War of the Twin Crowns
The War of the Twin Crowns began on the 5th of Sen, 921 P.U.. Mages loyal to the Kingdom of Jothor calmed the waters of the Mór Sruthán two miles south of the town of Ravelin allowing the majority of the Jothish army to cross safely. Within a day the Jothish army had surrounded the town of Bhailey Abhainn, the 500 Welkish soldiers defending the town managed to hold out for 10 days before the town fell and became the Kingdom's stronghold for the remainder of the war. Over the following three months the Jothish managed to conquer the settlements of Gráigín Claíomh, Gráigín Foraoise, Lár, and the red castle Caisleán Dearg.
Following the initial invasion which saw much devastation and loss on the side of Daer Welkin, the Drastunov League began sent both supplies and soldiers to assist their steadfast ally. These reinforcements coupled with the skill of the Welkish soldiers and knights slowly turned the tide of the war and much of the land Jothor had conquered over the first year of the war was retaken in the following five years. The siege and liberation of the red castle, Caisleán Dearg, took two entire years for Daer Welkin to complete as the Mages of Jothor repelled the Welkish army repeatedly. Finally in 927 P.U. Quill Yaves, a skilled Welkish Mage, ascended the walls of the castle in the dead of the night and slew the Jothish Mages in magical combat before opening the gates and winning the castle for Daer Welkin. The image of Quill dripping with blood in the open gates of Caisleán Dearg was made famous in the painting 'The Red Mage'.
The final act of the War of the Twin Crowns saw both armies meet on the lush open fields of Páirceanna in central Daer Welkin. The 11,200 strong Welkish Army under the command of King Tairath of Muileann were well supplied, in good spirits following the recent victories, and better trained. The 14,600 soldiers of the Kingdom of Jothor were under the command of Resia Arbillail, first daughter of House Arbillail and finest swordsman of Jothor, the troops however were exhausted, seeing little to gain from continuing the war. The battle lasted six days from the 5th to the 10th of Noor-Kel in 928 P.U. and was the bloodiest battle of the war, the Jothish suffered over 9,000 casualties and the Welkish had suffered a little under 4,000 when the fighting concluded. Páirceanna earned the moniker of the Blood Fields and locals say the dirt is still stained red with the blood of thousands that died over those few days.
Immediately following the battle at Páirceanna, Daer Welkin and the Kingdom of Jothor signed a truce officially ending the war which came to be known as the War of the Twin Crowns. The Twin Crowns referring to the shared history of the two nations and the remarkably similar styles of crowns their leaders wear.
The Conflict
Prelude
The nations of Daer Welkin and the Kingdom of Jothor have a long history of animosity beginning with their formations during the Darkened Years. Following 60 years of border skirmishes and espionage, agents from Daer Welkin assassinated Ezek Trezora, the Head of the Trezora noble family and Knight-Captain of Jothor, in 920 P.U. widely considered to be the spark that lead to the War of Twin Crowns the following year.
Outcome
Recuperation efforts for the war continue into the present day and no border skirmishes have occurred following the signing of the truce. All land that the Kingdom of Jothor had managed to hold by the end of the war was returned to Daer Welkin control and the bodies of the Jothish soldiers lost on the fields of Páirceanna returned to their families as a show of good will.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
921 P.U.
Ending Date
928 P.U.
Conflict Result
The War ended in a truce with Daer Welkin unwilling to invade the Kingdom of Jothor though having thoroughly routed the Jothish army.
Belligerents
Strength
18,000 Man at Arms,
800 Knights,
450 Mages
14,850 Man at Arms,
1,253 Knights,
128 Mages
Casualties
22,769 including numerous conscripted soldiers and civilians.
16,117 including civilians with a majority of those lost during the initial attacks of the invasion.
Objectives
To gain a foothold on the eastern bank of the Mór Sruthán and from there expand to conquer Daer Welkin.
To repel the invasion from the Kingdom of Jothor.
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