Difference between revisions of "The South Holdini War of Independence"

Latest revision as of 22:46, 3 April 2007

1743 - 1764

At it's height the Southern Holdinia Empire spanned from the south of St Samuel to the tip of the southern Holdini isles. On the 8th of December 1743 the Duke of Ossia, Steven Anna-Columbo, was arrested by the Imperial Guard. Emperor Vincenzus, was furious that Anna-Columbo was becoming popular with the people and more powerful with it.

Anna-Columbo was arrested on a flimsy treason charge and was taken to Corinthia, the capital of Southern Holdinia and locked up awaiting trial. But on the eve of the trial a group of soldiers killed the prison guards and sneaked the Duke out of Corinthia.

After the escape of the Duke, the Emperor ordered his troops to sack the city of Ossia to warn the people. On the night of the 20th of December 1743 Ossia was set alight by the Emperors troops. A long night of rape, pillaging and destruction saw the city in ruins.

Anna-Columbo, who by now was in secret hiding on the Goddard Isles was devastated at the news. The Duke informed his Purple Dragoons (the Duke of Ossia's personal bodyguards) that he was planning to flee north to St Samuel. After much persuasion Anna-Columbo agreed to head a rebellion against the Emperor.

A small army was gathered together on the Goddard Isles and on the 28th of January 1744 the rebels attacked an Imperial fort in St Davids, Goddard Isles. News swept over to the mainland and in there thousands, discontent men travelled to the Goddard Isles to join the rebel forces.

The Battle of Otticca Hill

On the 8th of March 1744, the first pitched battle took place at Otticca Hill, Goddard Isles. By now the rebels had taken over the whole of the Goddard Isles and the Emperor sent General Sceptus D'Argyle and an army of 10,000 to deal with the rebels. The rebel force numbered just 4500. In what is now famous in regional history the 'Charge of the Purple Dragoons' led by the Earl of Kessick saw a cavalry force of 500 break the Imperial lines. The Purple Dragoons caused havoc behind the Imperial lines and a large amount of the Imperial Cavalry fled the battle field. The rest of the rebel army charged the Imperial infantry and fought hand-to-hand. The Imperial army was in dissaray and soon the Imperial army was fleeing the battle field.

The victory at Otticca Hill was a huge blow to the Empire. News spread to every corner of the land, that an Imperial army twice the size had been routed by the rebels. This increased the support for the rebels and by the end of March five of the northern provinces, St Eades, Esslemont, Boothica, Cornwall and San Nicholas had declared there out right support for the rebels.

== The Battle of Castelfinidia and the Battle of Etumpossia == - 28th March 1744

The Emperor sent a huge army of 40,000 north to the St Eades province and met Lord Christopher Vella-Daloram, Duke of Etumpossia, who commanded a force of 28,000. The two sides met at the Battle of Castelfinidia where Vella-Daloram's forces suffered a crushing defeat. The Imperial force marched on and laid seige to the city of Etumpossia.

A rebel army from San Nicholas of 15,000 arrived and met the Imperial army at the Battle of Etumpossia. The rebels were victorius and ended the two week seige of Etumpossia.

The Battle of Gala Haram

Anna-Columbo's army on Goddards Isle had swelled since his victory at Otticca Hill. During early April Anna-Columbo sailed to the mainland with his army now numbering around 20,000 and landed in the Klaka province. A local Imperial force of 10,000 garrisoned at Gala Haram marched to the beach of the rebel landing and a pitched battle took place next to the sea.

The battle began poorly for the rebels who outnumbered the Imperial force 2:1. The Imperials managed to push the rebels left flank back into the ocean and hundreds either drowned or were slaughtered trying to flee.

Anna-Columbo's generals managed to re-compose there troops and eventually strength in numbers won the battle for the rebels, but they sustained large loses at the battle. The rebels then marched onto the city of Gala Haram where the few remaining Imperial soldiers surrendered.

The people of the Klaka province rose up and rebelled against Imperial rule. In cities across the province, locals no longer feared the Emperor's wrath and support for Duke Anna-Columbo was growing by the day.

By the end of July the rebels had managed to push all Imperial forces out of the province.

Cease Fire

On the 6th of August 1744 Imperial diplomats met with Anna-Columbo and his generals and a cease fire was brokered between the two sides. By now the rebels controlled much of the northern empire. Both sides used the time to repair and re-construct there armies. Emperor Vincenzus spent thousands of rudolphs recruiting whole mercenary armies, over 5000 Pellinese Arabs were recruited and thousands more foreigners strengthened the Imperial army.

Anna-Columbo travelled north to St Samuel to seek a council with King Georgio and ask for assistance in the war against the Emperor. Whilst St Samuel and the Southern Holdinia Empire were firm enemies the King did not wish to enter the war so early on and commit himself. However the King offered financial support and weapons for the rebel forces.

Return to Hostilities

In early December the Emperor marched four huge armies north. Over 400,000 men, 50,000 of these were foreigners. Led by General Jovinius, General Daciania, General Amidaz and General Maxi-Tayo. The four armies marched into the south of the Klaka and St Eades provinces. The rebels were taken by suprise, not expecting the Emperor to commit so much of his army and were therefore not prepared enough to fight such huge numbers. At the Battle of Twoba, Klaka province, a rebel army of 20,000, led by Duke Sivius Octovia faced a 100,000 strong Imperial army. Needless to say the rebel forces were demolished, but the rebels put up a brave and valiant fight and did not flee. The Imperial armies swept through the Klaka and St Eades provinces but suffered huge loses in the face of staunch and heroic defending by the rebels.

Execution of Anna-Columbo's family

At this time Anna-Columbo's family were living in Kostika, Esslemont province. His wife, Zeena, three sons and four daughters lived in the centre of the city, which was far enough to the north of the region to be away from the fighting. But unbeknown to Steven Anna-Columbo, the Emperor had managed to bribe some local villains in Kostika to kidnap his family.

On the 28th of December 1744 Anna-Columbo's family were abducted, there guards killed, the family was taken to a waiting ship and taken south. The terrorfied family were displayed to the public in Corinthia city centre and publicly tortured and murdered. The emperor had a letter sent to Anna-Columbo describing how his wife and daughters were repeatedly abused by there captors and his sons humiliated.

Close friends of Anna-Columbo described that from that day on, he was never the same. But his desire to topple the Emperor had grown even more intense. The Imperial forces had become slowed down in the north of the Klaka province by now due to the mountainous area and rebel guerilla tactics.

Anna-Columbo himself led an army of 35,000 to Addia, Bradley province, by sea, deep in Imperial territory. The city, believing it's self to be relativly safe was ill prepared for an attack. The rebel forces quickly sacked the city and hung the city governor and his aides from the city walls.

The rebel force settled in Addia and prepared themselves for an inevitable seige. An attack so deep south worried the Emperor who sent a 100,000 strong army to Addia.

By the 14th of February 1745 the seige had begun. Night after night the Imperial army bombared the city with burning missiles caring little for any civillians that may suffer. But the rebels held firm and repeatedly defended any breech.

On the second month of the seige the most welcoming site greeted the rebel army. A fleet of rebel and St Samuel ships had sailed south and were preparing to land. King Georgio of St Samuel had finally decided to play his cards.

The Battle of Addia

On the 17th of April 1745 an a rebel army, 60,000 strong supported by a further 20,000 men from St Samuel prepared to take on an Imperial army of 100,000 men. The battle began at dawn and by mid day thousands of loses had been suffered on both sides. By the end of the first day little had been achieved by either side and loses were high.

The second day of fighting began with an Imperial cavalry charge. The Imperial cavalry managed to break the rebel lines but the Imperial infantry were unable were unable to take the advantage and suffered massive loses as they attempted to further breech the rebels lines. The St Samuel forces had bought with them hundreds of cannons which were kept in constant use, smashing the Imperial army. Fighting on the second day drew to a close with both sides down to around 40% man power.

Day three saw the arrival of Imperial re-inforcements and the fresh troops gave them the upper hand. The fresh soldiers pushed the rebel army back and by mid-afternoon the rebel army had had to retreat back to the city of Addia.

On day four the Imperial navy attempted to sink the rebel navy in attempt to cut off any attempt at escape. But the by far superior St Samuel number, which had three times the amount of cannons on board smashed the Imperial navy. The Imperial navy lost 24 ships and only managed to sink 4 rebel ships. On the 25th of April, over a week since the beggining of the battle, the rebel forces evacuated. They had lost nearly 30,000 men and were carrying nearly 20,000 injured. The rebels may have suffered a big loss but the message to the Emperor was clear, the rebels had the capability of striking anywhere in the Empire. Rebel revival By late 1745 King Georgio of St Samuel had committed nearly 150,000 soldiers to the rebels cause. A constant battle line in the Klaka and St Eades provinces began to emerge.

1746 opened disastrously for the emperor. The Imperial and mercenary armies were not working well together, and the Emperors generals often quarrelled. No connected resistance was offered to the converging march of a rebel army along the Rimarli River. A St Samuel army, under General Valdo, was being collected on the middle Rimarli to deal with a new Imperial force. Through out the year the Imperials suffered more defeats than victories and by mid 1747 had been pushed out of St Eades. The war had taken it's toll on both sides and on the 7th of October 1747 the rebels turned down a peace treaty offered by the Imperials. Neither side was in a position to commit any large scale attack and battles were reduced to random skirmishes along the battle lines.

By May 1748 the rebels had pushed the Imperials back as far as the Curtis province. A second treaty was offered to the rebels and on the 1st June 1748 the rebels agreed to a peace treaty. The treaty was fairly weak and the odd skirmish flared up every now and then, but for the next 4 years, no large battles took place.