Autumn War

The Autumn War was the short-lived war between Gridania and Ala Mhigoin the year 1468 to 1469, and led to the formation of the first Eorzean Alliance.

Organizations & Governments Involved

• Gridania
• Ala Mhigo
• Eorzean Alliance

Historical Figures Involved

• King Manfred of Ala Mhigo
• General Gylbarde of Ala Mhigo
• Vainchelon Whitewater of Gridania
• Commander Osbern of Gridania
• Beltrant de Durendaire - a Scout for the Ishgardian forces.

Summary of Events

Invastion of Gridania

Following centuries of peace, King Manfred suddenly enacted their sovereign claim on the land of the East Shroud, and sent in military forces to claim it in a bid to expand their territory. General Gylbarde led his men across the Velodyna River and was met by Vainchelon Whitewater and his troops, who engaged in battle, which ended in a stalemate. Vainchelon retreated back to the Nine Ivies to lure Gylbarde and his men into a trap, but passed away in camp from a sudden illness before his plan could be enacted.

Battle of Firesand Banks

The Firesand Banks were the site of engagement between the Gridanian army and the forces of Ala Mhigo sent by King Manfred to expand his territory into the Black Shroud. General Gylbarde and Vainchelon Whitewater entered into an intense skirmish in what would come to be known as the Battle of Firesand Banks. The battle would end in a stalemate with both sides equally matched, causing Vainchelont to retreat.

Formation of the Alliance

Fearing that the king of Ala Mhigo would attempt to expand into Coerthas should his invasion into Gridania succeed, Ishgard petitioned Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa to form a unionized front and stand with Gridania. This was the first instance of the Eorzean Alliance. Ala Mhigo stood no chance against the sheer numbers of the Alliance, and surrendered. Following this, peace treaties and pacts were drawn up and borders were laid down. Each nation was allowed to remain independent, even following Ala Mhigo's transgressions, however no one nation would be permitted to rise up against any other. With this, the Autumn War came to an end.

The First Battle of Tinolqua

Following the death of Vainchelon Whitewater, Commander Osbern took charge of Gridanian forces and led them into a frontal assault against the army of Ala Mhigo, abandoning his predecessor's defensive stance. General Gylbarde came to learn of this tactic, and set up an ambush for the Gridanian forces along the Finesand Banks and forced them into entrenching them without the ability to reach their supplies. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the Ala Mhigan forces, and the capture of Osbern.

The Second Battle of Tinolqua

Following the Eorzean Alliance joining the Autumn War, King Manfred sought to prevent the shifting of power following the Alliance winning several small battles. He made several moves to bring his strongest pikemen to counter the mounted forces of Ishgard, and took to the battlefield himself in order to improve morale, which was beginning to wane. Following another small skirmish, the Ala Mhigans fell back to a heavily wooded area in the hopes of rendering the spears of the Alliance useless, while also preparing a second, larger force of infantrymen and archers. Beltrant de Durendaire discovered this plan and managed to report it back to the Alliance despite suffering a barrage of arrows. Using this information, the Alliance was able to crush the Ala Mhigans, wounding their king and slaughtering General Gylbarde. This defeat brought an end to the Autumn War, and brought about the signing of several treaties for the Eorzean Alliance.