Ancient Symmerian navy
| Ancient Symmerian navy | |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 556 BCE - 1305 CE |
| Part of | Symmerian Empire |
| Opponents | Seyhad League Hannashka Empire Serikos Sabrian Empire Acrean Empire |
| Battles and wars | Seyhad Wars Discovery Wars Sabrian Wars Sundering Wars |
The Ancient Symmerian Navy (Symmerian language: Nautikon, "fleet") was the naval forces of the Symmerian Empire. The Symmerian navy was instrumental in the establishment of the Symmerian Empire as a continental power during the Hegemonic Wars, and were critical to victories during the Seyhad Wars, Discovery Wars, Sabrian Wars, and the Sundering Wars. Despite this, the navy rarely enjoyed the prestige and focus of the Ancient Symmerian army, and the navy's frequent struggles in campaigns against the other major naval powers of Tyran often resulted in a mixed service record. This was compounded by a general lack of interest in maritime matters by the Symmerians, who often proclaimed "Sailors are weak men".
The Symmerian navy originated in Ancient Symmeria primarily as a force meant to safeguard travel and trade between Syara, Chryse, and Symmerian holdings in Górska. As the empire expanded the need for more sailors resulted in pressed service from Symmeria's subjects, typically those with a pre-existing affinity for seafaring matters. Sailors from Scitaria formed a major part of the early Empire's navy. During the Seyhad Wars the Symmerian navy expanded massively in order to wage war against the Seyhad League. Lacking the same maritime tradition the Symmerians struggled to achieve naval dominance and were eventually only able to succeed by systematically dismantling the naval yards and ports utilized by the Seyhad in Mansuriyyah. During the Discovery Wars the Navy played a supporting role in raiding the Serikese coast, and after the conquest of Serikos in the 6th Century Han sailors and ships became a major component of the Symmerian navy.
The toughest test of the Navy came against the Sabrian Navy during the Sabrian Wars. Unable to effectively target the docks and ports of the Sabrian holdings in Lirinya and Cacerta, the Symmerians were forced to wage a war of attrition that resulted in heavy losses of ships and crews during the course of the wars. The introduction of Symmerian Fire in the late 7th Century gave Symmeria a crucial edge in naval combat, but it was only a temporary measure before the Sabrian fleet became accustomed to the weapon and adjusted. The end of the war limited the Symmerian navy's presence in eastern Siduri in exchange for the release of Sabrian holdings in Siduri itself.
During the Sundering Wars the Navy underwent rapid expansion once again and was tasked with protecting the coastline from Viking Raids and transporting the Symmerian army across into Eracura. The navy suffered heavy losses during the Second and Third Sundering Wars, and ended the Fourth Sundering War in a strategic stalemate in the Sundering Sea. After the Burning Plague the Symmerian navy went into a steep decline and remained so during the Later Symmerian Empire. It remained a shadow of its former size up until the Fall of the Symmerian Empire.
Despite several decisive defeats, the Symmerian navy proved difficult to defeat owing to the vast resources of lumber and available manpower Symmeria could mobilize, especially during the Empire's hegemony. Destruction of entire fleets was countered by massive naval construction programs that ensured that the Symmerian Empire never went long with a sizeable force of ships. During its heyday the Symmerian navy relied on galleys of various kinds, the most famous being the Quinquereme. The usage of rams, catapults, and later Symmerian Fire dominated Symmerian naval tactics for most of its history.