Campaign History of the Nirvan Military

## Kingdom (202PR-433PR)

### Early Nirvan Campaigns (231-381)

The first campaigns of the Nirvan Military were wars of both expansion and defence. Wishing to protect themselves from the constant raiding by the border tribes, they set off on campaigns to expand their area of influence and power. Under different commanders they managed to push out westward, reaching the Tiber River and stopping there.

They also made an effort to consolidate their Northern Border, which reached into the Varadin Forest. Previously, they had dealt with attacks from dangerous creatures and raids from both the native Elf, Goblin and Orc tribes. Once they reached a safe point, they stopped their expansion to deal with internal struggles.

### Lorenzen War (392-417)

Also dealing with internal struggles but instead venting it outwards was the Lorenzen Kingdom. This was conducted through raiding across their shared border, the Yiburn River. Unbeknownst to the Kingdom, they had awakened a beast.

While initial skirmishes and battles between the two ended in Lorenzen victory, reforms to the Nirvan Military quickly changed the momentum.

Soon the Nirvans were winning every battle, capturing the city of Orolan in **404PR**. They were also victorious in the Battle of the Junak and the Battle of Klaton.

Eventually the war ended when King Kaeso and King Peter signed the Lorenzen Peace Treaty in **417PR**, gaining a significant amount of land and money.

## Republic (433PR-)

The transition of the Kingdom of Nirva to the Nirvan Republic was an easy one, once King Kaeso died without an heir in **432PR**, the Senate seized control, threatening any of their opposition with the armies at their disposal.

### Early (433-509)

The early republic was marked with the successful take over of the Kingdom by the Senate. No major campaign was conducted for the next 5 years as the Nirvans and their consuls dealt with internal unrest and the reorganisation of power.

#### Bhirn Campaign (438-444)

The Bhirn Campaign begun when Ex-Consul Arruns Calenus started his term as governor of Agrippa in **437PR**. For his efforts, he was given 3 legions, raising a 4th on his own with the Senates approval. After his legion was approved and raised, he petitioned the Senate for approval to defend his lands (purposefully written very vague), which was also approved.

In **438PR**, he invaded Bhirn, with the reason that they had been raiding his lands, beginning the Bhirn Campaign.

The campaign was a strange one, during the summer and spring the Nirvans were able to take land away from the Bhirnians but during the winter it was up to Gaius Calenus to defend his camps.

The tide began to change for the war in **441PR** when Arruns was able to defeat and capture 3 of the 4 fortresses defending the Bhirn capital, Vagh Bhirn. A major battle occurred before the fourth fortress, named the Battle of Fort Urmnir.

After the Nirvan defeat, they changed tactics and took the fort in **442PR**, subsequently surrounding Vagh Bhirn and starving them out. The Bhirnians tried to stop the Nirvans in the Battle of Bhirn Grove but were unsuccessful, leading to victory for the Nirvan Republic.

#### Arenian Campaign (479-482)

The Arenian Campaign was a plan created by the Senate and Gaius Calenus who led the Calenus Faction. Legislation was also added to support their cause, with little opposition as all sides wished for it to happen.

Once the 6 legions were raised, Gaius Calenus and his son Vibius Calenus and son-in-law Gallio Aebutus marched on Aren.

Other than pacifying the tribes between the borders of the Nirvan Republic and Aren, which would later come under Nirvan control, the soldiers met little resistance. It was only after Arenian King Eros Scillo raised an army under his son, Prince Aleardo, that the campaign met its troubles.

From the first battle in **479PR**, Prince Aleardo showed himself to be a cunning tactician, using unconventional tactics that even stunted Gaius at some points. While losing, he continued to hammer the Nirvans whenever he could, withdrawing when it became apparent that he could lose his army. A good showing was the Siege of Durolipons, where most of his army were able to escape to the sea just as the Nirvans took the walls.

One of his major tactics, which significantly slowed the Nirvan advance was his use of scorched earth. Forced to move only with their supply line, the Nirvans and Arenians surprisingly met at the Battle of Acela in **480PR**, ending in the first major Nirvan defeat of the Republic.

Not willing to give up even with the Arenians now with the advantage, Gaius changed his tactics to mimic the Arenians, hitting them with small groups of soldiers where he could and changing the odds. He likely would’ve continued doing so until his untimely death in **481PR**. The death sparked an uproar of the Nirvan troops, who marched to the Arenians and beat them decisively in the Battle of Brindicci.

After the defeat, King Eros Scillo of Aren surrendered in **482PR**, becoming allies of the Nirvan Republic and providing men for their military every 5 years.

#### Thurim War (484-486)

Eager to prove himself independently, and having strong influence in Nirvan politics through the Calenus Faction, which he now led, Vibius respectfully and temporarily split off with his brother-in-law Gallio and began preparing for a war with Vagh Thurim.

Having the popularity of the people and control in the Senate, there was little that could be done to block the passing of legislation that allowed Vibius to raise legions. When he was set and preparations made, Vibius confidently marched on the Thurim mountain range, declaring war with its inhabitants in **484PR**.

The armies met on 3 different occasions: the Battle of Ukan, which happened before the Nirvans even reached the mountain. The Battle of Thurnik Hold, where the Thurim people gathered their largest army to stop Vibius taking their most important hold, it is here that Vibius went against Nirvan norms by dueling and defeating Vagh Thurim’s greatest duelist, Urmbrek Thurnik.

The final decisive battle was the fight at Vagh Thurim, when King Berok led his army out to stop the Nirvans, only to retreat and betray them later.

#### Zelan Campaign (485-487)

Separated from his brother-in-law Vibius, Gallio began making his own preparations for war, believing that they should finally finish their conquest of the Bhirn region by capturing Zela. Using what influence he had, and with the help of Consul Mettius Ordius, they were able to secure soldiers and support of the Senate.

In **485PR**, the two marched on Zelan lands with 4 legions.

The Zelans made sure to hold up a good resistance, halting the Nirvan advance in the Battle of Hunan Pass and Battle of Bhirn River. Though by the end of the year they failed to defend the city, which surrendered to the Nirvans in **486PR**.

The Zelans made their last stand in the Battle of Zela near Bhirn Grove in **486PR**, ending the war in favour of the Nirvan Republic who added the region to their control.

#### Second Lorenzen War (491-494)

In **490PR**, the Nirvan Senate, with Gallio Aebutus as Consul, began preparations to invade the Lorenzen Kingdom and begin the Second Lorenzen War. The reason for the plans was that the Southern Border had been already dealt with after nearly 50 years of hard campaigning. Now, only the Lorenzens and the Elves of Lamion stood in their way. Since the Elves were in the forest, they went with the Lorenzens. With the Senate's approval, they crossed the Junak Stream with 7 legions, accompanied by Arenian (included in the legion), Bhirnian and Thurim allies. Bringing their total to 37,000.

The war was a very good showcase of the current military leadership in the Nirvan Republic, with people like Decimus Auxilius becoming the new right-hand man of Vibius militarily. Another showcase came from Vibius directly, proving that his individual strength and power could quickly sway battles in his favour.

After the Battle of Dalsgaard, Lorenzen resistance was effectively defeated, leaving only their capital, Nylev, remaining.

#### Lamion War (508-509)

In **507PR** Vibius petitioned the Senate for approval to gather legions and invade the Varadin Forest in order to defeat the Elves of Lamion. Since the Calenus Faction had both consuls, the request was quickly approved, granting him 4 legions for the task. He also decided to gather allies, bringing his total up to 19,000 soldiers.

Vibius and the Nirvans entered the forest in **508PR**, declaring war on Lamion. The two opponents first faced in the Battle of Mudon Hill, where Vibius was victorious, though would lose to a considerably bigger army in the Battle of Lamion.

Now facing pressure from the people, Vibius purchased his own replacement soldiers and gathered more Thurim allies. Confident, he marched on the city and decisively beat the Elves in the Battle of Lamion II, cementing him as the nicknamed Demon of Nirva.

With Elven resistance defeated, he forced the city to sign into an alliance, providing troops for the Nirvan army after 20 years.

### Modern (509PR-)

#### Siege of Nylev (509)

The Siege of Nylev was the first military campaign of the Nirvans done in the modern era, conducted by Aulus Sellic, a member of the conservative faction.

After the defeat of Vibius in the Battle of Lamion, two conservatives were able to become Consul in 509PR, granting Aulus Sellic the right to 4 legions so he could besiege and destroy the city of Nylev.

After 5 weeks, the final assault managed to put the Nirvans up on the walls, who began sacking the city. During the sack a fire broke out, forcing the Nirvans to withdraw outside the walls and wait for it to burn out, taking the loot they already acquired with them. Any citizens that escaped the fire were captured and enslaved, or killed if they resisted. When the fire ended, they sacked Lorenzo Castle, capturing King Alan Bundgaard.

#### Asger War (512-520)

The Asger War was a small political conflict/issue that turned into a large-scale war between the Nirvan Republic and Ilaka. It was initially caused by a dispute between Senator Aulus Sellic and Ilakan King Argiris Kostides. Quickly, this turned into a series of political insults, resulting in a declaration of war. Prepared on both ends, the Nirvan Republic presented two armies, led by Vibius Calenus and Quintus Catulus, for Ilaka they had 2 commanded by Vaso Cosmotis and Alkis Vatio, a later one was led by King Argiris himself.

In the 6 year war, the balance of power was constantly neutral. While the Nirvans were able to win early with the Battle of Sora and Battle of Coraeus, the Ilakans hit back in the Battle of Aralus and Battle of Kardir, costing Quintus’s life. It was only in **515PR** were the Nirvans able to get revenge for their embarrassing defeat, beating Vaso in the Battle of Hocos and later Alkis (who died) in the Battle of Posonan in **516PR**.

Faced with a long war and growing bored with his victories, Vibius eventually baited out another Ilakan army in **518PR**. Done through insulting the wife and character of King Argiris, the two faced one another in the Battle of Dimale, where Vibius was able to kill the Ilakan monarch in combat.

After the battle, Ilaka sued for peace, which was happily accepted by the Nirvans with heavy restrictions.