Symmerian Eracura

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Symmerian territory in Eracura, with dark purple representing enduring presence and light purple representing temporary holdings.

Symmerian Eracura refers to the lands of Eracura (known to the Symmerians as Boreagros, literally "northern realm") that were at one point or another controlled by the Symmerian Empire. At its peak in the 9th Century, Symmerian control over Eracura extended through most of present day Górska, Svinia, and parts of southern Shalum and north-eastern Æþurheim.

Interactions between Syara and Eracura date back to Archaic Syara, when Aleitian tribes made war with the civilizations of the Zeliat and Gruri in Chryse and southern Górska respectively. During the Classical Syaran age colonists from Ancient Symmeria and the Kydonian League brought Chryse and large parts of the Górskan coastline under Hellenic influence, which eventually led to conflict with the Bosrei tribes. Due to its close proximity to mainland Syara, southern Górska became the site of significant migration by Hellenic colonists, who eventually established a network of cities and ports along the coast. Unlike most of the conquests of the Hegemonic Wars the Symmerian conquest of Górska was not a deliberate policy but a gradual outgrowth driven by population increases and demands for more resources. Numerous conflicts with the Bosrei served to limit, and in some cases reverse, Symmerian efforts.

Conflicts between the Bosrei and the Symmerian Empire continued throughout the centuries, often flaring up to take advantage of Symmerian reverses or defeats in Siduri. During the Symmerian Recession Jarpr took advantage of Symmerian instability to wage war against Symmerian holdings, leading Alexarchus to counter-attack in 458 CE. After some initial setbacks and defeats, Jarpr captured and killed Alexarchus, but was subsequently defeated by Eurymedon. The Bosrei entered into decline following the defeat of Jarpr, as their way of life gradually became eroded by encroaching influence from Slavic tribes from Svinia and Hellenic influence from the Symmerians.

Symmerian holdings in Eracura remained largely static for the next few centuries as Symmerian attention turned eastwards towards the conquest of Serikos and Quenmin, followed shortly afterwards by the Sabrian Wars against the Sabrian Empire. By the 8th Century however rising instability in the Acrean Empire led to the eruption of Viking Raids from Nordic tribes across Eracura, who raided across the Sundering Sea into Symmerian Siduri. Symmerian reprisals culminated in the Sundering Wars, during which Symmerian forces invaded and raided into western and eastern Eracura. These efforts were for the most part punitive and not intended to cement a lasting presence in Eracura, but by the Fourth Sundering War in 794 CE Symmerian efforts became more geared towards denying usage of Eracura as a launch point for Viking Raids by seizing large chunks of territory while laying waste to areas of known raiding potential.

Kalkhas gathered a Symmerian army and invaded into Svinia before launching incursions into Shalum and Æþurheim. By 825 most of Svinia and Górska were under Symmerian control, and outposts had been established in southern Shalum and north-eastern Æþurheim. Kalkhas then moved to invade Acrea itself, but the invasion never took place; the outbreak of the Burning Plague in 825 led to the immediate withdrawal of Symmerian forces from most of Eracura, after which Symmerian control of the region quickly collapsed until only small holdings in Górska remained. Although some gains were made during the Later Symmerian Empire, Symmerian expansion into Eracura never achieved any further significance afterward.

Devastation caused by the Sundering Wars aggravated the already underlying tensions among the western provinces of the Acrean Empire, eventually leading to their breakaway and subsequent dissolution of the Empire. Because of their temporary presence, most of Symmerian Eracura contains only scant evidence of their presence, with the exception of southern Górska.