First Leersog War

The First Leersog War, the 442 Syrvo-Hettic War, or simply the Leersog War, was a military conflict between the Kingdoms of Syrvania and Hetland from 442 to 446 over control of the Zlowiće river and the Leersog provinces. The war began as a result of the opening of a new route into the Zlowiće river, and ensuing debates over ownership of the surrounding Duchies. It would ultimately result in a Hettic victory, and concession of all Leersog territories to the Kingdom of Hetland.

After the Syrvanian Incursion of 524, the Leersog War and its result would be used as the foundation to justify Syrvania's annexation of Leersog and subsequent invasion of Hetland.

## Background

In 423, the Kingdom of Hetland had completed its dredging of the Útsin estuary, and officially opened the St. Lyvan Canal. Prior to this, trade up the eastern mouth of the Zlowiće river had been limited by relatively shallow waters and difficult, seasonal navigation. After the opening of the Canal, however, river trade could bypass Syrvanian customs, resulting in significant loss of revenue from tariffs. This caused the debate over ownership of the delta region, chiefly the Myrszy Duchy, to further intensify. While it had largely been considered to be owned by Hetland, it contained a significant Sivak and Syrvanian-speaking population, as well as a historic claim from before the Pansk Schism.

### Dobyow Ferry Incident

Diplomatic tensions over Myrszy culminated in the Dobyow Ferry Incident in 442, during which several Syrvanian expatriates and Leersogites were shot by Hettic troops as they crossed the river into Syrvania, having been suspected of sabotage and conspiracy to incite rebellion. As the specific location of the border was still disagreed upon, the Kingdom of Syrvania declared it an act of Hettic aggression, and moved to secure their interests in Myrszy. This was, in turn, seen by Hetland as an invasion without a formal declaration, thus marking the beginning of the war.

## Course of the war

### 442

* **Dobyow Ferry Incident:** Twelve Syrvanians and Leersogites are killed by Hettic soldiers as they make their way west across the river Zlowiće by boat. Captain Eugen Klahss, leading the detachment responsible, claims men were fugitive members of a conspiracy seeking to incite violence and disorder in the Myrszy Duchy. King Szamoz III of Syrvania declares this to be murder of Syrvanian citizens on Syrvanian soil, announces full annexation of Myrszy to enforce peace.
* Syrvania sends troops into Myrszy Duchy, eliminating Hettic resistance within three days. King Petyr IV of Hetland decries this as an invasion without declaration of war.
* **Ćerzieg's Crossing at Mazdokiy:** Hetland begins counter-invasion of Syrvania with a boat crossing at the town of Mazdokiy, under command of General Markos Ćerzieg. Town is seized overnight and is used as a staging point for Hettic forces, resupplied by riverboats and a pontoon bridge.
* Syrvanian troops occupy Myrszy and lay siege to St. Lyvan.

### 443

* **Siege of St. Lyvan:** Syrvanian troops capture St. Lyvan. Syrvanian Army uses the city as a staging area for invasion into Hetland.
* Hettic invasion of Syrvania to the north is repulsed as river resupply is cut off and Syrvanian forces advance from the south.
* Hettic forces begin to lose initiative and begin to rout east.
* War at sea begins.
* **First Battle of the Útsin:** Hettic Navy attempts to blockade St. Lyvan, but is intercepted by a Syrvanian fleet, including ironclads. Hettic fleet is forced to withdraw. Syrvanian Navy holds the Útsin estuary.

### 444

* **First Battle of Ludow:** Hettic forces, including those under General Ćerzieg, regroup at Ludow. Syrvanian forces launch a spoiling attack before Ćerzieg's forces can begin a counteroffensive. Bulk of Hettic forces manage to escape as Ćerzieg and his forces hold the city, lasting for two weeks before sallying out after supplies were depleted. Resulting battle results in Hettic defeat, Syrvania captures Ludow.
* Hettic Army is pushed back to the Diska river.
* **Battle of Labwun:** Syrvanian army begins laying siege to Labwun. After a month, Labwun successfully resists siege, Hettic counterstroke begins from Labwun and further north as reinforcements arrive to the south, flanking the besieging Syrvanian forces.
* Syrvanian Navy blockades ports of Lingaen and Tába.
* Hettic navy withdraws to meet with Bressian allies and form a counterattack.
* **Reversal Along the Diska:** Syrvanian forces near Labwun are routed as Hettic counteroffensive begins pushing west.

### 445

* **Battle of the Hetland Blockade:** Tába blockade defeated by Hettic navy; Lingaen blockade redirected to engage, sunk in surprise attack by Bressian ships before departure.
* **Second Battle of Ludow:** Syrvanian army pulls back to Ludow, where they are besieged by the Hettic Army. Siege lasts a week before Syrvanian reinforcements are intercepted and defeated, followed by the forces occupying the city.
* **The Great Iron Foundering:** Remainder of the Syrvanian Navy musters in St. Lyvan and sails out to Tába, before engaging the Hettic fleet with its Bressian allies off of Tába. Syrvanian fleet, including ironclads, is sunk in its entirety. This battle would mark the end of the Syrvanian Navy until after the beginning of the Westenlands Wars.
* Hettic and Bressian fleet moves to blockade St. Lyvan.
* Syrvanian army in full retreat; pushed back across the Zlowiće river. Hettic forces retake St. Lyvan and reoccupy Myrszy Duchy by year's end.

### 446

* Stalemate along the Zlowiće; Hettic Army encounters fierce resistance along the banks of the Zlowiće river and are unable to cross.
* Hettic forces in Myrszy lay siege to Gdnowy, denying Syrvanian access to the Zlowiće river.
* Hettic-Bressian combined fleet aids in siege with a blockade, and begin bombardment of Syrvanian coastal towns further west.
* Bressian Royal Marines land at the mouth of the Pordski, attacking lines of supply and communication going to Leersog.
* **Razing of Pansk:** Hettic troops land with Bressian marines in the Syrvanian capital of Pansk by boat, raiding various points outside the city and along the canal. While causing little meaningful damage, the raid effectively brings about the end of the war.
* Razing of Pansk prompts a mass withdrawal of Syrvanian forces from the Zlowice. Isolated pockets of Syrvanian forces are captured or destroyed as bulk of forces move back across the Podan river.
* **The Podan Treaty:** King Szamoz III sues for peace due to shortages of soldiers and materiel. Syrvania is forced to concede their holdings in Leersog to Hetland.