Sanpor Crisis

The **Sanpor Crisis** (856 - 859) was an event in the political history of Afbarkeean during which Trertu and the Hanik Confederation (with the support of the Alliance of Northern Nations and Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur) refused to allow Balooun ships to access the province of Sanpor via their territorial waters in the Gulf of Konlaw. While this action was in accordance with international law, it generated a significant amount of controversy throughout Afbarkeean, along with almost universal condemnation in the Balooun Empire itself.

## Timeline

### Background

Over the course of the Raagee Wars, many North Afbarkeean politicians became increasingly critical of Balooun expansion, as well as the zealous and diplomatic political movements for allowing this to occur. This allowed the nationalist movement to rise to prominence, which promised to defend the interests of the North Afbarkeean nations from the actions of both empires. The nationalist candidate, Eris-Jedur, won the Baskorzin election in 852:67.

After being elected, Eris-Jedur sought to unify the northern nations of Afbarkeean under an official military alliance, which she believed would give them a stronger negotiating position with the two empires. She also proposed a number of economic incentives such as relaxing tariffs between member states. The Imbrahaan and the Insantra had already formed an alliance a few years prior due to the upcoming political union between Kompango and Trertu. The alliance became known as the Alliance of Northern Nations, or Kradesur-Wiiasum-Balk (KWB).

In 854, a summit was organised in Nasalsu between the Balooun government and the KWB leadership. It was attended by Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur, Katulzen-Konos-Antalees and Balooun Prime Minister Kunudal-Raagee, among others. The representatives of the KWB stated their opposition to Balooun expansion, and threatened to refuse Balooun ships access to the Gulf of Konlaw, as any ship that traversed this gulf would have to go through either Trertun or Hanik waters. This outcome would be devastating to the Balooun economy, as it would cut off their ability to sail between the Huumarooneean and Saniit coasts. They added that they were willing to negotiate a compromise if the Baloouns were willing to consider relinquishing Sanpor (or at least Gradis). In response to this, Raagee inquired as to how Sanpor would be divided between the nations of the alliance. The Katulzen dismissed this question as a triviality that could be settled later, but the Prime Minister insisted it was a relevant issue, saying that the fate of any nation depends on political certainty, and the Balooun Empire would not relinquish possession of a territory without a clear framework of authority.

In the subsequent negotiations regarding how Sanpor would be divided between the different member states of the KWB, the Hanik politicians generally agreed that any territory they gained would be considered federal land. However, Katulzen-Konos-Antalees demanded that some amount of land be granted to the city of Kompango. Her main arguments were that the city had the least amount of land per citizen of any Hanik city, and that it had suffered the most during the First Abar War (due to the purge of the Kadeean population); though most Hanik politicians believed her main motivation was that she would soon be the ruler of Kompango. Konos also brought attention to the fact that their plan to block the Baloouns from accessing Sanpor depended on Trertun waters, and she has sole authority over this. Eventually, it was agreed that Kompango would gain some additional land if the Baloouns relinquished the province.

In 855, the Baskor-Baloo officially announced her government’s intention to invade Nornul before the Kamakesur, claiming that the native people of the region had been continually raiding the empire since the defeat of the Raktaan Confederacy, which violated the terms of the truce. The Baskor-Kadee offered no objection to this proposal, as the Baloouns had not objected to the Kadeean invasion of Muubrin a few years prior. Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur was outraged by this and accused the two politicians of making a deal. She then advised the Baskor-Baloo that if her government continued with their invasion, the KWB would react in strong terms and might cut off their access to the Gulf of Konlaw.

### The Crisis

A meeting of the KWB was held in Gorn in 856, and it was decided that the Hanik and Trertun governments would officially refuse the Balooun Empire access to their territorial waters in protest of their recent invasion of Nornul, thus blocking off Balooun sailors from Sanpor. This was then announced in a Kamakesur session later the same year, resulting in the Sanpor Crisis.

The result of this on Sanpor was devastating, as they were effectively blocked off from using the Gulf of Konlaw (though they could still sail within a certain distance of the coast), which had been their primary medium for trade. However, traders from outside of the Balooun Empire could still sail to Sanpor, and the province came to rely on traders from Oozin and the Lantoo. Also, Balooun sailors could still use the southern half of the Gulf of Konlaw, due to their good relations with Oozin.

The Sanpor Crisis arguably harmed the nations of the KWB more than the Balooun Empire, as the latter now had access to the vast supply of resources from their recently conquered western territories. On the contrary, the Leshavil-Gorn, Leshavil-Kompango and Leshavil-Bankootsan were empowered by the Sanpor Crisis, as they had some of the largest private gold supplies in the world, which was now worth much more in the nations of the KWB. They came to dominate the economy of North Afbarkeean over the course of late decade: 85.

In 857, the KWB sent a fleet of ships to Nasalsu in protest of the Balooun wars of expansion. This was legal as the fleet was in Trertun waters, though they could not approach the shore. A Kamakesur session was organised later the same year. The Baloouns were outraged and demanded that Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur apologise on behalf of the KWB, which she refused to do. The Bakor-Kadee said there was nothing illegal about the actions of the KWB, though she also stated that if the KWB ever invaded Sanpor, the Lantoo would instantly ally with the Baloouns. This declaration was a major blow to the KWB. As a result of this incident, the international peace rank was raised to Defence.

In 858, Konos-Antaless allowed the Leshavil-Kompango to arrange a trade agreement with Sanpor.

### Ending of the Crisis

When Glaanen-Suvana II died in 858, her successor, Alsaba IV, who was a citizen of Sanpor, strongly objected to the KWB’s blockade of the province. Many believed she was selected by the Church because they benefited from Balooun expansion, and thus were attempting to undermine the Saniit nationalist movement. A Kamakesur session was held later that year, at which the new Glaanen addressed Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur and implored her to end the coastal blockade of Sanpor.

In 859, Baskorzin-Eris-Jedur announced before a session of the Kamakesur that the Hanik and Trertun governments would permit Balooun sailors to access the territorial waters surrounding the coast of Sanpor from 860:00. This brought an end to the Sanpor Crisis. The peace rank was subsequently downgraded to Caution. Before making this announcement, Eris informed the leaders of the Leshavil-Gorn of her decision, so that they could protect their interests by selling the gold they had accumulated. Likewise, Konos-Antalees informed the leaders of the Leshavil-Kompango. However, the Leshavil-Bankootsan was not informed, as it was believed they would use their wealth to fund the Folk Party.