Twenty Years' War

The Twenty Years War, also referred to as the Peninsular War or the Estalian Civil War, was a devastating conflict encompassing the Estalian Peninsula. Initialized by the rival Kingdoms of Astarios and Aragona, the War quickly enveloped all of Estalia as the complex alliances and grudges of the various Estalian domains were brought into play. The War lasted almost twenty years and nearly brought Estalia to her knees, but a Tilean-backed Tobaran invasion of Cantonia and Serpicio convinced the warring Kingdoms to unite against the common threat, beginning the Abasko War.

Background
The initial powers of the War, the Kingdoms of Astarios and Aragona, possessed a rivalry centuries old. Both kingdoms had accrued many allies and enemies as well. In the 2410s IC, trade in Astarios had begun to falter, overtaken as Aragonan lords' good relations with the navally powerful Republic of Galicea resulted in blockades and sabotage to weaken the Magrittan kingdom. King Estevan V of Aragona, convinced that Bilbali and Galicea's allied navies could easily defeat Astarios, grew more and more bold with his hampering of Astarian trade routes. Throughout 2415, naval skirmishes became more and more frequent off the western coast of Estalia, as Astarian merchant ships were attacked and the fleets of Magritta rushed to counterattack. The naval trade conflicts continued to escalate, culminating in the Battle of Belmoz Bay in April of 2416. A full-sized Astarian trade convoy, accompanied by several small galleons, was attacked by the Third Galicean Fleet de la Gente while passing outside the Bay, and three Aragonan warships were drawn into the fighting by force of necessity. The encounter resulted in the destruction of nearly half of the Third Fleet, but was ultimately considered an Aragonan victory. The Astarian convoy was crippled, and King Felipe II could no longer ignore the threats to his kingdom.

Outbreak of War
In May of 2416, King Felipe II of Astarios signed the Declaration of Belmoz, officially declaring war upon the Aragonan-Galicean alliance. The County of Siernos, on the brink of war with the neighboring County of Reas, aligned itself with Astarios in hopes of protection. Count Ferdinand Fogaça of Reas, interpreting the alliance as a direct threat to his County, allied with Aragona and declared war on Siernos and Astarios. The first land engagement of the War took place at the Battle of the Reas River, where Count Bernaldino de los Escalera of Siernos' Army of Siernos won a phyrric victory against the host of Reas, forcing both armies to retreat to their respective capitals.