Great Sky War

The Great Sky War (2568 to 2575) saw the Pallathantic Region change from subject princedoms and republics to numerous independent and semi-independent states. The conflict is called 'The Great Sky War' as most of its conflicts were skyborne, aerial power being the foundation of the New Kalikán Empire.

The Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact divided the Pallathantic into the New Kalikán Empire and the Gorcorumbese Empire of the Ephysgæes.

The rulers of Skerrod who had formerly sworn fealty to the Emperor of the Kalikán changed their allegiance in 2566 to the Skymark and stopped sending tribute to the Thracian Emperor. The Empire's forces occupied Skerrod and the Skymark declared war on the Kalikán Empire. In the beginning, Duchy of Asbardy and the Duchy of Aurice both remained loyal to the Kalikán Empire. By the end of the war, the Duchy of Asbardy gained independence.

The New Kalikán Empire came to an end and dismantlement with the Great Sky War, 2568 to 2575. A succession of defeats for the Kalikán (Battle of Pytharnia, Second Battle of Jardonia, Battle of Borenlas) brought about the capitulation of the empire and the settlement of the Treaty of Tauhad (2576), which saw the coronation of the first ruler of the Empire of Magdala.

The Great Sky War saw the end of the imperial sky powers ascending from the ashes of the Middle Ages of Chaos, namely the Medibgóëse, the Kalikán (Vankkagomir, Khabur), and, by way of foreshadowing, the Gorcorumbese Geddamin.

Internal discord pitted Loyalists to the Kalikán Rulers against Reformers who struggled to establish a Commonwealth. Among the Reformers were factions who supported the Empire and factions who opposed it. On the frontier of the Empire, the skyforce fought the Skymark Federation and rebellious subjects, including the Duke of Asbardy. These three groups can be broadly categorized into imperialists, constitutionalists, and defectors.

Technology used included skycraft, dragonmount warfare, some titancraft vessels, and dwarvenfire.

Belligerents

Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

Main article: Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

• Empire of the Kalikán
• Empire of Gorcorumb

Fractious Princes and their Allies

• Skymark Federation (after 2573, Skymark Commonwealth)
• Duchy of Asbardy (after liberation), Agairth Srunamba
• League of Pytharnia (predecessor to Empire of Magdala)
• Aurice
• Osfandia

Major Battles of the Great Sky War

Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

Main article: Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

Related Conflicts

• Annexation of the Shadevan
• Ephysgæan Uprising
• Fifth Geddamin War
• Skaligdæse War
• Tocturian Revolt

Chronology of the Great Sky War

Main article: Chronology of the Great Sky War

2550

• 2557, Baimund Kaligär slays Thortain Balamon in a duel and becomes viceregal duke of Aurice. Thrace does not openly embrace him and he later becomes an outlawed duke.

2560

• 2565, Baimund Kaligär defeats viceregal duke of Erserce in personal combat and expands his dominion into southern Erserce. Thrace privately determines to eliminate him.

• Fourth Geddamin War (2568 to 2581)

• 2568 Thracian Occupation of Skerrod

Rulers of Skerrod switch allegiance from Kalikán to Skymark; The Kalikán believe the change is unlawful and occupy Skerrod; Skymark declares war against the Kalikán.

2568

• 2568 Fourth Geddamin War begins (2568 to 2581)

2569

• 2569 Battle of Deumonstil

Thracian Victory against Skymark

• 2569 Battle of Mustrin (2569)

Thracian Victory against uhlaks, under viceregal duke of Aurice, Baimund Kaligär.

2570

• 2570 Battle of Chaguelin Forest

Thracian Victory, but they do not follow up because their leaders know of the renewal of their pact with the Gorcorumbese

• 2570 Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

Thrace yields rule of Erechóreb and Ithatia (except Gliri) to the Gorcorumbese Empire. This move offends many throughout the empire as a kind of betrayal of humans.

2571

• 2571 Battle of Mount Prasthorre

Skymark attempts to defeat Gorcorumbese in Erechóreb. Gorcorumb victorious. Battle considered part of both the Great Sky War and the Fourth Geddamin War.

2572

• 2572 Autumn of 2572 (year begins on summer solstice), formation of League of Pytharnia which forms the nucleus of the later Empire of Magdala. The League members acknowledge Griovain Llyffclaw as military commander. He directs the forces of the league along with his son, Medibglame.

2573

• 2573 King Emperor Ädaz Vädukund of Thrace dies, aged 66. His son, Ondaz Ädazund, becomes King Emperor of Thrace

• 2573 Battle of Pytharnia

Skymark Allies fight on the side of the League of Pytharnia, battle takes place over Trevirs, pushes back Thracian Skyforce

• 2573 Baimund Kaligär, outlawed ruler of Aurice, positions his forces against Thrace in behalf of the League of Pytharnia. Duke Kadvast Jafferund Agdaisak of Aurice and Duke Baimund Kaligär both die on opposite sides in Battle of Pytharnia (2573).

• 2573 Heartened by the Battle of Pytharnia, Agairth Srunamba leads nobles in rebellion and overthrows the Thracian Viceregal Duke of Asbardy. They declare independence and ally with Skymark, Agairth Srunamba rallies rebellious factions of Empire and becomes the native ducal ruler of Asbardy, that is, not appointed by Thrace.

2574

• 2574 Second Battle of Jardonia (2574)

Rather than waste forces again over Trevirs, the Thracians decide to punish Agairth Srunamba and his Skymark allies. They wish to regain his powerful dragon knight warriors and then to use Bryndyd as a platform to launch a punitive expedition against the Skymark. They believe that if they defeat the Skymark, the League of Pytharnia will crumble. Allies crush combined force of Thrace and Gorcorumb, secure sovereignty of new Duke of Asbardy

• 2474 Medibglame Llyffclaw, son of Griovain Llyffclaw, becomes leader of the League of Pytharnia

• 2574 Masdalikkan Khucha leads peasants in uprising against the king

• 2574 Revolutionaries renounce the Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact

2575

• 2575 Battle of Borenlas (2575)

The allies press their advantage and begin their campaign against Thrace proper.

• 2575 Battle of Gondsnorp

Fought only a few days after the Battle of Borenlas, this victory ensures the skyforces of the allies will have a free corridor with which to enter Thrace. The sky tribes of the Shadmaus and Jamenth declare independence from the King of Thrace.

• 2575 Battle of Thrace

Militarily outnumbered, the native Thracians fight to defend their land. Meanwhile, the commoners and farmers march in a revolution against the imperial capital of Dzan Kahisa. Agents of Stalcast Bijäl secretly remove royal family to protect them from harm. Masdalikkan Khucha slain.

• 2575 to 2578 Occupation of Thrace 2575 to 2578

• 2576 Treaty of Tauhad (2576)

• 2576 Gorcorumb adopts new strategy in the Fourth Geddamin War

• 2581 Fourth Geddamin War ends in a truce

• 2582 Fifth Geddamin War (2582 to 2586)

Not part of the Great Sky War, but a consequence of Thrace's defeat. The Grand Duchy of Aurice and her allies defeat the Gorcorumbese Empire.

Sources

Primary Sources

• Dragonback Warriors, Cathag dhal Airvain Bismeargha, 2582
• Victory over Trevirs, Ariglas dhal Iustragvain Caflaga, 2581

Secondary Sources

• The Asbardian Revolt against Thrace, Iblaigath dhal Dwail Mighir, 2646
• Asbardian Dragon Knights in the Great Sky War, Iblaigath dhal Dwail Mighir, 2638
• Asbards in the Battle of Pytharnia, Iblaigath dhal Dwail Mighir, 2640
• The Battle of Pytharnia One Hundred Years Later, Ontairgain dalg Mehailgean, 2674
• The Golden Age of Dragonmount Warfare in Pytharnia and Barathorn, 2671
• Kalikán Kingship of Thrace and the Imperial Apparatus in the Twenty Sixth Century
• Prince Agairth Srunamba (Book), Iblaigath dhal Dwail Mighir, 2642

See Also

• Asbardy
• Empire of Magdala
• Geddamin Wars
• Kalikán-Ephysgæes Pact (2570)
• League of Pytharnia
• New Kalikán Empire