Avenian Civil War

The **Avenian Civil War**, also known as the **Canian War of Independence** in Cania, was a civil war between the government of Avenia and a coalition of ethnic rebel groups, but grew to drag several great powers, Kaden, Auriroux, and Vineland, into the war against Avenia. It lasted from September 1st, 1894 to January 3rd, 1898, when the government was forced to sign the Treaty of Estrero.

## Background

Western Cania was a majority German speaking part of Avenia that had a population sympathetic to Vineland. It was thought by the Vinnish government that an independent Cania would fall into Vineland's sphere of influence. A plan to arm Canian rebels with Vinnish weapons was made in early 1894. Codenamed Operation Carpio, named after the Canian word for salmon, was a plan to smuggle weapons to a Canian rebel group called the Cane League. Carpio was officially started on May 10th, 1894, and lasted until August 10th, 1894. Around 10,000 rifles, 8,000 handguns, and over 1,000,000 rounds were delivered into the country, with 10-20 percent being confiscated by Avenian authorities. By August, it was estimated that 13,000-18,000 rebels were in possession of a firearm.

## War

### Battle of Segena

Although there had been an effective resistance movement fighting the Avenian government for nearly a decade, it's widely agreed that the war properly started on September 1st with the capture of the city hall in Segena by forces of the Cane League. The battle for the city hall was sparked by a riot following the arrest of 1,200 Canians in late August who were suspected to be "engaging in revolutionary activities". The fight began to expand to the entire city as the Avenian army responded but quickly found themselves surrounded by Canian rebels. By September 4th, a blockade of Segena was organized to prevent the uprising from spreading, however it began to fall apart as contingents of Cane League fighters from other parts of Cania began to arrive. The blockade dissolved by September 12th when an order to withdraw was given to the Avenian army in Segena. At that point, Cane League rebels in Segena were estimated to be 6,000-9,000 in strength.

In the following weeks, rebellions would spring up in towns across Cania. Major uprisings in Savia, Port Leo, and Parero, resulted in the Avenian army withdrawing most of their forces in Cania to Estrero and Port Leo. Despite the Avenian Port Leo being in Cane League control by September 14th, the city was recaptured on September 16th. Withdrawing Avenian forces occasionally encountered Cane League groups and short skirmishes were common. Avenian supply lines and infantry columns were frequently harassed by Cane League forces. Between September 12th and September 30th, Avenian forces took around 10,000 casualties from the withdraw.

After Segena was taken, the Cane League forces in control of Segena were organized into the Free Canian Army under the command of General Raymon Suarez, a former Avenian general who was discharged in 1892 for sympathizing with Canians. By October, the Avenian army numbered 100,000, however only 40,000 were defending against Cane League as the majority of the army was preventing further uprisings from spreading to the rest of Avenia. At the same time, the Cane League had around 15,000-20,000 official volunteers, although the number of active partisans across Cania and Avenia is much larger, estimated to have been around 40,000.

### Siege of Port Leo

At the start of October, 1894, Cane League forces in Savia and Perero were organized into the 2nd and 3rd Canian Armies put under command of generals Jacinto Cardoso and Edmundo Moura respectively. By October 16th, both armies had gathered around Port Leo, previously under Canian control before being retaken in September, to retake the city. Avenian forces in Port Leo numbered 12,000 and were cut off from the rest of the Avenian Army, leading to a severe lack of supplies. Meanwhile Canian forces were between 8,000-10,000 between the two armies. Cardoso and Moura initially disagreed in how to take the city, Cardoso wanting to attack directly and storm the city, while Moura preferred a more drawn out approach. Eventually they were ordered to follow Moura's plan by Suarez, whom they both saw as their superior, and a siege of the city began on October 20th.