Barretoan Wars
The Barretoan Wars | |||||
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Battle of Monearde, October 3 1831 | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
Skithan Empire | |||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Commanders of Coalition Forces: |
Skithan Colonial Commanders: | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
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The Barretoan Wars, sometimes known as the Great Adula War, were a series of interconnected conflicts which took place across Central and Southern Adula in the early 19th century. These conflicts marked the decline and eventual collapse of the Skithan Empire. The conflict began on March 5th, 1830 with a Skithan invasion of southern Durnstaal and northern Alcarres from occupied Emmiria and Jiddiya. Though Skith's imperial territories in Euronia and Ausiana had dissolved in the previous decades, largely in part to the Zamastanian revolution and other rebellions, they still held significant control over Adulan lands from Kuresa to Saint Croix and Bens. Trying to recover from their losses, the Skithan emperor Hang Almarez II ordered his armies to secure a border from growing Central Adulan threats to the empire's Emmirian territory, which resulted in an alliance of Durnstaal, Alcarres, Elkland, and Alonnisosa pushing back against the invasion in the Kalater Mountains.
The war progressed with intense fury as the allies of the Pan-Adulan Coalition fought brutal campaigns to push the Skithans out of Emmiria and Jiddiya, at which point the Free Emmirian government joined the Coalition. In Southern Adula, resistance arose in Zalluabed and the Qolaysian isles against Skithan occupiers at key ports, while Timerian and Unified Seran naval vessels joined the fighting in the Albarine Sea and Emmiria Sea to deter Skithan movements attempting to counter the Coalition. Seran invasions and occupations of the western Emmirian coastlines created a divot for allied forces to begin pushing Skith out of the ancestral home of the Emmirians. Significant fighting also occurred in the Croix Sea as Skithan forces attempted to hold onto their key ports in Beresa and Bennom. Eventually, the Coalition was able to push Skithans out of the East Adula Desert and back within their modern territory and even further, freeing occupied Mulfulira, Andaluni, and Kuresa before reaching Quetana. To save face, Emperor Almarez granted Quetana independence in 1837 with the promise that their resistance forces would not join the Coalition, and then focused the imperial forces' attention to defending Skith's homeland. Quetanan rebels did join the PAC, however, and opened a second front to Skith's north. The war concluded with the surrender of Skithiana on July 7th, 1838.
Skith maintained a hold of only two overseas dependencies following their surrender; Ossinia, which gained independence on March 6th, 1903, and Saint Croix and Bens, which gained independence on August 31st, 1917. The war was named after Skithan general Mireya Barreto, who began the conflict and directed the Skithan armies for the entirety of the war. He became notable for his charisma during conflict, which amounted to his soldiers performing extraordinarily well during the heat of battle despite tactical faults. It is estimated that more than 7 million people died during the conflict, including over 1 million non-combatants. Most of the deaths occurred in the first half of the war, when the intensity of the Coalition's venture to oust their invaders initially proved difficult. In the aftermath of the war, Timeria, Unified Sera, and the Central Adulan nations grew in economic prominence. In particular, Timeria's navy grew to become the most prominent in the Albarine Sea, and the occupation of Farshara and Adhair by Unified Sera resulted in a lasting feud between Emmirian Muslims who claimed it as their ancestral home. The Barretoan Wars are widely credited with the destablization and ethnic tensions of Eastern and Southern Adula.
Background
Chronology
Aftermath
Impact
Popular culture
The 2023 Soccorso Busalacchi directed film Monearde depicted the opening stages of the war and the decisive 1831 Battle of Monearde. The film starred Silvio Curatolo, Leonida Mellone, and Giotto Eramo, and won several awards at the 97th Tofino Film Festival.