Monhalian War of Independence

In 3186, war began to separate the then-united country of Abraia into two separate political entities. It ended in 3199, created the Monhalian Union out of a portion of Abraia.

History

Abraian version

Monhalian version

Separated from Abraia Central by the Pashiunac mountain range, southerners felt less represented in politics. Traversal around the mountains took time, and building a second spaceport or mountain pass was prohibitively expensive. Southern senators struggled with the travel time and missed deadlines, while south-bound supplies arrived too late to be useful.

Separated from Abraia Central by the Pashiunac mountain range, southerners felt less represented in politics. Traversal around the mountains took time, and Abraian senators voted against building a second spaceport or mountain pass. This caused southern senators to miss deadlines, while south-bound supplies arrived too late to be useful.

Those most frustrated began calling themselves Monhalian and turned to the royal de la Rosa family for aide. This support elevated the royals’ importance and more began to listen to monarchs who had been without political power for centuries.

Those most frustrated began calling themselves Monhalian and turned to the royal de la Rosa family for aide. This support elevated the royals’ importance and more began to listen.

Thoughts of independence flourished in the south. It would allow them to address their needs, but could be economically disastrous with many southern regions already struggling. The senate voted against it in 3186. The proposed changes were inadequate for many, and the Monhalian Uprising, also known as the War of Independence began.

Thoughts of independence flourished in the south. It would allow them to address their needs, but could be economically disastrous with many southern regions already struggling. The senate voted against it in 3186. The proposed changes were inadequate for many, and the Monhalian War of Independence began.

Volunteers inflated both armies, with Monhal issuing propaganda that painted war as a required step toward prosperity. In Abraia, most wanted to save citizens from the violent upstarts. In Monhal, the stigma anti-war citizens faced acted as social conscription.

Volunteers inflated both armies, with Abraia issuing propaganda that painted it as a way to save citizens from violent upstairs. In Monhal, most saw the war as a required step toward prosperity. In both countries, the stigma anti-war citizens faced acted as social conscription.

Abraia’s superior economy granted better equipment and allowed for unmanned strikes to reduce casualties. Monhal fought with guerrilla-style tactics, using their knowledge of the roads to Abraia Central. They disabled foundries, factories, and quarries, or sabotaged Abraian military equipment.

Abraia’s superior economy granted better equipment and allowed for unmanned strikes to reduce casualties to their side, while decimating Monhalians. Monhal fought with guerrilla-style tactics, using their knowledge of the roads to Abraia Central. They disabled foundries, factories, and quarries, or sabotaged Abraian military equipment.

Razing of Monhal

By 3199, the war became one of attrition, straining economies to support military needs. On the summer solstice, Abraia launched an air and navy strike against the city of Monhal. Tens of thousands of civilians died in the strike, along with half the royal family. The city meant to be the capital of the new country was destroyed in hours. The duchess and young count were among the casualties.
The necessity of this strike is oft debated. Some argue it was a war crime, while others say it reduced civilian casualties overall by bringing an expeditious end to the war. Abraian leaders have declined comment on a theorized precognition specialist, and the Protectorate won't make official decrees on planetary affairs.
The Abraian senate and Duke Elias, the surviving adult of the de la Rosa family, signed a peace treaty that autumn. This treaty drew the borders as they remain today. The most notable and contested condition was that the new Monhalian Union’s territory would not contain the western coast, including the remains of their capital city.

Aftermath

The loss of Monhal and so many lives shattered the new country. Celebrations of war's end were muted by mass funerals and mourning. The duke retreated to his family's villa outside the city of Elsion, bringing with him the young countess. Few regions could adequately house the survivors from the Razing, and there was no plan for how to handle such an outcome.
Both countries struggled economically after, as most post-war countries do. Abraia had to rebuild factories, outposts, train rails, and supply lines in areas around the new border, including implementing new border security and policies. Yet as the de-facto tourist destination for the planet, the northern country bounced back in a few years.
The Monhalian Union struggled far more. Key fishing and mining locations were located around Monhal, which were now destroyed and across a border. The new country didn't have sturdy protective against local plant and wildlife, leaving them to find alternatives. An effective leader could have helped the country immeasurably, but the duke remained reclusive in his mourning and did little to aid his country.
Many realized during this time it was the late duchess who'd truly led until now, and without her, they had no one. It took the duke's disappearance, abolishing the monarchy, establishing a parliament, and an extra few years on top of that for the country to truly recover from the war that founded it.

Information

Belligerents

Start Date

3186

Ending Date

3199

Conflict Result

An independent Monhalian Union was formed, but Abraia retained control over the now-destroyed city of Monhal.

Location

Devali

Author Commentary

Inspiration

The idea for this war spawned from a random map from Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator. As someone who sucks at naming places, I found it easier to theorize why the northern country had a city with the same name as the southern country, rather than simply rename the city/country.

Source

I'd originally hosted this information on Obsidian Portal, and had this article set up like a Wikipedia page in the middle of an edit war. Instead of two versions of the article, I had colored text indicating what changes people were arguing over.