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The Asterian Wars of Independence (1764-1771), also known as the Asterian Spring or Asterian Wars of Secession are the name collectively given to the independence wars fought by the Vehemens colonies of Gaullica and Geatland in the 18th century, which now consist the present day nations of Halland, Nuxica, Cassier and Eldmark, supported by Estmere and Etruria.
Following the Gilded Wars and the transfer of Estmerish, Caldish and Auratian colonies to Gaullica, the transition in administration had already increased levels of unrest. Precursor rebellions in the New World with independence ideas had already occurred in the decades prior to the wars themselves, most notably the Astor Insurrection in New Estmere and Harald's Rebellion in Eldmark, caused by the increased taxations and alienation of the local estmerish from colonial rule in the former, and aristocratic mismanagement in the latter.
The series of conflicts is considered to formally begin in May 11, 1764, when a mutiny of a local garrison lead by Edward Marlin seized control of New Warminster, following the refusal of orders to suppress peaceful protests in the city. Marlin then stormed the local government house, capturing the local gaullican aristocrats and calling for the capable locals to join him in insurrection. Marlin's mutiny spread to other garrisons and colonies, sparking similar movements in New Estmere with the declaration of independence of the colony in May 19th and open revolts in Fáel in May 23rd. The armed movements also spread to present-day Nuxica (you write your part here ok). In Eldmark, giuseppe stromboli got his meatballs (write your part here)
While Gaullica was able to maintain some semblance of control in part of the rebellious colonies, it would ultimately find itself under attack in Euclea. Estmere and Etruria, traditional Gaullican rivals, would come to the support of the colonies, declaring war on Gaullica. Meanwhile, Etruria's colony Marirana would launch attacks on Gaullican positions along their border.
The Gaullican and Geatish Crowns failed to reconsolidate their grasp on their Vehemens domains with the exception of Cassier, where Gaullican troops were able to sustain advances and attempts to liberate the northern colony. The war in Euclea also diverted much of Gaullica's capacity to reinforce the new world against the allied colonies fighting for their independence. Estmerish and Etrurian involvement had proved decisive, but both states had failed to make any meaningful gains in territory, and had incurred great debts in doing so. Fál, New Estmere and Lothicania would unite into one nation during the war effort, as a result of Marlin's pan-asterian ideology, though his attempts to unite with Nuxica and Eldmark failed to gain traction. The United Asterian Republics would then become the Hallandic Republic, and together with Nuxica and Eldmark, would grow to become regional powers.
Background
Gaullican Colonies
By 1729, Gaullica had emerged as the undisputed hegemon in Asteria Superior. Their victory over Estmere and Caldia in the Gilded Wars by 1721 had led to Gaullican control over New Estmere, Lothicania and Fál, while the ultimate defeat of Auratia in the Pereramonic Wars had led to the Gaullican acquisition of Nou Remana. In one fell swoop, Gaullica had expanded their control from their settler-colony of Nouvelle-Gaullica in the north to the border of Marirana and Geatish Eldmark in the south.
With their dominance on the western seaboard assured, the Gaullican colonial administrations exploited their advantage. Gaullica appointed loyal Governors from the metropole, and encouraged them to act with increasing power. Members of the Gaullican gentry were sent to establish a larger foothold in the largely foreign colonies, while the sotirian catholic church also grew in power among amendist regions. The impressive autonomy that had been afforded to the Estmerish colonies - cherished by their citizenry - slowly evaporated, while Catholic Gaullican-speakers were promoted to high-ranking positions in what became known as the 'Gaullican ascendancy'.
This pattern further intensified following the discovery of Gold in the Beatha mountains which sparked the Fál Gold Rush of 1739. The increased potential of revenue reinforced fiscalization and centralizing administrative measures on behalf of Gaullica in the Vehemens colonies. The imposition of new taxes and regulations such as the Minting Act of 1740 (gaullican: honhonhon) secured Gaullica's complete authority on the extraction of the ores, which, together with the increased migration of slaves, alienated the local populace from the wealth obtained by the extraction of gold. The displacement of colonists and forced acquisition of local properties by newly arrived gaullicans further increased the resentment and divide between the ethnicities.
In the north, control of ports and imposition of new tariffs to the exports of manufactured goods, timber and furs also increased unrest even in provinces beyond the gold-rich regions in Fál and Lothicania. The city of Kingsport, present-day Astoria, witnessed a small rebellion seeking for the removal of these tariffs lead by John Astor, which was brutally repressed by Gaullican authorities. Astor's violent and spetacularized execution was resented by the locals, and he was viewed as a martyr by the locals.
Another precursor movement to independence was an armed insurrection conducted in Fál's hinterlands in 1763, lead by Niall Sheeran. Militias under his control would assemble and conduct attacks agains the gaullican garrisons sent from overseas. Sheeran was eventually captured, but he avoided an execution due to his ties to very wealthy and influential families in both the old and new world, who bailed him out for a life sentence instead.
The tensions caused by increased centralization, new tariffs and measures of control caused by the gold rush and ethnic and religions were what fueled the independence movements, with the locals considering themselves largely alienated from political rights and access to the economic prosperity that they took for granted prior to Gaullican administration.
Geatish Colonies
Course of the war
Hallandic Front
Northern Campaign
Following the call from independence from Edward Marlin and his regiment, several garrisons and militias assembled by armed civilians rose up in arms. Though uncoordinated in the first few weeks of war, Asterian Forces were able to independently take control of New Warminster, securing the mouth of the Weanoke river, and important positions in Vernon, Huntington and Chamberlain. In the north, the city of Kingsport saw heavy fighting, though despite initial success, asterian forces were forced to retreat to Andover. The battle of New Kennford was an important victory against Gaullica, where a local estmerish unit of 1,000 soldiers loyal to New Estmere defeated a garrison of 2,000 Gaullicans in the city with civillian support. Marlin mustered his forces with the aid of his second in command, Kieran Andersen, ammassing an army of 17,000 soldiers, raised from rebellious garrisons and civillian volunteers to unite the independence efforts in Lothicania with those in New Estmere.
Marlin's open anti-slavery policies gathered significant adherence to his cause by the enslaved bahians. Before marching north, Marlin spent the summer campaigning in the south, succesfully securing the gold deposits in the Beatha mountains through the battle of Courant Hill and a major slave revolt. Dettaching a force of 5,000 soldiers to hold this position, Marlin then marched north with an army of circa 15000 soldiers, with freed slaves and locals from Ruyter joining his forces. The march north lasted a month with only low intensity battles before the Battle of Wilton. Through a perfectly executed indirect approach assault in a foggy day, Marlin and Andersen were capable to neutralize the Gaullican artillery fortified across the river, envelopping the Gaullican forces with a major army lead by Marlin while Andersen commanded a diversionary small force located on their expected position across the Malden river. This is considered Marlin's first major military victory, which allowed him to capture major sources of Gaullican equipment and artillery pieces which would prove valuable, while routing Gaullican forces in southern New Estmere. The victory also rallied the locals to join his cause, with the city garrison adhering to the Asterian side following the battle.
Further north in New Estmere situation was complex. Locals had mustered a force of 11,000 militiamen, though the garrison in Gaullica outnumbered them three to one with the aid of the local Nehinaw Confederacy, which came to the Gaullican side as they were privileged by gaullican administration as a way to weaken the estmerish colonies influence past the Gale Mountains. The Asterian Forces under the leadership of James Chancellor's Revolutionary Council had organized a provisional government in Andover, though their positions were being consistently being pushed back by pro-Gaullican forces in the west and north.
Marlin's march north caused the retreat of Gaullican forces over to a fortified position in Kerrigan, on the west bank of the Mackenzie River. Marlin's forces joined in Andover, causing the controlled areas of the Asterian side in the north to be more contiguous. Marlin and the Provisional Council of New Estmere agreed to the Andover Terms, uniting the war effort and administration of the former colonies of New Estmere and Lothicania into the United Asterian Republics. James Chancellor, aware of Marlin's popularity amongst the local inhabitants, lead an internal vote to name him the President of these United Asterian Republics, while he and the provisional council would join with the new administration in New Warminster to try and solidify control of the liberated areas.
Marlin's army joined with part of the Estmerish forces, with his total force now at 29,000 soldiers. Part of the forces previously under the control of New Estmere marched south, leading a recruitment drive and forming a second army to secure the flanks, as well as structure the organization of new garrisons and the construction of new fortifications. Chancellor succesfully evacuated the New World, setting sail past the Gaullican blockade from New Warminster aboard the Gallant. His objective was to reach Estmere and negotiate aid to the independence war efforts.
In the meantime, crossing the Mackenzie river north, Marlin headed to Kingsport, where heavy urban fighting still ensued, yet with the city mostly controlled by the Gaullicans and the locals suppressed due to the heavy garrisons.
Siege of Fort Basset
The 2nd Army, under the leadership of Albert Kellsen, after solidifying itself for three months, marched from the town of Avelon in the interior of Lothicania east. His objective was the conquest of Fort Basset, a major stronghold built under Estmerish rule to protect against the Nimarew incursions and solidify control of the Weanoke basin. The fortification was expanded during Gaullican rule, as the Gaullicans had antagonized the Nimarew due to expeditions in Nouvelle-Gaullica against territory of their northern tribes. Kellsen besieged the fort and secured brigeheads across the Weanoke amidst consistent skirmishes. The siege officially began in march 22nd 1765, with earthenworks encircling the complex. Kellsen built an inner and an outer trench, to also isolate the complex from Gaullican or Nehinaw reinforcements and preventing the fortified garrison from sallying out. Before approaching the fortification within artillery range, Kellsen sent a dettachment of cavalry east. Their objective was to enter contact with Chief Opotenaiok, a Nehinaw chief sympathetic to the independence movement's cause. They made contact after two months, and Kellsen sustained the siege under constant harassment and attrition for a year.
The winter rains and muddy spring of 1766 caused an outbreak of smallpox amongst besiegers, though supplies within the fort were also running low. Even prior to the siege, the 6,000 strong garrison had failed to obtain enough provisions adequately, due to the lack of cooperation from the local farmers. Once a reinforcement of 6,000 Nehinaw arrived, the 17,000 strong army under Kellsen initiated a full on assault to the bastion, taking control of the outer bulwark in two weeks. The garrison surrendered shortly after, once its ammunition was depleted. The control of Fort Basset and the alliance between the estmerish and Nehinaw was essential to protect the United Republics' flank. Through the Alliance, the Nehinaw were promised protection from the colonists, and were offered citizenship. This was not initially accepted by the nehinaw tribes at large, though Opotenaiok and his 6,000 men agreed to join under the promises of equal rights. Leaving the Nehinaw in control of Fort Basset together with a garrison of 2000 estmerish, Kellsen then marched west again, to meet with the Warminster Council for further action.
Battle of Kingsport
Marlin and his force had spread out, conquering small fortifications and settlements to secure the logistical