Battle Of Kivon
From The Lands Of Liberos Project
| “ | The only man I'll surrender to, is Bemous himself! | ” |
—Max II, after encircled by Fowatan Warriors | ||
| Battle Of Kivon | |||||||||
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| Part of Osmax-Fowatan War | |||||||||
 Painting of Battle Of Kivon | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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| Strength | |||||||||
Estimated (Min - Max)
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Estimated (Min - Max)
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Approx. 5,000 died in Osmax Service | Approx. 4,000+ died in Fowatan Service | ||||||||
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Military deaths: 8,000 - 10,000 Total civilian dead: 35 Total dead: 8,020 - 10,035 | |||||||||
In the winter of 40 First Era on December 29th, Max II Of The Osmax led a defensive position in the city of Kivon against the advancing army of the Kingdom Of Fowatan during the Osmax-Fowatan War. After slowly assembling a large enough force to deal with the Fowatans, Max II went against his general's urgent requests to stay in defensive positions and advanced towards the enemy. Storming up a hillside at a full frontal charge toward the Fowatan force, Max II quickly realized his fatal error as hidden enemy columns descended from their flanks and encircled the Osmax in the deep gully. Rallying his troops, Max II was soon separated from his Guard and trapped by Fowatan Warriors. Declaring no intention to surrender, Max II went down killing as many warriors as possible. Decimated, leaderless, and confused, the remaining Osmax Warriors tried to escape. Most of the force was destroyed with very few escaping to fight another day and this was an extremely major blow to the Osmax War Effort. These deaths would have rippling effects for generations across the Osmax demographics.
Events Prior
After having been declared an enemy of the Kingdom Of Fowatan, Max II needed to raise an army. However, the harvest of the crop had been much lower than expected and there was a famine starting across the Kingdom. Rallying troops, including many new farmers, was hard work, and ultimately it took years until Max II could raise a sufficiently sized force and make all of the preparations. The slow advance of the Fowatan, however, made this much easier to do. Had their advance been focused much more on conquering than killing, the Kingdom Of Osmax could easily have fallen. Disturbing reports of villages burning down, mass rape and slavery, and genocide reached Max II and made his worries all the more higher. Soon, with the Fowatan Force deciding to advance in the early winter, Max knew there was no time left to spare. The major city of Kivon proved to have vital resources necessary to garrison the army for enough time, and thus, Max II prepared his forces there. Knowing a Fowatan Attack was imminent he ordered all men on full alert. Soon receiving word of the advancing Fowatan Army, his messenger had failed to include they seemed to be splitting into smaller forces. After such high anticipation for months of this extremely large battle, Max decided it would do no good to wait even after his generals advised against this.
Course Of Battle
After going against his generals suggestions to defend the city, Max II led the army down into a gully surrounded by high hills. Directly engaging the main Fowatan Force that Max II thought was the only enemy force, his fatal error was discovered as their flanks were cut off. Within minutes, the entire army was surrounded by Fowatan forces. The battle would rage for nearly an hour as bodies were piling across the frozen terrain. The freezing air made the fighting hard as the Osmax were steadily being reduced faster than the Fowatan. Trying to rally his men with exuberant yells and speeches to charge at Fentalius Of The Fowatan, Max II's position was revealed to the Fowatan Forces. Concentrating their efforts, they soon separated the King from his guard. Surrounding the King with no chance of escaping, the Fowatans demanded his surrender. However, as a Fowatan soldier afterward remarked to a scholar:
"King Max stood surrounded by Fowatan Warriors. His guard had been annihilated, leaving only himself in his desperate last charge to kill Fentalius. And when they demanded him to surrender, he cried out: "The only man I'll surrender to, is Bemous himself!"
Max II went down fighting and his remains were never to be confirmed. With his death, the morale of the Osmax was shattered and their forces desperately tried to escape. The Fowatan had not only destroyed but annihilated the Osmax Army.
Aftermath and Legacy
Going down as a warrior, Max II cemented a reputation for himself in his final moments to never surrender. This would have a very large effect on Osmax Warrior Culture for the rest of the Kingdom's existence. The defeat of the Osmax, however, was fatally calculated and would hamper the Osmax War extremely. The next battle, the Battle Of Apar could not afford an Osmax loss because there would be no more warriors left to fight. The Battle Of Kivon serves as a remainder to listen to experts and access a situation with your mind rather than your heart.
