The Asturian - Catalonian War, year 821-830 a.d.

In year 826 a.d., after the conflict with Asturia apparently over, Lt. Artus of Catalonia was visiting Iberia. He heard that several nations had gotten together and pooled their information to make a better map of the area. He decided to try to get his hands on a copy of this work...but since no one of the western nations would give him a copy, he would have to steal one.

He was caught.

In the spring of year 827 a.d., citing recent developments in Asturia and Iberia, the Asturian horde came screaming over the border in Gascony. Over 60,000 battle hardened troops easily dispatched the token 1500 defenders. But unlike Navarre, just a few short years before, Asturia wasn’t done. After leaving a small garrison the horde continued their rampage, assaulting in turn: Limousin and Auvergne (in year 828), Languedoc and Aquitane (in year 829). While Gascony was pacified, the other four were looted.

In year 829, citing the actions of Lt. Artus of Catalonia, over 20,000 troops from Iberia joined in the fray. They attacked Valencia and laid siege to Varan...or would have, had there been any defenders there.

Late in 829, Asturian forces moved into Navarre to set up their spring campaign for Catalonia. “The infidels must be destroyed” to quote King Wildantor of Asturia. Word came from Iberia, of their successes in Valencia. Their troops would be ready to cross the southern border of Catalonia, in a simultaneous attack on Catalonia.

Early spring, year 830 a.d., 83,000 forces from Asturia and Iberia swarmed into Catalonia. The defenders barely had 20,000 men...and that included 7000 mercenaries. Lt. Marco, of Catalonia, had been in charge and had things organized for the defense early. King Marakest and Prince Aramus had been on various missions - they had been in some of the regions that had been the earliest to fall. Prince Aramus had escaped Gascony, only to die on the plains of Catalonia. Although they all tried valiantly to stave off the Asturian hordes, Catalonia, jewel of the Med., fell.

Then came the siege of Barcelona. The siege lasted but a month in the late summer. When all was said and done, only the King and his daughter were unaccounted for. All the other Catalonian leaders were dead or captured.

As per an Alliance treaty between Asturia and Iberia the Asturians left Catalonia in the hands of Iberia, even though Asturia fielded three times as many troops. They also ceded control of Languedoc to Iberia, retaining Navarre, Aquitane, Auvergne, Limousin and Gascony. They also happily shared a fair portion of the loot of Catalonia with Iberia - to the victor goes the spoils of war.