Second Commerce Wars

The Second Commerce Wars were a series of battles and campaigns engaged in by the Aurian Empires military to expand its borders. They are called the Commerce Wars because they combined military pressure and economic pressure to bring more states under the influence, and eventually the control, of the expanding Aurian Empire.

## Background and Origin

The Second Commerce Wars could only happen because of the First Commerce Wars and the Unification Wars. These previous wars gave Auria an understanding of how effective it was to exert military pressure along with the benefits of Auria's massive trading empire.

The War of Thorns on the other hand partially broke Jomark the first Emperor and he had to bring it to an end his only real major 'defeat' (Technically Auria still won the war, but got no where near the gains it had started with as its goal).

Jomark's son Nicholas-Mark I felt a great need to expand and add to the Empire his father had founded in order to make something of his own legend in the largest of paternal shadows. The taking of the Protectorates as soft targets and geographically away from Torash was effective. The renaming of the armies used as the Protectorate Forces under Lorn Hunter was also a precursor to the founding of the Protectorans many years later. Nicholas-Mark I really wanted these legacy moments. So he pushed for it.

It is also true that the acquiring of Rak Danning was seen as crucial to the Ro'Tier. These wars wanted that as their eventual goal as it was a rival in trade and influence.

These wars solidify Tor Honarik's position as the leader of the Empire.

## Key Individuals

* Nicholas-Mark I
* Lorn Hunter

## Major Events

The Wars are considered by historians to run from 43-48PE.

In 39PE: Jomark died. Following his death, Jomark's grandson Nicholas-Mark I was ‘elected’ by the Ro'Tier to be the new Emperor. Wishing to match his grandfather or at least be remembered for something other than being second he embarked on a campaign of trade and a military war of expansion. These are called the **Second Commerce Wars**. Importantly, Torash was not attacked. Many believed that this state of warfare would simply continue until all eventually fell beneath Auria's feet.

43PE: The Second Commerce Wars begin in earnest with Auria taking chunks of what are now called the Protectorates.

End of 43- early 44PE: The fall of the dwarvern nation of Golmhaven leaves thousands of refugees traveling north and west. Middleholm which is the human city on the Golmhaven site doesn't fall till later in the year.

Mid 44PE: After a year of fighting against the Empire Protectorans under Lorn Hunter, Middleholm falls. The old dwarvern nation of Golmhaven is swept away entirely from the land. Thousands of refugees are left traveling north and west. There is an effort in Rak Danning to simply join Auria but it is uncovered my the current First Dann and brought to an end. The dwarves who live in the area are particularly anti-Aurian. The Protectorate Forces therefore take an increasing hard line with dwarvern defenders.

There is an effort in Rak Danning to simply join Auria but it is uncovered my the current First Dann and brought to an end. The dwarvern faction of the city are particularly anti-Aurian. This makes the Ro'Tier and Nicholas Mark believe that Rak Danning will have to be taken militarily.

Late 44PE: The assault on the elven fastness of Weatherdark is resisted not only by fully trained elven rangers, but also by druids (The Shrouded) and Itali the Pantherlord Eternal Roar, the Lionlord Titansmane and the Equinelord Tallwalker.

For the first time, the Emperor formalises the use of wizards in the armies as a balance between Tor Kalash and Tor Armakan. He also mobilised clerics in large numbers for the first time in a hostile campaign. As well as being militarily sound, this is seen as a clever political move by later historians. Some powerful artifacts are recovered and taken to Tor Celer when Weatherdark is taken.

46PE: Marshal of the Empire, Lorn Hunter leads the Aurian Empire on the Rak Danning Campaign. He stages the campaign from Middleholm a city he only took in 44PE two years earlier. As the main base from which this campaign is launched he highly fortified it to replace the damage done in its recent fall. This will later result in the Black Protectoran founding a military academy in Middleholm.

Late 47PE: Rak Danning is besieged.

48PE: The Emperor and the Sapphire Wizards' Guild formalise the use of wizards in the military and officially create the arcane/military cycle for Sarrifs. All apprentices must serve for a season in the military and Sarrifs can be called upon once in each five year cycle.

## Legacy

One of the results of the Second Commerce Wars success was the unsuccessful Forked Offensive in 50PE.