Carton War

The Carton War, also known as the War of Carton independence was fought between Ilaka and the Pro-Carto Faction. It was a rather quick war due to the political pressure on Ilaka at the time, blocking them from using the full might of their military.

## Background

The city of Helicules was founded in **156PR**, becoming one of the first major cities in South-East Arlec at the time. By around **300PR**, the city came under the influence of Gonarundu, likely allying with them for protection.

In **415PR** the Helicules War began when King Thodoris of Ilaka began expanding his borders. The city was quickly besieged by Minos and his army, only to be defeated by Miguel Baztan in the Battle of Helicules and successfully saving the city.

After the mysterious death of Miguel, the Gonarunduns were surprised for a second invasion, losing decisively at the Battle of the Kunan. The Ilakans later pressured King Augustin to surrender, giving up the city of Helicules.

Entering the city in **416PR**, Minos executed most of the civilians, pushing the remaining into the slums.

When Minos died in **429PR**, the original Helicules citizens in the slums were able to regain some of the titles they originally had, competing with Ilakans at the time. Within a few years, the Helicules population was reaching what it was before the slaughter, outnumbering the Ilakans that lived there.

In **487PR**, the current King of Ilaka, Ilias Kostides, enacted heavy taxation on the city, targeting the original populace first before including the Ilakans staying there later. This was caused due to a series of issues, mainly that the nation was struggling financially. In the city, tensions were even higher, forcing many Ilakan nobles to stay in their homes out of fear for their lives.

**488PR** reached another breaking point for the city of Helicules when a violent crackdown from Ilakan guards hoped to end the rising hostilities in the city. Instead, it did the opposite, causing many of the original citizens and some Ilakans to begin pooling their resources together under the leadership of Zinon Carto.

More violence erupted later in the year when a protest about the death of one of their citizens turned into a riot. Two Ilakan guards were left dead and many more injured.

The start of **489PR** showed the Ilakans it would be a difficult year, suffering extensive raiding from the tribes in the North and the Lorenzen Kingdom to the East. Hearing about the weakening nation, the city of Helicules openly rebelled, planning to secede from Ilaka.

## War

### The City of Helicules

Now in open rebellion, the citizens with military training began targeting the guards trying to keep order in the city. This came about through night raids on their facilities, stealing the weapons they needed, before simply hunting any Pro-Ilakans in the streets. Within a few days the guard had effectively been defeated, leaving only the Noble district remaining.

When the citizens arrived they found most of the houses abandoned, the nobles knowing full well they would be a target when the city rebelled. So, instead Zinon made a ceremony of it, celebrating the return of the noble houses to the original citizens.

Taking inspiration from Miguel, Zinon spent the rest of the month training citizens into soldiers, expecting the Ilakans to send a relief force at any point.

For the Ilakans, they had not fully realised the situation in Helicules, simply believing it to be some minor protests and maybe a riot. Their full focus at this point was the border raiding, sending large portions of their army to deal with both the Lorenzens and the tribes. Only later did they receive the report that the city was in open rebellion. Not wanting the situation to get any more undesirable, King Ilias sent an army of 8,000 under the command of Theo Anthides to take back the city if applicable.

### The Relief Force Arrives

In Asunak **489PR** the relief force under Theo Anthides arrived at the city. Prepared for battle, the Ilakans got into their formations and waited. When nothing arrived, Theo sent out his scouts to understand the situation.

On the inside, the scouts reported that the rebels were weakened, dealing with hunger from a likely food shortage. Eventually a white flag was hung from the city, signalling it’s surrender. When his scouts returned, Theo and the Ilakans marched into Helicules through the Western Gate.

#### Battle of the Carto Empire

*See: Battle of the Carto Empire*

Before the Ilakans' entire force entered the city, the gates were shut behind them, leaving a third of their army outside the city. On the inside, the ambush/battle began between the Ilakans and the rebel forces.

The battle was a success for the Pro-Carto rebels, who decisively defeat the Ilakans with their tactics. After the battle, Zinon began planning for other conquests to rescue other people from the tyranny of Ilaka. He then established himself as the nation of the Carto Empire, naming himself Emperor which his followers supported.

### Aecae

After his success at the Battle of the Carto Empire, Zinon began using his forces to cut off the Ilakans from any land routes beyond Helicules. All of this was in an effort to reduce the Ilakan forces in the town of Aecae which would likely have supporters of his cause.

Waiting until the next year in **490PR**, Zinon and a detachment of his troops marched on the town of Aecae, alerting any travellers nearby that they intended to liberate the settlement.

When news came to the town that the Pro-Carto rebels were coming to liberate, similar events to Helicules began to happen. Ilakan guards began to get attacked in the streets and soon their pro-Ilakan mayor was forced to remain in his house.

Zinon arrived soon after, exiling the Pro-Ilakan citizens and bringing the city under Carton control.

### Talks with King Ilias

After he returned to Helicules, Zinon and his forces began raiding the lands of Ilaka, putting heavy pressure on King Ilias. When he felt comfortable with his position, Zinon decided to open talks with the enemy King and negotiate some type of peace.

Since King Ilias was so stubborn this took some time, though eventually the War came to an end and the Carto Empire was born as its own independent nation. The only thing that the Cartons had to do was not step foot in Ilakan controlled lands for the next 30 years, which Zinon was happy to accept.

## Legacy

The Carton War is a significant part of South-East Arlecan history, being one of the only nations to secede from another.

For the Cartons this war is seen as the birth of their nation and breaking the shackles that Ilaka had placed around them. While they were mostly Gonarunduns, the betrayal they felt from the nation meant that they kept up hostilities as if it was similar to Ilaka.

Zinon would become one of the greatest Carton monarchs, saving the culture of the original Helicules citizens from forced assimilation.