The First Sunlandic War

[Weisserstein]

The First Sunlandic War, also known as to 50 Years War or the Krestin War, was a military conflict between states within the First Sunlandic Confederation from 979 to 1029. The conflict was caused by growing dissatisfaction amongst the nobles regarding the authoritarian rule of the House of Ruchsen, who wished to place the confederation under their full control.

First Sunlandic Confederation	Grand Alliance
Kingdom of Sunveria	Kingdom of Grania
Duchy of Sundasval	Duchy of Krestin (became part of the Kingdom of Grania in 1001)
Duchy of Sunveria-Ringen	Archduchy of Pratigen
Mark of Tansen	Duchy of Weibnen-Ludenburg (became part of the Grand Duchy of Weibnen in 1004)
Mark of Descany	Duchy of Weibnen-Karlsdorf (became part of the Grand Duchy of Weibnen in 1004)
Duchy of Verdaren	Mark of Weisen
Principality of the Linne (before 995)	Archduchy of Riverion
Kingdom of the Sunverein	Principality of Weibnen-Linne (became part of the Grand Duchy of Weibnen in 1004)
Kingdom of Sunveria-Zussen	Kingdom of Grania-Zussen (became part of the Kingdom of Grania in 1001)
Mark of Warneburg	Free and Independent City of Aezenville (unified with the Principality of Answerp to form the Archduchy of New Riverion in 1010)
Principality of Mare	Principality of Mardeburg (became part of the Grand Duchy of Weibnen in 1029)
Sunlandic City of Hofstadt (before 1002)	Principality of Leekfurt
Kingdom of Sochrefell	Free, Independent, and Superb Republican City of Graninskhaven (became part of the Kingdom of Grania in 1001)
The Sunlandic Loyalist Republic of Aldrich (until 997)	City-Republic of Aldrich
	Free City of Hofstadt (after 1002)
	Principality of the Linne (after 995)
	Principality of Answerp] (unified with the Free and Independent City of Aezenville to form the Archduchy of New Riverion in 1010)

Royal Families

House of Ruchsen
House of Gotha
House of Weibnen
House of Hoffs
House of Kirch

In 1029, following the disastrous campaign of Conrad of Sunveria, then King of Sunveria and Regent of the Confederation, the First Sunlandic Confederation and the Grand Alliance signed the First Peace of Aezenville. The treaty saw the reintegration of the realms of the House of Gotha, while realms controlled by the House of Weibnen and House of Hoffs gain semi-independent autonomous status and were exempt from Confederate Decrees made by the Regent of the Confederation as well as rights to elect Regents, and realms under the House of Kirch gaining full sovereignty in its soil.

The House of Ruchsen, however, did not heed to the First Peace of Aezenville, which led to the Second Sunlandic Wars in 1054, which saw the realms controlled by the House of Weibnen, the House of Hoffs, and the House of Gotha gain full independence from the confederation.

[Weisserstein]

Background

Ruchsen Domination
The First Sunlandic Confederation was formed in 812, when several nobles within the Sunlandic highlands swore fealty to Arnold, then ruler of Sunveria, the largest of the Sunlandic realms, and the founder of the House of Ruchsen.

After the formation, the First Sunlandic Confederation expanded its borders via conquest. Under the campaigns of 815 Arnold conquered the Granian realms, as well as Weibnen in 822.

Through the years, the House of Ruchsen became more and more domineering in their authority. With most non-Sunlandic, or more precisely non-Ruchsen, realms having little to no authority within their own borders. This caused discontent amongst the nobles, especially within these non-Ruchsen realms.

Ascension of Arnulf of Sunveria

(Arnulf, Regent of the Confederation, 962-984)

In 962, Arnulf was elected by the Confederate Senate as the Regent of the Confederation. His election sparked protest from the other Houses, as they were not informed of the election.

Similarly, his predecessors also used this strategy to make sure the other Houses do not gain prominence within the Confederation. While in the past this was met with little to no resistance, this time the other Houses fought back, much to the Ruchsen’s surprise.

It remains unclear what had happened to change the other Houses’ attitude during his ascension. Some theorists believe the other Houses were simply fed up, while others believe the rulers of the other Houses during this period were very competent and politically active, which led to protests against the other Houses being barred prom politically participate in the election.

The Krestin Demands
The ascension of Arnulf angered the other Houses, as his election was not informed to the other Houses, meaning they weren’t aware of the election. One of these Houses was the House of Hoffs, who ruled the areas of Grania and Krestin.

The then Duke of Krestin, Henry, made demands towards the ruling House of Ruchsen regarding the rights of the other Houses within the realm amongst others in late 978, posting these demands to the front gate of his castle. He then called the ruling Ruchsen that if they didn’t heed his call, Krestin would no longer swear fealty to the Regent.

In 979, after falling out completely with the Ruchsen, Henry declares his small castle and it’s surrounding villages independent from the Confederation, making Krestin the first realm to declare it’s independence from the Confederation since it’s creation. The Regent, Arnulf, would later send his brother John, then Duke of Sundasval, to subdue the rebellious Henry. This event would spark the First Sunlandic War.