The Ghost War

War 827-878  between Grone and Rovia against Marentia. The war was a consequence of the lack of a Marentian central command of its overseas possessions. Partly based on disinterest, it led to unrest and rebellion, allowing Grone and Rovia to step into the power vacuum. In its first phase 827-841, a rebellion in the town Lokrine made the Rovians blockade the harbor, so that the Marentians could not regain control of the city. However anticipated, no naval battle ever occurred, as the Marentians never arrived. In 832 Grone attacked Anocea to begin with, and having met no serious opposition, continued to invade Eyronia. This in turn enticed the Rovians to invade the province of Lokrine, and it was conquered by 840. In 841 Marentia ceded her possessions in Eyronia and on the Paw. In 845-875 admiral Hohart commanded the Grone navy, and he rekindled the war into its second phase 847-854. At first the fleet was used to secure several minor islands of little importance, but in 851 the Grone fleet landed at Damilonia. Though he got virtually no help from Kartria, the local governor put up more resistance than Hohart had expected, but aided by Rovia, the Grone commander conquered Damilonia by 854. Considering the province his personal property, he willed it to Rovia in 859. The name 'Ghost War' refers especially to the last phase of the war 872-878. Admiral Hohart urged the Grone King to invade Kartria, but he was reluctant as he suffered from nightmares and ill omens. Finally Hohart landed at Drezla in 872 and quickly conquered Sparkia and occupied the westernmost part of Kartria. Then the invasion ground to a halt. After the death of Hohart in 875 the Grone King only waited for an opportunity to withdraw his troops. That came in 878, when Marentia ended the Time of Kings by electing an autarch.