First Drow War
A informal name for the Centuar revolt and the Drow incursion that followed the crack down. Technically this was one of many drow wars, but the first of the second Edren Empire fight against The Taifas.
The Conflict
Prelude
The empire was struggling with a civil war. Kingdom of Leon had declared it's independance and the Duke of Lyse Lysander L'Moyne and declared himself emperor despite the senates election of Emperor Petro the first. Empire had begaun to turn the war to it's side, sieging both Aquitaine and Lyse and forcing the Duke and his halfling allies ot cower behind their walls. Yet this provided an opperunity and tension to start a revolt in the grass tower. Centaur horses were being forceably taken by the army for half value and taxation was growing more intense. The Centaur tribes long at odds with imperial rule destroyed the Imperial Garrison at the grass tower and with Drow allies from the Taifa's started the war.
Outcome
Loss of the Empires' First legion, surrendering to Leon and Aragon's independance. Nominal control of the Great Savannah mantained.
Aftermath
Long term it damaged the military might of the second empire and limited their ability to prevent succession. The loss of Aragon and Leon meant loosing its ports and access to sea side colonies. The re-emergance of anti-drow sentiment as the empires "rival"
Historical Significance
The slaughter of Grass Tower sent waves through the empire, yet at first Emperor Petro did not react much. The Savannah was considered poor and comparatively worthless and the siege of Aquitaine required three of the six active legions, with the navy firmly entrenched around Lyse, the wine war seemed more important. As such he simply sent one reserve legion into the Savannah to relieve the garrison. This is when the depth of the mistake became clear, early the following year that Legion of mostly fresh reserves was destroyed in the open Savannah ambushed by the light and mobile calvary of the centaur and drow host. By the time news of the attack had reached the Emperor, the host had already begun attacking and looting villages and towns within the boarders of Elvolis, and even burned the city of Suden on the boarder. Under pressure, the siege of Lyse was relieved, the first, second, and sixth legion abandoning the battle to protect Elvolis however, seeing an oppurtonity, the Aragonese and Leonese harassed the empire the entire way. Slowing the retreat into a multi-year long affair. On Arrival the legions began to take on an aggressive role. The Drow and Centaur refused any fight with the legion front facing battle, knowing that the handful of dragons still in the empire would ruin them. This would last for years with mounting casualties on the empire's side. Knowing maintaining the Aquitaine siege was growing untenable and needing the troops, a hasty peace was made ending the First Wine War and freeing up the rest of the imperial army. The peace acknolwedged indepdencance of Leon and the largely independant protectorate status of the Dutchy of Aragon in exchange for Petro being accepted as Emperor. Now amble to field multiple independant fighting forces, the legion forced a major battle on a small open field by a small but tactically significant stream. This became known as Arrows Field and still remains the site of the military encampment to this day. From there the legions slowly krept onto the grass tower performing many punative assaults on rebel tribes. The bulk of the centaur community surrendered to the legion preventing damage to the Grass Tower. The fighting would continue for decades however, with raids by the Taifa's and Centaurs happen throughout the next two decades. This would push Petro's successor, Emperor Engelbert to announce an expedition into the Taifa's spear headed by the first second and third legion and lead by the emperor himself. This would, as other expeditions had in the past, to their utter destruction, though many would crawl out of the desert with stories of battles on the sands and monsters made of shadow. The expedition weakened the empire greatly, but seemed to bring the hostilities to a smoldering end. Leaving the Empire in control the the Savannah, but unable to stop it's further degredation.Technological Advancement
Written records show this was may have seen the first use of bombards by the empire in the open field, as seen in the art of a hand full of paintings made only a few decades after. However mostly the war matched the second empire's limited heavy calvary and longbows against Drow crossbows, shortbows, and highly mobile light calvary.
Conflict Type
War
Start Date
143
Ending Date
202
Conflict Result
Empire Phyrric Victory
Belligerents
Strength
40-100k Men of the empire, 5 dragons, 20k Union Dwarves
Casualties
Between 30-40k Men of the Empire, 2 dragons, unknown number of dwarves
Objectives
Repulsion of the drow, reconquest of Aragon, Leon, and the Great Savannah
Strength
unknown number of drow and Centaurs, at least 15 Centaur tribes and at least 10k drow.
Casualties
Unknown, destruction of at least 4 entire Centaur tribes
Objectives
Liberation of the Great Savannah and the further weakening of the Empire.
Strength
Approximately 1k knights of Aragon, 2k knights of Leon, and 5k militia
Casualties
Minimal
Objectives
Succession of Aragon and Leon from the Empire
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