War of the Aegir
| War of the Aegir | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Reykanes | Rheian confederation | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| King Guðni | Wilfrid Bureau | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
30,000 150 ships |
150,000 200 ships | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
~18,500 ~57 ships |
~25,000 ~100 ships | ||||||
The War of the Aegir (Lyoan:War of the ocean) which lasted from 28 BC until 23 BC, lasting over 5 years. Fought between the Kingdom of Reykanes and the Rheian confederation. Started as a pillaging ambition to make fear it became a continuous conflict and naval war of antiquity, the two nations struggled for supremacy over the Vernier Ocean. The war was fought primarily on the Vernier ocean. After immense losses on both sides, the The Reykanies were defeated. At this time the Reykani navy was having its first golden age in success and inovation. Ships like Longships were a type of specialised Reykani warships that have a long history in Nurderlia, with their existence being archaeologically proven and documented from at least the second century BC. Originally invented and used by the Norsemen (commonly known as the Vikings) for commerce, exploration, and warfare during the reign of the Reykani kingdom and before. One of the reason that it was superior that it had a ram ,which was the ship's main weapon, which was used to sink or immobilize an enemy ship by holing its hull. It's crews were highly skilled which gave a big motivation to pillage. This war is also viewed as a power struggle between Reykanes and Ecros on between the ocean that is known today as Vernier.
Background
King Guðni (55 BC-1 BC) Son of Ingólfr inherited the throne in 55 BC. After 10 years as a ruler he proved to be quite strict and a strong leader. He was a firm believer in the Norse mythology. He was proven to be a quite dangerous king. He pillaged small towns and fishing villages in the coast and raided them for loot and to punish them for having other religions. He soon got the title of "The Pillager". Reykanes was hungry for treasures that they can get to help their nation
War
The war started when Reykanes started raiding the Rheian Confederation in 28 BC multiple times. Rheian coastal villages were destroyed and burned down. Many had to escape inland. Soon Rheia started a counter attack in Hafnir in 27 BC. About 30 ships on Rheian side and 45 on Reykan's side. Battle of Hafnir was a succesfull defence and Rheia had to retreat. Reykanes was angered by this, thus they started to rebuild their fleet of ships. A year was taken off to rebuild their fleet and this was used by Rheia as well to rebuild. Reykanes built a menacing 150 ships and recruited more people for their navy, sometimes even using slaves the replace the missing manpower. The next few years (26 BC-24 BC) was constant naval warfare and naval invasions. Reykanes won most of them, however Rheia had manpower to spare so eventually they managed to win. In 25 BC Reykanes landed in about 8 fishing towns or villages and temporarily occupied those and making a first and only time that Reykanes was a colonial kingdom but a year later in the beggining of 24 BC Rheia started a counter attack and took back 5 towns quite easily, 2 of them had no resistance due to low number of soldiers on Reykanes's side. The left over 3 towns or villages were a bit more difficult to take back, one was fortified as well. After multiple battles for Rheia to take back their fishing towns, they eventually won.
Ending of the war
At the end of the 24 BC, Reykanes was starting to struggle. Unable to supply their battles since they weren't a populated and a powerful kingdom. They lost all the short lived colonies on Ecros. However it would be some time still Rheia could break through the Reykani defences. Only next year when Rheian Longships managed to break through the blockades and they hit the capital of Hafnir. They dealt extensive damage and after raided other fishing villages nearby and done multiple trips bringing more troops to raid towns but eventually the extensive raids done on them still had their effect thus they had to retreat. In 23 BC the war was forced to be a stalemate. Both sides lost and it was clear that neither side can fully win one over. Both leaders came to meet each other and made all out peace, no territorial changes. Both sides became damaged, Towns and cities destroyed. No one was able to continue the already ongoing 5 year war.
Aftermath
Rheia had to rebuild their coastal villages and towns and resulted in improving their naval power which helped them to enter their exploration era. In Reykanes they also had to rebuild the coastal towns. Rebuilding their mighty navy and continue to rule their side of the ocean.
Bizarre invention
There is legends about Fire ships which was used in the war. Fire ships was seen once throughout the war. fire ship, used in the days of wooden rowed or sailing ships, was a ship filled with combustibles, or gunpowder deliberately set on fire and steered into an enemy fleet, in order to destroy ships, or to create panic and make the enemy break formation.Ships used as fire ships were either warships whose munitions were fully spent in battle, surplus ones which were old and worn out, or inexpensive purpose-built vessels rigged to be set afire, steered toward targets, and abandoned quickly by the crew according to official statements of it. It was used devastatingly. It is predicted that it's used to set fire to enemy ships, it consisted of a combustible compound emitted by a flame-throwing weapon. Historians are troubled that did this exist or was it made up as to strike fear in to the defenders.
