcements from the Urguan government, which grew bolder in delivering more supplies to the garrison by the day, Field Marshal Rothesay attempted a quick assault of the castle. At Field Marshal Rothesay's orders, the men pushed their catapults to the rear of the fortress. Once set up, Rothesay ordered the bombardment to begin. The attack came as a surprise to the Urguanian force, who expected the attack to come from the front, and at a much later point in the day. Belegar quickly attempted to rally his forces to begin firing the fortress' ballistas towards the Imperial siege weapons.

The bombardment would continue for several days, with Orenian siege engineers forming a breach through Rhewengrad's walls. As the Imperial lines formed up, preparing to enter the fortress, Dunamian cavalry, led by Richard Revlis, poured out of the keep, heading directly towards Imperial men. Athirius Roke, seeing the threat that these horsemen posed towards the assault of the fortress, took command of a small detachment of Imperial cavalry, and counter charged the Dunamian horsemen. His attempt proved fruitful, successfully repelling the attack, at the cost of Roke's life.