Valerica: Difference between revisions
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The decade following the First invasion was a time of relative peace for Valerica. Though the abnormally cold winters continued, help from neighboring friendlier states saved them from major famishes like the one faced during the war. During this time Great Morstayblishia was busy taking over Kormistazic Arcturia and colonising the south concordian ocean. Though they had not forgotten. During the year 1631 Jannes Stinje was elected as the new Serenissimo of Valerica. He would strive towards finishing the modernization of defensive structures surrounding the cities of Lieca, Baecca and Morlca, following the model of Serraca that had proved to be so effective against the invaders. Furthermore, he tied the four cities tighter together by setting united standards for ship building, resulting in a more uniform navy. He was also the first Serenissimo in decades to succesfully rise the taxes levied on merchants, the new nobility of Valerica. Though his attempts at standardizing taxation throughout all the cities failed due to fierce resistance.
Overall the Valerican nation shifted from a union of free cities, into a more centralized nation with Serenissimo being able to excercise more power than before. This developement can be seen as part of overall wave of centralized absolutism over feudalism rushing over Aurora at the time. At the tail end of the 1630s the population begun to properly grow once more, with the abnormal winter having for now ended. Most nations quickly grew in population, with the exception that still, a decade later carried the wounds of the devastating siege with it. Only after the Asernic Invasions would it's population regain the level it had been prior to the invasion of 1627.
'''First Asernic Invasion'''
In 1642 Great Morstayblishia once more turned it's eyes towards Valerica. Lord Verlhanz Asern, named General of Staynish forces in modern day Axdel had gathered and invasion force of 115 000 infantry and 10 000 horsemen. Contingent of 45 000, alone larger than the force of the first invasion, marched towards Fort Siefer guarding the road connecting Axdel to Valerica south of the Zycannes. Along that force advanced a large Morst navy carrying tens of thousands of men, while rest of the forces were initially held in reserve. To face this force Serenissimo Jannes Stinje was able to muster a force of 90 000 men, 35 000 from Lieca, 30 000 from Baecca, 15 000 from Morlca and 10 000 from Serraca. Yet due to the threat of naval invasion the force had to be split between guarding the cities and Fort Siefer.
June 12th saw the Morst army arriving at the fort, as well as the first assault upon it's walls. Yet this rushed attempt failed against the fortresses mighty walls, only managing to take the furthest ditches before a group of Valerican cavalry sallied out and pushed the attackers back down the hill they came. After the initial attack, Morst forces were content to just sieging the fortress for several weeks. Around the same time Lord Asern sailed together with the fleet towards the capital of Valerica, Baecca. Since the start of the war, Stinje had rushed to build naval fortifications to protect the capital from an imminent attack. The weeks that it took for the enemy navy to arrive were filled with stress and hurried building from morning to evening. Then on the June 28th the Morst flags finally became visible on the horizon. The Valeric navy, clearly outnumbered rushed out to face the enemy. The two fleets faced at noon and battled for several hours, during which Valeric fire ships broke apart the attacking fleet, but were in the end unable to stop the Morst fleet from reaching the harbor. For most of the battle Stinje, clearly distraught with the fact that his capital might be taken, had watched it from the harbor, braving stray cannon shots, until the result became clear.
By evening Valeriac fleet was scattered or sunk and the Morsts made landfall covered by their cannons. The forces that met eachother as darkness fell were about equal in size, almost 30 thousand men both, yet the Valericans were clearly demoralized. It was the first time an enemy force had managed to enter their capital, let alone capture it's massive harbor district. Though there was some skirmishing throughout the night, both sided also rested, as it was clear that should the Valericans fail to throw them back to the sea, they would eventually lose.
'''Six Years’ War (1671-1677)'''
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