Kuseme War
In 712, the Earl of Kuseme, Ernald Julor, sent a band of knights to assert control over two disputed villages east of Eidru. Kronas Elernin, the marshal of the neighboring Thardic Republic province of Ramala, sensed an opportunity and moved to challenged the earl.
Kronas' supporters in the Thardic Senate made appeals for support of the marshal. The fact that Kuseme castle, lost by the Republic in the Five-Year War, is clearly visible from Coranan and linked to the city by Kobar Bridge prompted the Senate to act and Kronas was ordered to retake Kuseme.
Kronas besieged Kuseme but moved the bulk of his army south to seize Eidru, forcing the surprised earl to surrender. The onset of a bitter winter ended hostilities but Kronas continued the siege, causing great hardship in Kuseme. Meanwhile, negotiations were taking place between Andasin IV and elements of the Thardic Senate. The young king was eager to offer peace and the Senators, wishing to contain the growing power of Kronas, also desired an end to the war. Andasin's inexperience resulted in him offering both Kuseme and Eidru to the Republic in exchange for peace. A more skillful politician might have minimized the loss to Kuseme or even negotiated a withdrawal of Republican forces. In any event, before war could be renewed in the spring, peace was concluded between Kanday and the Republic.
The settlement infuriated the Marshal of Ramala and the Earl of Kuseme. Kronas believed that he could have conquered all of Kanday and that the Senate had acted out of jealousy and fear; the earl believed that he could have withstood a lengthy siege in Kuseme and that, given proper support from his king, he could have driven Kronas back across the Teb. Kronas was placated by the Senate granting him the offices of marshal and magistrate of the new province of Eidel, formed from the lands surrendered by Kanday. The earl was reduced to a single holding, Ohetis Keep, and the title of baron.
Kronas' supporters in the Thardic Senate made appeals for support of the marshal. The fact that Kuseme castle, lost by the Republic in the Five-Year War, is clearly visible from Coranan and linked to the city by Kobar Bridge prompted the Senate to act and Kronas was ordered to retake Kuseme.
Kronas besieged Kuseme but moved the bulk of his army south to seize Eidru, forcing the surprised earl to surrender. The onset of a bitter winter ended hostilities but Kronas continued the siege, causing great hardship in Kuseme. Meanwhile, negotiations were taking place between Andasin IV and elements of the Thardic Senate. The young king was eager to offer peace and the Senators, wishing to contain the growing power of Kronas, also desired an end to the war. Andasin's inexperience resulted in him offering both Kuseme and Eidru to the Republic in exchange for peace. A more skillful politician might have minimized the loss to Kuseme or even negotiated a withdrawal of Republican forces. In any event, before war could be renewed in the spring, peace was concluded between Kanday and the Republic.
The settlement infuriated the Marshal of Ramala and the Earl of Kuseme. Kronas believed that he could have conquered all of Kanday and that the Senate had acted out of jealousy and fear; the earl believed that he could have withstood a lengthy siege in Kuseme and that, given proper support from his king, he could have driven Kronas back across the Teb. Kronas was placated by the Senate granting him the offices of marshal and magistrate of the new province of Eidel, formed from the lands surrendered by Kanday. The earl was reduced to a single holding, Ohetis Keep, and the title of baron.
Comments