Battle of Abisi
On land and sea, we are unbreakable. Take pride men of Andistan, for today you have struck another blow at those who would see you clapped in irons. Take pride, and never forget this day in the many more to come.The Battle of Abisi was a military ambush that took place during the Andistani Revolt in 97BSF. The battle was fought between the forces of the Kanodite Empire and the combined armies of Andistan and Sarvengan and resulted in a crushing defeat for the Kanodite Empire, their second major loss in the year. As part of the Andistani and Sarvenganian offensive in 97BSF, the Kanodite city of Amamia had been taken after a short siege. Sina and Dariush knew that the Kanodites would be forced to retaliate to avoid any further losses or defections and prepared to meet the imperial army that would inevitably be dispatched. True to their predictions, Mazyar I, Emperor of the Kanodites, prepared a large force to retake the city and placed his brother, Asghar at its head. The prince was tasked with retaking the city and holding it Amamia before reinforcements arrived. Caution was advised at all points. Nearly outnumbered three to one, Sina knew that facing the oncoming Kanodites in a pitched battle would likely end in defeat. It was decided that a stratagem was needed. Sarvenganian scouts reported that Asghar was force-marching his men and spreading his scouts out to cover as much ground as possible. An ambush was laid near the town of Abisi to meet the Kanodites and Asghar was caught unawares. The battle ended with a complete collapse of the Kanodite line and Asghar's death.
The loss of such a large army forced the Kanodites to end their campaigning for the year. Along with Asghar, a significant amount of Kanodite nobility fell in the battle too and Mazyar permitted a single week of mourning before the war effort was renewed. Despite concerns that Sina and Dariush would advance westwards, the forces of the Andistani Revolt wintered at Amamia and celebrated their victory.
In the years after the battle, the town of Abisi had bountiful harvests. Where Asghar fell, an orchard was planted and the sour apples that grow there remain popular to this day with some selling for their weight in silver.
Contents
Background
In 97BSF, the Andistani revolted against the Kanodite Empire and crushed the Kanodite fleet at the Battle of Mypatha which saw the Sarvenganians join the revolt. Both cities then took Amamia after the Amamians refused to join the revolt at the Battle of Amamia. After this string of defeats, the Kanodites prepared a counterattack to end the revolt and saw fit to raise a large force. After a couple of months, the Kanodite army was ready and moved east. The initial plan was to lay siege to Amamia, if possible capture the city, and then await reinforcements and supplies. After the defeat at Mypatha, Emperor Mazyar I was conscious that a further defeat could destabilize the region further and incite more to raise the flag of rebellion. On their move eastwards, Asghar received tribute from the surrounding towns and cities and levied further men. In his eagerness for victory, the Kanodite prince force-marched his troops and pushed his scouts to cover more and more ground each day. News of the incoming imperial force had reached the forces of the Andistani Revolt who resolved to ambush Asghar and, if possible, neutralise the large cavalry advantage that the Kanodites had if total victory could not be achieved.Prelude
Whilst Asghar had been given strict instructions by his brother to take a cautious approach and choose his engagements carefully, the prince had a differing view. Some argued that he viewed the Andistani Revolt as an insignificant threat against imperial power and did not seriously threaten his forces. Others argued that he wanted the prestige and adoration that would come with crushing the revolt. It was rumoured after his death that he intended to supplant Mazyar and would return him after his victory to supplant the throne. Whatever the reasons, Asghar quickly threw caution to the wind and forced marched his army out from Danhudin.
The forces of the Andistani Revolt had remained informed of Asghar's movements and a heated discussion erupted over the best course of action. Some felt that meeting the Kanodites in the field would end in disaster and that preparing for a siege would be the better choice. The Kanodites would eventually run out of supplies and could be ground down. Whilst Mypatha had been a great victory, the Kanodites were a land-based, not naval, power. Beating them at sea was one thing, but on land, the Andistant and Sarvenganians would be crushed. After an evening of increased doubts, Dariush informed those in attendance that they could not retreat now. They must attack or let the revolt melt away.
The leaders of the Andistani Revolt in a war council
The Opposing Forces
Andistani and Sarvenganian
With minor losses at the Battle of Amamia, the Andistani mustered 9,000 infantry and 600 cavalry which was supplemented by 5,000 infantry and 500 cavalry from the Sarvenganians. The cavalry forces were grouped under Dariush whilst Sina oversaw the infantry during the battle. Sina's plan required the army to destroy the opposing infantry without cavalry support at the beginning of the battle and it was not until the closure of the battle that the forces reunited.Kanodite
Hoping to bring an overwhelming force to the field, the Kanodies mustered an army of 27,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalries. Asghar was untested in combat and took up the typical position of Kanodite commanders, among the cavalry. Mazyar I permitted a contingent of the Kanodite imperial guard to protect Asghar. Despite the large size, the force was spread out during the battle and was quickly broken down into smaller portions. The famed skirmishers of the imperial forces barely saw combat.Strategic and tactical considerations
Without retaking Amamia, the Kanodites would be leaving their supply trains and communications at risk. Any further push into Sarvenganian territory would need to come after retaking the city. Amamia could be used as a staging ground for the follow-up manoeuvres and would prevent any further attacks from the Andistani or the Sarvenganians westwards. A victory would also give the Kanodites the initiative that they had been lacking at the beginning of the revolt and ensure that no further cities rebelled. For the Sarvenganians and Andistani, victories at Mypatha and Amamia, in such a short space of time, had not resulted in any further defections. Despite the successes, both Sina and Dariush knew that the Kanodites could afford a long war, as they had the resources and the manpower of an empire available to them. The only chance for victory was to bring the Kanodites to the table and make terms. It was believed that destroying one of the largest Kanodite armies assembled in decades and killing a member of the imperial household, would force Mazyar to make peace or at least offer a ceasefire. Tactically, the Kanodites had a large force. They believed having a numbers advantage would secure victory, regardless of the tactics used by the forces of the Andistani Revolt. Asghar desired a quick victory so forced his troops to march and scout further than normal. The Sarvenganians and Andistani planned an ambush, in a slight valley with brushland nearby. The Kanodite cavalry concerned Sina who hoped that the rough terrain would lessen their effectiveness. He hoped that the combined Andistani-Sarvenganian cavalry could remove, or at least delay, the Kanodite cavalry to give Sina enough time to win the infantry fight.The Battle
The battle began with a feint from the Sarvenganian cavalry who appeared before the Kanodite cavalry and engaged before quickly turning tail. Asghar gave chase and abandoned his infantry, leaving the march under the control of his deputies. After ten minutes of pursuit, the Sarvenganians turned and re-engaged with the Andistani cavalry approaching from the rear flank and engaging Asghar's horsemen. The Kanodites could not withdraw and attempted to fight their way out. As Dariush neutralised the Kanodite cavalry, Sina led the infantry ambush. Approaching from both sides, his forces engaged the Kanodites and quickly closed ground to avoid incoming arrow fire. Sina led the centre of the northern half of the infantry in a charge through the centre of the Kanodites, linking up with the other half of his army. The Andistani reserves peppered the grouped-up Kanodites with arrow fire until the Kanodites broke after an hour of fighting, Without room to flee, they were slaughtered.The death of Asghar
Dariush, despite holding off the Kanodite cavalry, was slowly losing ground. Sina was forced to decide between entirely crushing the Kanodite infantry or saving his cavalry and Darisuh. He chose to save his cavalry. Sina's arrival caused the remaining Kanodite cavalry to break. During the fighting, Asghar chose to charge Sina with his royal contingent but was quickly cut off in the melee. After a short skirmish, the prince was slain. His death ended the remaining resistance and the Kanodites began a mass rout and slaughter.
Aftermath
Whilst 6,000 Kanodite infantry managed to flee the battle, and form part of the Kanodite forces later in the Andistani Revolt, over 23,000 Kanodite men lay dead and dying on the field. A member of House Kanod, the royal family, lay dead and stripped of his armour. His corpse soon joined Sirvan's at the entrance of Amamia. Whilst Asghar was the most prominent loss in battle, a significant portion of the Kanodite nobility also fell in the battle. The loss was severe for the Kanodites, who had already faced two major defeats in the year. As at the Battle of Mypatha, the material losses could be replaced but the loss of prestige was sorely felt. Whilst defeat at Mypatha was felt, the Kanodites were not a naval power. Now a large Kanodite army, led by a member of the royal family, had been defeated by a smaller force. The defeat forced the Kanodites to end all military operations for the year. For the forces of the Andistani Revolt, the scale of the victory was surprising even to them. After the celebrations ended the remainder of the year was spent preparing for the Kanodite attacks that would inevitably follow. The hopes that the Kanodites would sue for peace never came to pass. Some in the Andistani camp suggested that Asghar could have been traded for peace but the willingness to slay him may have cost the revolt any chances of victory.Significance
Unlike Mypatha, the defeat was not seen as a demonstration of the ineffectiveness of the Kanodite forces. Mazyar I was keen to avoid the panic that had followed the naval defeat earlier in the year and saw an opportunity to discredit the supporters of his deceased brother. Once news of the loss was shared Asghar's drunkenness and ineffectiveness were blamed. The military structure of the Kanodite army remained largely unchanged for decades and, in some areas, stagnated.
The site of the battle was largely lost until the collapse of the Kanodite Empire. Then, Abisi had become an apple-growing village. The recognition of the battle site brought interest to the area and Abisian apples became a favourite in royal courts. For a short period, the apples were exported in large volumes to far corners of the world. Eventual overexploitation of the apples saw the fertility of the area gradually dwindled until only a few orchards could be supported. The most prized apples come from the tree planted on the spot where Asghar fell.
Planted where thousands fell and fed with the blood of a prince, you won't find apples like Abisian apples. Their tartness is unparalleled. I trust that you will appreciate the difficulty in obtaining such a delight and so will expect the price that comes with purchasing one. A price that pales to the true value of this taste of Abisi.
Battle of Abisi
Part of the Andistani Revolt
Date: 97BSF
Location: Abisi
Result: Andistani and Sarvenganian Victory
Territorial Changes: Amamia remains under Andistani and Sarvenganian control
Belligerents
Andistan
Sarvengan
Commanders and Leaders
Asghar†
Sina
Dariush
Strength
27,000 infantry
2,500 cavalry
14,000 infantry
1,100 cavalry
Casualties and Losses
21,000 infantry
2,000 cavalry
2,000 infantry
700 cavalry
The Andistani Revolt
Mypatha (97BSF) • Amamia (97BSF) • Abisi (97BSF) • Andistan (96BSF) • Denittin (96BSF) • Kashale Fields (95BSF)
Comments