Archive:War of the Grand Coalition
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The War of the Grand Coalition, also called the 'Szezko-Norjihani Colonial War' was a conflict in South Baredina from 1668 to 1673 over control of trade in the Gulf of Ishenar, as well as an attempt at Norjihani expansion under the colonialisation programme of Norjihan. The war began in 1668 when Norjihan attempted to launch an invasion of Niofe, territory of the Kingdom of Szezkia, and became a war in which Norjihan tried to establish their domination over the Ishenar region, strengthen their grip on their Hemeshi colonies and eventually take Szezkia itself. The war was fought between the The Kingdom of Norjihan and their Isugzan puppets against the Grand Coalition of the Kingdom of Szezkia, Xhodiar, the Algazi League and Asmal, as well as a revolt led by Voren Lordinal, Prince of Istan, who claimed the Norjihani crown.
Background
Norjihani-Szezk Relations
The House of Rona, starting from Govegz I Rona in 1306, had ruled Norjihan for 353 years when Govegz II took the throne in 1659, after the mysterious death of his father Malac IV. It was under Govegz I that Szezkia becamee an independent state, after the Szezk Genocide and the Coup of 1306, in which Govegz attempted to wipe out the Szezk royal family, and after the War of the Three Armies - which resulted in Szezkia's sovereignty being at least partially accepted by Norjihan - the two governments remained highly suspicious of each other. The House of Rona called themselves 'Kings of the Szezk, Vanquishers of the Ill-Blooded', in a deliberate attempt to incense the Szezks, and trade between the two nations was completely banned from 1306 until 1592, even thereafter being heavily restricted, with particularly heavy tarrifs imposed on the Szezk by the Norjihanis. Relations had never really got off the ground when Govegz II became King, and he swiftly reimposed the ban on Szezk trading; in 1662 he attempted a blockade of Avdjereg in an attempt to force the Szezks to give up the Lailum Field, a symbolic gesture as that is where one of the most famous massacres of the Szezk Genocide took place. Whilst Govegz II was forced to lift the blockade after the Szezks threatened all out war, he still considered it as an expression of Norjihani force.
Norjihani Expansionism
The Algazi League were the main force in trade in the Gulf of Ishenar at the time, but both Norjihan and Szezkia had designs on extending their influence over the region. The Szezks had attempted to try to increase control via diplomatic methods, negotiating deals with various countries, including giving the Algazi League several small islands in the Ishenar in 1663. Meanwhile, Govegz II launched what he called the 'Ishenar Plan': an attempt to tighten Norjihani control via expansion. This meant the construction of a giant navy, funded via loans from the Algazi Union. Alongside this, he demanded a great levy from his subjects, especially the Princes of Istan who he tried to exert a much greater control on than prior; when the Principality of Istan had been subsumed into Norjihan in 1612, the princes had been granted much greater autonomy, and had even married into the House of Rona. This attempt by Govegz to curb the autonomy of his vassals was met with much animosity, including a rebellion in the North in 1665, which was only defeated when the Princes of Istan intervened, with the promise they would have their autonomy returned to them.
This build up was seen as a threat by; Szezkia, who feared an invasion; Xhodiar, who thought Norjihan may try to increase their control in Isugza; and Asmal, who were worried Govegz may try to take back the former territory of the Viceroyalty of Istan (especially given how Voren Lordinal, Prince of Istan, had recently grown to be one of Govegz's most trusted generals and advisors). This fear was confirmed by the Norjihani invasions of Gemet and Sroyos in 1664 and 1667 respectively. Govegz hoped that by controlling territory on both sides of the Ishenar, Norjihan could act as a gatekeeper, controlling what went in and out. Govegz also had designs on Mør Osæren (Szezk Offshore Ishenar Territory) and on the entirity of Niofe, believing that they were essential to his plan, as well as seeing it as a way to cripple Szezkia.
The Course of the War
On the 6th June 1668, Norjihani troops under the control of Gaban Vyrma, General of the South, landed on the shores of the Mør Osæren, near to the harbour town of Tyremið. This coincided with the handing of the 'Osæren Ultimatum' to the Szezk King Tyvjedan, which he refused. Thus, the war had begun. Norjihani forces had success initially on Mør Osæren, capturing Tyremið and Oshari, and it at first seemed like the conquest would be straight forward. However, the Norjihani army was ambushed by native tribes at the Battle of the Andre (named after the nearby river, which reportedly ran red with blood following the battle). The defeat was a humiliation for Govegz personally, and Norjihan generally, and the entirity of the elite Uulan Guard was wiped out. During the invasion of Mør Osæren, Szezkia had been able to gather help from Xhodiar - who feared Norjihani influence in Isugza increasing - and the Algazi League (although the league simply provided supplies and general support at first). Suddenly, the war was open on several fronts.
An extra front was added when Voren Lordinal, Prince of Istan, marched into Asmali territory; he had been charged by Govegz to take the Asmali coast to further Norjihani influence, and to try and extract tribute and better trading arrangements. These would benefit the Prince, especially as he would be given control of it as it was former territory of the Grand Viceroyalty of Istan. Asmal joined the ragtag coalition that had been formed by Szezkia, in the hope of helping reduce the Istani threat. However, the Princes made progress, reaching Heltiiq within two months. After this, Voren had himself ceromonially crowned Viceroy once more; this annoyed Govegz, who didn't approve of his ambition, and certainly not of the fact that Voren then did nothing for the next three months.
However, the Lordinal stability in the north allowed Govegz to focus on the war in Szezkia and Isugza. In Isugza, he personally commanded the main body of the Norjihani army, as well as the armies provides by the Isugzan puppet states. He was able to see off the first Xhodian attempts at attacking Isugza, including a crushing defeat for Xhodiar at Sera in 1669. This allowed Govegz to return northwards, where he began harrying the Szezk border, including lining bonfires all along the border and setting them alight; this was a reminder of the Szezk Genocide. However, before Govegz could launch a full scale assault on Szezkia, he was forced to return once more to Isugza, where he had to work desperately to halt a new Xhovdian advance into the Usepim, eventually cementing a stalemate. Hetotslythel remained a constant problem too, with one particular offensive almost reaching Uulo.
By the beginning of 1670, Govegz II felt able enough to launch his forces into a full scale attack on Avdjereg itself. Govegz's armies ravaged the east, and would have reached Avdjereg itself if not for the audacious assault on the main Norjihani camp by a group of 300 Szezk and Algaz troops. This assault left Govegz's no choice but to cement his hold on eastern Szezkia and harass what remained independent. During this time, Voren had been continuing the advance against the Asmalis, winning a series of battles in 1669 and taking back a large amount of territory, However, he had been twice repelled Pizaar, and an attempt to take Pozqa ended catastrophically, forcing them to pull back to Heltiiq once more. This did still allow them to base ships further up the Ishenar and gave further scope to harass trade, which did certainly happen.
The majority of the fronts had approached stalemate by 1071, when suddenly the Norjihani Colonial Army based in Sroyos captured Yazurum, which they would hold onto for nine months. They also repeatedly raided and assaulted Mirad and generally tried to distrupt the Algazis. This has been in response to the League's support for the coalition, but rather than removing the Algazis from the equation instead dragged them into the war. On 8th November 1071, the Grand Coalition of Szezkia, Xhodiar, Asmal and the Algazi League was officially formed, providing a united force againsy Norjihan. In the North, the Principality of Istam had began to attack once more, but this time tried to bribe the cities or show that Voren could offer better kingship; the choice was between Voren Lordinal and death. Many cities held out, and no substantial gains were made; although overall more territory fell under Voren's control, nothing significant had been taken.
Govegz realised he had neglected Isugza between the assault on the Algazis and helping Voren in the north, and by the time he turned his attention all but the northern reaches of Usesimud had fallen under Xhovian control. Govegz urgently called Voren, and together the helped win back some of the territory that had been lost. Govegz II was nearly killed during an assault on Tel Rasdun, a city occupied by Xhodian forces, and was saved by the intervention of Voren and the Norjihani fleet, which had arrived from the north via a number of battles along the Szezk coast.
By the middle of 1672, Govegz decided that taking Avdjereg was of the utmost importance, famously describing is as 'ripping out the rotten heart from the corpse of this coalition'. He made the fatal decision to call the colonial army back from Sroyos; by this time, that had been forced out of Yazurum, and had returned to Sroyos where they stopped a number of Algazi attempts to launch an attack on Sroyos itself. The army moved under the protection of the Norjihani fleet, which was intercepted by a joint Szezk-Algaz fleet. The naval battle which followed, called the Battle of Ishenar, saw the majority of the Norjihani fleet and practically the entirity of the the colonial army. Goveg II was apparently beyond consolement, and didn't leave his quarters of the Royal Palace at Tel Duvemuz for a month.
The defeat at the Ishenar was a total symbolic defeat of Govegz's plan to expand into the Ishenar. Many began to question his leadership. Then, just three weeks after the battle, Voren Lordinal fled his post in Isugza, where he had been tasked with securing the southern border. He rode quickly up to Tesan with just a handful of loyal men, where he quickly set to work negotiating a truce with the Asmalis. Then, he personally arrived in Szezkia to talk with King Tyvjedan and declare his support for the Grand Coalition. He issued the Proclomation of Avdjereg, claiming he was now King of Norjihan, to which he had a claim via marriage. Many men deserted Govegz and his armies and rallies around Voren.
The southern armies completely collapsed, and soon Xhodian troops were deep in the Norjihani heartlands, taking Tuuhajen in January 1673. Govegz tried desperately to hold thing together but he became weaker and weaker, and his general completely ignored him. The final straw was the Sacking of Ronyg. Voren, having given his conquest back to the Asmalis, had marched an army of Istanis, Asmalis and Norjihani defectors southwards into Norjihan, taking back Myski (home to Voren's distant ancestors who had first been crowned Viceroys of Istan). Instead of marching on Hajenired or Tel Duvemuz he went southwards to Ronyg, ancestral homeland of the House of Rona, reaching it on the 5th May. The ensuing massacre, rape and pillage shocked Norjihan, showing his ruthless power, and forced Govegz into surrendering. On the 21st May 1673, Govegz II gave himself up to Voren Lordinal, who triumphantly marched into Hajenired; he had refused to surrender to the Szezks.
The following treaty stripped Norjihan of Gemet, removed Norjihani officials from the puppet states in Isugza, and forcibly opened up Norjihan to trade from both Szezkia and the Algazi Union. It also saw Voren Lordinal officially recognised as the true King of Norjihan.