Carlosian War
| The Carlosian War | |||||||||
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 Clockwise from Top Right: Treleini soldiers entrenched outside the city of Matanzas, a Valden ironcland under construction in Roslinburg, the Valian Expeditionary Brigade near Leeds, the 52nd Del Marva Regiment at the battle of Fort Naranja, the Ruins of Weissburg after the evacuation and looting of the city, The Verdean 10th Regiment of Regulars at the battle of Regenstadt Heights. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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 The Grand Principality of Valden (1866-1872) The Divine Imperium of Trelein (1865; 1868-1872) The Republic Sumaaväa (1868-1872) The Kingdom of Tallonius (1870-1872) The Cuarzan Confederacy (1868-1872) | ||||||||
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Initial Strength
Total Manpower 11,785,934 |
Initial Strength
Total Manpower | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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13,000,515
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8,667,168
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| Triple Pact statistics do not consider civilian losses in their casualty statistics; modern estimates place the number of civilian deaths of Triple Pact nations in the Carlosian War at roughly 1.71 million. | |||||||||
The Carlosian War (Verdean La Guerra de Emperador Carlos, Isarléan Le Guerre d'Empereur Charles, Valdens Der Karlkrieg), also known as the First Meridonian Great War, was a seven year and one month long war fought between the Isarlo-Verdean Alliance, led by the Second Verdean Empire and the Triple Pact of Trelein, Valden, and Sumaaväa, over several territories along the coastline of eastern Meridon, most notably, the provinces of San Lumen, and Roslinburg, which were historically Verdean colonies taken over by the mainland powers during the Imperial Period, but that the First Verdean Empire, and successor regimes never ceded claim to. The conflict was immediately sparked by the sabre-rattling declaration of intent to retake lost territories, made by Verdean Emperor Carlos XII Parisa, and the subsequent invasion of Treleini San Lumen.
On May 6th, 1865 (23 de Mesjandra, DI 65 in the Verdean Calendar), The Verdean Imperial Navy formally declared war on the Divine Imperium of Trelein, preparing an invasion of San Lumen twenty days later. The Verdeans unleashed a number of secret weapons during the opening phases of the war, devastating the outdated Treleini military, and quickly seizing victory over Trelein over the course of a few months.
The Verdean Empire subsequently invaded Valden which proved a more lasting conflict; with campaigning in Valden proper lasting nearly three years, before the capital; Weissburg was seized. The Valdens however, refused to surrender, even as the Verdeans launched their ill fated first invasion of Borealés del Norte, then the Sumaaväan capital of Viime Satama. Coupled with the re-entry of Trelein into the war with their new puppet state of Los Cuarzos, as well as the alliance between Isarlé and Verde the war entered it's second phase; as the two alliances fought the bloodiest battles of the war.
The turning point of the war ultimately came with the disastrous failure of the second invasion of Sumaaväa, and the near complete destruction of the entire army sent to take Viime Satama; with the collapse of that front, and the freeing up of Sumaaväan reserves; 1870 and 1871 saw the complete collapse of the fronts in mainland Meridon, and exit of Isarlé and the Vale from the War; and after the campaign to liberate Los Cuarzos; the death of Emperor Carlos XII, and some campaigning in the Verdean Archipelago proper, the war was end by an armistice on the 31st of December (52 de Mesvacío; Verdean Time) of 1871 (DI 71), with the conflict formally coming to a conclusion with the Treaty of Corazón del Río the following year.
The Carlosian War saw the dramatic re-balancing of power in Meridon; with the Verdeans permanently losing their claims to the Mainland, and losing power and influence more generally; seeing the modernization Trelein, paving the way for Capisarian re-unification a few decades later; and establishing Valden became the preeminent continental power until the end of the Valden War in the 1930s.
Causes
The causes of the Carlosian War were rooted firmly in the slow decline of the First Verdean Empire during the Imperial Period, the birth of Nationalism, and growing anxiety about the loss of influence and economic might to the mainland powers. The newly crowned Emperor of the Second Empire, promised a restoration of Verdean power and glory, by seizing historically claimed territories, occupied by mainland powers, and humiliating and weakening said powers, thus re-establishing Verdean hegemony over the entirety of Greater Meridon. On the other side, a number of the Triple Pact powers were among the ascendant Meridonian nations, with the Valdens in particular seeking establish themselves as a major regional power after their empire broke up in the Liberal Revolutions of the late 18th century; and the Divine Imperium of Trelein, as well as the Republic of Isarlé which were in conflict over the nature of Capisarian culture, and both sought, to some extent the re-establishment of the Capisarian Empire. The growth of nationalist sentiment in many of the warring nations made a major conflict in Meridon largely inevitable in the eyes of contemporary and modern scholars, and re-establishment of the Verdean Monarchy by such a militant personality as Carlos XII was simply the spark to start the conflict.
Prelude
The fall of the Imperial Administration in the Verdean Revolution, led to the short lived Verdean First Republic. The Imperial colony of Los Cuarzos seceded shortly afterwards, forming the Cuarzan Confederacy, a move which the Republic, still in chaos, could not react to. Over the next few decades, the Republic struggled to maintain a balance of power between the various factions of Verde, with growing instability resulting in the end of democracy with the election of the Unity Party, and the establishment of the year long Directorate, whose brutality and corruption led to the "Quiet Coup" of Carlos Parisa, a young military officer in 1850 (DI 50), and the establishment of the Second Verdean Empire.
The newly crowned Emperor Carlos XII, upon coming to power promised a restoration of Verdean glory, and the re-establishment of Verdean hegemony over the whole of Greater Meridon, immediately embarking on a campaign of military re-armament, reorganization and modernization. Many Meridonian nations responded with concern; with Isarlé in particular worrying for the future of peace in Meridon. Nations such as Valden on the other hand, saw Verdean saber rattling as a chance to similarly build up military strength, with the resulting industrial boom rapidly building up armaments production throughout the region, as well as increasing the strength of standing armies. The Treleinis on the other hand refused to modernize their army, believing that their strength would come through faith rather than technology.
Carlos XII established the first modern system of conscription in 1853, replacing the outmoded model of levying as a means of mass recruitment. Similarly a major naval rearmament program commenced with dozens of new steamships replacing the sailing ships of the standing Republican Navy, culminating with the commissioning of the new flagship Corazón del Río, a 150 gun super battleship of the line. Similarly, the reorganization of the Verdean Army was completed, along with new tactics and strategies developed during the intervening years. All of which were in preparation for the first act of aggression made by Carlos Parisa.
The Verdean Empire would have a chance to test out its new model military when in 1859 (DI 59), the Second Empire invaded the Cuarzan Confederacy, and overpowered the much smaller nation with little effort. The invasion was met with condemnation by many Meridonian nations, however, few were willing to push their objection beyond words, even as the Cuarzan government fled to Trelein with the intent to someday reclaim their homeland. The invasion did, however cause Sumaaväa, and other Meridonian nations to better prepare for war.
After the Verdean Invasion of Los Cuarzos, the Imperial Military underwent further modernizations integrating new technologies notably early bolt-action, and tubular magazine, rifles, steel breech loading cannon, as well as secretly completing the Bestio Ferro class of ironclad warships, which were never before seen in Meridon. Changes to tactics also followed the invasion, as well as updates to mobilization time tables, and transport plans to maximize speed of mobilization. Similar developments would occur among the Valdens, though not to the same extent.
The final prelude to war came in early 1865 (DI 65), when Carlos XII made his famous "Verde Irredenta" declaration, essentially stating his will to press the Imperial claim to its lost colonies. The Isarléans made a desperate attempt to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Verdeans would make limited overtures to peacefully annex the territories, even as they secretly mobilized their army, and prepared for the invasion of San Lumen. As these offers would be flatly rejected, which was expected, final preparations for war were made.
Opposing Forces
The Isarlo-Verdean Alliance
Before the war, the Verdean Imperial Navy was the preeminent military force in Greater Meridon, with several ironclads, modernized artillery, a fleet over two hundred strong, and the largest effective warship in the region, the Corazón del Río. Working closely with the Navy, the Imperial Marines was similarly a formidable force, standing over one hundred thousand strong well trained, and equipped with early models of bolt-action, tube magazine rifles, as well as modern artillery, and led by several capable commanders, most notably General del Mar Luciano Ruíz Contreras. The army was the largest force in the Verdean military, standing at roughly three hundred thousand strong, with vast reserves, equipped with fairly modern equipment. At the outbreak of the war, the Verdean Empire maintained the strongest single military force in Greater Meridon, and among its best led.
Isarlé's peacetime army was comparatively small, professional force backed by a pool of conscripted reservists having replaced traditional levée systems with conscription shortly after its adoption by the Second Empire. The new conscription system was not, however, tested by conflict, and mobilization timetables and standing orders were lacking, meaning that the professional force would have to wait for an extensive period of time before reservists could assist them in the defense of the nation. They were however, fairly well equipped with modern weapons, and often supported with training from experienced foreign officers. The Isarléan Navy was fairly sizable, but dwarfed by its ally in this respect, possessing several dozen steamships. Isarlé also maintained an alliance with the Crowned Republic of The Vale, though the Valian military was quite small, and they sent only a single Brigade to fight in the Carlosian War under the command of Isarléan generals.
The Triple Pact
The Valden Royal Army was, before the war, the largest mostly professional land army in Meridon standing at a little over three hundred thousand strong. A small cadre of experienced officers and NCOs, veterans of long completed wars, and bold, well educated officers managed to maintain a solid training regime, as well as establishing the first modern general staff system in Greater Meridon twenty years before the outbreak of the war, which was an inspiration for Verdean and Isarléan militaries before and during the war respectively. It was similarly well equipped with modern rifles and artillery. The Valden Navy was somewhat neglected by comparison, though having a general staff, who frequently pushed for modernization, the Prince was reluctant to shift efforts from the Army to the Navy for a proper modernization, as a result, the Valdens were still largely reliant on sailing ships with older guns, supplemented by a limited number of modern steamships.
The Divine Imperium of Trelein was badly outdated before the outbreak of the war, relying heavily on what was essentially the feudal levying system to maintain the army's strength. The army, standing at fifty thousand before the outbreak of the war was equipped with largely with older rifle muskets, with no modern artillery to speak of. The levies which were significantly larger, having a mobilization pool of almost half a million, relied on even older technology. Training was also lacking in the Divine Imperium, with religious indoctrination taking greater import than tactical drill in many training centers. The Navy was likewise outdated, but large, relying on a vast fleet of sailing frigates, and a few ships of the line. It is widely believed that the inadequacies of the Treleini armed forces contributed significantly to their rapid defeat at the hands of the Verdeans in the campaign season of 1865 (DI 65).
Sumaaväa's military was comparatively small, being a solely professional force in peacetime. Due to the relatively small industrial base of the Republic of Sumaaväa, modern equipment was somewhat uncommon. This was compensated for by the skill of Sumaaväan leadership, and innovative tactics developed by the high command specifically to defend their nation from incursion by much larger nations. The Sumaaväan army was also supplemented by a large National Guard, similar to conscripted reserves or levies from other nations which could be mobilized and integrated into the Army command fairly quickly in the event of invasion. Similar to the Army, the Sumaaväan Navy was comparatively small and somewhat behind the cutting edge, Sumaaväan vessels on the other hand were extremely well adapted to fighting in the often frozen waters of their home territory, much better so than the nations from warmer climates.
The Invasion of San Lumen
Shortly after the "Verde Irredenta" declaration, Verdean military forces began secretly mobilizing and staging for an invasion of the Meridonian continent. At the same time overtures were made to annex the claimed territories peacefully, all of which were rejected. Trelein in particular was firm in its rejection, slighting the Verdean ambassadors making the attempt. In response to the Treleini rejection of the Verdean ultimatum, the Verdean Second Empire declared war on the Divine Imperium of Trelein on the 6th of May, 1865 (23 de Mesjandra, DI 65). At this time, invasion preparations were finalized and the assembled fleets set out to take the province of San Lumen. It would however, take a few weeks for the invasion force to arrive in the San Lumen region, giving the Treleinis valuable time to reinforce their positions in the area with troops mobilized from the territorial levies.
The Imperial Navy would clash with the Treleini fleet outside San Lumen on the 26th of May (43 de Mesjandra). The unveiling of Imperial ironclads and overwhelming force proved utterly devastating to the Treleini fleet, forcing them to rout after taking heavy losses. The Treleinis did however manage to single out and damage the Corazón del Río forcing it to retreat from the theater for several months. By day's end however, the way was clear for the ground invasion, and two days later the Verdean Marines landed just south of San Lumen. Over the 28th and 29th (45th and 46th de Mesjandra), the Verdean invaders swiftly crushed Treleini resistance in the city of San Lumen, forcing the defenders to surrender or else withdraw to defensive lines in the countryside.
Over the course of the summer of 1865 (DI 65), the Imperial Army delivered a disastrous and humiliating defeat at the battle of Corrido del Toro where the Treleinis lost nearly a third of their fielded army before successfully evacuating. They did however manage to hold their ground at the Battle of Richmond, turning the Imperials back with their fortifications in the area around Richmond. The Imperials would however, withdraw in good order, and circumvent the fortifications; forcing an engagement in the open, over seven days in early and mid July (Mestor), breaking the Treleni Army and forcing them to retret into Englen. Though the Divine Imperium would launch a counter-attack, their defeat at the Battle of Willemshire resulted in the Yugal Council forcing Olrich II to sue for peace, ceding the province of San Lumen in the Treaty of Richmond; Olrich himself was removed from office shortly thereafter.
The Isarléans pressured the Verdeans into establishing a quasi-autonomous, Republican provincial government shortly after the Treaty was signed, with the Sun Lumen Provincial government meeting for the first time on the 16th of September (51 de Meseva). The Verdeans however, had a light hand in overseeing this government, rapidly building up military presence in the area instead. Having secured a quick victory, the Verdeans were emboldened to retake their second lost province in Roslinburg, and plans to invade the province were pushed up to early 1866.
The Valden Campaigns
The Invasion of Roslinburg
In the early morning of 24th February 1866 (2 de Mesorge DI 66), a small contingent of Verdean Marines raided and destroyed coastal artillery batteries surrounding Roslinburg, an action which was followed up by the swift destruction of Valden fleet guarding the port of Roslinburg, and landing of Verdean soldiers in the city. Throughout the day, Verdean soldiers clashed with the remaining Valden defenders, but were unable to do so by nightfall resulting in sporadic fighting within the city throughout the night. The formal declaration of war would come at 22:00 that night, as both Verdean and Valden reinforcements began to arrive in close proximity to the city. The next day, the reinforcing forces met outside the city proper in the Battle of Roslinburg, resulting in a significant Verdean defeat, and the Imperial Army forces retreating into the city, as the Valdens laid siege to Roslinburg.
Over the course of the next three weeks, the Valden Army attempted to break the Verdean forces holding the city of Roslinburg, which was outnumbered, and after a naval counter-attack a week into the siege, cut off from resupply. The Valdens themselves brought in tens of thousands of mobilized reservists to continue applying pressure to the besieged Verdeans, who were driven slowly back towards the port of Roslinburg. An Imperial relief force arrived on the 16th of March (23 de Mesorge) however, and in spite of a final Valden counter-attack, successfully relieved the defenders on the following day. The Valden Army withdrew in bad order, after taking significant casualties; and was incapable of defending against incursion attempts outside the city proper before they joined with another Valden Army staging further north.
Verdean troops continued to arrive in Roslinburg, fortifying the city against further attacks, and reconstructing the port, which had taken severe damage in the fighting for the city. Smaller raiding parties were also dispatched into the countryside to secure forage, and to probe for Valden resistance. When one of these raiding parties was eliminated with no survivors in a skirmish with advancing elements of the Valden Army just north of Regenstadt, a larger Imperial Army was sent to fortify the Regenstadt Heights, hills overlooking Roslinburg and Regenstadt. A very large Valden Army assaulted these fortifications on the heights on the 2nd of April (40 de Mesorge), using artillery to blow open holes in the line and overwhelming the defenders, nearly overrunning the entire defensive line. Only the timely arrival of Imperial Reserves, including several regiments of Imperial Regular troops managed to stem the Valden advance and repulse the assaults over the course of two further days of bloody fighting. Offers from the Second Empire of peace, made after the battle were flatly rejected, forcing Carlos XII to plan for a more ambitious campaign to seize the Valden capital of Weissburg.
Campaigning in 1866
After the Battle of Regenstadt Heights, the Verdean Army advanced northward towards the River Edelweiss. The Valden Army in the area withdrew before the advance, with some units breaking off and harassing the Verdeans, raising irregular units, and slowing the advance of the Verdeans while the main body of their army retreated towards a Valden force preparing for a counteroffensive North of the Edelweiss. The Verdean Army, exhausted and under-strength from the summer's campaign encamped for the winter outside of Grunfeld. The Valdens however, were preparing for a winter counteroffensive, and as the Verdean offensive stalled, the Valdens were gathering the rest of their reserves, and readying troops for the counteroffensive.
In secret, the Valdens had delayed the attack in order to train artillerists on a new weapon they had developed, the Drehkanon or Rotary Cannon, an automatic weapon that may have proved devastating in combat. Throughout the summer campaigning season Valden regulars held North of Weissburg trained on the new weapon under heavy guard, secrecy was maintained even among the Valden Army. Delays in the manufacture of the ammunition necessary to use the Drehkanonen, resulted in the pushing back of the day of attack, and later the decision to commence without them.
Starting on the 23rd of December (44 de Mesvacío), Valden troops began crossing the River Edelweiss under the cover of darkness attempting to mask their movements toward the Verdean encampment a mere 50 kilometers south of Weissburg. In the early morning the 25th of December (46 de Mesvacío), the Valden Army launched a surprising attack on the Verdeans at Grunfeld who were quickly overrun by the fierce and massive attack, and forced into a panicked retreat while hotly pursued by the Valden cavalry. The Valdens successfully manage to chase the Verdeans to the sea before Verdean reinforcements and naval gunfire from Verdean warships managed to slow their advance. However, substantial losses and declining morale convinced Verdean General José López del Marva to retreat to more defensible highlands to the South.
The Winter Retreat and the Fourteen Days Battles
Throughout the winter months of 1867 (DI 67), the Verdean Army would engage in a fighting retreat southward, as they attempted to lure the Valden Army to a defensive line being erected on heights between the towns of Kolinburg and Triessfeld. Over the course of January, February, and March (Mesjula and Mesorge), the steady advance and frequent skirmishes began to wear down both armies. The Valdens however, were more significantly impacted by this, and attempted to cut off the line of retreat for the Verdeans by using their cavalry to cut the rail-line that had been used as the axis of retreat. They were met by Verdean Engineers in the Battle of Schwarzekaff, where the two forces clashed inconclusively for several days until the main Verdean Army arrived, forcing the Valdens to retreat.
The Verdeans would halt their retreat and stand to engage the Valdens along the Kolinburg-Triessfeld line. The Valdens launched their attack on the 3rd of March (10 de Mesorge), the initial frontal assaults are repulsed easily by the Verdean defenders. As the Valdens continued the attack however, two major flanking attempts occurred a few days later nearly broke the line. At the Battle of Kolinburg, sixty thousand Valden cavalry, and fifty six thousand Verdean Cavalry clashed in the largest cavalry battle in Meridonian history, with the Valdens narrowly repulsed. On the other side of the line, the Verdeans were pushed off the heights at the Battle of Triessfeld. Reserves pulled from the center managed to contain the breakout from Triessfeld, however a Valden attack down the center nearly breaks the line, with several days of bitter close quarters fighting resulting in slow Valden gains at tremendous cost.
The timely arrival of Verdean reinforcements from Roslinburg allowed the Verdeans to regain the initiative, and over the next few days, the Verdeans began to push the Valdens out of the defensive line. Further attacks by the Valdens, attempting to retake the initiative would occur; mounting casualties however would result in the Valden commander calling off the attack, and retreating to lower rises just north and east of Kolinburg awaiting a Verdean counter-attack. The Verdeans, exhausted by the previous fourteen days of fighting, failed to follow through with a proper counter attack, allowing the Valdens to withdraw in good order the next day. The Verdeans reinforced their line, awaiting fresh supplies and reinforcements for the start of the summer campaigning season.
The Summer Campaign of 1867
The Valdens would attempt to regain the initiative at the start of the 1867 (DI 67) summer campaigning season, by moving around defensive lines established at Kolinburg-Triessfeld, and the Regenstadt Heights, to directly assault the city of Roslinburg. Verdean reconnaissance elements did succesffuly report on the movement of the Valden Army, allowing the Verdeans to assemble a defensive force in time to block the Valden offensive. The two forces clash on the 4th of May (21 de Mesjandra), at the Battle of Rövershagen, where the Valden assault would be stalled for a day before the Valden Army would fall back, pursued by Verdean Cavalry for ten days, before they re-establish a defensive position on the Ützi Heights. The main body of the Imperial Army in the region arrives, attacking them at the Battle of Ützi Heights, where after a poorly executed assault, that was easily repulsed by the Valden defenders, on the first day; heavy Verdean artillery arrived, destroying Valden defensive positions and allowing for the follow-up assault to knock the defenders off the heights. After Ützi Heights, the Valden Army in the region broke into its constituent corps to engage in harassment attacks after the Verdeans established strong defensive positions on the western perimeter of Roslinburg.
After Ützi Heights, the Verdean Army launched its own offensive towards Weissburg. Over the first three weeks, the Verdeans encounter no resistance as they advance, with even the usual irregular harassment absent. The Valden Army in the North had chosen to retreat towards the Edelweiss to rendezvous artillery regiments trained in the use of the Drehkanonen, which were, at that point, ready to fight. As the Verdeans began to overtake the retreating Valden Army, the Valdens detached a blocking force to slow down their pursuers. The blocking force attempted to stand and stall the Verdeans at the June 20th (15 de Mestor) Battle of Frühlingfeld. Though they had to give up the field of battle, the Valdens had successfully managed to slow the Verdean Army down long enough for the Valden Army to join with Drehkanonen Regiments 60 kilometers north at Nordkaff. As Verdean cavalry pursued the blocking force, they came into contact with the main Valden Army, and after a brief skirmish at Mitte, retreated towards the main Verdean Army, reporting the Valden positions. A few days later on the 1st of July (26 de Mestor), the Verdeans attacked the Valdens encamped in the hills north of Nordkaff. Over the first two days the Verdeans slowly pushed the Valden flanks back, pushing from one hill to another, and it was thought, forcing the Valdens to weaken their center. On the third day, General José López del Marva launched a major frontal assault from Nordkaff itself with the largely Regular Second Corps of his Army. It was at this point that the Valdens unveiled their rotary cannons, which combined with canister shot from traditional artillery and volley fire from Valden rifles, forced the Verdeans back with massive losses, leaving 2,156 Verdeans left dead on the field. The Verdeans retreated from Nordkaff the following day, the Valdens were slow to pursue, recuperating for two days, but eventually advancing to the South as the Verdeans retreated. After Nordkaff, General del Marva was relieved of command by Emperor Carlos XII, and replaced with General Antonio Cruzado de Elena, the architect of the invasion of Los Cuarzos, and a corps commander during the invasion of San Lumen.
The Valdens and Verdeans fought several skirmishes as the Verdean Army once again retreated towards the coast. As the Verdeans reached the coast, they began to engage more directly with the Valden Army, stalling the Valden advance at the Battle of Kremmen. As further reinforcements arrived, the Verdeans launched a counter-attack at the Battle of Der Gelb Kaffen, overrunning Valden positions, and even capturing two Valden rotary cannons, which the crews had not managed to successfully destroy. Over the next couple of months, the Verdeans, once again on the offensive pursued the Valdens, specifically attempting to capture and destroy as much of the Valden artillery as was possible. The Valdens retreated towards Grunfeld, near the outskirts of Weissburg proper, chasing off Verdean Cavalry sent to disrupt Valden lines of supply and communication, and breaking off blocking forces to slow the advance of the Verdean Army. As the autumn came to Valden, the campaign slowed, with Verdeans ceasing offensive operations in late October (mid-Mesisa) to establish winter camp near Nordkaff. Skirmishes would continue through the winter, but both the Valden and Verdean armies were exhausted, and unable to prosecute major operations.
The Weissburg Campaign
Over the winter of 1867-68 (DI 67-68), the geopolitical situation in Eastern Meridon became increasingly unstable. Valden Grand Prince Hildebert Udo Gwerde made diplomatic overtures to other nations in the the region in an attempt to open another front in the war. In particular, Valden experts and weaponsmiths were responsible for the the overhaul of the Treleini Army. Further, Carlos XII pressured the Verdean General Staff to prepare for further invasions in Sumaaväa and Davidos. The General Staff, as a result was pressured to end the war in Valden as quickly as possible, so that the Verdean Empire could avoid fighting a war on multiple fronts. It was decided that a lightning campaign to take Weissburg would be the most likely means of knocking out the Valden government, and forcing a favorable peace treaty. General de Elena was given the task of seizing the city by the 30th of March (38de Mesorge), which required rushed planning. The Valdens on the other hand were fortifying their encampment preparing for another frontal assault against their positions, as was expected from the Verdeans under the previous Verdean General José del Marva.
After de Elena secretly transported an extra fifty thousand soldiers to the Weissburg front, he launched his initial attacks on the Valdens encamped at Grunfeld, using small probing attacks to convince the Valdens that the Verdean Army would launch another frontal attack. His main thrust however, would come at the left flank of the Valden line, which bent, and then broke forcing the Valdens into a retreat, and starting properly the Weissburg campaign. As the Valdens retreated General de Elena repeatedly engaged the Valden rearguard as aggressively as possible in order to keep the Valdens from establishing another defensive line. Simultaneously Verdean cavalry blocked Valden retreat towards the city of Weissburg itself, while also cutting lines of communication and supply into the city. The push comes to an end as the Valden Army retreats over the River Edelweiss a day's march away from Weissburg itself. The Verdeans are in hot pursuit, but are running low on supplies; de Elena realized he needed a decisive victory soon, and prepared to engage the Valdens near the village of Kramerhof.
The Verdean Army launched the final attack of the Weissburg Campaign on the 14th of March (22 de Mesorge) at the Battle of Kramerhof. Though the initial Verdean advance was stymied by the presence of Valden rotary cannons, as ammunition supplies started to run short for the automatic weapons, the Verdeans began to more successfully apply pressure to the Valden line. However, intense fighting continued throughout the day until at fifteen hundred hours, several brigades of regulars, and a regiment of Imperial Marines launched a bayonet charge against the right flank of the Valden line after running out of ammunition. This attack led by General de Elena itself, broke through the Valden lines within an hour, and at high cost, forced the Valden Army from the battlefield. Attempts to cut the Valdens off from Weissburg failed however, when the Valden Army broke through a cordon of Verdean cavalry and retreated into Weissburg after suffering severe casualties.
The Valdens though still in control of their capital, were in an impossible position. Unaware of the acute shortages of supplies among the Verdean ranks, and believing the Verdean Army capable of besieging the city, the Valden general staff believed it would be wiser to evacuate the city still able to prosecute the war, rather than risk the capture of the general staff, the Valden government, and the bulk of their army in a protracted siege. As a result, the Valden army, general staff, and government evacuate the city by rail under the cover of darkness. In the evacuation intelligence documents, and ammunition stores that could not be taken in the retreat were destroyed; and munitions factories and other key armaments infrastructure are sabotaged by the retreating Valdens to ensure that the Verdeans would not receive anything of strategic value from taking the city.
The Verdeans enter the city of Weissburg unopposed, on the 15th of March, 1868 (23 de Mesorge DI 68), finding it bereft of wartime industry and ammunition supplies. However, the food stores of the city were left undamaged by Valdens. What followed was the sack of the city by the half starving Verdean Army, who looted almost all of the food in the city; often taking it from the pantries of citizens, as well as robbing the citizenry of Weissburg of many of their valuables. Resistance was frequently met with the murder of the resistant citizens. This event, known as the Rape of Weissburg was covered up with the arrest and detention of almost all journalists in the city by General de Elena, who made a failed attempt to reign in the chaos, and wanted to prevent the actions of the Verdean Army from causing severe geopolitical consequences.
The Isarlo-Treleini Border Campaign
Diplomatic Overtures
Throughout the campaigns of 1866-1867 (DI 66-67), the Valdens sought allies that could conceivably open a second front in the war against the Verdeans. The Treleinis, embittered by their defeat in 1865 (DI 65) and the humiliating Treaty of Richmond were targeted first among these. The new Valden leadership under reformers such as Thomas Windham, and the Treleini Chief of State, General Jackson Sunderson was desperate for technology and expertise to modernize their military. The Valdens provided several officers and other experts to assist in Treleini modernization attempts. The Valdens hoped that they would be able to leverage their aid into support for their own war effort. Throughout 1867 (DI 67), the Treleini Army would undergo a massive reorganization effort, while Valden advisors pushed for a more aggressive foreign policy amongst the Treleini leadership. This message would find ears easily amongst the Treleini Yugals and Generals, for whom Revanchist sentiments were widespread, and who began to plan an continuation of their previous war with the Verdean Empire.
The Verdeans would similarly seek allies on the continent, in an effort to both shorten their lines of supply, and to secure the vulnerable territories of San Lumen and Roslinburg from surprise attack. Carlos XII would turn to the Isarléans for assistance, as they had long been allies of previous Verdean regimes, and were perfectly situated to assist in the fighting against the Valdens. In the early phases of the war, Verdean diplomats attempted to secure access to Isarléan ports, but were turned down. As Trelein modernized, and became increasingly belligerent, Isarlé's leadership became worried about the possibility of a Treleini invasion, and started granting Verdean proposals, including access to ports, production of ships for the Verdean Navy, and other treaties, leading to the signing of a Pact of Mutual Defense on the 5th of April (43 de Mesorge).
The path towards Treleini re-entry into the war began when on February 17th (48 de Mesjula) the government in exile of the Cuarzan Confederacy, after several years of pressuring from the Treleini government, converted to Diternalism; to which the Treleinis responded by guaranteeing the independence of the Cuarzan State. This declaration resulted in the pushing forward of Verdean battle plans, including the Weissburg Campaign, and the diplomatic efforts to ally with Isarlé. The seizure of Weissburg very nearly ended the war, however, Valden refusal to surrender emboldened the Treleinis. With news of the disastrous Verdean defeat on the coast of Sumaaväa, the Treleinis announced their intention to press the Cuarzan question, and reclaim San Lumen, through war. The Isarléans honored their Defense Pact and declared war on the Treleinis into the conflict, and being declared war upon by Valden. The Crowned Republic of the Vale honored their own Defense Treaty with Isarlé, but were tied down in Northwest Meridon and could only provide token support in the form of an expeditionary brigade.
Treleini Incursion
Trelein, shortly after declaring war against the Isarléans and Verdeans launched probing attacks into Isarlé and into the province of San Lumen. Though quickly rebuffed by Isarléan and Verdean forces in the region, the superior performance of the Treleini Army in the field was cause for concern in the Verdean General Staff. Trelein followed up on the initial probing attacks, 19th of July (46 de Mestor), with full scale invasions into the territories they had attacked previously. The Treleini Army attacking San Lumen was repulsed at the Second Battle of Richhmond, where after a hard day's fighting the Treleinis failed to seize the heights South of Richmond, and were forced to withdraw. On the Isarléan border however, the Treleini Army had more success, breaking through the Isarléan border defenses and reinforcing their bridgeheads with reserves mobilized far faster than Verdean or Isarléan planners had accounted for.
After their initial incursion, the Treleinis continued to push into Isarléan territory, with the Isarléans only able to delay the invaders while their own army slowly mobilized. Further attacks would continue against the Verdeans in San Lumen, but were repulsed at the Third Battle of Richmond on the 28th-30th of August (32-34 de Meseva), the Battle of Berwick on the 15th of September (49 de Meseva), and the Battle of Leicester on the 1st of October (12 de Mesisa), before ceasing their offensive operations around San Lumen. The last major offensive the Treleinis would launch in 1868 would fall upon the small city of Libreville on Hennessy. Isarléan defenses in the area were limited, and as a result the Treleinis took the city with little effort, and unleashed a wave of looting and killing upon the city, most notably executing the Libreville's leadership and displaying their decapitated heads in front of the primary government building. Though driven out, a few days after taking it, the Treleinis had inflicted lasted damage on Libreville on Hennesy, which would go into a state of decline for the rest of the war and afterwards.
Starting in November (Mesisa-Mesvacío), the Treleinis, with some Verdean support had finally mobilized and staged enough troops to launch a counter-offensive into Treleini occupied territory. In the span of a month, the Isarléans overran the overstretched Treleini invaders and pushed them back towards Isarléan border. Trelein would attempt to put an end to the counter offensive at the Battle of Mont Chapel, but were defeated. By the end of 1868 (DI 68) the Treleini invasion had failed, and the frontlines had been returned largely to the pre-war border between the two nations.
Isarléan Counteroffensive and Stagnation
In the spring of 1869 (DI 69), the Isarléan Army launched their own invasion of Trelein on the advice of, and with the support of the Verdean Empire. Initially attempting to seize the old Treleini capital of Englia, the Isarléans were stalled by an effective defensive posture,though the invasion progressed into Trelein. Treleini holding actions were however, taking their toll on the defenders; the initial incursion, though slowed down, was very costly for the Treleini reservists who had not been equipped with more modern weaprony, and who struggled against the better trained and equipped Isarléan Army. Unlike the previous campaigning seasons, major combat operations continued well into the winter, as the Isarléan General Staff wanted to maintain the initiative.
The offensive came to stop when on the 20th of March (51 de Mesisa), the Treleinis managed to deliver a significant defeat to the Treleinis at the Battle of Leeds, forcing the Isarléans back, and onto a defensive posture. Trelein however, was incapable of mounting a successful counter offensive before the Isarléans managed to dig into fortified positions; attempting instead to circumvent the Isarléan defenses. Over the course of the summer, flanking attempts, and counter-flanking attempts resulted in a front line steadily stretching from the mountains to the sea, each side fortifying their own positions against assault from the other side. The offensive ended with the lines some eighty kilometers south of the border, but was ultimately successful in pulling the bulk of the Treleini Army away from San Lumen towards this ever expanding front.
The Verdean Imperial Navy and Marines staged an attempt to break the stalemate by circumventing the Treleini line a with a naval landing, and therefore allowing the Isarléans to turn a flank around the Treleini defensive line. The invasion fleet was met by Treleinis at the Sea Battle of Westchester. The Treleinis unveiled their new secret weapon, the armor piercing shell, at this battle, and used it to devastating effect against the Verdean ironclads. The Verdean Navy, taking severe losses was forced to withdraw, and the surviving elements of the fleet and Marines were reassigned to the Sumaaväan Front. As a result of this failed offensive, the front would remain largely static for the next year, with major offensives replaced by intermittent raiding along the front.
The Invasion of Sumaaväa
Initial Invasions
With the recent victory in Weissburg, plans were pursued to invade Sumaaväa with the intent to secure the coast of mainlaind Meridon, and clear the way for the seizure of Davidos. Carlos XII hoped that Valdens would sign a peace treaty with their capital fallen, and the Verdean war aims achieved, and that the Imperial military could focus its full might on the Sumaaväans knocking them out in a quick surprise strike. As Verdean peace overtures were contiunally and flatly refused by the Valdens, Carlos Parisa became impatient, demanding action even as the Verdean diplomats in Valden would make yet another attempt to sue for peace. He ordered the launching of the invasion of Sumaaväa, timed a few hours after the formal declaration of war. Delays from the Imperial invasion fleet would result in the play becoming asynchronous as the Verdeans declared war nearly two weeks before the fleet would arrive, giving the Sumaaväan vital time to prepare their defense.
The Verdean Third Fleet, largely composed of older vessels, met the Sumaaväan Navy and at 20-22nd of June (15-17 de Mestor) Battle of Suomi Strait, and was delivered a major defeat by the well prepared Sumaaväans who used islands in the battlezone to engage in major sneak attacks, and destroying a large chunk of the Third Fleet. The Valdens, who were considering peace before this battle, immediately refused for the final time, sending the Verdean diplomats back to the Empire, and the Treleinis, wishing to re-enter the war and reclaim their lost territory used this defeat, and their guarantee of Cuarzan independence as a case for re-entering the war. As the war shifted southwards once more, Verdean plans for a second invasion of Sumaaväa were put off for nearly a year, as they would attempt to wrangle diplomatic support for a land invasion.
In early 1869 (DI 69), a longstanding conflict between the northern states of Falkenslovask and Nordlen was temporarily brought to an end through mediation by Verdean and Isarléan diplomats. As part of the negotiated peace, the states would allow for Verdean peacekeepers to maintain the extant border for a period of ten years. While theoretically a move to maintain peace and stability in Northern Meridon, this move was, in actuality a means of establishing basing rights to launch an overland invasion of the Republic of Sumaaväa. Over a few months one million soldiers, a "Grand Borealés Army" were moved into Nordlen for the purposes of invading Sumaaväa, launching the campaign on May 1st (16 de Mesjandra).
The Verdean Invasion of Sumaaväa initially went well for the Verdeans, with the Verdeans delivering a significant defeat to the Sumaaväan Army three days later at the Battle of Koulema. The Sumaaväan military adapted however, with the Sumaaväan units engaging in harassing attacks against the Verdean Borealés Army as they withdrew, destroying vast amounts of vital infrastructure for the Verdeans. The Verdean General Staff, frustrated with the evasive nature of the Sumaaväans, resolved to force the issue, by marching directly on the capital, and directly threatening the Sumaaväan government. Though the Sumaaväans initially refused this engagement, they were eventually forced to commit to battle as the Verdeans approached Viime Satama.
Occupation of Viime Satama
The Verdean Army successfully managed to force the Sumaaväan Army to directly engage in battle outside their capital at the end of summer. In the Battle of Viime Satama, through attrition combat, and overwhelming artillery superiority the the Verdeans did manage to deliver a defeat to the Sumaaväans, taking control of the heights overlooking Viime Satama. Though they were in a position to threaten the capital city of Sumaaväa itself, the Verdean Borealés Army was exhausted by the days fighting and unable to make the final march to take the city. Further, they were unsuccessful in destroying the Sumaaväan Army outright, and, unable to pursue them, allowed for a Sumaaväan withdrawl and the continuation of the war.
The Sumaaväans like the Valdens before them evacuated Viime Satama in order to continue the war. Unlike the Valdens however, they did destroy food stores, and evacuated much of the civilian population in addition to the government and army units in the city. Additionally, the Sumaaväan ambassador to Valden, under pressure from the Valdens and Treleinis, signed onto a semi-formal wartime alliance, agreeing to not seek a separate peace with the Verdean Empire, and formally creating the Triple Pact. The Verdeans, as a result, occupied a largely empty city. News of the occupation caused Carlos to seek peace overtures with the Sumaaväans, unaware of the their signing onto the Triple Pact, and were refused.
Over the next month and a half, the Sumaaväans would set up a blockade of Nordlen, intercepting ships coming into Nordic trade ports, this action nearly caused a war between the two nations, but Sumaaväan assurances that only Verdean ships would be intercepted and seized, prevented open hostilities between the two nations, and allowed for the continuance of the blockade which cut what limited supplies they were providing to the Verdean Army in Viime Satama, and made their situation desperate. When a mysterious fire broke out in Viime Satama, much of the city burned to the ground killing nearly twenty five hundred Verdean soldiers, and destroying much of the shelter that the Borealés Army was dependent on. General García, commander during the occupation realized that the situation was unsustainable and prepared to withdraw back to Nordlen, against the wishes of the Emperor.
Verdean Withdrawal and the Destruction of the Borealés Army
Starting in early November (late Mesisa), the Verdean Borealés Army began to withdraw from Viime Satama back towards its staging areas in Nordlen. The Sumaaväans pursued the Borealés Army, constantly engaging in harassing attacks against the poorly supplied and starving Verdeans, and preventing them from escaping by any route other than the mostly destroyed path they had taken during their invasion, killing and capturing vast swathes of the Borealés. Verdean soldiers also fell in large numbers due to frostbite, due to their poor preperation for the particularly Sumaaväan winters. As the Verdeans approached the Nordic border, they were made to fight, at Kitee and Usadishsche, being defeated easily. Finally, at the Battle of Kravtsova, Verdean soldiers recruited from San Lumen, held off Sumaaväan assaults as the ninety thosuand survivors of the Borealés Army retreated into Nordlen.
Over the course of the next few months, several attempts were made by the Isarléans and Verdeans to break through the Sumaaväan blockade. Each attempt had failed with only the Isarléan attempt on the 11th of January (11 de Mesjula) coming close to successfully break through the Verdean blockade. Even as attempts were made to break the blockade, the Verdean General Staff had realized the campaign was lost, and reinforcements were no longer forthcoming. While the Isarlo-Verdean alliance attempted to break the blockade, diplomats from the Triple Pact applied diplomatic pressure to Nordlen for the power to capture the surviving Verdean soldiers, as well as the handful of troops that were in place to actually monitor the situation between Nordlen and Falkenslovask. While they intially refused, threats of Invasion by Valden, forced the hand of the Nordic government, who demanded that the Verdeans leave Nordlen by March 11th (27 de Mesorge).
The evacuation of Nordlen would come just as the Verdeans would make one final attempt to break the blockade. The Verdean Navy did successfully manage to create an opening for the Borealés Army to escape. In an odd battle, commandeered small craft, fishing boats, and commercial ships fled from Nordlen, constantly harassed by Sumaaväan warships, even as the Verdean fleet attempted to pick up any survivors. Though several thousand Verdeans would freeze to death in the icy waters, much of the remnant would be evacuated. Those who could not commandeer ships were surrendered to the Sumaaväans after they moved in. Captured Verdeans were interrogated by the Sumaaväans before being turned over to the Treleini for further interrogation and execution. The Borealés Army, nearly a fifth of the Verdean military was effectively destroyed, with only sixty thousand fleeing to serve on other fronts.
Triple Pact Counteroffensives
The Collapse of the Northern Front
After the disastrous invasion of Sumaaväa, and the complete destruction of the Borealés Army, the Verdean Army's reserve of manpower was sorely depleted, and offensive operations were largely deemed impossible by the Verdean General Staff. Efforts were instead directed towards defending already captured territory in an attempt to seek a favorable peace and maintain the conquest of San Lumen and Roslinburg. Verdean Marines built up defensive works around several strategic positions. Weissburg in particular was heavily fortified by a series of several fortifications, the lynchpin of which, Fort Naranja was made virtually impregnable, and heavily armed with artillery, and reverse engineered rotary guns. Roslinburg, and San Lumen, at that point considered safe, were not fortified as heavily.
Valden and Summaaväan forces had knowledge of this fortification plan thanks, in large part, due to civilian informants. The Valden General Staff was however, pressured by the monarchy to take back Weissburg. Plans had to be made to retake the city, regardless of how heavily fortified it was. Leadership in the Valden and Sumaaväan Armies made preparations to break through the Verdean defenses in the city, speaking with their Triple Pact partner, General Jackson Sunderson, who agreed to launch a secondary attack along the Isarléan Front and in San Lumen to pull Isarlo-Verdean attention away from Weissburg, with the first attacks against Isarlé on 15. March. 1870 (31 de Mesorge, DI 70) being moderately successful in their aims. Though reserves were not pulled away in the numbers the Valdens would have preferred, continued pressure from the monarchy forced their hand, and plans to attack Weissburg continued with only a few days delay.
The initial Valden assault came on the 12th of April (49 de Mesorge). After an intense artillery barrage lasting throughout the early morning, several corps of the Valden Army pushed the center of the Verdean line even as Sumaavaäns applied pressure to the flanks. Though the Valdens suffered heavy casualties, the Verdean fortifications, especially Fort Naranja were heavily damaged by the intial bombardment, and its defenders were similarly battered, allowing for a major Valden breakthrough. Though the Verdeans would attempt to retake the central fortifications throughout the day, these attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. As a result, the Verdean defenses became large untenable as Valden artillerists moved artillery into these commanding positions and began to bombard the Verdean flanks. The Verdean Army withdrew to the city proper that night.
Over the course of the night Valden civilian saboteurs secretly destroyed many Verdean ammunition stores and powder magazines, dramatically reducing the supplies available to the Verdeans. The next day, the Sumaaväans and Valdens attacked Weissburg proper. Though the Sumaaväans, had an easy time taking neighboring boroughs south of the River Edelweiss. The Valdens, hampered by lack of access to artillery, due to political concerns, and facing the old Castle Weissburg struggled for much of the day. By the late afternoon however, Verdean ammunition began to run out, and the Verdeans were forced to withdraw from the city. After the Castle had been retaken, the Valden Army staged a parade through Weissburg in the evening as the Sumaaväans chased the Imperials away from the city.
During the rest of spring 1870 (DI 70), the Verdean Imperial Army retreated, constantly harrassed by Valden and Sumaaväan skirmishers and prevented from re-establishing a defensive line. The Verdean General decided to divide the Army into its constituent corps and retreat towards the Wolfbriar Mountains on the Isarléan border; and towards Roslinburg's defensive line separately. Though the Verdeans would successfully managed to re-establish defensive lines, they had lost most of the territory gained during the campaigns of 1867 and 1868, and the Valden, now free to recruit openly, swelled in size as territories in South Valden mobilized their remaining reserve regiments. Further, the Valdens were now free to apply pressure to the northern Isarléan border, and allow Trelein to launch its own major offensives.
The Isarléan Collapse
As the Verdean defensive lines in Valden collapsed almost entirely, Isarlé was threatened by direct invasion from the north. At the same, Treleini attacks began to intensify throughout the late spring. A major Treleini breakthrough at the Battle of North Creek Station, on the 18th of May (33 de Mesjandra), forced the Isarléan Army into retreat, and giving the Treleinis initiative to mount a proper offensive to retake the territory under Isarléan occupation. A simultaneously offensive from Valden to recapture the Wolfbriar lowlands, pulled several Isarléan reserves, and the entire Verdean Army in the region into the north, weakening the Isarléan advance against actions in the South. By the end of the summer, much of the land formerly under Isarléan occupation was retaken by the Treleinis.
In the late summer, Tallonius, which had remained neutral in the conflict, and maintained a non-aggression pact with the Verdean Empire, came under pressure from their larger Valden neighbors to enter the war. As Tallonius had access to the trans-mountain tunnels, and the coastal passages into Isarlé, they were positioned on the most navigable routes into the country from Valden, they would be invaluable to launching a major offensive through the Wolfbriar Mountains and deep into the Isarléan heartland. Promises of parts of the Isarléan lowlands, and threats of invasion had managed to convince the Tallonian King to enter the war, and on September 1st, Tallonius launched a sneak attack on Isarlé, quickly securing the tunnel between the two nations, allowing Valden to flood northern Isarlé with thousands of soldiers nearly overnight.
When the front in San Lumen collapsed in late October of 1870 (mid Mesisa DI 70), the Treleinis were further empowered to push into Isarléan territory. Fighting in Coulez, and Hérault throughout most of the autumn of 1870 eventually centered around the fortified city of Chiersmont in northern Coulez. Meanwhile, Valden offensives, would simultaneously push the Verdean Army off the Northern slopes of the Wolfbriar Mountains, and ravage northern Mérignac. As the fighting continued well into the winter, Isarlé's trained reserves finally ran out, and the surrender of Chiersmont after a brutal assault at the battle of Lille on December 26th 1870 (47 de Mesvacío DI 70), convinced Isarléan President Devimeux to seek peace overtures with the Triple Pact nations.
Isarléan and Triple Pact diplomats began discussing an armistice on the 1st of the New Year in 1871 (DI 71). Even as this occurred, Verdean soldiers in Isarlé were warned, and instructed to evacuate the country before they could be captured by the Pact. An Armistice was formally signed between the Republic of Isarlé and the Triple Pact on February 18th (48 de Mesjula), coming into effect on the following day. Though Valden and Trelein demanded that all Verdean soldiers in Isarlé be surrendered to the Pact, the bulk of Verdean military forces in the country had been evacuated throughout January and early February, and only fifty thousand of the half-million strong deployment in the country remained to be turned over to Pact Forces. Isarlé's exit from the war however, was still a major defeat for the Verdeans, who were at that point engaged in open war with multiple major Meridonian powers alone. As a result Carlos XII ordered the evacuation of all surviving ethnic Verdeans from Imperial controlled territory on the continent back to the Verdean Archipelago.
The Fall of San Lumen
As offensives to the north carried on through the summer, the Treleinis applied constant pressure to the Verdeans in San Lumen to prevent them from sending reserves to assisted the besieged Isarléans. Late in the Summer however, favorable geopolitical conditions allowed for a more substantial Treleini offensive into San Lumen, in an effort to take the city itself back. Trelein transported veteran units from the Isarléan border, in secret, to the Army of San Lumen throughout the months of July and early August (Mestor-Meseva). Plans for the offensive to begin in early October (Mesisa) were drawn up; after a major defeat of Isarléans at the Battle of Mont Blanc in Hérault however, the offensive's start date was pushed up, and their offensive into San Lumen began in late Auguest (Meseva), just weeks before Tallonius would enter the war.
In the initial attacks, Verdean forces, already exhausted from months of harassment campaigns, and met be rested Treleini soldiers would be dealt several devastating defeats at the Second Battle of Richmond on the 20th of August (24 de Meseva), King's Mountain on the 25th-28th (28-31 de Meseva), and at the Second Battle of Corrido del Toro on the 2nd of September (36 de Meseva). In these battles, the Verdeans suffered heavy losses, and in many cases attempted to surrender. The Treleinis however, would refuse quarter, executing Verdean soldiers en masse after battles. These defeats would send the Verdean Army into a desperate retreat, fighting a withdrawal to the fortifications outside San Lumen. News of massacres stiffened Verdean resolve, and the fighting against the Treleinis became a bitter affair, with many Verdean units opting to fight to the death rather than surrender, which in turn, hardened the Trelein Army into greater acts of brutality. Eventually however, the Verdeans which would be put to siege in the city of San Lumen on the 25th of September, 1870 (7 de Mesisa DI 70).
The siege of San Lumen would last nearly a month, with regular Treleini assaults against the ring of forts around the city, and constant artillery bombardment against the defenders. A Treleini blockading fleet would cut the Verdeans off from any hope of resupply, in addition to providing additional artillery to bombard the city. Over October (Mesisa) Verdean defenses would be worn down from repeated assaults, and many forts would fall. Fighting within the city would break out on the 15th of October (27 de Mesisa). A Verdean fleet, led by Admiral Antonio Cuervo successfully managed to break through the Treleini blockade, and though incapable of properly relieving the defenders, did evacuate several thousand soldiers and civilians from the city, before fighting its way out past the blockade and to the Verdean Archipelago. This small victory however, did not prevent the fall of the city, as the defenders surrendered the city on the 22nd of October (34 de Mesisa).
When the Treleinis captured the city, they began a two week spree of violence against the populace known as the Rape of San Lumen. Treleinis first executed Verdean soldiers who had defended the city, before turning their attention towards the city's population of ethnic Verdeans and ethnic Isarléans. Thousands of people were killed, raped, or tortured, including the whole of the occupation government, and many buildings, built by the Verdean occupiers were burned to the ground. Diternalist clergy in the city would protest the horrifying violence, but were silenced, or outright killed by the occupying Treleini soldiers. Only direct intervention of Thomas Windham himself, and the execution of the General responsible for the capture of the city, and the appointment of a permanent government, put an end to the violence
The Battle and Evacuation of Roslinburg
Upon hearing the news about the Rape of San Lumen, Carlos XII resolved to prevent another such massacre, and ordered the evacuation of the one remaining Verdean city on the continent, still controlled by the Empire, Roslinburg. Even as the city, and the surrounding province were heavily fortified with four fortified lines by Verdean engineers, ships from the Verdean Archipelago, under heavy Navy Escort began evacuating ethnic Verdeans from Roslinburg. Unexpectedly, the Triple Pact allowed this evacuation to continue relatively unhindered, and much of the population managed to leave while the Pact nations were fighting in Isarlé, with the province not coming under heavy attack until after the Isarléan exit from the war, well into 1871 (DI 71).
The Triple Pact, shortly after Isarlé signed armistice with them, prepared their offensive with a multinational, though still largely Valden, army throughout the first weeks of March (Mesorge). The first attacks would occur in Early April with the Triple Pact forces, directly overseen by Valden Prince Hildebert Udo Gwerde pushing aggressively against the outermost fortified line. Though the casualties were significant, the Pact Army broke through the outer line on April 5th (42 de Mesorge), and forced the Verdeans to withdraw. Withdrawal of troops from the city, and further attacks soon rendered the second line indefensible, and it too was lost, only five days after the first had fallen. Fighting over the third defensive line lasted significantly longer, with it not falling until the 1st of May (16 de Mesjandra). Verdean casualties, particularly, surrendering Verdeans however, severely weakened the defensive capabilities of the Verdean Army. General Antonio de Elena was captured six days later defending a Verdean fort from Sumaaväan attacks, forcing a retreat into the city itself.
As the last of the Verdean defenders began to withdraw from the city of Roslinburg, a rearguard action was needed. A force of sixty thousand Verdean soldiers, largely comprised of volunteers from the few survivors of the Borealés Army elected to defend the port of Roslinburg from intense Pact attacks. These volunteers, dubbed "Les Ultimes Caballeros", fought for three days against a Pact Force of over one million, slowly withdrawing in the face of an overwhelming enemy. The Battle ended when the final few hundred survivors charged into the attackers as the final evacuation ships left the port, fighting to the death.
The exhausted attackers occupied the city relatively quietly after the conclusion of the battle. Unlike in San Lumen, there was no sack of the city, as the Valdens wished to avoid the destruction caused by unrestrained pillaging in the city. The port of Roslinburg, upgraded to service ironclads by the Verdean occupiers, was immediately put to use by the Valdens who wished to rapidly expand their nascent ironclad fleet. They found themselves struggling however, to find skilled shipwrights who were largely part of the Verdean ethnic minority in the city that had been withdrawn. However, life returned largely to normal in Roslinburg within months of capturing the city, even as a large portion of the population was resettled on the Verdean Archipelago, leaving the city emptier than normal.
The End of the War
The Liberation of Los Cuarzos and the Death of Carlos XII
After the evacuation of Roslinburg, the War entered a relatively quiet period, as Triple Pact forces prepared for their final thrusts onto the Verdean Archipelago itself. Pact leadership, spearheaded by the Valden General Staff, planned for one of the most ambitious war plans in Meridonian History, crossing the sea, and invading the Verdean Archipelago itself. Lobbying on behalf of the Cuarzan government in exile would however, pressure the Pact nations into first liberating the Cuarzan Confederacy. A multinational force was trained throughout the summer of 1871 (DI 71), in the art of amphibious warfare, and several dozen Pact ironclads would be commissioned into the Valden, Treleini, and Sumaaväan navies to combat against the largely ironclad Verdean fleet.
In the Verdean Archipelago, preparations were made for the defense of the home islands, with several coastal artillery forts being established, or reactivated, the last reserves of the Verdean Army being called up, and the training of fresh conscripts. The Verdean news media was completely nationalized under the orders of Carlos XII, and was put to work producing vast quantities of propaganda for the Verdean War effort. The Navy, organized under Admiral Cuervo, who was appointed head of the Verdean General staff shortly after General de Elena's surrender, was reorganized around national defense, even as the last new vessels of the war, the first steel hulled warships, were commissioned, with Admiral Cuervo selecting the newly commissioned Carlos XII as his flagship.
Starting early august (late-Mestor), the Triple Pact would launch their campaign against the Verdean islands, with several fleet engagements occurring north and east of the Archipelago. Though many of these actions would result in Verdean victories, losses began to mount for the Verdean Navy, and engagements became more infrequent allowing the Pact free reign to make landings on Los Cuarzos as the Verdean fleet retreated closer towards the primary Archipelago barring a fleet presence near Gran Cuarzo. As it became evident that Los Cuarzos would be the focal point of the next phase of the war, Carlos XII traveled to Gran Cuarzo to directly supervise the defense of Matanzas to bolster morale for the defenders.
A Pact Force, largely consisting of Treleini and Cuarzan soldiers would land on Gran Cuarzo on the 20th of September 1871 (2 de Mesisa DI 71), and over the course of the next three days engaged the Verdean defenders. Carlos XII fought in the front lines at Matanzas, bolstering the morale of defenders and prolonging the battle. In the mid-afternoon on the third day Carlos XII was shot in the head by a sniper, and killed instantly. The death of the Emperor, often credited to Treleini General Jackson Sunderson would see the conclusion of the battle, as diehards in the Verdean ranks would reclaim the body of Carlos XII, before staging a major bayonet charge into Treleini lines. After the diehards had fallen, the remaining members of the garrison would surrender to the Pact Forces, leaving the Verdean home islands open for invasion.
The Culebra Campaign
After the fall of Los Cuarzos, the Pact leadership opted to avoid prolonged campaigns in the outer islands of the Archipelago and instead to simply attack Isla Verde itself. It was well known to the Valden high command however, that the heart of the Verdean Empire, the River Valley of La Culebra, was heavily fortified, and patrolled by the best ships still in Verdean service. As a result, a combined sea and land offensive was planned in such a fashion that Pact land forces would engage and destroy riverbank artillery batteries even as Pact naval fleets supported the land actions. This action, spearheaded by elite troops well trained in amphibious operations, was intended to deliver a series of quick knockout blows, devastating the Verdean military, and leaving the Verdean capital in Castille wide open. In the Empire, the newly ascended Empress Dowager, Vanessa Parisa Dreyfus coordinated with Admiral Cuervo, and the rest of the Verdean general staff to organize the defense of the Archipelago, including under pressure from Admiral Cuervo and the Empress Dowager, the first conscription of women into Verdean service. Newly formed regiments were infused into shattered brigades to bolster their strength, and heavy artillery batteries were placed in strategically important locations throughout the Archipelago.
The first Pact attacks occurred on the 16th of October 1871 (28 de Mesisa), spearheaded by Treleini professionals led by General Sunderson, quickly neutralizing defenses around La Llava before moving the fleet into La Culebra. Over the course of the next five weeks, the campaign to take La Culebra ground on, with bitter Verdean resistance ultimately proving unsuccessful in slowing the Pact advance, in spite of inflicting severe casualties, until the Pact fleet had reached the heart of La Culebra, the freshwater Serpent's Bay. At the Battle of Bayo Serpiente on the 2nd of December (22 de Mesvacío), the Verdean Navy was dealt a significant defeat by the Pact Fleet, most notably as Admiral Cuervo was killed when his ship, the Carlos XII exploded several hours into the battle. Pact forces landed shortly thereafter and attempted to capture the city of Corazón del Río, but were met by the largest remaining Verdean Army, including freshly trained women soldiers, at the chaotic Battle of Corazón del Río on the 7th (29 de Mesvacío), and rendered largely incapable of launching offensive operations.
Though granted a significant victory at Corazón del Río, Vanessa Dreyfus recognized that the war was, for all intents and purposes lost, under protestations from the remaining members of the Verdean General Staff, she sued for peace. Though sporadic fighting would continue for the rest of the year, neither side was capable of mounting a major action, and as a result only light skirmishing would persist until a cease fire was signed and came into effect on the last day of the year, putting an end to open hostilities between the Triple Pact and the Second Verdean Empire.
Aftermath
Shortly after the formal conclusion of hostilities diplomats from all involved nations met at Corazón del Río to discuss a more permanent peace settlement. Though it was clear to every party, that the Isarlo-Verdean Alliance had lost, the Verdean military demonstrated it was still quite capable of defending the home islands in the last few months of the war, and as a result, emphasis in peace negotiations was placed on containing what was still perceived a major military power, rather than breaking up the empire. Isarlé however would not be so lucky as it had possessed many territories which were claimed by the victorious powers, and in spite of Isarléan protestations it became clear that the Republic would face territorial losses. After several months of debating, the warring nations signed the Treaty of Corazón del Río on 20. June. 1872 (15 de Mestor, DI 72), formally ending hostilities.
The Treaty of Corazón del Río dramatically re-organized the Meridonian order. While not facing territorial losses, the Second Verdean Empire was made to renounce its claim to all territories in the Northern Hemisphere. Additionally, it would be required to pay a fine of four billion Valdemarks in damages to each of the major powers in the war, and would face crippling limitations on their military such as naval restrictions and obligations to dramatically limit weapons development, as well as turning any extant military blueprints over to Pact nations. Isarlé would face territorial losses, most notably losing all of its territories north of the Wolfbriars, which were split between Tallonius and Valden, as well as losing a number of ethnic Treleini towns on the Isarlo-Treleini border, as well as being required to dissolve its defense pact with the Vale, though its military would not be so hobbled by the Treaty. Corazón del Río would also be known for establishing the first laws of war in its provisions, as many major cities had been devastated by the sacks they had faced when captured, and the mistreatment of prisoners of war had caused many deaths, provisions of the treaty created rules regarding the treatment of prisoners and civilians, conduct of blockades, and most significantly, abolished the "right of pillage" that some armies had used in their justification in the destruction of cities. Though many nations that had not fought the war signed onto the second, separate Corazón del Río Protocol, Trelein refused, signing only the first part of the Treaty.
Though they had lost the war, and were briefly under the occupation of Pact forces, the Verdean Empire did not fracture as a result of the conflict. The firm guidance of Empress Dowager, Vanessa Dreyfus successfully managed to hold the Empire together, predominantly with her liberalizing reforms that greatly reduced the power of the monarchy, and formally enshrined a legal equality for women who had taken an increasingly prominent role in industry, politics, and eventually even the armed forces during the war, as men were conscripted and killed in battle. Her twenty year regency, often referred to as the "women's generation" would do much to heal the Empire, and influenced many other Meridonian nations to liberalize. The regency came to an end however, when her son, Juan III ascended to the throne.
Defeat in the war caused massive instability in Isarlé. Many Isarléan nationalists felt that defeat in the war was a sign of weakness. Mass demonstrations broke out throughout the country, only coming to an end with a crackdown from the national police. The crackdown, as well as lingering resentment from the war caused the loss of the Isarléan governing party, under Thierry Devimeux, in the 1872 General elections In Trelein too, political upheaval would rock the nation, with theological conflict between Castarianists and other, more reformist factions among the Yugal Council. Even as the Divine Imperium began to set up its region spanning religious hegemony, these conflicts over modernization would cause significant instability in the highest echelons of the Yugal Council through the decades immediately after the war.
Valden used its victory in the war to cement itself as the major player in Northeastern Meridon, influencing the politics of Falkenslovask and Nordlen in an attempt to put an end to the Midlands Wars, even as the fragile alliance of the Triple Pact nations began to break down and Sumaaväa returned to a more isolationist stance. Valden would set it self up as a regional peacemaker, using threat of military force to broker an end to conflicts, particularly ending them in fashions that benefited the Grand Principality if possible, but largely focused on maintaining regional stability in Valdens neighbors to prevent another war from breaking out on its borders. The Grand Prince also continued to pressure the Tallonians though contests of influence between Trelein and Valden over Tallonius would cause rifts between the two nations diplomatically.
War Crimes and Civilian Casualties
Over the duration of the conflict, roughly 2.9 million civilians were killed with 1,189,121 coming from Isarlé and Verde, and roughly 1.71 million from Triple Pact nations; with the overwhelming majority being from the Capisarian states, Isarlé and Trelein. Large numbers of civilian casualties have been attributed to Treleini soldiers attacking and brutalizing civilians in areas that fell under their occupation. Civilian deaths were highest in the events known as the Rape of San Lumen, where Treleinis sacked the city of San Lumen, killing, raping, and torturing civilians in the city after recapturing it, and the Rape of Weissburg, where Verdean soldiers looted the city of Weissburg indiscriminately, and frequently engaged in the murder or civilians in the city as revenge for the perceived slights caused by Valden scorched earth tactics. Verdean soldiers were also responsible for the extrajudicial executions of several thousand ethnic Treleinis during their occupation of the province of San Lumen.
Most Verdean war criminals were either captured in battle, or turned over to the victorious Triple Pact nations for punishment. Nearly fifty thousand Verdean soldiers of all ranks were put on trial by either the Valdens or Sumaaväans, and over fifteen thousand were convicted of crimes against those nations, with the majority being convicted for actions directly connected to the Rape of Weissburg, and were largely sentenced to lengthy prison or hard labor sentences, with some being executed. Over three thousand Verdean prisoners were executed for war crimes committed against the Triple Pact nations. Many executions from the Valdens however, were not carried out, with the convicts instead being sentenced to several years hard labor by the Valdens. Trelein was responsible for carrying out the most executions, with nearly eighteen hundred Verdeans from the San Lumen occupation army being executed for reprisals against ethnic Treleinis during the occupation.
No Triple Pact citizens were imprisoned, tried, or sentenced for war crimes in the immediate aftermath of the war. Trelein did eventually formally apologize for its mass killings of ethnic Isarléans and Verdeans during the conflict, as part of the process to unify Capisaria. Valden would also apologize for unlawful executions against the Isarléans but no Valden government has ever apologized to any Verdean state. Most controversially, Sumaaväan soldiers are alleged to have unlawfully killed injured or captured Verdean soldiers during the retreat from Viime Satama. The Sumaaväan government has however, consistently denied these allegations, stating that all Verdean deaths during the retreat were the result of combat fatalities, or as a result of frostbite, with historical evidence making no clear case for either being the truth.
Memorials
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The Verdean Empire, under the directive of Vanessa Dreyfus constructed several thousand war memorials commemorating the fallen of the war. The largest of these, known as the Shrine to the Lost, was erected in Corazón del Río, and dedicated to those that had gone missing in the war, and were presumed dead. Starting in the 1890s (DI 90s) however, increasing class tensions and economic crises put a halt to, and even saw the destruction of a number of these war memorials. Construction of monuments resumed when the Verdean islands were liberated from Capisarian occupation, often more historically revisionist, depicting Carlos XII as a champion of the Verdean people, rather than being largely responsible for the war, and lionizing specific events where Verdean soldiers were considered to be acting in the manner of paragons of Verdean values. Isarlé by contrast did not have as significant a monument building movement, with the Republic's change in government, and desire to move on. In spite of this a number of local governments and movements erected monuments to the fallen from their town, or memorializing victims of massacres at the hands of Triple Pact soldiers during the invasions of Isarlé. Some other Isarléan monuments would be partially dedicated to the Carlosian War, as more generalized memorials for wartime dead.
Of the Triple Pact nations, Valden, as the most populous of the Triple Pact nations, and those who had suffered the Rape of Weissburg had the most large war memorials, with several scattered throughout North and South Valden. Some, such as the Mausoleum of the Fallen at Roslinburg were more sympathetic to ethnic minorities, many others however, had the dual purpose of lionizing the ethnic Valden majority as being superior. After the Valden War, many of these monuments were either destroyed, or re-contextualized. Trelein also had several war monuments, largely religious in nature, which were secularized during the reunification of Capisaria. Sumaaväa would have the fewest war memorials of the Triple Pact nations, with some, largely local in nature dedicated to the fallen, as well as commemorating the ejection of the Borealés Army from Viime Satama.
Military Significance
The Carlosian War was perhaps the most significant conflict of the 19th Century (1st century Después Imperio) in the evolution of militaries, military tactics, and weapons technologies. Technological developments such as the first ironclad warships, the earliest bolt-action rifle designs, and the first automatic weapons had major impacts on how battles were fought, especially as they proliferated amongst the warring nations throughout the war. These weapons, paired with tactics that had not adapted to the new weapons resulted in devastating losses for unprepared armies. As the war continued, the first steel hulled warships, and improvements to artillery technologies came into service, though they wouldn't proliferate past the major warring powers of Eastern Meridon until closer to the end of the century.
Before the war, armies had largely still been either organized along levy systems left over from prior, feudal governments, or small professional forces. The Verdean Army was the first to adopt a modern system of conscription with the Military Reforms of DI 51. Over the course of the Carlosian War, other nations would adopt this system, including those nations which were not involved in the conflict. Similarly, the Valden model of a having a General Staff proliferated throughout Meridon. Organizationally, the Carlosian War was a major driver for the expansion of militaries throughout the the war, largely in concert with adoption of conscripted armies, but also in part due to better communications, more efficient mobilization timetables, as well as expanding populations. This eventually resulted in the conflict being the first in Meridonian history where multi-million soldier militaries were operating for multiple years.
Military tactics also evolved throughout the Carlosian War. As it was the first major conflict where accurate, rifled, firearms had come into use the use of mass formations in the early phases of the war, resulted in extraordinarily high casualty rates. Over the course of the war, the opposing forces experimented with smaller, looser formations. This was aided with the development of more rapid communications technology, allowing for high level commanders to relay orders with much greater speed than others. Starting with the campaigns in Valden, and especially towards the end of the war, armies would gradually make greater use of trenches and other earthworks to defend against incoming fire. In the war at sea, tactics changed more slowly, with emphasis being on longer ranges of engagement, and the slow development towards indirect fire over close range lines of battle.
Press and Publicity
The Isarlo-Verdean Alliance
Initially press coverage of the war was rather limited on both sides, with only periodic newspaper coverage. The Verdean Empire was the first to really have meaningful press presence during the conflict. In early 1866 however, war correspondents became increasingly common for the Verdeans, who attempted to control the reporting by directly attaching members of the press to certain military units, with some measure of editorial control over the works put out by these journalists. As the course of the war turned against the Verdeans, and as public opinion and support for the war began to decline, the Empire were increasingly strict in their censorship of news coverage, outright seizing several newspapers after military setbacks in 1870 and 1871, and outright producing propaganda disguised as war reporting in the end. The Verdean Empire also had more direct ways of maintaining public opinion through war propaganda, being among the first Meridonian nations to establish a formal government office for propaganda. Known as the Office of the Press, the Verdean agency had a major influence throughout the war, producing propaganda, censoring content deemed questionable by the state, and outright owning press outlets in the later years.
Isarlé, unlike its counterpart in the alliance was much freer in its war coverage. Isarléan journalists were given relatively free access to the front lines whereas except during the battles. Like the Verdeans however, access became more restricted as the course of the conflict turned against the alliance. Censorship was never particularly strict however, and Isarléan journalists remained relatively free to cover the war. Many historians believe that it was in fact this peculiarity of Isarlé's Republic that could be attributed to the Isarléan exit from the conflict, as newspapers, unfettered by the strict censorship of most of the other warring powers, printed truthfully about the disastrous campaigning season of 1870 (DI 70), which contributed significantly to the loss of public support for the war. The Valian Press, though innovative in sponsoring the first true modern war correspondent, Cionaodh Elisedd Ahearne, was largely dependent on support from the Isarléan Press when they entered the war.
The Triple Pact
The Valden war effort was largely backed with propaganda, yellow journalism, and word of mouth. The Valden crown, though lacking a formal state apparatus for the creation of propaganda until nearly the end of the war, controlled public opinion by heavily restricting the access of journalists to battlefields, and strict censorship of reporting. In that way the Valden government maintained effective control over what information became public knowledge among its citizenry, and maintained public support for the war, even seeing increases in public support throughout the Carlosian War. After Weissburg was liberated, the Valden government established its own propaganda bureau, though this government apparatus was never particularly well developed and the Grand Principality relied heavily on its more traditional methods of public relations through the end of the conflict.
The Treleinis largely enforced a total blackout of information in the war after their re-entry. After the complete and humiliating military defeats of Trelein in the early phases in the war, and the spreading of the news, support for the war collapsed within a few months, resulting in their withdrawal from the war. Unwilling to face such humiliation again, the Yugal council enforced a very strict blackout of journalists throughout its continuation of the Carlosian War, instead feeding information to the press only rarely, and only to enforce the view of the war in a positive light. As a result reports of Treleini violence, defeats, and occupation of Treleini soil were not made known to the public, with agents of the Council even arresting persons who had knowledge of these events in order to prevent spread of information through word of mouth. The Treleinis would attempt to start a formal propaganda apparatus, but could not effectively get the agency working until after the conclusion of the war.
The Sumaaväans and the minor Pact nations lacked the concentrated media control efforts of the two larger powers, either unwilling, or unable to establish the expensive, or strict apparatuses necessary to achieve control of public opinion. This Lasseiz Faire attitude as a result, saw war correspondents and other journalists having largely unfettered access to the front, at least from the armies of their own nations. As a result many journalists from these nations were freer to report on the war as a matter of public record, rather than as a means of maintaining public support for the war, and of the nations involved in the war, historians largely consider these reports to be of the highest value as first hand historical sources.
Uninvolved Nations
Nations not involved in the Carlosian War did send reporters to the front to inform the wider Meridonian community about the war. Initially foreign coverage of the war was relatively unrestricted as none of the major powers wished to spark international incidents by imprisoning foreign journalists, though many reports were still censored in the case that the reports covered sensitive topics, particularly pertaining to tactics, defeats, and acts that would later be considered war crimes committed by the warring powers. Many of the uninvolved nations, especially Narendia and Walakia planted or recruited spies among their press to obtain information on military technology and tactics, and the outing of Narendian spy Andon Nikolovski in the Nikolovski Scandal of 1868 would result in much greater control over foreign reporting of their armies during the conflict, and early photojournalists were especially harshly treated with the Verdean Empire, the Valdens, and the Treleinis outright arresting and detaining journalists carrying cameras before confiscating their photographs in the later years of the war.
For some uninvolved nations, the politics of the nation in question still did color press coverage and public opinion of the war. Nations sympathetic to the Verdean cause, especially those close to the front, such as Illaria were nearly an effective propaganda arm for the Verdean War effort. Others, such as the young nation of Göke's press were much more sympathetic to the Valden cause, and Gökan yellow journalism nearly brough Göke into the war on the side of the Valdens. Others, particularly those that were further away from the fighting had a more uninvolved view of the war, and were generally regarded as printing comparatively neutral articles. Generally however, the media of uninvolved nations were more influential over politics than politics were influential over media, with relatively unvarnished press coverage of the horrors of the war being second only to geographic isolation for keeping the neutral nations out of the war, particularly in the later phases as casualty rates climbed steadily in the intense fighting of 1868, 69, and 70 (DI 68, 69, and 70).
Geopolitical Impact
The Carlosian War significantly altered the balance of power in Greater Meridon. A long line of Verdean states, of which the Second Verdean Empire was a member, had been declining gradually in influence over the centuries since unification. The Carlosian War, an attempt to reclaim some of this lost hegemonic power, backfired utterly and accelerated the decline of the Verdean state. Though the strong leadership of Vanessa Dreyfus would prevent to dissolution of the Empire temporarily, the Empire would steadily descend into class conflict, and eventually civil war. Even during the Empress Dowager's regency, the Verdean Empire would be made to surrender some of its territory to a Treleini puppet state in an unequal truce orchestrated by the Valdens, and see its closest neighbor the Cuarzan Confederacy outside its sphere of influence. The defeat of the Verdeans in Carlosian War would make apparent the decline of the nation that would continue until the home islands themselves would fall under foreign occupation.
The Grand Principality Valden, which had itself been on a genteel decline as a result of the dissolution of the Valden Empire, came out of the war as the major player in North Meridonian geopolitics. Though it had been invaded and suffered economic damage as a result of Verdean campaigns through the heart of their nation, the Valden state, under the firm rule of Hildebert Udo Gwerde, and the Valden Army would establish a local military hegemony, influencing the politics of Nordlen, Falkenslovask, Tallonius, and stretching its influence even to the states of Northwest Meridon, with Illaria the only bordering state maintaining some independence from Valden influence. Grand Prince Hildebert I would reign throughout the period known in Greater Meridonian history as the Pax Valdia, a thirty year period from the end of the Carlosian War to the start of Capisarian unification where Valden was the most powerful nation on the continent, mostly using his power to contain the spread of liberalism, revolutionary activity, and later socialism within his vast sphere of influence. The Grand Principality would remain a major player in Meridon until the assassination of Hildebert I in 1923, and its own defeat at the hands of the Outer Powers in the Valden War.
The Capisarian states would each be dramatically changed as a result of the Carlosian War. Isarlé would be wracked with political turmoil for a time, it would begain to rebuild its own influence through economic development, and the establishment of a system of political entanglements with the Northern Meridonian powers which would, in time, lead to the system of alliances that would dramatically escalate the scope of the Valden War in its opening years. Trelein, though victorious in the conflict, had suffered a number of humiliations during it, and was, afterward wracked by decades of religious and political infighting between the traditionalist Castarians and a host of reformist movements eventuallly coalescing under the Scienist movement. By the end of the century, the reformists would win out over the conservatives, and begin a period of detente with the Isarléans. This period of detente and gradually warming relations would lead to the reunification of the Capisarian state in the opening decades of the next century, bringing an end to the Pax Valdia.
Sumaaväa and the minor nations would be effected in more subtle ways than the major nations involved in the Carlosian War. Sumaaväa, even during the armistice period began to disarm and return to its largely neutral pre-war state. Invasion by a major power indicated to them the need for better plans to protect against invasion, and Sumaaväan emphasis on preparedness would lead to the strengthening of the nation, and its impressive performances in future conflicts. Tallonius and the Vale, due to their relatively limited involvement in the war were comparatively unaffected by the fighting. Los Cuarzos however, became largely a puppet state for Treleini interests in the coming decades, and had traded its ideological independence for legal independence, not truly regaining its status a sovereign nation until the liberation of the Verdean Archipelago at the end of the 20th century (2nd Century DI).
Cultural Impact
The Carlosian War had a major impact on the cultural zeitgeist in Greater Meridon, especially among the warring nations. Before the war, cultural attitudes were generally very optimistic, and war, which had not been experienced in the industrial era on a large scale, was still considered a noble and glorious pursuit. As the Carlosian War continued, the destruction, and extraordinarily high death count caused by the conflict would break positive attitudes, particularly towards war, and overwhelming cynicism would dominate Meridonian zeitgeist, bleeding into philosophy and sociology of the time, and leading to the development of ideas more critical of militarism, and of the states in Meridon more generally, with the works of Mariana Ortega proving especially crucial to the development of Socialism in Meridon.
Literature during, and immediately after the war would reflect the direct experiences of those involved in the fighting, as a remarkably high percentages of authors would be conscripted to serve in the army, or as war journalists. Several famous works, often censored during and even after the Carlosian War, would criticize the conduct of the fighting, such as the Isarléan Notre descente dans la Folie, while others such as Somos Constriuiremos un Mundo Nuevo would satirize it. Some works, such as Der Krieg were more supportive of militarism and of the war. Most however, would simply possess an aimless melancholic attitude, with a rare few even predicting the Carlosian War as an apocalyptic event as evidenced by such works as La Ceniza and World's End.
The War saw the ascendancy of the nascent Pre-Absurdist, and Expessionist artistic movements, breaking the longstanding Realist, or Romantic traditions that were long established, and dominant in Meridonian culture. The chaos caused by the war, was seen in the eyes of many artists, a breakdown of logic and reason in the world, and it paved the way for later Absurdist artistic movements. Musical movements, frequently mirroring trends found in the visual arts during the 19th century (2nd century DI), followed suit, moving from a rigid composition structure, to more experimental forms of musical composition. Folk music too shifted over the course of the war, showing greater Melancholy, with this Zeitgeist, transplanted to the Ghirali city-states giving rise to Blues, and indeed the spiritual successors to most modern forms of music in Greater Meridon, in the early 20th century (3rd century DI).
The cultural impact of the Carlosian War would be felt even decades after the conclusion of the conflict, with many early period films being set during the Carlosian War. Films such as the Isarléan Notre Folie, the Nordlenic Den Lange Natten, and the Verdean El Miseria de Manuela would codify many of the tropes of historical films in the region. The Carlosian War had largely fallen out of popular interest during the early days of the television broadcasting industry, and as a result very few television shows were made depicting the period. The resurgence of the Verdean film industry in recent years has seen a rise in films and televisions set in the time period of the Carlosian War, as Verdeans, struggling with their own past have taken a far greater interest in their past, either as a cautionary tale, or a lionized history, even if this trend has largely been made exclusive to the Verdean states, even as films such as Les Ultimes Caballeros would be financially successful outside of the Verdean Archipelago.