Kamalbian War (1550-54)

First Kamalbian Colonial War (1550-54)
File:Kamalbia1554.jpg
Date 1550-1554 Location Southern Kamalbia Result Exponential claim in Kamalbia secured; Agreement of Marqueville
Belligerents
Empire of Exponent	Berique
Commanders and leaders
Tiberius III Quintus Selius	King Jean VIII Charles de Lorraine Antoine Escalin des Aimars Admiral Guy Bouvettois

The Kamalbian War was a military conflict between Berique and the Empire of Exponent for control over the southern portion of Kamalbia and present day Caranad. Both nations had established a series of trading posts in the area, and were seeking to gain a trade monopoly in the area and oust the opposing nation's merchants.

Prelude

Early Beriquois involvement in Kamalbia

The Beriquois explorer and tradesman Marcel de Tasse-Gaubert is considered to be the first Beriquois to map the Kamalbian coast, landing near present-day MArqueville in 1464 and establishing a small trading post at the location. The post grew steadily in the following decade, leading to the Beriquois to decision to further entrench themselves in the country. This decision led to the fort which would grow into Marqueville to be officially established in 1473.

From that point, Beriquois merchants and colonists began to spread steadily south from Fort Marqueville, steadilly settling more land and bringing more native tribes under their banner. By 1500, Berique claimed the entirety of the territories currently comprising Terre Azure, Kamalbia, Oduya, and Caranad.

Establishment of Exponential Outposts

Explorers and merchants from the Empire of Exponent first officially set up trading posts in Southern Kamalbia in 1538, followed three years later by the first missions being erected in the area in 1541. The territory was nominally claimed by Berique, but calls to vacate the area were sparse and the Imperial troops, traders, and missionaries continued to conduct business in the area, often paying a sum to the Beriquois governor in return for being allowed to continue their operations unmolested.

Course of the War

Outbreak of hostilities

After a series of devastating uprisings in Berique, King Jean VIII ascended the throne in 1549, intent on solidifying his hold on both the metropolitan territory as well as the overseas colonies. In order to accomplish this goal, one of his first edicts ordered all foreign subjects off of Beriquois soil. The Exponential missions and trading posts, however, refused this edict, prompting the the Beriquois nobleman and governor Antoine Escalin des Aimars to opt to expel the Exponential presence by force. To that end, des Aimars gathered a force of several hundred Beriquois soldiers and militia, and marched south to the mission at Sante Ligorius. During the ensuing Battle of Sancte Ligorious, des Aimars and his men were able to capture the mission, prompting the Exponential Emperor Tiberius IV to send reinforcements from Hesperidesia to defend the remaining missions and posts.