Melemese Rebellion
Introduction
The Melemese Rebellion was a conflict between the Kingdom of Albasra and the citizens of the city of Melem and nearby towns and villages. It was brought on by growing distrust in the Albasran monarchy and King Kilnen’s prolonged absence from court. This conflict culminated in the city of Melem and many of the nearby towns and villages seceding from the Kingdom and becoming their own sovereign state.
Build up
The build up to the rebellion was slow at first. It began a few years into King Kilnen’s reign. Industry leaders in Melem would largely forgive the new King’s absences from court as merely gaining a greater perspective of the land he had come to rule. As the years passed, however, it became clear to them that Kilnen showed little interest in his role as sovereign of the land. Instead preferring to spend his days travelling and exploring. Despite the King’s absence, Melem and the neighbouring towns thrived. As they continued to develop, a seed of rebellion grew.
The Spark of Rebellion
As the major economic force in Albasra, Melem would pay a lot of its wealth in tax to the crown. As scepticism in the monarchy rose, this tax only served to heighten the animosity towards it. Especially considering that suspicions arose that the King’s small council had begun misplacing funds in Kilnen’s absence, funnelling them into their own coffers.
It was at this point in the year 50 AL that the steward of Melem, Allain Worston, began withholding the majority of taxes going to Albasra, instead funnelling those resources into further developing neighbouring towns and villages. This had the combined effect of increasing his popularity with those neighbouring populations and damaging the reputation of the crown. Despite the consternation and demands of the Albasran court, Allain would hold his ground and King Kilnen would not return to right the ship.
Secession
Allain would continue to deny Melemese funds from going towards the Albasran treasury for the next five years. By this time, the negative effects of this tactic had spread across Albasra. The most threatening of which were from Korth, who had been watching Melem’s slow battle of wits for some time. The next tactic Allain would deploy was to declare Melem and its now allied neighbours their own sovereign nation, while also offering Korth much needed investment provided they support Melem’s bid for independence even if it was just in words, not actions.
Conflict
Shortly after declaring Melem and its neighbours a sovereign nation, Allain Worston was labelled a traitor and an army was raised in Albasra to quell the rebellion in Melem. Raising banners in Albasra was an easy task, but further reinforcements from Melem and the ailing region around a reluctant Korth were harder to come by. By the time the Albasran force had been formed and positioned in Melem, the forces were evenly matched.
The fighting between Albasra and Melem lasted for three short years. The conflict itself was more war of attrition rather than all out invasion, with small skirmishes and the occasional larger battle. Throughout the conflict it was clear that the two nations were not interested in victory at any cost, with an emphasis on ensuring as little damage was done.
In the end, it was Albasra that would be first to stand down in 58 AL, once the cost of the conflict became too much to bear and after signs of rebellion began to be noticed in Korth as well.
Following the rebellion
Melem would continue to grow and develop, with its borders expanding further into Albasran territory as other smaller villages would join the new nation after noticing that Melem was recovering from the conflict quicker than Albasra. Allain Worston would continue to be considered a traitor in Albasra. A title that would result in him standing down as steward of Melem as he would not be able to make diplomatic in roads with Albasra in the coming years. He is still celebrated for his actions in Melem up to the present day.