The Aedirnian Army is the military fighting force of the Kingdom of Aedirn. It is a professional army that is composed of knights, infantry, archers, crossbowmen, cavalry, and war machines. The most noteworthy and interesting unit of this army however, are the so called Aedirnian Special Forces - created by King Demavend III in 1266 as a direct answer to the threat imposed by Scoia'tael guerrillas. Recruits wanting to join this elite unit must undergo an unforgiving selection process, before receiving specialized training. As such, members of the unit are given an above average salary. They're divided into several sub-units, from which one was led by the infamous White Rayla. Half-elves were particularly welcome to enlist in the special forces.[1]
Aside from ground forces and siege weapons like catapults or trebuchets, the Aedirnian military encompasses war galleys that are used to escort important figures, such as the Governor of Hagge or the King of Redania, along the Pontar river.[1]
History[]
Battle of Hagge[]
In 1228, the Aedirnian Army defended Hagge from the invading Temerian Army, led by King Medell, and soundly defeated them, properly establishing the borders between Aedirn and Temeria.[1]
First Northern War[]
In 1263, during the First Northern War, the Aedirnian Army, along with the forces of Redania, Temeria, and Kaedwen, faced the invading Nilfgaardian Army in Lower Sodden, during the Battle of Sodden Hill. The northern armies were under the united leadership of King Vizimir II of Redania, and were successful in halting the Nilfgaardian advance.[1]
After the war, the newly formed Scoia'tael began raiding forts and strongholds throughout Aedirn, and by 1267, Demavend had created the special forces and began a counter-guerrilla campaign against all Scoia'tael present in the Kingdom.[1]
Second Northern War[]
Possibly the hardest time for Aedirnian Army came with the Second Nilfgaard War which began in July 1267 and annihilated almost the entire realm. Prior to the war, Aedirn and their allies Lyria and Rivia had a combined army similar in size to Redania's own 35,000 strong army. However, at the beginning of the war, the three allies only managed to mobilize 3,000 cavalrymen and 10,000 foot soldiers, of which one fifth had already been blockaded in the first days of the invasion, cut off in its forts and strongholds. Part of the remaining army had to withdraw to protect its flanks, threatened by far-reaching raids by light cavalry and diversionary strikes by the Scoia'tael. The remaining five or six thousand soldiers, including no more than twelve hundred knights, were beaten in Aldersberg. A small contingent, however, managed to survive and took refuge in Hagge[2] while King Demavend was forced to flee to Redania.[3]
The situation changed for the better after the Battle of Brenna in which the combined strength of the North defeated the forces of Field Marshal Menno Coehoorn. Another major win for Aedirn happened shortly before the Second battle of Aldersberg, in which Kings Henselt of Kaedwen and Demavend decided to end their feuds for a time and join forces in order to defeat their common Nilfgaardian enemy .[4]
Not many years later however, Aedirnians and Kaedwenis once again clashed swords in the Lormark War.[5]
Gallery[]
