Battle of Sedacarias

The Battle of Sedacarias (SEH-DAH-cahr-YAHS), often referred to as simply Sedacarias, was a pivotal battle of the Crisis of the 8th Century that led to the collapse of the First Noulaenic Empire. The battle was fought in 764 NE between Faleic rebels and two legions of Noulaenic regular troops sent to quell the rebellion. The battle resulted in total victory for the rebels, with no survivors escaping from the Noulaenic force The battle is universally considered to be the worst and most surprising disaster in Noulaenic history and is often credited as the critical tipping point that led to the empire's collapse.

## Background

Falea rebelled from the Empire in 764 NE after Count Daramsis of Falea became convinced that the empire had poisoned his children in an attempt to remove his family from control. The rebellion broke out in multiple regions in Falea and was initially successful at defeating the local Noulaenic garrisons in the county. The Count's forces, which included regular Noulaenic troops, seized the capital of Laduaen with ease and a separate force of 10,000 mostly irregular militants seized Cariasmen and a great supply of weaponry along with it. Count Daramsis feared the Noulaenic response and attempted to consolidate his forces by having the southern force march north with the seized weaponry to join him in the heavily fortified city of Laduaen.

The empire planned to crush the rebellion with overwhelming force and assembled a large force of 4 legions in Calbaena to march on Laduaen while sending a second force of 2 legions from Doucusamael to crush the irregular troops on open ground before they could reach the city. The plan was for both forces to then surround and retake Laduaen.

The 2 legions, comprising 20,000 soldiers, made poor time on the route into Falea and were surprised by the irregular rebel force at a long, narrow field in near the confluence of two rivers in a gorge at the edge of the Faleic plateau. The field, known as Sedacarias (from Faleic Rigini *zhecha* ("spring") and Noulaenic *carias* ("field") became the site of the battle.

## The battle

The Noulaenic force had substantially greater numbers than the rebel force, who numbered only 8,000 by the time of the battle, but held poor ground on terrain that largely nullified their numerical advantage. The force was essentially pinned between the two rivers, swollen with summer rain, and unable to either easily maneuver or retreat. The Faleic force held the higher ground and had strong positions for archery and artillery on the hills surrounding the gorge, allowing them to pin the Noulaenic force down while they attacked it with cavalry and infantry within the gorge.

Confusion struck the Noulaenic force at a critical moment of the battle, as the lead guard of the formation attempted a retreat at the same time the rear guard attempted a forward charge. Chaos ensued and the Noulaenic force was unable to regain proper formation or organize a retreat. The force was slaughtered in the muddy field or forced back into the rivers where many drowned. The few survivors who successfully crossed the rivers were hunted down by archers and cavalry on the other side as they attempted to retreat. No reputable reports of Noulaenic survivors of the battle are known

## Aftermath

Noulian lost the largest force it had in Carasala in the battle and lost permanent control of Falea as a result, as the Calbaenic force was struck with plague and never crossed into Falea. The battle also left Doucusamael without a proper garrison, a fact which later led to its capture by Imaric sea raiders in 766.

The symbolic significance of the battle was greater than its direct strategic significance, however, as the crushing defeat destroyed the Noulaenic veneer of invincibility in the provinces and inspired rebels to rise against Noulaenic control in Casalanoua, Ousilia, and Nadaria as well. These rebellions led to the complete loss of Noulaenic control of the region, and eventually resulted in the invasion of Malaena by Carasalic and Casalanouic forces. The battle remains infamous in Noulaenic history and is often referred to simply as Sedacarias, as the field is not noteworthy from any other event.