Wars of the Vampire Counts
From Warhammer - The Old World - Lexicanum
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.
The wars lasted between years 2010 and 2145 in the Imperial Calendar. [9]
Contents
Timeline
First War
- 2010 IC
- The first war began on the Geheimnisnacht of 2010 IC, as Vlad von Carstein summoned a huge undead army and invaded The Empire. [1a][1b][1e][2b][3a][3b][4a][4b][4f][4a][6a][9]
- 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
- 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. [4f][6a][6b]
- 2015 IC
- Returned Vlad leads a new army against Middenheim and defeats their force at Battle of the Old Forest Road.The defeated Imperial army retreats with the city, breaking the causeways. The army of Sylvania ravages the surrounding Middenland. [4f][6a][6b]
- ?
- ?
- A cannon ball takes off Vlads head at Bögenhafen, but an hour later the Vampire returns. [6a]
- 2050
- In Battle of Swartzhafen Vlad was smashed down by Knights of White Wolf but returned for a year.[8]
- 2051 IC
- Vlad marches on the Reikland capital and begins the Siege of Altdorf (Vlad von Carstein). [6a]
- Grand Theogonist Wilhelm III dispatches Felix Mann to steal Vlad's ring. [6a]
- Vlad is killed in the winter of the year. Unable to face unlife without her husband, Isabella von Carstein kills herself. [1c][1e][2b][2c][3a][4d][4f][4g][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]
- 2053
- Fritz von Carstein is killed besieging Middenheim. [4f][6a][6b]
- 2058
- Konrad von Carstein invades the Moot with an army of Wights. When Hans von Carstein claims Drakenhof Castle and the rulership of Sylvania, Konrad leaves Moot. [4f][6b]
- 2059
- 2092
- Pieter von Carstein is slain by Witch Hunter Helmut van Hal and a force of Stirlanders at Castle Sternieste. [4g][6a]
- 2094
Second War
- 2094 IC
- Eventually Konrad von Carstein prevails and starts a second war against the Empire. He does not seek to rule the Empire, but rather immerse himself in slaughter. [1d][4g][6a][6b]
- ?
- 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
- Rampage of Konrad is stopped at the Battle of Four Armies, as the the Stirland, Reikland and Marienburg claimants for the Imperial Throne unite with a force sent by High King of the Karaz-a-Karak against the Vampire. [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. . He marches on Altdorf. [6a]
- Several Imperial armies are defeated. [1e][2d][4c][4e][4g][5][6a]
- He almost captures Altdorf, as 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. [4g][6a][6b]
- 2133 IC
- Mannfred marches along the Reik to Marienburg and lays siege to the city. [4g][6a]
- An army approaches from Altdorf, forcing the undead once more to retreat. [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
- 8: Warhammer Rulebook (6th Edition): Scenario III: Battle of Swartzhafen, pgs. 203-204
- 9: Warhammer: The Old World Rulebook: Timeline of Legend, pg. 29
