The Autumn War



In around the year 1468 of the Sixth Astral Era the then ruler of Ala Mhigo, King Manfred, had decided to expand Ala Mhigo’s territory and initiated a series of assaults into the Twelveswood.

During these assaults, Gridania had appointed a renowned lancer Vainchelon as the commander of the defense, where Ala Mhigo had Gylbarde as commander of the Ala Mhigan forces. Gylbarde was a popular figure, and a firm believer in the Fists of Rhalgr. Since both commanders were beloved of their peoples, the morale during the start of the war was very high, and the battle between the two would occur at what would subsequently be called the Battle at Finesand Banks.

Both armies continuously clashed, neither giving an ilm to the other.

Unfortunately for the Gridanians, Commander Vainchelon fell deathly ill, and in a change of strategy, he had devised a plan for his army to fall back into the Twelveswood. This would put the Gridanians back into familiar territory and allowing them to ambush the pursuing Ala Mhigans. However the Gridanian commander passed away before his plan could come to play.

His successor, Osbern wanted to prove himself to the Seedseers and eschewed his predecessor’s plan for a more ambitious, but aggressive frontal assault on the Ala Mhigans. Gylbarde learned of the new commander’s “plan” and instead deployed troops at key points that ambushed the assaulting Gridanians the moment they stepped onto the battlefield. Due to the heavy losses from the Ala Mhigan ambush, the Gridanians were forced to withdraw.

Osbern then forced his troops to march several days without rest and came to a hill where they had entrenched themselves from the pursuing Ala Mhigans… however this only resulted in the Gridanians having their access to water cut off as the Ala Mhigans surrounded their position. Morale for the Gridanians further dwindled as the Ala Mhigans let loose barrage after barrage of arrows, dwindling the already wounded Gridanian numbers.

The Gridanian Commander attempted twice to foster an escape, however was thwarted each time. On the third attempt, Osbern himself attempted to lead the charge but was then captured along with several of his officers. The Legendary staff Claustrum, which was lent to him by the Seedseers, was also taken. The remaining few of Gridania fled further and were harried by every step by the Gylbarde’s men.

Gylbarde’s victory was rewarded with praise from throughout his country, and bolstered the Fists of Rhalgr into greater political power.

With the First Battle of Tinolqa*, the Gridanians had further retreated to the Five Hangs, an area near the East Vein river. The Ala Mhigans were confident of their victory and instructed Gridania to surrender, with their terms as thus:

The East Shroud and part of Central Shroud was to be relinquished to Ala Mhigo



The Seedseers would be sent back to Ala Mhigo as wards, and assurance was given that they would come to no harm.



Gridania refused.

A turning point in the war came about when Ishgard heard of the enroaching Ala Mhigans, and fearing that if Ala Mhigo succeeds in their conquer over Gridania, their own borders would then be endangered. The See appealed to the other Eorzean City States of Limsa Lominsa and Ul’dah for aid. Limsa and Ul’dah had nothing to lose by entering the war, however if they were able to curb Ala Mhigo from conquering Gridania, Gridania would be in their debt.

So the four nations joined in an Alliance against the advancing Militaristic Nation of Ala Mhigo which resulted in what was then called the Second Battle of Tinolqa. The devastating battle took place at East End. (East End does not actually show up on the map/s but an NPC of an East End boy was involved in a Seasonal Event that occurred in the Lavender Beds, with the Five Hangs and the East Vein nearby, it stands to reason that East End is in that area)



In the beginning of the Second Battle of Tinolqa, several small skirmishes clashed the four nation alliance against Ala Mhigo, the Ala Mhigan’s strategies foiled by the alliance at every point. Feeling the tide turn against them, the Ala Mhigans then deployed their renowned pikemen, known for their effectiveness against mounted units such as the Knights of Ishgard. To further rally his own troops, King Manfred himself took to the field to lead the charge.

The rallied troops chased the retreating enemy further into the East End, and it seemed that an Ala Mhigan victory would result.

One Ishgardian Knight, Beltrant Durendaire atop his steed Ouranos, was scouting and spotted a column of Ala Mhigan Infantry and Archers to try and flank the retreating Allied Nations, in a maneuver that would pincer the enemy between the advancing King Manfred, and the flanking Infantry and Archers. Beltrant rushed to report his findings, but was spotted by the column. The Ala Mhigan archers let their arrows fly in attempt to prevent their position from being found, and Beltrant and his steed were caught in it. But by some miracle, Ouranos ran back to the Allied front, saving the life of his rider in exchange for his own. **

With knowledge of the intended maneuver as well as the field advantage, the Four Nation Alliance then utilised the dense trees of the Shroud against the Pikemen of Ala Mhigo. The thick foliage being a hindrance to the usage of long pole arms, and planned their own counter maneuver against the Ala Mhigan Archers and Infantry who had intended to flank them.

This battle was where the Archers from Gridania would prove their worth. In addition to harrying the enemy through the forest with their bows, they would sing songs of heroism and glory to support the Allied troops that marched against the Ala Mhigan forces.

In the end of the Second Battle of Tinolqa, General Gylbarde was slain and King Manfred was severely wounded, and Ala Mhigo retreated. Thus the Autumn War ended, with treaties and borders drawn afterwards.

Due to the economy surging during the Autumn War, a unified currency was required to assist trade homogenization between the six City States. Initially minted with the faces the Twelve, Gil’s value was standardized throughout the realm. As the years went by, the policy of what is printed on the gil is relaxed giving a variety of motifs on the coins. (In the Player UI, the icon for Gil reflects Nymeia, the goddess of Fate, symbol for Luck.)***

Also of note is it seems that Ishgard would call the victory in the Autumn War an ISHGARDIAN victory rather a joint victory between the four City States. The Large Leve, A Thriller in Autumn and various other crafting Leves note that the Knights in Ishgard participate in Autumn War reenactments.

================================================

Footnotes WTF THERE ARE FOOTNOTES>?!

*Battle of Tinolqa - Whats interesting here is that Erik (the Military Historian from the Monk 30 - 50 questline where majority of the Autumn War information is from) calls it the Battle of Tinolqa, using the IXAL’s name for the Twelveswood/Black Shroud. No where in his story does he actually call it the Twelveswood/The Shroud (though he does direct you to Snake Molt in the South Shroud during A Slave to the Aether), which causes me to speculate that either Historians called it the Battle of Tinolqa as since that area was “contested” during the war, OR that Ala Mhigans called it Tinolqa as a snub to the Gridanians, refusing to call it by the Gridanian name.

**Beltrant and Ouranos - After delivering the message of the Ala Mhigan maneuver, Ouranos passed away having taken an arrow to the breast. Hence forth then that Chocobo Bardings became the norm. [SOURCE]

***Gil - [SOURCE]

Screenshot thanks: @Salorast , Kai Khada, Richard Grey, Artoria Arkwright, Sykeen Sirpenthelm, @rawkin-forgeheart, and Checheyigen Tabito :D

Thank you so much @folkenface ♥ and Anwyll/Anonymoose from the Gamerescape and the Official Forums!