Wars of the Vampire Counts
From Warhammer - The Old World - Lexicanum
(Redirected from Vampire War)
The Wars of the Vampire Counts, also called the Vampire Wars[2a][4e], were three major wars fought between the divided and feuding rulers of The Empire, bitter rivals during the Age of Three Emperors, against the Vampire Counts of Sylvania. The Dwarfs, High Elves and Wood Elves would also fight at the side of their human allies.
Contents
Chronology
First War
- 2010 IC
- The first war began on the Geheimnisnacht of 2010 IC[1a][1b][1e][2b][3a][3b][4a][4b][4f][4a], as Vlad von Carstein summoned a huge undead army and invaded The Empire. [6a]
- Vlad leads the army of Sylvania across the River Stir, [6a] defeating an army from Nuln led by Arch Lector Voltan von Khrest. [7a]
- Ottilia III dispatches an army under General Hans Schliffen to confont Vlads army but it is defeated at the Battle of Essen Ford. [6a]
- 2014 IC [6b]
- Vlad turns towards Middenheim but at the Battle of Schwarthafen he is again cut down, this time by Jerek Kruger, Grand Master of the Knights of the White Wolf. [6a]
- 2015 IC [6b]
- Vlad leads a new army against Middenheim whose defeated army retreats with the city, breaking the causeways. The army of Sylvania ravages the surrounding Middenland. [6a]
- ?
- ?
- A cannon ball takes off Vlads head at Bögenhafen, but an hour later the Vampire returns. [6a]
- 2051 IC
- Vlad marches on the Reikland capital and begins the Siege of Altdorf. [6a]
- Grand Theogonist Wilhelm III dispatches Felix Mann to steal Vlad's ring. [6a]
- Vlad is killed in the winter of the year. [1c][1e][2b][2c][3a][4d][4f][4g] Unable to face unlife without her husband, Isabella von Carstein kills herself. [6a]
- Ludwig, Elector Count of Reikland moves to invade Sylvania but the other claimants to the Imperial Throne block him fearing he will become too popular. [6a]
Interim
- The surviving vampires feud amongst themselves for the overall leadership of Sylvania. [6a]
- ?
- Fritz von Carstein is killed besieging Middenheim. [6a]
- Hans von Carstein is killed by Konrad. [6a]
- Pieter von Carstein is slain by witch Hunter Helmut van Hal. [6a]
- Mannfred von Carstein leaves Sylvania in search of magical knowledge and power. [6a]
Second War
- 2094 IC
- Eventually Konrad von Carstein prevails and starts a second war against the Empire. [1d][4g] He does not seek to rule the Empire, but rather immerse himself in slaughter. [6a]
- ?
- He fights through to Nuln and then to the Grey Mountains where he enlists the Knights of Blood Keep. [6a]
- Despite fierce resistance in Averland, he defeats the imperial army at Kleiberstorf. He pursues the survivors for five days, killing every one of them. [6a]
- Against the advice of his counsellors, he declares war on the Dwarfs of Zhufbar and is nearly defeated at Nachthafen but wins the day when he slays the Runesmiths. [6a]
- 2100 IC
- At the Battle of Four Armies, the claimants for the Imperial Throne unite their forces against him. [6a]
- His necromancers turn the new candidate for Emperor, Helmut of Marienburg into a unliving puppet, but its discovered before he can become Emperor. [6a]
- Enraged, Konrad slaughters his way across Averland. [6a]
- ?
- The Empire and the Dwarfs unite and send a combined army against him. [6a]
- 2121 IC
- 2122 IC [6b]
- Mannfred von Carstein becomes ruler of Sylvania. [6a]
Interim
- Mannfred lures many vampires from across the world to join him [6a] including some from the Lahmian Sisterhood. [6b]
Third War
- 2132 IC
- The final conflict began with Mannfred von Carstein's Winter War. [1e][2d][4e][4g][4c][5]. He marches on Altdorf. [6a]
- Several Imperial armies are defeated. [6a]
- On arrival at Altdorf, the city seems undefended, but Kurt III, Grand Theogonist recites the Great Spell of Unbinding from the Liber Mortis. The undead begin to crumble and Mannfred retreats. [6a]
- Mannfred marches along the Reik to Marienburg and lays seige to the city. [6a]
- ?
- An army approaches from Altdorf, focring the undead once more to retreat. [6a]
- Half the army of the dead is destroyed by the army of Ostermark at Horstenbad but Mannfred escapes to sieze the town of Felph. [6a]
- Felph is besieged but Mannfred's magic destroys whole regiments. [6a]
- The combined army of Averland and Stirland is defeated at Bylorhof. [6a]
- 2145 IC
Notes
- For unknown reasons several sources state that the Mannfred's Winter War began in 2032 IC[1c][2d][3c], which is a simple and quite obvious mistake. Mannfred became the ruler of Sylvania only after Konrad's death (2121 IC) and for a whole decade did nothing, waiting for a renewal of the civil war between the feuding rulers of The Empire. It seems to be a case of: the old book gives a wrong date and the new books copy the mistake again and again. The last army book provides the correct date. [6a]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Undead (4th Edition)
- 2:Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (5th Edition)
- 3:Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (6th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (7th Edition)
- 5: The Empire at War, pg. 27
- 6: Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (8th Edition)
- 7: White Dwarf 339 (UK)
- 7a: Vampire Counts Battle Report, pg. 37