Saukhin Conquest

Saukhin Conquest
Part of Qabóri Overseas Conflicts
Location of the Saukhin Islands to the west of Truk
Date 31 May 1832–21 June 1832 Location Polynesian Sea Result Qabóri conquest of the Saukhin Islands
Belligerents
Saukhin Islands	Qabóri Woqalate
Commanders and leaders
King Wapahunea	Woqala Saqula I
Strength
2,500 men 21 ships	9,700 men 40 ships
Casualties and losses
1,437 16 ships	922 2 ships

The Saukhin Conquest occurred in 1832 and lasted for twenty-one days. It fully characterized the military might of the Qabóri Woqalate under the House of Havqanoq. The conflict described the Woqalate's swift capture of the Saukhin Islands, a chain of islands located to the west of modern-day Truk in the Polynesian Sea. The purpose of said conflict was to sustain a Qabóri chokehold on the extremely valuable Polynesian trade routes, escalated entirely by the Daxian Capture of Truk almost two hundred years earlier, along with its vast resource pool, which allowed for many agricultural activities to occur along with the various opportunities of mineral extraction, mainly characterized by its various pockets of copper mines.

Background

The Saukhin Islands have been inhabited for nearly 2,000 years, with the possibility of Vallosian origin, though recently there has been evidence of migrations from modern-day Stenza and Audonia. The islands were governed by the Saukhin Kingdom, which was a theocratic island kingdom, ruled through the teachings of the indigenous Polynesian religion of Tuhauata. The kingdom was mostly characterized by its unique geographical attributes, such as volcanoes, lush greenery, unique and diverse marine life, and the ideal tropical climate. Situated in the heart of the Polynesian Sea, the small kingdom was renowned for its large areas of valuable fertile volcanic soil, mostly on its main island Ato'Ato. The fertile soil, a result of the island's volcanic origins, allowed for the Kingdom to establish a thriving agricultural sector throughout its 300-year history. Notable crops cultivated in these fertile lands include a diverse range of fruits and crops, including bananas, mangoes, papayas, dragon fruits, and kiwifruits. Not only was the Kingdom rich in the agricultural sense, but it also was underscored by the strategic significance of its vast copper mines, a crucial aspect to the manufacturing of many materials used throughout the Woqalate from the 19th century onward. These copper mines, strategically located beneath the picturesque landscapes, have become a key economic driver for the Saukhin Kingdom. The extraction and processing of copper ore had shaped the economic discourse within the broader context of the island's geopolitical and economic landscape throughout its existence.

Conquest

The Saukhin Conquest began on May 31, 1832 and lasted for twenty-one days. The vast advantage in manpower for Qabór allowed for a swift and easy annexation of the Kingdom. The first day of the Saukhin Conquest occurred on May 31, 1832, and it began with a fleet of fourty ships from the Qabóri Navy, all carrying a total of 9,500 sailors, making the perilous journey from Port Létioč, in the allied state of Auqali. The trip was relatively short for its time, lasting only four days. By the fourth day the fleet had arrived at the northernmost island of Kuapa, and took it almost immediately. Kuapa was one of the smaller islands on the archipelago, with an extremely small population of about 1,300. The Qabóri Navy had no trouble invading the island. Word got loose of a Qabóri attack on the islands, however by the time the news got to the Saukhin’s largest city of Oaroa four days later, the Qabóri Navy had already taken three more islands (Iapala, Vana Vana, and Takakato). By the tenth day, the intense naval battles along the coastlines of various islands had weakened the already-outmatched Saukhin Navy. Woqala Saqula I had offered a deal to the leader of the Saukhins, King Wapahunea, to end the conflict in exchange for the Saukhins to become a protectorate of the Qabóri Woqalate. However, he rejected this deal, famously citing in his letter to the Woqala how the indomitable spirit and willpower of the Saukhin people would trump any tactical advantage the Qabóri had to offer. By the seventeenth day, the Qabóri Navy had taken almost every Saukhin Island, with the exception of Ato’Ato, however, they were lurking on said island as the following days passed. The kingdom’s capital of Oaroa was very well-known in Polynesian geopolitics at the time, as the fort that guarded the city, had been believed to be blessed by the Tuhauata god of war with invincibility.

On the eighteenth day of their relentless advance, the Qabóri Navy had reached the strategic stronghold of Ato'Ato. Much to the surprise of his subordinates, Aphío Saunders, who was appointed general during the conquest, issued an unexpected order—for his men to halt the impending assault on the Fort of Oaroa. This departure from the general's typical aggressive strategy puzzled the military ranks of both the Qabóri and the Saukhins. Saunders, renowned for his unwavering determination and audacious tactics during the Saukhin Conquest, had a specific motive behind this sudden change in approach. He aimed to offer the defiant Wapahunea a final opportunity to reconsider his resistance and embrace a peaceful resolution, even if it meant coercion. It was an uncharacteristic but calculated move, born out of a desire to minimize bloodshed and negotiate a surrender that could spare both the Qabóri and Saukhin forces from the impending storm of violent battle. As the Qabóri forces idled on the outskirts of Ato'Ato, tension mounted, and the air crackled with anticipation. The normally relentless rhythm of war slowed, replaced by an eerie stillness that hung over the scene like an impending storm. Saunders, well aware of the gravity of his decision, closely monitored the diplomatic channels, hoping that Wapahunea would recognize the futility of his resistance and choose the path of negotiation over inevitable conflict. Despite that, Wapahunea, resolute in his dedication to the defense of the fort and the capital city, remained unyielding. Despite the impending threat of an all-out assault, Wapahunea's resolve held firm, and the shadows of war continued to loom over the fortified city. The unexpected pause in hostilities created an uneasy calm, as soldiers on both sides prepared for the storm that was sure to come. The Qabóri Navy, though temporarily restrained, stood ready to unleash its might upon the fortress should Wapahunea choose defiance over diplomacy.

Just two days later, by the morning of June 19, 1832, it was clear that Wapahunea's men would not stand down without a fight, therefore Saunders gave the go-ahead for an all-out offensive. The Qabóri forces were undeterred by the reputed invincibility of the Fort of Oaroa, the Qabóri Navy, with a heavy strategic advantage, penetrated its formidable defenses. The once-thought invincible fortress crumbled before the tactical brilliance of the Qabóri in just two days, marking a turning point in the conflict. The audacious assault on the Fort of Oaroa crippled the morale of the Saukhin people, who wished for nothing more than the conflict to finally come to an end, no matter who was proclaimed victorious. By the twenty-first day of the relentless siege, the Saukhin Guard, renowned for their indomitable willpower, found their resources depleted and their defenses breached. The prolonged confrontation had strained the kingdom's military capabilities to the brink. With the culmination of a twenty-one-day struggle, the Fort of Oaroa succumbed to the persistence of the Qabóri Forces. On June 21, 1832, Saqula met with Wapahunea in Oaroa, and officially ended the conflict.

Aftermath

Following the conquest, the Saukhin Islands became a Qoyalet (province) of Qabór, where it remains as of today. Throughout its history as a Tierradorian province, the Saukhins constantly attempted to secede from the Woqalate, often met with coercion to stay or, in a more recent sense, low public support. During the 1887 Qabóri Island Revolution, which saw many of the smaller island colonies of the Woqalate attempt to secede at the same time twenty years after the transfer of the Crown from the House of Havqanoq to the House of Woqelee, the Saukhins attempted to do the same, in fact nearly succeeding. However, in 1888, a Saukhin Guard General who was frustrated with the incompetent governance of the islands disclosed various military strategies to the Tierrador Army. As of today, the Saukhin Islands represent a vastly different cultural landscape than the rest of Tierrador, representing an entirely Polynesian culture, rather than the mix between Coscivian and Romance culture seen in the mainland. It is a large exporter of many valuable goods, such as seafood, volcanic crops, and copper.