History of Urcea (1575-1798): Difference between revisions
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At the end of the [[Great Confessional War]], the Urcean Crown annexed the entire western heartland of the former [[Kingdom of Gassavelia]] in the 1570s. The legal, economic, and social integration of these regions were haphazard at best and were not a major priority of the Crown or Government. The area was divided into more than a dozen different counties, duchies, and margravates ruled individually by the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] but functionally governed by local magnates. Severe economic depression gripped the region as futile efforts to transform the hilly and tropical area into land suitable for large, Gold Coast-style agricultural settlement. These efforts led to famine and large scale out-migration into other parts of the Kingdom, worsening the labor supply and economic situation. Despite this, little effort was made to ameliorate conditions. By [[1650]], secret socieites began to form throughout the few remaining heavily populated urban centers of the region. The authorities, such as they were, managed to suppress opposition for a time, but by the 1670s culturally [[Gassavelian people|Gassavelian]] magnates began to store large amounts of arms and ammunition. In 1675, the magnates and large groups of urban rebels declared an open rebellion against the Urceans in favor of one of their own, a magnate named Arses, who began to style himself King Arses III. The ensuing conflict would be known as the '75 Rising. | At the end of the [[Great Confessional War]], the Urcean Crown annexed the entire western heartland of the former [[Kingdom of Gassavelia]] in the 1570s. The legal, economic, and social integration of these regions were haphazard at best and were not a major priority of the Crown or Government. The area was divided into more than a dozen different counties, duchies, and margravates ruled individually by the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] but functionally governed by local magnates. Severe economic depression gripped the region as futile efforts to transform the hilly and tropical area into land suitable for large, Gold Coast-style agricultural settlement. These efforts led to famine and large scale out-migration into other parts of the Kingdom, worsening the labor supply and economic situation. Despite this, little effort was made to ameliorate conditions. By [[1650]], secret socieites began to form throughout the few remaining heavily populated urban centers of the region. The authorities, such as they were, managed to suppress opposition for a time, but by the 1670s culturally [[Gassavelian people|Gassavelian]] magnates began to store large amounts of arms and ammunition. In 1675, the magnates and large groups of urban rebels declared an open rebellion against the Urceans in favor of one of their own, a magnate named Arses, who began to style himself King Arses III. The ensuing conflict would be known as the '75 Rising. | ||
Forces loyal to Arses, known as ''Arsesians'', managed to quickly seize most of the militarily valuable castles and strongpoints throughout the region, such that by December 1675 de facto independence had been achieved. Few forward positions in Gassavelia existed that the Royal Army could use, but a route did exist south of the [[Magnag]] running through large passes in the [[Hortus Mountains]] which the Royal Army still controlled. The situation essentially required the Army to campaign through the eastern [[Urcean frontier]], through which large scale military movement was not possible without huge supply trains due to the near-desert like conditions of the region. Accordingly, the first Royal Army expedition which intended to cross the Hortus Mountains was launched in February 1676 from [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] of 15,000 men, most of whom died from starvation and disease along the way. By the time the first expedition reached the passes, only 4,000 men remained and it was decided they would remain at the passes to garrison them rather than pushing onward. Despite the early military failures of the Royal Army, the Gassavelians were diplomatically and economically isolated. The [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] began a blockade of the region, and neighboring authorities in [[Faramount]] fully complied with the embargo due to their own fears of a Gassavelian uprising in their territory. With the | Forces loyal to Arses, known as ''Arsesians'', managed to quickly seize most of the militarily valuable castles and strongpoints throughout the region, such that by December 1675 de facto independence had been achieved. Few forward positions in Gassavelia existed that the Royal Army could use, but a route did exist south of the [[Magnag]] running through large passes in the [[Hortus Mountains]] which the Royal Army still controlled. The situation essentially required the Army to campaign through the eastern [[Urcean frontier]], through which large scale military movement was not possible without huge supply trains due to the near-desert like conditions of the region. Accordingly, the first Royal Army expedition which intended to cross the Hortus Mountains was launched in February 1676 from [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] of 15,000 men, most of whom died from starvation and disease along the way. By the time the first expedition reached the passes, only 4,000 men remained and it was decided they would remain at the passes to garrison them rather than pushing onward. Despite the early military failures of the Royal Army, the Gassavelians were diplomatically and economically isolated. The [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] began a blockade of the region, and neighboring authorities in [[Faramount]] fully complied with the embargo due to their own fears of a Gassavelian uprising in their territory. With the Hortus Mountains to the north of Gassavelia and [[Canaery]] and its associated duchies to the west, Gassavelia was encircled. With few foreign trade options, famine in the territory grew worse. This led to many extremely violent raids for food into Canaery, which raised enmity between both sides. Small raiding parties from Canaery were raised in early spring 1676 and began their own campaign of plunder against the Gassavelians, representing the first loyal land force engaged in the conflict. | ||
In May 1676, the Royal Army managed to deploy a significant force - 12,500 men - into Gassavelia. Since the approach to the country was totally secured by the enhanced Hortus Mountain pass garrisons, the Army was accompanied by a disproportionately large supply train. While such a train would be difficult to defend in open conflict, the region north of the Hortus was free of enemy activity, allowing the Urceans to operate without need for precautions. From the arrival of this force in May, the main portion of fighting began. From then on, the northernmost portion of the country was considered to be the most loyalist and the major base of resupply and recruitment for the Royal Army, with the central part of the country having the most Arsesian support. Following storms and other difficulties, a second force of around 13,000 was landed in the coastal region of Gassavelia in October 1676. For the next three years, these armies would engage in a brutal campaign of attrition against Arsesian loyalist forces. In most battles, the Arsesians were able to better concentrate their forces and issue smaller tactical defeats to the Royal Army that nonetheless stymied its ability to project power into the Gassavelian interior. Supply issues remained constant, and much of the war was characterized by large scale raids by each side against the other's supply trains and farms loyal to each side, leading to strategic supply concerns and additional devastation to the civilian economy. Campaigns throughout 1677 and 1678 were largely unsuccessful before a major campaign in April 1679 saw the northern Royal Army forces sail up the Saianda River and sack [[Harzenon]], the historic capital of the region and the major base of Arsesian support. The sack allowed the Royal Army to control the entire length of the Saianda River, linking up the northern and southern Royal Armies and sending most of the rebels into isolation. The conflict continued until August 1679 when the unified Royal Army destroyed the largest rebel army and captured the pretender Arses, who was subsequently sent back to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] in chains. | In May 1676, the Royal Army managed to deploy a significant force - 12,500 men - into Gassavelia. Since the approach to the country was totally secured by the enhanced Hortus Mountain pass garrisons, the Army was accompanied by a disproportionately large supply train. While such a train would be difficult to defend in open conflict, the region north of the Hortus was free of enemy activity, allowing the Urceans to operate without need for precautions. From the arrival of this force in May, the main portion of fighting began. From then on, the northernmost portion of the country was considered to be the most loyalist and the major base of resupply and recruitment for the Royal Army, with the central part of the country having the most Arsesian support. Following storms and other difficulties, a second force of around 13,000 was landed in the coastal region of Gassavelia in October 1676. For the next three years, these armies would engage in a brutal campaign of attrition against Arsesian loyalist forces. In most battles, the Arsesians were able to better concentrate their forces and issue smaller tactical defeats to the Royal Army that nonetheless stymied its ability to project power into the Gassavelian interior. Supply issues remained constant, and much of the war was characterized by large scale raids by each side against the other's supply trains and farms loyal to each side, leading to strategic supply concerns and additional devastation to the civilian economy. Campaigns throughout 1677 and 1678 were largely unsuccessful before a major campaign in April 1679 saw the northern Royal Army forces sail up the Saianda River and sack [[Harzenon]], the historic capital of the region and the major base of Arsesian support. The sack allowed the Royal Army to control the entire length of the Saianda River, linking up the northern and southern Royal Armies and sending most of the rebels into isolation. The conflict continued until August 1679 when the unified Royal Army destroyed the largest rebel army and captured the pretender Arses, who was subsequently sent back to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] in chains. | ||