Bourgondii-Loa Wars
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| Bourgondii-Loa Wars | |||||||
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| Part of Kiro-Burgoignesc Wars | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Loa Empire |
 BRTC | ||||||
The Bourgondii-Loa Wars were a series of conflicts and trade wars between the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company's colony of Equatorial Ostiecia and the Loa Empire from ~1700-1875. It is considering part of the wider Kiro-Burgoignesc Wars because the Loa Empire was a client state of Kiravia at the time and the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company was using the Loa to aggravate Kiravia. Unlike many other colonial ventures, the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company did not seek to settle in the territory of the Loa Empire but merely to control its international exports outside of the tribute required of Kiravia, to Levantia and Sarpedon. Semi-permanent Bergendii establishments only included factories, trade posts, and customs houses, but there were no settlement expansions beyond these.
Despite positive and construction beginnings, the Bourgondii-Loa Trade deal turned sour and into a war when the Loa found out that the Bergendii were suppressing the sale of Loa silk and were besmirching it as lesser quality than that of the Bergendii controlled Silk Road in Audonia. Silk bring integral to the Loa culture and the silkworm being a sacred animal, the Loa tried to pull out of the deal but the Bergendii aggressively enforced their original terms for the next 175 years.
Background
The first contact between the Loa and the Bergendii occurred in the mid-17th century when the Bergendii were fighting the Oustec and charting Vallos. These explorers arrived in the Loa's Imperial harbors and the Empire saw this as an opportunity to expand its trade networks. In the latter decades of the 1600s, trade relations were relatively harmonious. The Loa's exotic goods such as pearls, tropical fruits, and handicrafts were highly sought after by the Levantines, who offered valuable Occidental and Audonian goods in return.
As the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company expanded its presence in the Polynesian Sea, resource exploitation became a pressing issue. Natural resources, including timber and marine life, were overexploited, leading to economic degradation of key Loa markets and the ever-increasing pressure to buy and sells slaves were not viewed kindly by the Loa. Additionally, cultural misunderstandings and clashes began to surface. The Bergendii merchants brought their own customs, religion, and philosophical systems, which often clashed with the traditions and beliefs of the Loa people and state. In the early 1700s, diplomatic tensions escalated as the Bergendii overtly sought to expand their influence over the Loa Empire's economy through political alliances and manipulation of local leaders. This further strained relations between the two parties.
Economic and Political Warfare
Open Warfare
Battle of Tetiaroa
The Battle of Tetiaroa was a significant naval engagement that saw the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company's well-armed warships pitted against Loa canoes. Bergendii forces utilized their superior firepower to gain the upper hand. They bombarded Loa positions on the island's coast and effectively repelled Loa counterattacks.
The Bergendii emerged victorious in the Battle of Tetiaroa allowing them to establish a firm foothold on the island, enabling development of a trade monopoly of the islands and its surrounding waters. Tetiaroa became a key customs and trading node for the Bergendii and a strategic outpost in the Polynesian Sea.
Battle of Nui
The Battle of Nui was a pivotal conflict that involved both naval and land warfare. The Bergendii launched a coordinated assault on the island. They utilized their naval superiority to secure a beachhead and then engaged in a fierce battle with Loa defenders. The Bergendii forces emerged victorious and conquered the island, subsequently establishing a Bourgondii economic hegemony on Nui. This victory gave them exclusive export access to the island's resources, including timber and fertile land.
Battle of Tauriva Bay
The Battle of Tauriva Bay, fought in 1798, was one of the earliest significant clashes between the Loa Empire and the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company. It took place near the shores of Tauriva Bay, a strategic location for both parties due to its proximity to rich fishing grounds and trade routes. The battle was enjoined when Loa warriors ambushed a Bergendii trading convoy near Tauriva Bay. The ensuing naval engagement saw canoes and Bergendii trading ships locked in fierce combat. Loa warriors, known for their maritime skills and knowledge of local currents, used guerrilla tactics to their advantage. The battle ended inconclusively, with heavy casualties on both sides. However, it marked a turning point in the conflict, as it demonstrated Loa's determination to protect its interests and resist Bergendii expansion. This battle also spurred diplomatic efforts to resolve some of the underlying issues.
The Siege of Factory Marigold
The Siege of Factory Marigold was a pivotal land-based battle that occurred in 1832, demonstrating the intensification of hostilities between the Loa Empire and the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company. The Loa, led by XXX, launched a well-coordinated assault on the trading post Factory Marigold. Loa warriors armed with traditional weaponry, such as spears and clubs, besieged the fort, while the small Bergendii garrison and merchants were equipped with muskets, early rifles, and cannons, defended their position. The siege ended with the Loa Empire successfully capturing the fort after several weeks of intense fighting. This victory bolstered Loa's morale, pushing the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The siege also highlighted the adaptability of the Loa warriors, who integrated traditional tactics with weapons acquired through trade.
Seige of Port Louis
Port Louis, was a key trading post established by the Bourgondii Royal Trading Company and had become a symbol of Bergendii economic dominance in the Polynesian Sea. By the mid-19th century, the Loa Empire, frustrated by the increasing concessions they had to make to the Bergendii, launched a determined assault on the port. In 1844, Loa warriors besieged the port, cutting off supply routes and launching periodic attacks on fortified port's defenses. In a hard-fought battle of attrition, the Bergendii successfully repelled the Loa. The Loa Empire's efforts to capture the port were thwarted, and the Bergendii retained control of this crucial trading hub. The victory at Port Louis allowed the Bergendiito maintain their hold on key trade routes and resources for another 30 years.
Battle of Taiaro Atoll
The Battle of Taiaro Atoll, fought in 1867, was one of the final major naval battles of the conflict, near Taiaro Atoll, a small but strategically located island. This area had become a focal point of contention due to its proximity to important trade routes. Having lost many of its hard-won concessions the Bergendii made a bid to regain control of Taiaro Atoll, theBourgondii Royal Trading Company launched a naval assault on the island. Loa defenders, well-prepared and bolstered by alliances with neighboring islands, met the Bergendii fleet in a pitched battle around the atoll's waters. The Battle of Taiaro Atoll resulted in a resounding victory for the Loa Empire. The Bourgondii Royal Trading Company suffered significant losses in terms of ships and personnel. This defeat marked the beginning of the end for the Bergendii dominance in the eastern Polynesian Sea, as they could no longer sustain a prolonged conflict. Negotiations leading to the 1875 treaty began shortly thereafter.
Treaty of Farpoint
In 1875, the newly unified country of Burgundie sought to reset relations with the Loa Empire and have a fresh start. Both sides met in Farpoint, Paulastra and agreed to cease hostilities immediately and for Burgundie to cease meddling in [[Loa imperial affairs. The Treaty of Farpoint was signed on July 9th, 1875. However, on the return voyage, a minor naval rebellion meant that upon arriving in Loa territory the imperial flagship was met with unexpected rocket and cannon fire, resulting in the sinking of the vessel and the deaths of Empress Kantirao as well as her heir.
Legacy
The Bourgondii-Loa Wars is the main reason Takatta Loa maintains it's own merchant navy and doesn't rely on Burgoignesc maritime shipping concerns like most of the rest of the world.