War:Riga War
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The Riga War, 1559 to 1564, was an internal Imperial conflict between the Carnatian League, made of coalition allies including the Duchy of Carnatia and the Krajian Hetmanate, and the Duchy of Courland. The war stems from Duke Alexander of Courland's decision to revoke the Barony of Kraken's Watch from Lord Britannus Vanir, in an attempt to solidify his claim to the duchy. Duke Alexander hoped to remove the claimants from his land in hopes of force-arming the House of Vanir back into banishment.
Prelude
Following the end of the Dukes' War, the old Duchy of Vanaheim had been destroyed under the rule of King Guy of Oren, and reformed into the Duchy of Courland by Emperor John I and given to House Staunton. At the conclusion of the Eighteen Years' War, Duke Anden of Courland was plagued by rebellion. The Duke's brother, Aleksander, had raised a host and pressed his claim to the Duchy. Anden, hoping to revive the old Duchy of Vanaheim, requested Britannus Vanir's assistance in crushing the rebellion. To confirm his commitment to the cause, Duke Anden would reward Britannus with the keep of Kraken's Watch, the former primary holding of the Vanir's.
In a sudden twist of events, Duke Anden's father, Richard, supported Aleksander's claim to the Duchy. Ashamed and disappointed, Duke Anden would hang himself, passing the Duchy to the only known heir, Aleksander. Fearing an uncontrolled rebellion within the Duchy, Emperor John II would call for negotiations to occur at the Diet of Saltstone. At the Emperor's insistence, Britannus Vanir would accept the title of Baron of Kraken's Watch, and swear fealty to Duke Aleksander of Courland.
Several years passed with peace in the Duchy, and both Aleksander and Britannus were careful not to escalate tensions between the two houses. Unexpectedly, however, Aleksander would send a small detachment of Courlandic soldiers to slay the garrison and the Vanirs whilst they slept. Due to the immense bravery of one man, Asher Highwind, the Vanirs were able to escape the attack with a majority of their bannerforce, and call for a meeting of the northern lords, primarily Duke John of Carnatia, Hetman Sveneld of Krajia, and Lord Petyr Barbanov. Immense political pressure from the northern lords and Imperial advisers would cause Emperor John II to allow for an internal Imperial conflict.
Major Confrontations
- 1558 - Storming of Kraken's Watch - Courlander Victory
- 1561 - Battle of the Curon Forest - Coalition Victory
- 1562 - Siege of Kraken's Watch - Coalition Victory
Timeline
- 1556:
- The treaty of Saltstone is signed, awarding Kraken's Watch to Britannus Vanir under the Duchy of Courland.
- 1558:
- Aleksander Staunton orders a battalion of Courlandic infantry to storm Kraken's Watch, and slay all Vanirs caught.
- House Vanir is forced into exile in Carnatia, where a meeting of all the Northern lords is held to discuss the storming of Kraken's Watch.
- 1559:
- Emperor John II allows for a controlled internal conflict, ordering Ser Maric Vimmark and Prince Henry Joseph of Furnestock to oversee both the Courlandic and Carnatian war efforts, respectively.
- The Carnatian Coalition is formed, a pact of all other northern lords against the House of Staunton.
- Ser Fiske Vanir is elected as Lord Paramount of the Coalition.
- 1559 - 1560:
- Minor confrontations occur, never surpassing more than a hundred men involved.
- The Coalition, although outnumbered, wins a majority of these small fights, sending the Courlandic raiding parties back to Riga.
- 1561:
- With constant raids and guerilla warfare having worn down the Courlandic force, the lords of the Coalition rally their levies, and march to engage the enemy within the Curon Forest.
- Despite being outnumbered, the Coalition's army, under the command of Ser Rickard Barrow of Carnatia, routs the Courlandic host, forcing them to withdraw to Kraken's Watch.
- Rumors begin to spread in Riga of a new heir to the ducal seat, Percival Staunton II. Aleksander ignores any mention of Percival, believing it to be myth to distract him from the war effort.
- 1562:
- Ser Rickard Barrow besieges the fortress of Kraken's Watch, successfully recapturing the castle for House Vanir.
- Duke Aleksander falls into depression at the loss of many thousands of his men, and distances himself from the outside world, leaving Courland without a leader.
- Tensions rise within the Coalition over the relationship between Jaromir, a favorite of the Krajian Hetman, and Emma Vanir, the sister of Lord Paramount Fiske.
- 1563:
- Percival II Staunton takes charge of Courland, with nearly no opposition. He begins to organize peace efforts and negotiations between the Coalition, represented by Britannus Vanir, and himself.
- 1564:
- The Treaty of Ambrosa is signed, putting an end to all hostilities between Courland and the Coalition.
- The Barony of Kraken's Watch is returned to Britannus Vanir, who is ennobled as the Baron of Kraken's Watch.
- Men of the Carnatian Gold Corps are believed to have attacked Jaromir at the behest of Duke Jan.
- The Hetman allies himself with Prince Danis of the Dreadlands, and officially rebels from the Holy Orenian Empire.
