Second Morsto-Oan War: Difference between revisions

The '''Morsto-Oan War''' ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_language Oan]: ''Te Pakanga o nga Oa me nga Morohoti'') was a conflict between [[the Oan Isles]] and [[Great Morstaybishlia]] in 1855. Trading of slaves in Oan territory by the Wakatunuye tribe with the Morstaybishlians led to an attack on the MBS Pugilist, a Morst naval vessel. Morstaybishlia declared war in retaliation and took over two-thirds of Oan territory, about half of the captured territories being returned. The war resulted in the cession of Oan territory to the Oan Isles and prohibition of trading in Oan slaves in the Morstaybishlian Empire. The war resulted in the overthrow of the Oan political elites and widespread economic, political and social reforms. Despite the alliance which eventually formed between the two countries, the war is a sensitive political topic in the Oan Isles and a source of continued strain in relations.

InApproximately the 1600s, Morstaybishlian traders and explorers arrived on uninhabited islands to the west30% of the Oan Isles. Theyhad receivedbeen permissionlost fromduring the First Morsto-Oan governmentWar to settlethe andMorstaybishlians. claim thoseThese islands. Thesethat islandswere ceded became part of the [[Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories]]. Prior to the war, the MWPT consisted of Lazeria, Greater and Lesser Gemini, Asmo Island and parts of the Southern Antilles. The Morstaybishlians established plantations on the islands and traded in slaves with the Oans. Over time, the Oan people gradually became antipathic toward slavery, especially of Polynesians, and outlawed it in their territories. They became resentful of the slave trade in the MWPT. Because of the Morsts' legitimate control over those territories and their superior economic and military power, they were powerless to intervene.

Tribes, landowners and merchants maintained significant autonomy from the central Oan government in [[Tokapa]]. One of these tribes was called the Wakatunuye. Between 1800 and 1850, the growing dependence of the Morstaybishlian economy on labour-intensive industries resulted in an increased demand for slaves which outpaced available supply. The Wakatunuye and Lord Admiral Lugersart (allegedly acting on behalf of the Morstaybishlian Crown) entered into an unofficial agreement that the Wakatunuye would supply the Morsts with slaves. Thus, the Wakatunuye used the autonomy they enjoyed to invade surrounding tribes and enslave Oan people, starting with tribes located on the Northern Islands (Nga Motuere Raki).The first recorded attack was on 11 May 1850. The Wakatunuye tribe conducted a night raid on a tribe on Solowasai Island in the Nga Motuere Raki archipelago. The total number of casualties in unclear, but reports suggest that the entire population was either massacred or sold. The string of attacks in this area worried the rulers in Tokapa.