Lakoni-Styrian Wars

## **Overview**

The origin of the Lakoni-Styrian rivalries come from a single parchment sent to the Prolesian senators from Styria;

*"Bequeath unto me a crown worthy of an Emperor, or I shall, with army in tow, dismantle your prestigious positions with precision not seen in history before." - Merovius, the First Merovingian*

The collapse of the Prolesian Empire left many ambitious leaders wanting. Merovius, Magistrate General of the remnant Prolesian armies was sent forth to reclaim the Styrium Prefect to unify the Lakonian lands in the south with the Prolesian lands to the north. Battling day after day, Styria was liberated - yet Merovius believed he would receive little, and the Styrians demanded him be made Emperor.

## **The First Lakoni-Styrian War (38 - 46 MK)**

The First Lakoni-Styrian War is often made of legend. Documents and all accounts of this war seemingly only told by tongue and left by footnote. Though significantly understudied, this war would see Styria triple in its size both through the north, and the south. Battles in the now cities of Manning, and Rusevollen would be conclusive in this war. Many dynasties that were insignificant grew more potent, and after the treaties which saw Myzaea lose countless territories arranged a permanent rivalry between one another.

Famous General Stillicho Tzmantouros had participated in this war, and before the war he hadn't seen defeat. The destruction of his army at the hands of Emperor Merovius spelled the doom for Myzaea's success throughout this war.

The First Lakoni-Styrian War lasted only eight years sometime between 38 - 46 MK.

## **The Second Lakoni-Styrian War (98 - 122 MK)**

The peace between the Styrians and Myzaeans were tenuous at best. Unlike the First Lakoni-Styrian War, its unfortunate sequel was incredibly well-documented. Infamously the war began with the burning of Styria's entire southern fleet which was based in Midendorf. The burning of the fleet included the capture of the prominent general Allister Dracheryon. These events all transpired in 98 MK, and before the Myzaean Empire formally declared war on the Styrians.

Surviving sources claim that the burning of the Styrian fleet had been so surgical and brutal, and the flame used had been extracted from wyverns. The water along the coast had burned hot long after the galleys sunk.

Unlike the First Lakoni-Styrian War, the campaigns would wage all throughout the old Prolesian lands. Naval officers, to peasant infantry became infamous and legendary, most formed their own family houses.

The entire campaign had been waged with the Styrians on the backfoot. While the Styrians were surprised and battle was waged all throughout the continent, the western pretenders clung desperately to all they held. Every battle waged, the Myzaeans paid dearly for it. The common saying of "mud on red grass" descends from this war, for nearly every major city across old Prolesia had a skirmish, or battle.

   When discussing the Lakoni-Styrian Wars, this war is always the one most referred to. Heroes such as Gerald the Gilded, to Haakon the Betrayer, and Lothair the Lakonian. Many of these heroes have a variety of stories to them, most fiction. The very end of this war however saw the Myzaeans victor, though at the cost of their northern holdings finally dissipating to the hands of the Andals and Varandians. The war's end concluded the "Prolesian Empire" officially, and by 122 MK, the Empire of Myzaea and the Republics of Prolesia would come into existence.