Panselle War
The Panselle War
1688-1695 C.E. The power of Akaeia and Sicinia Salis had been steadily growing over the past century, and tensions were coming to a head. Private trade wars were already occurring, and the Gulf of Semantaria was nearly impossible to cross safely. When a Sicinian frigate named the Panselle carrying Royal Correspondence was sunk by an Akaeian privateer, the tension exploded into war.
Land Battles
Actual combat began within two weeks, since the armies of both nations had been on alert and stationed along the frontier even before the war had been declared. The Sicinian 1st and 2nd Shock Armies overcame strong resistance at the Gap of Taeana, and were able to push so close to the Akaeian city that the church bells of Taeana could be heard from the front lines. Meanwhile, a corps d'armee of Sicinian soldiers became locked in bloody combat with an Akaeian army a dozen miles away from Akaseia (now Caer Agnau).
However, the tide immediately changed in favor the Akaeians when General Adas Menindabeles and his army arrived from their original camp on the western Akaeian frontier. Through several brilliant manuevers he outflanked the Sicinian armies and forced them back through the Gap.
Teur d'Montagne Rocheuse (1-9 November, 1690) Not content to maintain a defensive war, General Adas pushed his army over the Western Mountains into the West Downs while the Sicinian 1st Army, 2nd Army and recently trained 3rd Shock Army dug in at the important road junction of Teur d'Montagne Rocheuse. However, the Akaeian army defeated the 2nd Shock Army on the northern flank and surrounded the three armies. With almost the entire army of Sicinia cut off, it began to appear as though the war would end in total defeat for Sicinia. However, The 1st Shock Army, led by Comte Martin du Mont Remy, punched a hole in the Akaeian lines and held off counterattacks while the 2nd and 3rd Shock Armies escaped. The bravery of the 1st Shock Amry cost it over 3/4 of it's strength killed, wounded, or captured, including the Comte. The remains of the 2nd and 3rd Shock Armies halted their retreat at a low ridge that sat astride the road to Saint Michele, a place called Marbicourt.
Marbicourt (22 December 1690) The 3rd Shock Army commanded the highest portion of the ridge and the Chateau d'Marbicourt, while the 2nd Shock Army commanded the southern section of the ridge. After a day of bombardment, the Akaeian Army assaulted the ridge, and were rebuffed twice. However, during a third attack a battery of Sicinian artillery fired too low and struck their own 89th Regiment with canister and roundshot. The regiment disintegrated and opened up a hole in the Sicinian line. The commander of the 2nd Shock Army, General d'Marguier, panicked and ordered a full retreat. The retreat turned into a rout, and the men of the 3rd Shock Army watched with horror as the Akaeian cavalry systematically destroyed their fellows. After scattering the remnants of the 2nd Shock Army the Akaeians turned their attention to the remaining Sicinian force. The battle raged into the late evening, with the soldiers of the 3rd Shock Army being pushed back to the very shaodw of the Chateau's walls. With their ammunition almost gone, they could not keep fighting for long.
All seemed lost, but then one of those strange events occurred that so often shape the face of history. A lucky Sicinian cannonball smashed in the midst of General Adas and his staff, killing him and maiming and wounding the rest of his party. The sudden loss of leadership and the fall of twilight caused to the Akaeian army to mill about in confusion. Anton Poiret, General of the 3rd Shock Army, saw his chance and charged down the ridge with bayonets. As the Akaeians reeled from the sudden attack a trumpet sounded from their rear an two whole brigades of Sicinian lancers and dragoons, who had been ordered to screen the flatlands to the south, charged into the Akaeian rear and cut a swathe through the Akaeian ranks. Assaulted on both sides the Akaeians fell back in disorder, and the timely arrival of the 2nd Army's young Colonel d'Alembord, who had shot his commander General d'Marguier, and his veteran 1st Fusiliers sealed the victory.
The onset of darkenss prevented a further destruction of the Akaeians, and the Sicinians forces were content to lick their wounds. The total casaulties of the battle were more than 100,000 killed, wounded, captured, or missing.
Rough figures Sicinian casaulties: 55,000 Akaeian casaulties: 50,000
No more battles occurred between Sicinia and Akaiea for the rest of the war, the two armies havign lost too many veterans for so little reward. When peace was declared, the front lines were almost exactly the same as they had been seven years earlier.
While the campaigns on land were largely indecisive, the campaign at sea resulted in a clear Sicinian victory.
A Sicinian raid lead by Captain Jean Francois (the Admiral Jean Francois de la Martinique) into Tenedos harbor succeeded in sinking three Akaeian waships, damaging four more, and destroying several tonnes of gunpowder.
The Akaeian northern fleet did claim some victories, such as the almost total destruction of the Northern Squadron near the location of modern-day Freeport. When the 4th and 1st Sicinian fleets threatened Akaeian trade routes, half of the Northern fleet was sent south. The 4th Fleet rushed to intercept them and they met off Cape Temerine. The result of the battle was a total Sicinian victory, with all but five of the Akaeian vessels sunk, captured, or burnt. With reinforcements from Ral Shantor tied up in the attack on Eskinanthus, Sicinian ships roamed the Gul of Semantaria nearly unopposed.
Aftermath
Both sides had been severely bloodied, but neither to the point that they were forced to sue for peace. In 1695 negotiators met in Avalya to draft a treaty, which ultimately left the situation the way it had been before the war. However, the Panselle War saw the conquest of the small western Kingdom of Eskinanthus by Akaeia, as well as paved the way for the overthrow of the Sicinian monarchy and the Civil Wars of Akaeia.
