History of the Strait of Haifa

The history of the Strait of Haifa is divided into distinct periods, beginning with the Ancient History of the region, characterized by the rise and fall of nations like the Kingdom of Normark. The Modern History of the Southern Strait is defined by the emergence of the pirate collective, the Maritime Markets of the Strait of Haifa, and the eventual rise and collapse of the Haifo-Pallisican Imperial Trade Union. The Modern History of the Northern Strait is defined by the War of the Harpy, fought between the Bassarids and Natopia, which led to the rise of Bassaridia Vaeringheim and its expansion northward. These eras highlight the strait's importance as a highly contested geopolitical and economic region.

Modern History of the Southern Strait of Haifa

Collapse of the Free State of Haifa

The collapse of the Free State of Haifa in the early 34th Era PSSC (16th Century AN), caused a power vacuum in the southern Strait of Haifa, which was quickly exploited by pirate factions. Without centralized governance, these pirates seized control of vital trade routes. Trade between Keltia, Corum, and Eura was severely disrupted as rogue factions dominated the region. Lawlessness and instability spread, as the pirates profited from the region’s strategic maritime location, establishing themselves as the primary controllers of commerce.

Establishment of the Maritime Markets

In 34.05 PSSC (1639 AN), pirate factions consolidated their control over the region by establishing the Maritime Markets of the Strait of Haifa. These pirate-run trade hubs operated independently of formal authority, in places such as Jogi, Mylecia, and Blore Heath, offering sanctuary for smugglers and merchants dealing in illicit goods. The Maritime Markets quickly became the center of a lucrative, rogue economy, with trade linking the east. The pirate councils that governed the markets managed to maintain a balance of power among rival factions, allowing the system to operate efficiently despite the absence of external control. The Maritime Markets flourished in this chaotic environment, becoming essential to the regional economy while evading efforts by external powers to reassert control.

The Maritime Markets Join the Bassarids

By 36.81 PSSC (1656 AN), the Bassarids recognized the importance of the Maritime Markets of the Strait of Haifa and sought to bring them into their sphere of influence. Initially resistant, the pirate factions ultimately agreed to align with the Bassarids in exchange for military protection and economic support. This partnership allowed the Bassarids to tap into the wealth generated by the pirate-controlled trade routes, while the pirates benefitted from the stability and backing of a powerful empire. In return, the pirates helped enforce Bassarid economic policies and promoted the Stripping Path, the dominant religious philosophy of the empire. However, tensions persisted, as the pirates retained considerable autonomy, often prioritizing their own interests over those of the Bassarids.

War of the Harpy

The War of the Harpy, which began in 36.63 PSSC (1655 AN), was a pivotal conflict between the Bassarids and Natopia. Focused on securing control over northern trade routes, the war forced the Bassarids to divert military resources away from the southern Strait of Haifa. This weakened Bassarid influence in the region, allowing pirate factions and insurgents to consolidate their power. The reduced military presence enabled these groups to expand their control over the Maritime Markets, further destabilizing the region. By the end of the war, Bassarid authority in the southern strait had diminished significantly, leading to widespread unrest and increased pirate activity.

Formation of the Bassarid Periphery

In the aftermath of the War of the Harpy, the Bassarids faced mounting difficulties in regaining control over their southern territories. Around 38.90 PSSC (1668 AN), the Bassarid Periphery began to take shape, marking the initial stages of the empire's fragmentation. This loose federation of semi-independent states, including Vaeringheim, nominally remained under Bassarid influence, but operated with increasing autonomy. The Periphery was intended to preserve Bassarid control over its far-flung territories, but in reality, it signified the empire's decline. The Periphery was formally established in the mid-41st Era PSSC (~1684 AN), as these regions asserted more control over their own affairs, reducing the Bassarids' ability to project power in the southern Strait of Haifa.

Haifan Civil War

The Haifan Civil War broke out in 38.90 PSSC (1668 AN), spurred by nationalist movements such as the Greater Morovian Independence Initiative, which sought to expel Bassarid influence from their territories. The civil war was marked by intense guerrilla warfare, with pirate factions and insurgents seizing the opportunity to expand their influence in the southern Strait of Haifa. The New Zimian War League was deployed by the Bassarids to suppress these uprisings, but their forces were overstretched, and Jezeri rebels proved resilient. The southern strait descended into further chaos, with the Bassarids unable to regain full control of the region as pirate and insurgent forces continued to operate with impunity.

Post-War Instability and the Decline of the Bassarids

In the aftermath of the Haifan Civil War, the Bassarids faced mounting challenges in maintaining control over their vast empire. The southern Strait of Haifa, once a key part of their trade network, had again become a haven for rogue pirate factions who operated unchecked. Across Keltia, Corum, and Eura, former Bassarid territories became increasingly autonomous, leading to the gradual fragmentation of the empire. The Bassarid Periphery, meant to stabilize these regions, became a symbol of the empire's decline, as semi-independent states within it began to govern themselves. With their resources spread too thin and their military unable to quell the growing unrest, the Bassarids saw their trade empire begin to disintegrate, setting the stage for further conflicts.

Wars of the Disinherited

By 46.95 PSSC (1717 AN), the collapse of Bassarid control over its territories led to the eruption of the Wars of the Disinherited. These conflicts, which spread across the east, involved former Bassarid citizens, pirate factions, and foreign colonizers fighting for control of the fragmented empire’s lands. Bassaridia Vaeringheim, which had emerged as an independent state during this period, focused on consolidating its power and securing its borders. Rather than directly engaging in the broader conflicts, Bassaridia Vaeringheim concentrated on establishing its own authority. The Wars of the Disinherited signified the final fragmentation of the Bassarid Empire, as competing factions vied for control of its former territories.

Operation Thunder Drop

In 46.78 PSSC (1716 AN), the Imperial Federation (IF) launched Operation Thunder Drop to restore order in the southern Strait of Haifa. This operation targeted pirate factions and insurgents that had gained control of key trade routes left vulnerable after the collapse of the Bassarids. Despite the IF’s participation in the Raspur Pact, which had historically opposed Bassarid interests, the relationship between the Imperial Federation and Bassaridia Vaeringheim had remained positive on an economic level. This was due in large part to ongoing trade relations between the two powers. Several Bassaridian companies, including the Keepers of the Grove of Zoe Elm and the Merchants of the Valley of Diamonds, continued to operate in IF-controlled territories. Their presence in the region was facilitated by the General Port of Lake Morovia, a key Bassaridian trading hub. This commercial cooperation ensured that despite political differences, both powers benefited economically, fostering a degree of collaboration even amid wider geopolitical tensions.

Covert Support and Global Tensions

During Operation Thunder Drop, Bassaridia Vaeringheim provided crucial, though covert, support to the Imperial Federation. Despite their involvement in the Raspur Pact, the IF allowed Bassaridian trade companies to continue operating within their controlled territories, maintaining stable economic ties between the two nations. Vaeringheim recognized the strategic importance of ensuring the stability of the southern Strait of Haifa, particularly given the interconnected trade routes and the key role played by Bassaridian companies in the region. The operation was successful in reducing rogue pirate activity, though some factions survived by carefully choosing targets and remaining hidden. Vaeringheim’s covert backing was pivotal in helping the IF suppress rogue elements, and this discreet cooperation eventually paved the way for more open military collaboration following the collapse of the Raspur Pact.

Operation Swamp Dragon

After the collapse of the Raspur Pact and the conclusion of its northern campaigns, Bassaridia Vaeringheim shifted from covert to overt support of the Imperial Federation. This marked the beginning of Operation Swamp Dragon, a joint military campaign waged between 49.43 and 49.92 PSSC (1732-1735 AN), and aimed at eradicating the remaining rogue pirate factions and insurgents in the southern Strait of Haifa. The combined forces of Vaeringheim and the IF worked together openly to ensure the final pacification of the region, rooting out the last strongholds of illicit pirate control and restoring full order to the strait. Operation Swamp Dragon was a crucial turning point in the campaign to secure the southern strait, laying the groundwork for the formal alliance between the two powers.

Formation of the Bassaridia Vaeringheim-Imperial Federation Alliance

In 49.43 PSSC (1732 AN), the Bassaridia Vaeringheim-Imperial Federation Alliance was formally established. The alliance sought to bring long-term stability to the southern Strait of Haifa by eliminating the remaining rogue pirate factions, insurgents, and rival powers. Both Vaeringheim and the IF committed significant military and economic resources to securing the region, ensuring that the trade routes once dominated by pirates would remain stable. This alliance marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the two powers, solidifying their control over the southern strait.

Territorial Adjustments and Economic Growth

By 50.10 PSSC (1736 AN), the southern Strait of Haifa had been pacified, and the territorial adjustments between Bassaridia Vaeringheim and the Imperial Federation were finalized. However, the decision to cede territory from the IF to Bassaridia Vaeringheim was never publicly admitted. Both sides framed the process as voluntary referendums carried out by the will of the people, saving face by presenting the IF as liberators and Bassaridia Vaeringheim as the legitimate successor to the "freed" Bassarid states. The referendums were billed as reflecting the popular will, enhancing the legitimacy of both parties.

This secret clause remained hidden to avoid political complications. The IF was praised for restoring order, while Vaeringheim consolidated its position as the rightful authority in former Bassarid territories. This mutual arrangement allowed both powers to retain their reputations while quietly realigning control over critical areas. The successful stabilization of the region resulted in economic growth, as rogue and illicit piracy was eradicated and secure trade routes boosted commerce across the southern Strait of Haifa. The alliance thus ushered in a period of prosperity, with the region becoming a key international trade hub.