Battle of the Chanéac Plains

Battle of the Chanéac Plains
Depiction of the Andavals driving the Veye across the Arzvan mountains
Date Between Winter 576 and 578 Location Midrasia Result Decisive Andaval Victory Migration of the Veye people to Carcossica Consolidation of Andaval power in Padania
Belligerents
Andaval Kingdoms	Veye Peoples
Commanders and leaders
Gervasius II	Some Heroic Martyr  †
Casualties and losses
Unknown	"Tens of thousands"

The Battle of the Chanéac Plains took place at some point between the winter of 575 and 578 and was fought between a coalition of the Andaval barbarian kingdoms in Midrasia and the Veye settlers of the Padanian Basin. The battle holds a significant place in Veye and Ksaiist legend, as it was a major driver in the widespread Veye migration from their traditional homeland in Kiezhland to modern day Carcossica beyond the Arzvan mountains. Although most historians suggest the conflict between the Andaval Kingdoms and Veye should be seen as a prolonged war, the few contemporary sources which do exist, talk of one major battle fought near modern-day Chanéac, Padania which saw the Andaval Kingdoms decisively defeat the Veye community, forcing their flight and migration southwards. Though evidence for the existence of a battle or war between the Andavals and Veye is scant, most modern historians continue to believe a conflict of some sort did take place between the two sides. Additionally, the battle plays a major role in Ksaiist legend, with the migratory experience of the Veye people from Padania and Kiezhland playing a major role in the creation of the Ksaiist worldview and doctrine. Additionally, the alleged leader of the Veye forces Some Heroic Martyr is venerated in Ksaiist folklore as a divine, saintly figure.

Context

During the later years of the Fiorentine Empire, as the empire struggled against the increasing number of barbarian hordes ravaging its outlying provinces, provincial governors began to greatly relax existing policies regarding tribal migration into the empire. Whereas previously, imperial policy demanded that tribes settling within the empire be divided and spread throughout the provinces; the increasing demand for more soldiers, as well as the growing number of tribes seeking entry to the empire saw many governors or commanders allow many tribes to migrate wholesale into the empire's borders in return for a period of military service. Following the abandonment of the Newreyan borderlands, many Veye tribes were allowed to migrate from the client Kingdom of Kiezhland into the Padanian basin. With the Empire's abandonment of Padania in 457, an increasing number of Veye, Andaval, Burgundians and Langobards migrated into the region. Though many of the latter tribes continued to migrate and raid southwards into the empire's heartlands, much of the Veye chose to remain within Padania due to its fertile grasslands which proved good grazing land for their pastoral and nomadic way of life.

Over time as the barbarian kingdoms rose to dominance within modern Midrasia, the Veye were increasingly viewed as a hostile foreign threat. The Veye's nomadic lifestyle, as well as their close ties to the Fiorentines saw the Veye face increasing discrimination and ill-treatment at the hands of the Andaval kingdoms. Local authorities began to issue ordinances against nomads, forcing much of the Veye into serfdom. Veye caravans would frequently be raided and burned to the ground, whilst their livestock was seized by local lords.

By the 570s, under the rule of King Gervasius II, many of the Andaval Kingdoms banded together to expel the Veye people from their territories. The increasing number of Veye inhabiting the Padanian basin came to be seen as an existential threat to Andaval rule. Facing a number of rebellions by the native Mydrans, the Andavals believed that a similar Veye rebellion could soon follow and thus sought to drive the Veye out of their territories entirely. Campaigns of harassment, pillaging and looting became commonplace, whilst many of the Veye were killed and executed rather than forced into serfdom for fear Veye blood would pollute the subjects of the Andavals. Most contemporary histories on the event suggest that as the Andavals began to drive out the Veye community, a military force aimed at combating the Andavals was mustered under the command of Some Heroic Martyr. Though mostly made of peasants and nomadic pastoralists, the Veye army was able hold off against the Andavals until both forces met on a hill near modern Chanéac.