Sita'arlan Crusades

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The Sita'arlan Crusades were a pair of invasions of the Sita'arlan Desert from the Meridán Region. The first crusade established the Sita'arlan Colonies, and the second brought them under the control of the Leonid Empire.

First Crusade

After the beginning of The Turf Wars, Leona became increasinly militaristic, and there was significant dissatisfaction among some groups about this situation. Thus, in 156 LE, a group of Leonids left Leona and travelled westward, over the Alerine Mountain Belt and into Sita'arla. They arrived on the southern coast of the Bay of Qaadib, and began establishing colonies, pushing out or exploiting the native Shahi'arla in the process.

Second Crusade

After the invention of steam power in the Sita'arlan Colonies throughout the 170s, the Leonid Empire decided that taking the region would give them a strong strategic advantage, and so starting in 185 LE, they mounted an invasion in the Sita'arlan Desert. Though the empire outnumbered the colonists, the colonists had superior technology, and so fighting continued for three years with Leonid victory.