Battle of Ailia

Battle of Ailia
Part of the Kamalbian War (1550-54)
File:BattleofAilia.jpg Imperial and Beriquois forces engage on the field before Ailia (Galerie des Batailles, Palace of Versailles)
Date ????, ????? Location Present-day Eylil, Kamalbia Result Decisive Exponential Victory
Belligerents
Empire of Exponent	Berique
Commanders and leaders
Quintus Selius	Antoine Escalin des Aimars
Strength
4,000	15,000
Casualties and losses
Light; a few hundred	Very heavy; 3,000 to 4,000

The Battle of Ailia was a turning point during the Kamalbian War (1550-54), during which Imperial forces under Quintus Selius decisvely defeated Beriquois forces and secured southern Kamalbia for the Empire of Exponent.

Background

Following the Battle of Silla, Imperial Legate Quintus Selius and his army moved into a defensive posture to wait until the following spring, with Imperial forces dispersing to defend trade posts throughout Southern Kamalbia that had fallen under attack by marauding tribes and paid Beriquois brigands. Beriquois commander Antoine Escalin des Aimars, after recovering from the losses at Silla, decided to take the dispersal of Imperial forces to his advantage, and after learning that Selius himself was garrisoned at the trade post of Ailia, marched his forces towards the post with the intent of capturing the Legate. Selius, however, was made aware of the Beriquois movement, and organized a force of roughly 4,000 men to defend the post.

Battle

The battle began with a cavalry charge by the Beriquois, which was met by a barrage of musket fire from the Imperial musketeers. The Imperial cavalry then charged, driving back the Beriquois cavalry and engaging their infantry. The Beriquois pikemen attempted to hold the Imperial cavalry back, but were eventually overwhelmed by the Imperial musketeers. The Beriquois arquebusiers were unable to provide effective support due to the superiority of the Imperial musket fire.

The battle continued for several hours, with both sides exchanging fire and launching attacks. However, the Imperial musketeers proved to be more effective than the Beriquois arquebusiers, and the Imperial cavalry managed to break through the Beriquois lines. In the end, the Beriquois were forced to retreat, suffering heavy losses. The Imperial forces emerged victorious from the Battle of Ailia, with only a few hundred men killed or wounded compared to the estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Beriquois casualties.

Aftermath

The Battle of Ailia was a significant victory for the Empire of Exponent, as it secured control over southern Kamalbia and effectively ended Berique's ambitions in the region. The victory was largely due to the effectiveness of the Imperial musketeers and the skill of the Imperial cavalry. The battle also marked a turning point in the Kamalbian War, as it weakened Berique's military and political position, paving the way for the Treaty of Marqueville in 1554.