The Sapphire March

The Sapphire March refers to the conquest of Tarth, also known as the Sapphire Isle, by Galladon Morne, the flight of the Evenstars, and the formation of the Andal Kingdom of Morne.

History

In the Stormlands, the first Andal arrivals landed on Tarth, where they met with hostilities by the First Men after conquering the east of the isle and slaying the father of the Magnar Arlan Evenstar. Afterwards, raids and skirmishes between the two opposing realms were commonplace. In 31 A.I., the Evenstars would begin raising a large host to take back the east. In response to the reports of such a force gathering in the west, Galladon moved to raise his banners, as well as any willing man with the intention of defeating the Evenstars once and for all.

The Battle of Morne

The Evenstar Magnar marched his army, which was estimated to be twice the size of the Andal force, around the mountains to deliver a strike at the heart of the Andal realm, Morne itself, expecting to take them unguarded. But Galladon had prepared ahead of time, erecting defensive fortifications. Combined with the high morale and superior weaponry of the Andals, the Evenstar host was led into a massacre and lost enough men to more than double the size of the Andal army.

The Slaughter at Sundown

In the aftermath of the Battle of Morne, Galladon's host pursued the remains of the First Men for three moons around the isle. Though eventually, the Evenstar managed to lose his pursuers and regroup.

Claiming the element of surprise yet again, the Evenstar decided to return to enemy territory intent on pillaging and razing everything in his path. Though the Andals received reports about the First Man army being on the move again. Familiar with the terrain, and with morale running high due to their recent victory, Galladon caught the Evenstars again, encircleing the larger but spread out force with their smaller yet better-armed army.

Few stragglers managed to escape the slaughter, as the hundreds of First Men were killed to a man, along with Arlan Evenstar himself. Some accounts say he was slain while attempting to escape, others his men of his force and taking a dozen Andals with him. Though a enemy and a heretic besides, the nearby village would be named Sundown in respect of the Evenstar's fall.

The Conquest

Now free to go west, with the host of the First Men dead in the field, the Andals swept over the rest of Tarth into every village and holdfast demanding their surrender. Many accepted, although some chose to stand and fight and were put to the sword, their homes burnt and looted.

Upon reaching Evenfall Hall, Galladon's main force found it a shadow of it's reputed glory, it's garrison gutted with only old men and boys left to defend it. Cowed by the size of the Andal host, the gates were opened but the remaining Evenstars were nowhere to be found. With the Andals utterly victorious the keep was renamed Evenfell.

Galladon's Crowning

Following the conquest, Galladon was urged by his confidants to proclaim himself King. He considered the matter, secluding himself in prayer to the Seven to ask what decision he should make. He received no answer. Eventually he emerged, declaring his intention to be crowned as King as the only independent ruler left on the island. His septon would proclaim the the isle was the land promised to Hugor of the Hill and Galladon was its rightfuler king.

This was a decision many of his Andal contemporaries denounced, most notably Corwyn Corbray and to a lesser extent Symeon Santagar, as this was considered as Galladon eschewing his knightly duties for personal glory. But among others, such as the Qorgyles, the Mornes remained respected and their kingship recognised as legitimate.