Imperial Spring

The Imperial Spring, also called the Great Inner Sea War, was a war fought between 214 and 215 AIC. It involved every major power around the Inner Sea. The Archadian Empire faced uprisings in Lorem Ipsum and Portus Ferrarius, an invasion from Thure, a blockade by Nosamo, and internal strife which eventually led to the later Archadian Civil War.

Background

Since the first arrivals of Thure in 181 AIC, Thure and the Archadian Empire had been growing in tension and rivalry. The Thurians had grown their sphere of influence into Whitehaven and Blackrode, and had begun making incursions into the province of Praxidea and its capital Cecasandria, believing that the province rightfully belonged to them. Tensions reached a boiling point in the Thurian War of Independence, which saw armies deployed though minimal fighting. Emperor Optimus Garantius XVII attempted to negotiate a long-lasting peace between the two nations, and parts of Praxidea were given to Thure. However, this concession was seen as a weakness by the Thurians and tensions remained high, as Thure attempted to seize their advantage and continue to push boundaries. Another border conflict, the Rikehovn Incident, occured in 213 AIC.

Between Nosamo and the Archadian Empire, there was a growing naval rivalry. With Archadian interests now spreading across the Inner Sea and into Nosamoan sphere of influence, such as to Portus Ferrarius and Kryero, Nosamo felt threatened and allied itself with Thure against the empire, forming the Western Pact.

In 213 AIC, Lorem Ipsum and later Portus Ferrarius were willingly joined the Archadian Empire as autonomous provinces. Soon the old aristocrats, Benevolence Chaese Legioncula III and Duke Takwin The Second, who had lost their privileges and did not get the imperial support they wanted, resented this decision and encouraged revolt in the provinces. Additionally, the new provinces invited tension between themselves and Thure, with one notable incident between Lorem Ipsum and Thure being the Wedding Cruise Incident.

War

Loremi independence

The inciting incident for the war was the construction of defences in Prudentissimus and on the Via Maritima, the road between Lorem Ipsum and the city of Archadia. The news of these defences invited a letter from the imperial court, accusing Praefectus Chaese Legioncula or high treason:

From the Office of the First Secretary of His Imperial Majesty Imperator Garantius Augustus, Pontifex Maximus gloriosissimae Basileiae Archadiae etc., to Praefectus Chaese Legioncula of Lorem Ipsum,

As has been shown many times, justice is the main principle of our most glorious Empire. It saddens us then that we have been hearing more and more rumours regarding a non-standard behaviour of you, Praefectus of Lorem Ipsum. And we are afraid that with the last documents regarding the fortifications of Lorem Ipsum were shown to us, we can no longer stand idly.

Chaese Legioncula of Lorem Ipsum, you are hereby accused of Crimen Maiestatis, the High Treason, and are called to the High Court of Archadia to defend yourself. Until your innocence is proved, you are stripped of the ranks of Praefectus Provinciae Lori Ipsi and Praefectus Classium, both of which will be taken by a lesser magistrate, until the trial shall be ended.

Should you be proven innocent, the ranks shall be returned to you. However, should your guilt be proven, all your property shall be confiscated and your fate shall be decided by the gods.

You have one week to arrive to Urbs Archadia to face the trial. Should you fail to appear, you shall be deemed guilty and we will ensure that you meet justice.

Signed

Aetius Aemilius, Procurator Instrumentalis Auxiliario

on the behalf of

Imperator Garantius Augustus Pontifex Maximus gloriosissimae Basileiae Archadiae etc. IVS IMPERII, IVS SACRVM

The response from Lorem Ipsum was a declaration of independence. The Loremi demands were as follows:

• Recognise the independence of the Kingdom of Lorem Ipsum, led by Chaese Legioncula
• Recognise the independence of the Duchy of Portsmith, led by Takwin Landäste
• Allow trade, peace, and friendly relations between the independent states of the Duchy of Portsmith, the Kingdom of Lorem Ipsum and the Archadian Empire.

Lorem Ipsum hired a band of mercanries led by Bazti of Trygalle, who was given command of the armies and the title of Legatus D'Avore. Legio IV Cauti, which was stationed in the countryside of Lorem Ipsum and was partially recruited from Loremi civilians, was split between imperialists who sided with the empire and nationalists who wanted independence. The skirmishes resulted in the nationalists winning, though with some causalties and confusion. Three cohorts remained to fight for independence whilst the fourth, under the command of Centurio Marcus Vettius Bolanus, was quickly subdued and stripped of its weapons.

Responses from abroad were generally supportive of the Archadian Empire, with Kryero sending two themata of auxilarries along with Legio III which was withdrawn from Kryero to be deployed against Lorem Ipsum, though one of these themata were soon withdrawn back to Kryero for fears that Thure may attack whilst the defences were weakened. Haram offered troops to the Archadian governors of Ishtar and Pwenet to aid the province in maintaining order, and joint patrols between the Haramites and Archadians were soon organised. There was also an exchange of guests, with Lepidus Garantius being sent to Haram and the Hafius' second heir, Jaffar, being sent to Archadia. The fleet from Nosamo scouted much of the Inner Sea but remained officially neutral. A diplomatic expedition sent to Nosamo, led by Quintus Titius Proculla, Proconsul Gentium, on board the galley Confortata, was however, seized and arrested when they made landfall.

Archadian agents infiltrated the city of Prudentissimus. They attempted to sway the mercenary, Bazti of Trygalle, but were unsuccessful. They also made announcements to the citizens of the city, proclaiming:

Citizens of the Empire, do not despair, the Emperor is on your side! However, since we cannot ensure your safety during the retaking of Provincia Lorem Ipsum, we urge you to flee the province to Archadia until the revolt is over. When the revolt is over, you will return to Lorem Ipsum to claim your rightful place.

To the traitors, we wish to show you that the Emperor is merciful. We give you one week to surrender and hand over Cheese Legioncula. If you will comply, Lorem Ipsum will be spared. If you will not however, know that Lorem Ipsum shall burn. Also, know that if you stop the true citizens of Archadia from leaving, we will not be able to save them all from the terror that is war and thus the blood of your innocent neighbors and relatives will be on your hands!

Meanwhile, Loremi soldiers continued to build defences and prepared for a siege.

Gambits

The mercenaries led by Legate Bazti of Trygalle moved south and attempted to capture Lepidus Garantius, the Emperor's second nephew, on his way to Haram. He escaped thanks to the timely arrival of Harami soldiers patrolling nearby, a minor skirmish ensued with limited casaulties and the forces moved off. The hope was that capturing Lepidus Garantius would give Loremi representatives being sent to Archadia an upper hand to negotiate independence, but unfortunately they were unsuccesful.

Archadian forces moved to surround Lorem Ipsum. The Kryerian Theme of Stoutheart, on board the ship Andreios, joined up with the Archadian galleys Ulpianus and Garrus Vakarinaus, carrying Legio III, and sailed around to deploy their forces against the Loremi remnants of Legio IV. The enemy encamped not far from the legion's fort and began to dig in. The Archadian galley's remained asea patrolling, but the Andreios was sent back to Kryero. It was sunk by the Nosamo Black Squadron. Meanwhile, Archadian legions Legio I and Legio II marched up the road to Prudentissimus, stopping just before reaching the Loremi defences on the road.

In the hope that a diplomatic mission would keep Thure out of the war, the Archadian Emperor Optimus Garantius XVII personally travelled to Thure with the hope of forming a long-lasting alliance. Upon his arrival at the Thing, however, his guards are overwhelmed by Thurian soldiers, and the Emperor is captured. The Emperor is loaded aboard a Nosamo ship, taking him to be held in captivity by the Nosamo.

After the capture of the Emperor, the Thurian army marches towards Cecasandria, where it circumvents the Archadian defenses under guise of the supposed alliance. In a surprise attack, the Thurian army destroys the Archadian forces stationed there, albeit taking losses in the battle. The Thurian army then prepares to besiege the city of Cecasandria. The Thurian Thing officially announces its decision to enter the war on the side of the defectors, as was planned and prepared for a long time - stating that an alliance with Archadia is impossible, as the Western Pact was formed primarily to fight Archadia. The Thing announced the following war goals:

• Archadian recognition of Prvdentissimvs and the realm of Takwin as completely sovereign, free states.
• Full annexation of the entire province of Cecasanderia (Praxidera) by Thure.
• De-Militarization of the border between both realms for all times.
• Dissolution of all treaties between Kryero and Archadia, renouncing the alliance.
• Full trade rights for Western Pact merchants in all of Archadia.
• Annual tribute in gold to be paid by Archadia to the Western Pact to maintain a treaty of non-aggression.
• Ransom for the Emperor - gold and silver worth two times the total annual income of Archadia.

Tide of War

Cecasandria, besieged by Thure alongside their vassals Whitehaven, lacked proper defences and professional soldiers. The townsmen chose to surrender instead of live under a protracted siege. They are offered the choice to flee Archadia proper or they may stay and pay taxes to Thure. While some flee, most choose to stay.

The Archadian 1st and 2nd Legions begin an assault on the fort of the Loremi Legio IV. At first, they are aided by the two Archadian galleys that had accompanied them, but the Lorem Ipsumi galleys, reinforced by two Nosamo cruisers, are able to sink the Archadian galleys. A Lorem Ipsumi galley, Rex, and a Nosamo cruiser are lost in the flames. The battle on land appears to be going poorly for the Archadian 1st and 2nd Legions, but the Archadian 3rd Legion and the Kryerian Theme force march and join the battle from the rear, crushing the Lorem Ipsumi soldiers in a standard hammer and anvil tactic. Despite the success of this strategy, the Archadian 2nd Legion is wiped out in the fighting.

Nosamo cargo ships disembarked soldiers near Kryero, where they began to siege the town. The remaining ships in the Nosamo fleet set sail towards Archadia to attempt to enforce a blockade on the city. A Nosamo ship was sent to Archadia waving a white flag. With it was a letter addressed to Makesinus:

We wish to inform you that your Emperor is now the guest of Nosamo Kuni. No harm will be done to him and he will be treated as his rank commands. He is however the property of the Thurian Thing and will be returned to them should the hostilities cease.

We wish to inform you that a state of war exists between our two nations. We shall fight without passion or hatred and respect our foes, for they are our brother in the matter of war.

Should this envoy not return from his journey we will sacrifice another one to bring you one of the Emperor's fingers along with the news to the Archadian people that their beloved Lord is captive. Thus the Council has stated.

Upon receiving and verifying this news, Servius Magnus Makesinus called for an extraordinary session of the Curia in Urbs Archadia. There, he called for the investment of dictatorial powers into an Archon Supremus, instead of the transfer of power into the Emperor's nephew Archadius, who was still just a boy. His speech is recorded as follows:

Friends, Archadians, countrymen, lend me your ears!

I called you hear to announce a most grievous thing of all. Our dearest Emperor, his majesty Garantius XVII Augustus, has been killed by the barbarians of Thure while on a diplomatic mission to them. But don't let this stop us, my friends. Our beloved Emperor may be dead, but his house continues! His nephew, Archadius, will assume the throne as our law dictates!

But, my friends, our loyalty lies mainly with the Empire, as Emperors live and die, but the Empire prevails. And so, I have gathered you here on this day, call for a change. For two centuries, the Curia has been giving emergency powers to each new Emperor, ever since the times of the great savior, Garantius XIV, assumed them to save the realm from corrupted magistrates. It was needed at that time and no one can dispute that.

However, look where it has got us to now. Our beloved former Emperor, although a great man, was too compassionate and naive and thus brought Archadia to its knees. This has to change! Because if few wrong decisions of a great Emperor could have done that, what will the new rule of an absent-minded boy bring?

And thus I propose that the Curia, for the first time in more than two hundred years, doesn't invest emergency powers onto the new Emperor and instead keeps them, to rule Archadia wisely for the centuries to come!

My friends, who shall be the Archon Supremus? Whom do you deed worthy?

Thus Servius Magnus Makesinus became Archon Supremus of the Curia, effective ruler of Archadia. Archadius Garantius would be coronated soon, but the Archon Supremus would remain in command as his regent. The Archon soon negotiated the end to the war with Lorem Ipsum with the Loremi ambassador Quintus Caesar. The terms were:

1. Basileium Archadium is to recognise the complete independence of the Kingdom of Lorem Ipsum, led by King Cheese Legioncula, and the Duchy of Portsmith, led by Duke Takwin Landäste.
2. Monetary payments will be made to the Kingdom of Lorem Ipsum to rebuild the Kingdom post war.
3. An alliance will be signed between the Kingdom of Lorem Ipsum, the Empire of Archadia, and the Duchy of Portsmith.

Fight for the Sea

Though the war between Lorem Ipsum and Archadia had ended, the war between Archadia and Nosamo and Thure continued. The Theme of Stoutheart as well as Legio I and Legio II are permitted to leave Lorem Ipsum unharmed and are returned to Urbs Archadia where they construct defences. The Hafiz of Haram officially announces he is joining the war on the side of Archadia and sends his forces to Urbs Archadia where they submit themselves to Archadian command. A separate force also scouts Cecasandria, where they are lost in a skrmish with Thurians.

Meanwhile, the Nosamo siege of Kyrero continues, with a wooden palisade built around the city and Kryrean fishing ships, whichever brave enough to attempt to fish despite the blockade, are sunk. The following surrender terms are sent to the garrison:

• Opening of the city. Occupation of the Autocrat's palace.
• No sacking or looting will happen. There will be no massacre.
• The Autocrat will be taken to Nosamo to meet with the Council and negotiate peace. Nosamo troops will remain in Kryero using the Legion fort as their base.
• While the Autocrat is away a local governor will be appointed by the Autocrat and his decisions supervised by the Nosamo general.

The Nosamo Black Squadron and Blue Squadron united to enforce the blockade of Archadia. The fleet comprises 2 fortress ships, 5 cruisers, and 3 Thurian light ships. On the way they assumed a battle formation, with the fortress ships in the center, the cruisers surrounding them, and the Thurian light ships on the flanks. Warily, the Nosamo fleet approached the harbour. Along the Archadian sea wall and in the naval fort of Modon, pots of Archadian fire are ignited to produce a thick cloud of roiling smoke, hiding all from sight. In the Archadian harbor, two trade ships and two unfinished warships were pressed into service, completely filled with pots of Archadian Fire, and loaded with skeleton crews of men ready to die for Archadia. The bomb ships rushed out of the harbour and ignited their stored naphtha, destroying themselves and embroiling the Nosamo fleet in flames. The Archadian catapults along the wall blindly lob naphtha-filled grenades at the Nosamo fleet to keep them occupied. The Nosamo fleet took steps to protect themselves from the fire, pouring sand on the flames and cutting down the burning masts. While the Nosamo fleet was distracted, the main Archadian fleet, whose ships were covered in vinegar-soaked hides to fend off the burning oil, rushed out of the port and out onto the high seas. From there, they sail to Nosamo, approaching from behind to evade its defenses, and begin to torch the city. The Nosamo fleet eventually escapes from the flames, with only one cruiser and a Thurian light ship sunk. Thanks to steps taken to protect against the naphtha, most of the ships remain intact, but with damaged sails and scorched hulls.

The Archadian victory was joined by the coronation of Archadius Garantius. Whilst it was traditional for the Archadian Curia to meet right after the coronation to give the state powers to the Emperor, for the first time in two centuries, that transfer of power didn't happen, and instead, the Curia met to rule. The peace treaty and alliance with Lorem Ipsum was formally agreed to and any notion of peace with Nosamo was resoundly rejected. Also, a royal marriage proposal between Princess Basilia and Prince Jaffar of Haram was arranged.

On the March

With peace now secured in Lorem Ipsum, the mercanries of Bazti of Trygalle were sent south to assist the Archadian reconquest of Cecesandria. The Archadian forces, joined by the Loremi, Kryerians, and Haramites, marched from Urbs Archadia and into Cecasandria. There, they find only devastation. There is no sign of the Thurian army, the city was razed to the ground, and the fields were set fire to.

Meanwhile, the Kryero siege continued, with the defenders managing to inflict occassion raids on the Nosamo lines. The Archadian fleet continued to ravage Nosamo from the sea whilst the Nosamo blockade of Archadia was abandoned.

The war now having been waged for close to two years, the desire for peace was high from both sides. A peace treaty was soon agreed, essentially status quo ante bellum:

Herein follows the peace treaty executed by Basileium Archadium represented by Servius Magnus Makesinus (hereafter referred to as Archadia) and the Western Pact and Nosamo-Kuni represented by Lord Sankkakei (hereafter referred to as Pact).

The high signatory parties hereby agree to this peace treaty under all terms and conditions set herein to create an everlasting peace and prosperity between the same. Any and all allies of Pact are bound by this treaty as well. Kryero is bound by this treaty as well.

1) Archadia shall surrender western part of the province Praxidea as specified in Schedule One to Thure. 2) Pact shall cease occupation of Kryero. 3) Nosamo-Kuni and Archadia shall reenter into a trade agreement. The details of the same shall be agreed upon in the near future.

Both parties hereby show their will to be bound by the terms and conditions set hereinbefore.

Signed

Servius Magnus Makesinus Archon Supremus of the Curia of Basileium Archadium

Lord Sankkakei Head of the Council of Nosamo-Kuni

War of Retribution

The War of Retribution immediately followed the end of hostilities betwen the Western Pact and Archadia, and saw the forces of Thure and Nosamo descend on Lorem Ipsum. The reasons were: the lack of victory against Archadia creating a need for victory amongst the raiders; the weakened defences of Lorem Ipsum because of the war; and the slight of Lorem Ipsum leaving the war early and sending mercenaries to help Archadia. The war was over quickly, with the raiders razing Prudentissimus.

Aftermath

The Imperial Spring was a direct cause of the Archadian Civil War, which saw the emperor overthrown and the Archadian Republic established. The emperor fled to Garantinopolis, forming a second Archadian Empire. The division was short-lived however as the Garantinopolitan Emperor Alexeius Garantius XXI captured Archadia and reunited the Empire. With the emperor now ruling from Garantinople, the city flourished with wealth, quickly becoming one of the largest nations in the world.

Lorem Ipsum suffered greatly in the war, despite regaining its independence, with its capital Prudentissimus completely destroyed. The state eventually faded into obscurity, unable to withstand against the Germanic tribes during the Great Migration.

Nosamo became the dominant power in the Inner Sea and was able to enforce its demands on all the new states. Notably, it forced its former allies Thure and Whitehaven to abandon their raiding and pirate lifestyle and become farmers across their lands and their newly annexed Praxidea.