Vencedores

A vencedor, armed with a lance and a sword, with his horse.

Vencedores (English: vanquishers) is the name given to the companies of elite mercenary soldiers and explorers that spearheaded the expansion of Carloso during its colonial period and early independence. Initially hired to defend early coastal Spanish settlements and peripheral farmsteads against native raids, they were composed mainly of retired soldiers from throughout Europe, led by poor nobles who sought to make their fortune in the newly discovered continent of Musgorocia. As time progressed, many Musgorocian-born men found themselves joining companies of vencedores. They would prove a pivotal role in the War of Independence, forming the bulk of Cárlos de Oso's forces. Following the final victory in Madrigal and surrender of colonial forces in 1581, they would continue to be hugely influential in guiding Carloso's political and territorial development in the following centuries.

Starting in the 1590s, the vencedores led Carloso's rapid expansion northwards and westwards, successfully pushing back many native raids on the new towns and villages that were founded. With contracts spanning many decades, the vencedores slowly began to be integrated into the standing Carlosian Army as permanent regiments. At the same time, new forms of vencedor began to emerge, most famously the renowned warrior monks of the Holy Company of Saint Thomas Aquinas, which is the subject of many Carlosian folk songs. Nearing the late 1600s, however, and as Carloso began to consolidate control over its modern borders, there was no need for the vencedores and they quickly declined, hastened by the rise of full-time professional armies. Out of work, many resorted to banditry and piracy, which tainted the once heroic and virtuous reputation of the mercenary soldiers.

Starting in the 1800s however, the vencedores began to re-emerge as a romantic symbol of Carlosian patriotism, especially after the publication of the hugely influential epic novel The Tales of San Morillo. In 1899, The Vencedor's Song would prove to be a popular, patriotic song and would eventually be adopted as the national anthem of Carloso following the foundation of the Second Republic in 1932. They are still highly regarded today and continue to be a source of inspiration for music, literature and cinema. Many modern private security companies claim their ethos to be that of the vencedores.

History

Nukilik Civil War

Vencedor Carmelo Varela and Emperor Silatuyok defend Ek Chua.

Following the defeat of native raids against Ebon and the surrounding area in 1621, Vencedor Carmelo Varela was hired by the Carlosian government to conquer the region now called Acrary, with the intent to subjugate the natives there and put a stop to their guerrilla campaign against Carlosian towns and villages. On 2 August 1622, Varela embarked from Ebon with a force of 5,000 men, 800 horses and 10 cannons. The region north of Ebon had remained largely unexplored due to the dense forests and marshlands. Native captives told of a great city on the other side, with huge stone palaces and temples. Varela and has men spent several days wading through the swamps and dense trees, loosing some men to disease. Natives, fleeing from the advancing army, abandoned their villages, much to the confusion of the Carlosians.

Emerging from the marshlands and forest, Varela and his men quickly found the city; called Ek Chua, that had been talked about by the natives, with tall stone walls and massive buildings, unlike anything the Carlosians had seen before. Varela's army cautiously advanced on the walls of the settlements, asking for an audience with its ruler through a native interpreter. Obliging, Varela and his men were allowed enter the city to meet with Emperor Silatuyok. It was discovered that Ek Chua was actually the capital of the Nukilik Empire, a federation of petty kingdoms that spanned much of northern Musgorocia, and which only had minimal contact with European traders along the northern coast of the continent.

First contact with Varela and Emperor Silatuyok proved cordial with the Carlosians, holding a feast for him and his men and showing great interest in European weaponry. Silatuyok informed Varela that the Nukilik Empire was in the middle of a civil war between Silatuyok and a pretender rival called Aujaq, who had managed to rally many of the smaller kingdoms against Ek Chua. In return for gold and silver, Varela felt obliged to train Silatuyok's army in European warfare. A week into his stay, however, news came that a combined army of 100,000 had been spotted marching towards Ek Chua, headed by Aujaq. Varela chose to stay in Ek Chua and aid in the defence of the city.

The death of Aujaq at the hands of the vencedores.

While Varela and a few of his men stayed to help Emperor Silatuyok in defending Ek Chua, he ordered most of his forces to return to the forests they had emerged from and wait until Aujaq's army had begun besieging the city, knowing that it would be unlikely that he would be able to defeat his massive force directly, despite the obvious Carlosian technlogical superiority. Meanwhile, Silatuyok only had 20,000 warriors available himself to defend the city walls.