Lystasian Reconquest
The Lystasian Reconquest is an ongoing campaign by the Grand Duchy of Steerswick to reclaim areas of the Green once controlled by its predecessor state, the Kingdom of Steeria. It was declared by the Grand Duchess Lystasia on 9.VIII.1706 AN, three days after she had terminated the regency of her father, Mondo, and assumed personal rule of the Grand Duchy.
Historical background
By the third decade of the 17th century AN, the Kingdom of Steeria had grown to incorporate a large section of south-western Cibola, from the city of Ashing/Essen in the west, to the southernmost tip of the continent at Southcape. These expanded borders survived the collapse of the Rossheim monarchy, but the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Helderbourgh in 1667 AN marked the end of Steeria's existence as a distinct territorial entity.
The establishment of the Grand Duchy of Steerswich in 1702 AN saw the re-emergence of an independent Steerish polity, albeit one occupying a mere fraction of the territory controlled by the Kingdom of Steeria in its heyday. By this time, much of the western coast, including the largely deserted cities of Ashing/Essen and Hermanbury/Hermanburg, had fallen to the Akhidian autonomous territory of Dunaria, prompting widespread concern in nationalist circles that further historic lands might be lost to expansionist neighbours if they were not swiftly recovered. These irredentist ambitions failed to gain much traction during the Regency of Mondo Etzeterra, causing some local dissatisfaction with the absentee regent, although the inaction likely owed more to the limited resources available to a small and newly-established country.
The nationalists' mounting disquiet nevertheless presented an opening for the four-year old Grand Duchess Lystasia to terminate the regency early and assume personal rule in VIII.1706 AN. Determined to assert her authority, the youthful ruler promptly unveiled ambitious plans to reclaim former Steerish territories since lost to the Green.
Southcape Expedition
On 20.VIII.1706 AN, Grand Duchess Lystasia laid claim to the territory of the former Steerian bailliwick of Southcape (Cibolan Saxon: Südkap) and later that day, the Steerish government announced that a military expedition had been despatched to secure the region for the Grand Duchy. The expedition force, consisting of the bulk of the Steerswick Guard Hussar Regiment together with a scratch battalion drawn from the Steerswick Infantry Regiment, travelled south into the Green two days later.
Steerish forces entered the principle town of Gebury unopposed on 7.X.1706 AN, and the region was formally annexed to the Grand Duchy three days later.
Westward expansion
An unexpected opportunity to regain territory in the west presented itself almost immediately, when the government of neighbouring Akhidia effectively collapsed in XI.1706 AN. Swiftly redeploying her limited forces, Lystasia promptly ordered her troops to cross the border into Dunaria, ostensibly to restore order, but with every intention of enforcing Steerish claims to the cities of Regina and the Dunarian capital, Santiago. The former was occupied by Steerish troops on the morning of 9.XII.1706 AN, but the advance upon Santiago was subsequently abandoned as a result of political pressure from Mondo.
Under the Ermingander Accords, signed on 7.III.1707 AN, Steerswick was ceded the city of Regina together with 18,576 square kilometres of southern Dunaria. This territory was subsequently combined with additional lands annexed from the Green to form the new province of West Steeria.
Lystasia looks east and south
In VI.1708 AN, Lystasia unveiled plans for further territorial claims. A key goal was the annexation and resettlement of the Isle of Wadon, which represented the last significant portion of un-reclaimed Steerish territory outside of Akhidian Dunaria. However, for the first time, Lystasia also signalled her intention to acquire territories beyond the historic boundaries of the former Kingdom of Steeria, notably the western half of the Southmoorland region and the Stonewall Peninsula of Sypyr. Inspired by her father's acquisition of the Duchy of Rossheim, the Grand Duchess proposed to claim these lands as her own private demesne.
