Matavian War (1939)

The **invasion of Matavia** (14 September – 2 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Matavia by the non-royal forces of Illerdaniya and the royal army of Illendariya; the forces split after the victory of the Hariji Coalition in the elections and the creation of the Saltek Balani government in Illendariya. The Illerdani invasion began on 14 September 1939, one week after Shah Harti of Illendariya was captured by the non-royal forces (aka the People's Revolutionary Army, or the Army Wing of the Hariji), and one day after the National Assembly of Illendariya approved the beginning of the war. The war ended on the 2nd of October 1939 with the full Illerdani annexation of Matavia. The Matavians called this war the "War against the aggressors".

## Background

In Illendariya, there was a leadership crisis, with King Harti losing a lot of his power and the Government of Kalani Begani being established by the National Assembly, this government is also known as the 3rd Provisional Illerdani Government. The national elections began in June 1939, with the victory of the newly formed Hariji Coalition, formed by the People's Party of Illerdaniya, headed by chairman Saltek Balani. Saltek immediately started reforming the country in very bad ways, he declared himself the Chairman of the National Assembly, and he dissolved the government of Kalani Begani. The King did not want the Hariji Coalition to win, and he believed that this election was unconstitutional and RIGGED. Saltek also established a non-aggression pact with both Matavia and Tisnatia, but one would be broken only a few months later. The government of Saltek started the creation of the Illerdani Army, a separate military wing from the Royal Army of the Illerdani Kingdom. Rijah Vatani was the commander in-chief of the Illerdani Army, and the King believed that this army was just a plot against him. The King took matters into his own hands and attacked key points for the Illerdani army, which resulted in the start of the leadership conflict. With the end of the leadership conflict, the King was captured by the forces of Rijah Vatani.

## Opposing forces

### Illendariya

The Illerdani Royal Army had a substantial numeric advantage over Matavia and had developed a significant military before the conflict. The army had 34 tanks in its inventory, of which 28 were with the Field Army and 6 with the Replacement Army. This would be followed up by less-mobile mechanized infantry and foot soldiers, with numbers around 45,000 and 60,000, and cavalry regiments with a size of 5,000. The Illerdani Army, separate from the Illerdani Royal Army, was much less developed, but with the leadership conflict and the King getting captured, the armies conjoined into one, led by Commander In-Chief Rijah Vatani, instead of the King.

### Matavia

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Matavia were not that large in size, and not that powerful, even if Matavia spent most of their treasury on their military. The leader of Matavia, Taner Makinid, was the Commander In-Chief of the army, and he used a very large regiment to act as secret police, to capture and execute people who went against him. The army was used for preventing rebellions and executing people who went against Makinid, and not actually defence against other countries. Makinid believed that none of his neighbors would attack him because he secured non-aggression pacts with both of his neighbors. The armed forces of Matavia consisted of cavalry and infantry, but it did not have tanks at all, since those were not necessary for the needs of Taner Makinid.

## Plans

### Illerdani plans

THE SEPTEMBER OPERATION OF 1939, devised by Rijah Vatani and directed by General Rahmon Nazari. The September attack:

* A main attack over the border with Matavia through the north, which was to be carried out by Army Group Coast, commanded by Colonel General Rahsom Raniti, attacking from the Trnizi area in northern Illerdaniya and from the tributary of Rej of the Plys river. This route would continue with an advance towards the Matavian city of Amuli, splitting the country into 2 sides.
* A second route of attack from the desert. Colonel General Ramit Azari commanded Army Desert Group, which was to strike northward from the Matavian desert, joining Rahsom's group in Amuli, and then attacking the capital of Matavia from Amuli, while also leaving a garrison in the city.
* Blockade of the Matavian coast to fully stop supplies coming to Mout, starving the Matavian army of its resources.

* Attack on Mout

### Matavian plans

The defence plan, devised and directed by Taner Makinid himself, it consisted of staying in the capital, being prepared to defend it from the Illerdani invaders and trying to get the attention of Tisnatia, to help with the war effort.

## Aftermath

The war caused many civilian deaths, mostly in Matavia. The Matavian army barged into many homes of civilians in Mout, completely taking all their food and water to feed the army for the defence of Mout. Illendariya's September Operation was commenced on September 16th and ended on September 30th, completely taking the whole country in a matter of 2 weeks. The peace treaty was signed on October 2nd by Taner Makinid's political advisor, as Taner Makinid was captured and then executed on October 9th.