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Map of the North Everfree Confederacy- 900 AB

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Part of my fanfiction "Everfrees and Equines" over on Fimfiction.net.

Population: 250,000-375,000 (est. 875 AB)
Type of Government: Republic

Geography:

Once part of the vast and dangerous Everfree Forest, this became an experiment for the ponies of Equestria to settle and "tame the wilds of the Everfree." Unlike the forest outside Ponyville, the natural fauna and landscape consist of tall pine trees, rocky mountains and fertile prairie grasslands and valleys. Major rivers such as the West Hayes became natural trade routes flowing into the West Sea. Other landmarks include Discord's Bend, Crystal Lake, Outcast Isle and Great Northern Mountains.

History:

Pony exploration of the region began as early as 700 AB (After Banishment) and with the first pony settlement; Port Solaris, established twenty years later. Records indicate that explorers from the Griffon Kingdoms and Diamond Dog strongholds mapped the region decades ago and settlements years afterwards. Of the little records provided by migrating bison tribes, there were migrating bison tribes in the region dated to the 2nd century AB.

For a century, the region was contested for its rich resources and Imperial expansion through treaties and small skirmishes. By 815 AB, the region was official recognized as an Equestrian Province with the Griffon defeat in the third Equine-Griffon War (799-814 AB). At first, the province prohibited any immigration of Griffons into the territory until the Border treaty of 825 AB, as well as Griffon commerce within the province and captured cities of Wind's Peak, Birdsview and Storm's Cloak.

The Fourth Equine-Griffon War began in 850 AB with the invasion of the province by General Griffus the Wise, resulting with the torching of Everfree and the Battle of Little Hayes. Equestria responded with the invasion of the Capital in 857 AB and the Liberation of Rocky Pass in 858 AB at the cost of two grand armies. The last battle to be fought in the province was at Fort Solitude in 861 AB with the surrender of the aging Griffus the Wise.

Due to the massive war debt from the conclusion of the war, the Equestrian Parliament passed series of taxes to refill the coffers, collected from all the provinces including the North Everfree province. The first to pass was the Reconstruction Act of 863 AB, with the Postal Act in 866 and the Merchants Act in 870. Each was proposed to not only fill the coffers, but also aid provinces effected by the previous wars.

By the time the Province Act of 876 AB passed in Parliament, the North Everfree was deeply indebted due to aggression towards Griffon places of business who established themselves after the wars due to the Reconstruction Act, as well as failing values of resource trades with foreign powers across the West Sea. The increasing presence of tax collectors also inflicted mixed feelings with the government.

Political unrest also played a part in the anger towards the government when province representative Greenwood was suspended and replaced with a Canterlot representative in favor for the Province Act, as well as the Taxer Affair in Hayvenport; resulting with the arrest of the local tax collector, injuring five civilians (Diamond dogs) and the death of a Griffon merchant at the hooves of the Royal Guard.

By late April 876, the province declared its secession from Equestria and begins armed resistance and construction of the Army of North Everfree (12800 strong est. 876) under command of Lt. General Honor Bound. In response of this action, Parliament raises and expeditionary force of 3,500 regulars of General Seed's 1st Corps in hope to restore order and bring the province back to the homeland [Equestria].

The first major battle between the inexperience Army of North Everfree from all walks of live and the 1st Corps occurred July 21st 876 at the town of Border [5 mi. from Everfree/Equestria border], only to end with a draw on both parties claiming victory over the other. The NEA records report high enemy causalities and were forced to withdraw while the 1st Corps report the enemy withdrawing due to munition shortages. It would be close to a year when the new Republic would claim an actual victory.

One of the largest disasters for the Confederacy was the fall of Port Solaris and Forts Solaris and Celestia in January 877, with the capture of nearly 2000 of its 5000 soldiers and half the army's munitions and weapons garrisoned. The major port remained under Equestrian control until 880 AB with the last regiment; the 69th Royal Guard evacuated. The memory of this defeat is thoroughly examined in officer academies today. It wouldn't be until 892 AB that the Confederacy would fully replace the quota for all its forces.

The conflict that was supposidly a civil war quickly gained international attention as far as Saddle Arabia; especially in the Griffin Kingdoms where political unrest was starting to rise after the death of the king. Many of the nobles provided financial aid to the Republic, soon to be followed by weapons and troops by Spring of 878 though the negotiations for an alliance went until the battle at Discord's Bend. Other nobles pledged support for Equestria by loaning money and mercenaries by late 876- in time for the Port Solaris invasion.

In hopes of crushing the Confederacy before any foreign aid; specifically troops arrive, the Royal Army of the Everfree under the command of General Cutler Gaze launched the largest military movement at the moment. It was a devised province sized pincher movement onto the secondary capital of Everfree. One flank would march east from Port Solaris at 10000 strong but with limited resources with the assumption that they would reach the capital first. The second of 35000, lead by the 42nd Homeland Regiment, would march on Barkington and down from the north-east via the little Hayes. Amongst their objective was the cidatel of Crista de Luna and its garrison of 2500. The third and main flank would consist of the majority of the army; 75000 and led by the 1st Royal Guards up from Hayenport.

The plan started to fall apart just as it underway on March 2nd, 878. The first flank was forced to withdraw due to lack of munitions despite outnumbering the confederate forces two to one. The second was stopped outside Crista de Luna by the sudden influx of reinforcements of conscripts and last minute "volunteers". The flank was then forced to retreat when the 42nd was literally blown away by combined artillery and rifle fire- amongst the artillery were four Griffish multi-barrel rapid fires, leaving the regiment to surrender with only 10 percent remaining.

News of these blows did not arrive to the main flank until remnants of the second arrived three days later and by courier. Word would have arrived sooner hadn't the Griffin fleet lead by thirty of their finest Frigate of the lines engaged the blockade and garrisoned forts in the sound. It was by the 10th that word of 10000 Griffin soilders had reached Everfree and that reinforcements from the homeland would not arrive until the rising threat had been dealt with; for three armies under the command of the infamous Griffus the wise were marching on Canterlot. In his memories he writes that it was the first time since the second wars had he laid eyes on the city. He later died in his headquarters-  shy twenty miles away from the capital.

With limited rescorces, Gaze decides to assume personal command of the main flank for what would be the last great battle of the war, still holding hopes of reclaiming the territory. The now bustered 82000 strong Royal Army faced off against the combined ally army of 10000 Griffin Legionares, 25000 Confederates and 5000 Bison warriors from the Prairie Nations. Despite being outnumbered two to one yet again, the allies pull of a grand victory from the surprise rear engagement of the 4th Everfree Brigade.

List of major battles:
*Battle of West Hayes: July 21 876 - Draw
*Battle of Solaris: January 877 - Strategical/Tactical Equine victory
*2nd Battle of Crista de Luna: March 3, 878 - Strategical Confederate victory
*Battle of Apple Grove: March 2, 878 - Tactical Confederate victory
*Battle at Discord's Bend: March 14, 878 - Ally victory
*Griffin Naval action in Solaris sound: March 5-20 878 - Tactical Ally victory

Minor battles/ Skirmishes:
*Bison Creek: August 876 - Confederate victory
*Apple Grove: late March 877 - Equine victory
*New Maris: early April 877 - Confederate victory
*Naval blockade of New Manehatten: 877-878 - Stalemate
*Solaris Sound: Jan 877, April 877, Nov 877 - Equine, Stalemate, Stalemate
*Burning of Hayvenport: Oct. 10 877 - Equine victory
*1st Battle of Crista de Luna: Oct. 31 877
*Outcast Isle: Sept. 877 (aid of Mercenary fleet) - Confederate victory
*Siege of Fort Luna: Feb.-Mar. 877 - stalemate
*Raids and naval skirmishes: 877- mid 879 - no decisive outcomes

Though the cost of the victory for the Confederacy was high, the rewards were just as and more. Peace negotiations occurred in Saddle Arabia in 879 AB with delegates from both sides. On these terms, both had agreed to political sovereignty and separation of powers only if the Confederacy would remain part of Equestria and that all reparations from the last four wars were voided; which included the Province Act. Hesitant of remaining with Equestria, they agreed.

News of the treaty reached the new Republic, but with mixed feelings. Only one major riot occurred in the city of New Manehatten, a rabid supporter for a separate and independent nation which lasted for two weeks. It was by 901 AB that this feeling fully dispersed.

From this war, many lessons were learned that eventually formed both Equestria and the world to as it is today.
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ScarletMarine's avatar
Where's the Royal Equestrian Expeditionary Force here?