First Alecanian-Behatian War

**SUPPORTED BY:**

* Kingdom of Lindonce

## **History**

Following their independence in 1812, and after the removal of all remaining royalist forces, the republics of Behati and Alecania were born. Behati was ethnically and linguistically Alestian and native, whale Alecania was Lindoncian and most natives had been deported to other Caribbean colonies. Under colonial rule, Alecania, also known as Lindoncian Alecania, held an Alestian minority in the West, yet these minorities would be primarily ignored until the independence of both countries in 1812.

The Alecanians treated the Alestian minority terribly, with them quickly becoming second class citizens to the Lindoncian speaking majority. The Alecanian president and former military general, Matthieu Boulle, began to implement policies a part of the “All-Alecanian State.” In the summer of 1815, a Alestian protest arose in Western Alecania, and the following massacre would see 125 men lose their lives, alongside 39 women and 12 children. The Behatian president, Manuel Carpintero Charpentier expressed his support for the rioters and his outrage towards the Boulle government. After the massacre, several Alestians were deported to Behati, triggering a immigration crisis.

The Behatian government attempted to keep the crisis contained as the fleeing Alestians were settled into new homes. However by 1816, the cities of Eastern Behati were facing overpopulation. In anger, Manuel sent a demand to Alecania. To cease all harsh treatment of the ethnic Alestians or face the consequences. The demands were ignored, and the government continued to silence the Alestian population and more and more people began to flee to Behati. Therefore escalating the immigration crisis. In response, a new, longer list of demands was sent to Alecania. This time, Alecania was to cease oppression of all Alestians, and on top of that, they demanded the government reform to be more representative of all peoples living in its borders. While the government was given time to respond, the Behatian military mobilized along the border in case of the worst. Then on January 18, 1817, the ultimatum was ignored. Refusing to allow this to continue any further, the Federative Republic of Behati declared war on Alecania, as a war of liberation.

The first months of the invasion saw Bahti push deep into Alecanian lands with the assistance of Alestian Catholic partisans and other armed militias. Caught off guard, the Alecanian military was forced to retreat and take defensive positions around the capital city of Colbagne, which would be placed under siege for 3 years. Elsewhere the war continued to turn in favor of the Behatians. The strategic port city of Épilimar was encircled in September of 1819, cutting off most of Alecania’s access to Atlantic trade. Internationally, the war held mixed responses. On February 10, 1819, the Kingdom of Lindonce announced its support for Alecania, in little effort to amend relations with its former colony. In the same month, king Eugène X sent famed military commander Gabriel Auguste to give the Alecanian’s a proper European style military training. By August 1819, the newly reorganized Alecanian forces under the lead of commander Jean-Christophe Pomeroy, took the fight back to the Behatians. Then by September 1819, the Behatian armies began to be pushed back. The siege of Colbagne ended the same year. Port cities were taken back, and by March 1820, the Behatians were pushed to the border.

Behind enemy lines, pro-Behatian rebels continued to take up arms against the Alecanian forces. Yet the Alecanian government ignored these rebellions. Military general Gérôme Clair broke through the Behatian defenses and made a major offensive to cut the nation into two. However in the Battle of Cantago Bay, Behatian general Roberto Ávila secured the city and asserted naval and military domination over the bay and the supply routes from the North to the South were maintained, and by October 1820, the main invading force was encircled and defeated.

On January 22, 1821, the war had reached a stalemate, and at the start of February, the Behatians once again occupied much of Western Alecania. Seeing little progress further than that, the two sides agreed to meet for peace negotiations. In the Treaty of Salarbella, it was agreed a new republic buffer state would be created between the two nations. The Republic of Liligoza, would be set up as an ethnically mixed nation, consisting of both Lindoncian and Alestian people in a republic of equals. Alecania would be forced to demilitarize the new border with Liligoza, and pay war reparations.