Third Rathnir Coalition

The Third Rathnir Coalition, occasionally referred to as the Southern Coalition due to its leadership being based in southern Rathnir, was a military alliance led by the Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa, with the goal of dismantling the Bardonian Empire in order to prevent further incursions from the empire in southern Rathnir. The coalition succeeded in its goal in the following Allium-Coalition War. 
=== Prelude to Formation ===
==== Onset of the Bardonian Terror ====
Bardonia was viewed by the other great powers as a potential threat ever since Uni's first return to power in Bardonia. Worries were somewhat alleviated during the Crusade Against Entropy, with the New Guard Pact forbidding them from entering any form of conflict with the other nations of the New Guard (Theios-Essukdal, Viodoxa, and Uldarash), although the other signatories continued to plot against Bardonia in preparation for their anticipated post-crusade expansion. Meanwhile, Bardonia continued to operate bandit raids against the other powers in secret. Global paranoia about Bardonian expansion would prove to be valid with the Second Bardonian Conquest of Ryzan, the conquest of Lennox, and the discovery of plans to conquer Owydd Noxnorr. 
==== Bardonian Influence in Southern Rathnir ====
Other major powers would become incredibly anxious as Bardonian influence appeared in southern Rathnir. Greenstem, located in western Sparwood, willingly joined the Bardonian Empire on July 7th, and while it was not a military conquest performed by Bardonia, it did place the empire at the doorstep of Tortuga, Viodoxa, and Sørligste, concerning all three powers.
On July 10th, The Magisterium was formed with the union of Azuria, Osteria, and the Abyssal Isles. With land across multiple continents in the south and east of Rathnir, the nation was also alarmingly close to other southern empires, who were immediately provoked by the formation of the state for several reasons. Chief among them was its supposed ties to the Bardonian Empire, and military strength. Led by BackToTheHub, a renown warrior since the days of the Golden War, and populated by several members of the Chancellor's Hands organization, which had historically worked in the interest of Bardonia, the nation was deemed by the founding members of the Third Coalition to be a clear threat to anyone who might oppose the Bardonian Empire, and was frequently regarded as a puppet to the empire. This judgement was further cemented with the establishment of a Non-Aggression Pact between Bardonia and The Magisterium. Despite the rumors being false, The Magisterium was often treated as a means to further Bardonian goals, when in reality the nation planned to stay neutral in the majority of conflicts.
=== Formation of the Third Coalition ===
Shortly after the formation of The Magisterium, the nation would go on to threaten both the Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa, and the Grand Union of Sørligste, with military conquest, simultaneously. For both cases, The Magisterium was forced to back down, with Sørligste capitulating to the Torgtugan Empire seeking security, and Viodoxa appointing the two Archons Loic, and Hazel, the latter being the reincarnation of The Eternal Archon Valen McSpiegel. Grand Magister Hub would later justify the invasion plan saying they "saw their leadership as weak, and I saw it better that The Magisterium takes their land rather than one of the other big nations", and claimed that the return of Loic removed any reason to take over the lands of the Archonate. While neither invasion would play out, these events would be the breaking point for the major powers of Rathnir, who had enough of the threat of the Bardonian Empire, and the Hands organization.
On July 14th, Athaz the Traveler entered discussion with the Yimmu-Audal Empire, the Viodoxan Imperial Archonate, and the Uldarash Empire, warning them of Allium world domination, and urging the three nations to join together along with the Tortugan Empire to push back against the threat of Bardonia and the Hands. He initially intended to have all four nations operate under the Southern Rathnir Defense Accords, however, as the planning for the war continued, he later had the idea to have the nations unite as the Third Rathnir Coalition instead, which was accepted by Viodoxa and Uldarash. Attempts would be made to get Escharia to switch sides and support the coalition, however, actions of banditry and a previous (but recent) threat of genocide by the Aurorans, the ruling class of Uldarash, combined with their support for the squatter town known as Bastonia, made Escharian support for the Coalition non-existent. To Athaz, who was convinced that a combined Auroran and Tortugan army could outperform the Hands, had suggested the formation of the Third Coalition believing that it was symbolic of Anti-Bardonian domination, while also wanting to see Bardonia mocked and humiliated by falling to an army under the Rathnir Coalition Banner. The latter was the result of personal frustration with the Bardonians who fought in the War of the First Rathnir Coalition frequently gloating about their victory in the war, as well as laughing about coalition incompetence, for six straight months after the war had ended.
=== The War of the Third Coalition ===
The Coalition war effort was led and organized by Eternal Archon Hazel McSpiegel of Viodoxa. Hazel conducted espionage in the Bardonian Empire, and learned that Bardonian plans to strike at Uldarash and Viodoxa were being formed. This pushed the Coalition to want to strike as soon as possible, to begin the war before Bardonia would be prepared.
The backbone of the Coalition's war plan was Operation Terracotta: the uprising of all Bardonian subjugated provinces at once, as well as simultaneous assaults against multiple Bardonian cities, in order to disorient Bardonian officers, and divide its army. A main attacking force composed of Uldarash, Viodoxa, and Tortugan soldiers was sent to New Dorasterrock, which quickly overran the city, having already been deserted by Emperor Uni and the majority of the Bardonian Army, as well as the majority of other Allium soldiers, the other members of the alliance having withdrawn from the war.The war came to a close soon after the battle on July 30th, with Bardonia surrendering and signing the Treaty of New Dorasterrock 
 
Category:Alliances
Category:History
Category:Traveler's Era