First Laiatanese-Vulshainian War

First Laiatanese-Vulshainian War
Date June 8, 1889 - January 10, 1892 (2 years, 7 months, 3 days) Location Southern Itur, Gulf of Itur Result Laiatanese victory, Treaty of Volkgoroda Vulshainian invasion of Laiatan repelled Subsequent Laiatanese invasion of Vulshain repelled Armistice and peace treaty signed
Belligerents
Laiatanese Federation	Confederacy of Vulshain
Commanders and leaders
Aleksy Zukov Vadik Derzhavin
Strength
1,950,000 men	1,710,000 men
Casualties and losses
104,000 dead 116,000 wounded 3,830 missing Total: 223,830+ casualties	117,000 dead 124,000 wounded 4,920 missing Total: 245,920+ casualties
Civilian casualties 76,159 dead, 137,900 wounded, 15,000 missing

The First Laiatanese-Vulshainian War, also known as the Great Defensive War (Laiatanese: Великая оборонительная война, tr. Velikaya oboronitel'naya voyna) in Laiatan, was a war fought between the fledgling Laiatanese Federation and the Confederacy of Vulshain from the summer of 1889 to the beginning of 1892. The war began when Vulshain invaded Laiatan in an attempt to reestablish the monarchy that Laiatan dissolved the year prior. The war resulted in a Laiatanese victory, with all Vulshainian forces being expelled from the country.

Background

The Emperor of Laiatan, Yuri IV was assassinated July 8, 1887 during a public event in the imperial capital of Volkgoroda. In the face of an impending constitutional crisis dealing with the line of succession, the military seized control of the government and established a regency council made up of military and civilian leaders to maintain stability. This seizure prevented the collapse of the empire, and following a nine-month conference in Volkgoroda a democratic government was established with a revised constitution.

Neighboring Vulshain, a monarchy, saw the events unfolding in Laiatan and felt threatened by the surge of democratic fervor within the nation. Vulshain also supported Yuri IV's son to become Emperor, as the country had worked extensively with him as Imperavich. Tensions increased as the Vulshainian diplomats pushed the democratic government to re-establish the monarchy and place Yuri V on the throne. The Laiatanese federal government cut back diplomatic staff to Vulshain and filed a formal complaint to the Vulshainian government on December 29, 1888.

Tensions continued to deteriorate, and Vulshain cut diplomatic ties June 7, 1889 and invaded Laiatan in a coordinated, surprise attack the next day.

Armies

The Laiatanese Imperial Army could muster two million men at its height, which it did so during the Constitution Crisis in order to maintain stability in 1887/1888. At the start of the war, the Laiatanese Defense Forces had a total strength of 1.2 million men. This number would reach its height by the middle of the war, with 1.9 million troops fielded. The Laiatanese Navy maintained a strong fleet, with the ability to defend coastal areas and land troops.

The Vulshainian Army mustered nearly 1.6 million troops at the start of the war, nearly exhausting the Laiatanese front lines as hostilities opened. Vulshain also maintained a decently powerful fleet, engaging the Laiatanese fleet along the coast.

Major commanders

Vadik Derzhavin - Laiatanese Supreme Commander
Edik Kartashov - Laiatanese General, Southern Sector

War

Hostilities began on June 8, 1889 when the Vulshainian Navy engaged the Laiatanese fleet anchored in the port town of Burakova, heavily damaging several of the cruisers and destroyers in port. The Vulshainians also targeted the armory and guard post in town, nearly destroying it. A large portion of the town was also destroyed in the bombardment.

At the about the same time, Vulshainian soldiers attacked the border town of Katikha, pushing the Laiatanese garrison out of the town and deep into Laiatanese territory. An estimated 3,500 Laiatanese troops were killed in the fighting, while civilians were hit just as hard.

1889

1890

1891

1892

The war did not last long into 1892, coming to an end on January 10, 1892. There were no major battles to take place during the first ten days of the year, though skirmishes continued along the border. The last shot of the war was fired on January 12, 1892.

Aftermath

	Laiatanese Federation
Main article: Laiatan
Important Topics: Culture ♦ Lupine ♦ Laiatanese language ♦ Mahitou ♦ Laiatanese korona ♦ Defense Forces
Government: Cabinet ♦ Federation Assembly ♦ Federal Council ♦ People's Council ♦ President ♦ Supreme Federal Court ♦ Political Parties
History: Pre-Mahigan Laiatan ♦ Kingdom of Laiatan ♦ Laiatanese Empire ♦ Laiatanese Junta ♦ Laiatanese Federation
Important Figures (Past and Present): Yuliya Surkova ♦ Zakhar Kreskov ♦ Aleksey Zukov ♦ Yuri IV ♦ Katerina I ♦ Nika Alkaev ♦ Yura Lainov