Galanian-Ruvelkan War

Galanian-Ruvelkan War
Galnian and Ruvelkan troops clash during the Sagerejo Campaign.
Date 19 September 1843 – 22 July 1847 (3 years, 10 months, 4 days) Location Zemplen, Western Ruvelka Result Ruvelkan victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Galania	Ruvelkan Imperium
Commanders and leaders
Devesil II Krasimir Miroslavov Cristov Zlatko Danailov Karapetrov Stanimir Dyakonov Adamov Grigori Sashov Petkov	Andrea Prohászka Ramóna Gulyás Alex Bodnár Patrik Olah Laura Orbán
Units involved
Royal Galanian Army	Imperium Military
Strength
500,000	750,000
Casualties and losses
185,000 killed 435,000 wounded	230,000 killed 500,000 wounded

The Galanian-Ruvelkan War was fought between the Kingdom of Galania and the Ruvelkan Imperium from 19 September 1843 to 22 July 1947. Originally started in an effort by Galania to recover the region of Zemplen from the Imperium, the war expanded over much of western Ruvelka before the Imperium successfully repulsed the invasion and drove the Galanians out of Zemplen.

Galania and Ruvelka had existed under the same rule for more than a millennia under the Makedonian Empire, but following the ascension of the Arkoennites had superceded the Makedonian Khanate to form the Rioni Union through a marriage between the Prohászka and Baligov Dynasties. The Union developed into a powerful political and economic bloc that succesfully overthrew Arkoennite rule in the early 18th Century, but despite efforts to keep the Union together it quickly fractured along national and ethnic lines. Part of the dispute was over Zemplen, which had historically been dominated by Syarans but due to demographic changes between the 14th-18th centuries had become predominantly Karvelebi, who are more inclined towards Ruvelka. Distracted by conflicts with the other Syaran Successor States, Galania originally was unable to contest Ruvelkan control of Zemplen which was incorporated first into the Confederation then the Imperium. By the early 1800s the rapid industrialization of Scitaria and the Kingdom of Makedon had led to a decline in Galanian prestige and fortunes, which King Devesil II felt could be reversed by reclaiming Zemplen.

Galania invaded the Grand Duchy of Zemplen on 19 September 1843, and despite stiff resistance had conquered the region in a month. The Imperium refused to accept Galanian control and mobilized its armies, but lacking a unified military command meant that initial actions were conducted by hastily raised local forces. The Galanians initially enjoyed success against the lesser armed minor states of western Ruvelka, but mobilization of better trained forces from Debrecen and central Ruvelka dissuaded the Galanians from pushing towards the Kurillas. In 1844 the Galanians turned south hoping that a defeat of the the Kingdom of Rakovnika and the Principality of Aszód would lead the Imperium to accept terms. Despite a victory over Panonia the Galanians were ultimately defeated in the Matra Campaign, allowing the Imperium to launch a series of offensives in western Ruvelka that systematically defeated the Galanian forces. Zemplen was reclaimed in 1947 and Galania sued for peace, ending the war.

The war ended Galanian hopes of becoming the dominant Realm of Syara. The war however proved more devestating to the Imperium; the cost of the war, coupled with the destruction left in its wake, severely taxed the already weakened Ruvelkan economy and political structure, contributing to the 1848 Uprising and later the Red War, and ultimately the Ruvelkan Socialist Republic. Technologically the war was noted for its introduction and widespread use of new weaponry and designs, including early uses of the telegraph, breech loaded artillery, needle rifles, and rail transportation.