Book of Notch: World War IV

'This war is a major development in the Book of Notch. It sets the stage for the Second War.'

This page is also under construction and may be sloppy and/or inaccurate.

World War IV, also known as the Arabian-Swedish World War, began in 1896 due to Notch's new, aggressive policy of centralization. Notch expanded Castilia so that it included Lorresburg and Wallenburg. He also expanded New Sweden  so that it dominated nearly all of the province of Arabus. This action towards centralization led Lorresburg, Wallenburg, and Georgia to declare war on Castilia and New Sweden, and powers continued to declare war based on previous treaties and alliances until most of the world was at war.

Prelude to War
Before the war, five major powers (Castilia, Stevensburg, Lorresburg, Wallenburg, and Atlanta) dominated much of the world. Castila and Stevensburg were part of the Notchic Alliance (as well as New Sweden and the Village Union Territories), while Wallenburg, the Atlantic Confederation, and Krussia formed the Triple Alliance. Lorresburg was originally suspicious of both alliances.

Notch's New Policy
Tension grew as Notch petitioned for greater lebensraum, or "living space," for the Indevian population in New Sweden. Castilia sympathized with New Sweden and negotiated with surrounding states in order to receive more territory (in order to compensate for territory that New Sweden annexed). Stevensburg obliged, but the states of Georgia, Wallenburg, and Lorresburg refused to comply. In 1895, Notch himself requested that the Arabian Confederation provide more lebensraum for the swelling Indevian population, but the Confederation refused to recognize this. It argued that Indevians were welcome in all Arabian states, and that they did not require an entire nation for themselves.

Declaration of War
In early 1896, Wallenburg and Krussia argued at the Confederate Assembly of 1896 that the state of New Sweden was unneccessary, and they petitioned for the Confederation to annex New Sweden as an international territory. Notch immediately declared a state of national emergency in New Sweden and proclaimed that Wallenburg and Krussia had declared war on New Sweden and, therefore, the Notchic Alliance as well. Armies quickly mobilized and neutral powers took sides. Two belligerent alliances formed, as indicated in the table below. This war did not end until 1901, when the Peace of Stevensburg was signed and East Wallsburg and the Village Union Territories were allowed to become their own independent states. Also, this treaty established the Arabian Confederation as the supreme sovereignty over New Sweden.