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The First World War was a global conflict that lasted from 1931-1936. The war, while fought most significantly in Eurasia, was also fought in North America. It involved most of the world's major countries, and took place on every continent except South America and Oceania, between the Expanse Powers, and Allied Powers. It was the most widespread and destructive war in history, involving over 110 million people.
Though the war is considered to have begun with the joint Indo-Russo-Roman invasion of China, the Comanche Empire had already invaded the Sioux Confederation, and the Indian Raj had invaded Persia. Though fighting bogged down in both cases, it strained relations between the Expanse and the Allies. When the Chinese Imperial Army intervened on behalf of the Sioux, the Romans countered by leading joint invasion.
The Expanse campaign was halted at the Battle of Ophir, when the attempted Roman invasion of Egypt was halted. Followed by a series of Russian defeats across Northern China, combined with another, this time successful invasion of Comanche territory by the Chinese, the Expanse lost the initiative, and went on the defensive. In 1934, the Allies launched three coordinated attacks in Rome, India and Russia.
After the fall of St. Petersburg, and the arrest of Tsar Ivan IX, and the suicide of Maharajah Ajith, the Romans were left isolated, as a joint Egyptian-Norse force pressed in. Culminating with the suicide of Proconsul Caius Albanus, and the capture of Roma by Egyptian forces, the war in Europe ended. Comanche holdouts continued after the capture of Comancheria, with the last holdout being destroyed by the Chinese in 1937.
Despite its scale, the war did not severely affect the political climate of the world. Territorial changes were minimal, and Rome remained the dominant European power. The International Council of Peace was assembled by the Allied Powers in an attempt to foster cooperation. The Middle East remained in turmoil for another fifty years, before the foundation of the United Islamic Republic.
Chronology
The start of the war in Asia is considered to have been March 3, 1931, beginning with the join Indo-Russo-Roman invasion of the Chinese Empire. The war in North America are considered to have begun earlier, on September 5, 1929 when the Comanche Empire invaded the Sioux Confederation.
According to Roman historian, Marcus Aneas, the war in the Americans began when the Comanche forces invaded the Chinese colonies on March 10, 1931, which marked the point where the two wars began. Russian historian, Vladimir Putin, argues that it began when the Russian and Chinese forces met at the skirmish in Northern Mongolia.
The exact ending of the war is not universally agreed, with some historians holding that war ended with the surrender of the Russian Tsardom, and the remaining conflict could not be defined as a "world war". Others argue that it ended with the surrender of Rome.
Background
Military Buildup
The Roman battleship, Hydra, commissioned by Consul Lumius
The aircraft carrier, Jupiter.
In an attempt to combat the Great Depression, throughout the early 20th century, Roman Consul Flavius Lumius sought a large military buildup; the mentality was that the industrial need would create new jobs, and encourage investment. This included the commissioning of an additional fifteen Typhoon-class battleships, and five Neptune-class carriers. The largest of the battleships was the Hydra (which would later be sunk in the Battle of Ophir) and the largest of the carriers was the Jupiter (which would survive the war). Lumius also pushed bills through the Assembly that increased government military spending 15%.
The Egyptian carrier, Osiris.
This was viewed as threatening by the Egyptian Empire, and after obtaining approval from the Council of Commoners, Pharaoh Ahmose X drafted a bill to increase military buildup as well. This included the construction of new Wadj-wer class carriers, the largest being the Osiris. He also commissioned the construction of a series of coastal defenses along Egypt's Mediterranean coastline, which would come to be called "Wadj-wer's Spear".
Alliances
After Lumius' period of consulship ended, and Consul Titus Alexius took power, he approached Tsar Vladimir V for an alliance. While he was rebuffed by Vladimir, he managed to gain the support of then Crown Prince Ivan. Vladimir died only two years later, on July 17, 1921, and upon his succession, Tsar Ivan IX concluded an alliance with Rome. Shortly after, Alexius approached Maharajah Ajith II, who had ascended the throne on May 1, 1919. The two countries, as well as Russia, then signed the Raigad Accords, which formed a three-way alliance between Rome, Russia, and India.
In response, Ahmose and Emperor Ling Chao Xin of China strengthened their alliance. The Egyptians ceded one of their military bases in Madagascar to Chinese authority, while the Chinese ceded one of their bases in Taiwan to Egyptian authority. Both countries approached Kaiser Olaf X with an offer for alliance, which he accepted, though a vote was called for by the Althing. The offer for alliance was eventually accepted, by a margin of five votes. They signed the Treaty of Thebes, concluding the alliance.
Pre-War Events
Indian Invasion of Persia
Indo-Persian relations had been strained since the 18th century, as the two nations disputed the Bactrian region that straddled the borders. Relations hit a low point on May 1924 when Shah Jafar II moved an armored batallion onto the border in response to perceived "Indian aggression". In response, Maharajah Ajith moved his own batallion onto the border. After a miscommunication lead to an exchange of fire (an Indian convoy had lost its map, and had unknowingly crossed into Persian territory), Ajith declared war on the Persian Kingdom, and ordered the batallion to cross into Persia. Ther Persian force was defeated, and the Indian forces were able to invade Bactria practically unopposed. This act received mass condemnation around the world, including the Romans (the Russians were the only ones that expressed support). In response to this backlash, India halted its advance into Persian territory, and annexed Bactria.
Comanche invasion of the Sioux
The Commanche and Sioux nations had a long history of conflict between the two, as the two shared a hotly contested border, that had been established by Chinese arbitration. The establishment never fully satisfied either party, and border disputes were common. On October of 1928, Grand Chief Soars like a Condor attempted an invasion of Sioux territory, hoping to establish a more favorable border. While the first wave was a success, the second wave was defeated, and fighting bogged down across the Central Plains, as both sides dug trenches. Though China condemned the invasion, and threatened military intervention, the Romans, who had opposed the Chinese establishment from the beginning, expressed support for the Commanches, and warned that any attempt by the Chinese to interfere would be met with hostility. In attempt to compromise, China offered to serve as arbitrator again, to achieve a new status-quo. Both nations refused the offer, and the war continued.