Battle of Pontelorium

Battle of Pontelorium
Beriquois marines storming the beaches of Pontelorium
Date 1741 Location Pontelorium, Empire of Exponent Result Beriquois victory
Belligerents
Berique	Empire of Exponent
Commanders and leaders
TBD	TBD
Strength
30,000	2,600
Casualties and losses
TBD	TBD

The Battle of Pontelorium was a naval assault by Berique against the Empire of Exponent, and was the first time since the establishment of Exponent that an outside power was able to gain a foothold in Hesperidesia.

Background

Throughout the 1730's, largely to pay for their troops abroad in the Aquitaynian War of Independence, the Empire of Exponent borrowed substantial sums of money from the nation of Berique, which had recently begun explorations of Sythith and as such had a renewed interest in eastern Astyria. By 1740, however, it was becoming clear both that Exponent would be unable to pay its debts, and that Berique needed ports closer to Sythith to continue their pursuits in the area.

Beriquois commanders began scouting the Hesperidesian coastline in search of a location that would be suitable as a stopover point for Sythith-bound vessels, and selected Pontelorium as the ideal place for such an establishment.

Hostilities commence

A Beriquois fleet, including some 80 troop transports and nearly 30,000 military personnel, launched their attack against approximately 2,000 Imperial soldiers and local militiamen defending Pontelorium. The Imperial forces was supplemented by about 600 tribal levies, primarily armed with spears.

After a heavy bombardment that silenced the small Imperial fortification outside the city, the Beriquois forces pressed an amphibious landing on the beaches both east and west of the city, seeking to envelope the defenders. A brief but intense fight broke out on the beaches, but the volume of Beriquois fire and manpower was eventually enough to drive the defenders from the shores.

Imperial forces made several attempts to counterattack against the Beriquois beachhead, but by morning the following day the Beriquois landed several batteries, which proved insurmountable. Seeking to prevent further loss of life, the Imperial governor at Pontelorium surrendered the following day.

Aftermath

Seeking to minimize further loss of land, the Imperial government met with Beriquois officials and agreed to cede the territory that today comprises Cote d'Cuivre. The area would remain under Beriquois control until the end of the Great Astyrian War, and would serve as a point of contention between the two powers for almost two centuries.