Berskin Rebellion of SA 317

The Berskin Rebellion of SA 317 was fought from April to July of SA 317 between the Halmarian Berskins and the Westreachian Regency. The Berskin's revolt began in response to the Councillor Mutiny, which resulted in a

Course of the War
King Harris I issued a final ultimatum to Saric in late February, but by this time he had little intention of maintaining peace and had begun assembling an army at Haleston. The next month, Stromkrop came under surprise attack from Harris's host, but the defenders managed to hold-out until a Calamann relief column scattered the besiegers. This reverse forced Harris I to redirect his forces into the Rottmotte Valley, closing on Rottgut and forcing Staffhalder Horace Flynn to permit passage over he local bridge. The Berskin mounted vanguard under Harrin Dondarrion then moved quickly and seized Dunked, massacring the garrison.

The Berskins finally struck out across the Heathan in early June. The Heathan Line Army, dispersed across the region in a net of outposts and fortified towns, were put to rout by the sudden Berskin offensive. At Rosshall, Berskins surprised and destroyed a Calamann army, killing over a thousand and capturing hundreds more. Saric, his allies crumbling, attempted to flee south to Chambrante in July but was cut-off by the Berskin cavalry and besieged in Previs for over a month. Berskin victory now seemed imminent as Saric began considering Halmar's revised conditions.

The threat of direct Berskin custody over Saric, however, was enough to galvanize the usually-divisive Staffhalders into action. The Staffhalders of Chambrante and Kirkland secured a tenuous alliance with the Councillors and hastily assembled an army near Hornwall, marching north in July. Their position suddenly compromised, the Berskins retreated but then prepared to give battle near the Hollows, an ancient Flattlander burial site. The joint Westreachian-Calamannic army attacked on July 28th, resulting in a fierce battle that raged throughout the day. Though the Berskins held their position, heavy casualties and the prospect of Calamannic reinforcements convinced them to slip away under the cover of darkness, ending the battle. Both sides suffered grievous losses in the battle, which effectively brought the war to an end. The rebellion was formally ended a month later with the Stromkrop Treaty, largely preserving the status quo; King Harris I agreed to respect Saric's appointments, while Saric recognized Berskin suzerainty in the Middefold.

Aftermath
As a result of the War, King Harris I influence in the Regental court was severely diminished, to the point where the Berskins risked total political isolation. The Staffhalders, who had already been hostile to King Harris I, now openly opposed him, leading directly to the emergence of Staffhalder Lancercost's ultranationalist faction as a check to further Berskin expansion.

Even more consequently, the War emboldened the Calamannic Councillors, who now had an uncontested grip on Saric. In the months following the conclusion of the conflict, the Councillors would steadily expand their power at the expense of Saric, eventually overthrowing and murdering him in early October of SA 317, beginning the Councillor War. In these ways, the Berskin Rebellion of SA 317, while having no direct significance, largely contributed to the breakdown of central authority across the country that would culminate in SA 319 with their Sack of Harerok.