First Shadow War
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The First Shadow War, was a massive galactic conflict which happened approximately 1000 years before the Third Age of Mankind. During this war, the Shadows were held in check only by the combined efforts of the First Ones and several of the Younger Races, the Minbari most notably.
Ironically, the First Shadow War occurred nine thousand years after the Last Great War against the Shadows. It implies many prior, undocumented wars. While a tremendous conflict by the younger races' standards, it was relatively mild compared to the "great" wars that came before.
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Conflict
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Recounting the history to Sheridan, Delenn explains that a thousand years ago, the Shadows returned to their places of power and prepared to launch another war. While they made early gains, they had struck too quickly, before they were truly ready. The conflict drew in the Vorlons and numerous of the Younger Races, including the Minbari.[1]
Late in the war, the major Minbari base of operations was destroyed, severely hampering their ability to project power. The outcome of the war was in doubt, with the Shadows likely to win or, if they did lose, preserve most of their forces. Suddenly, a mysterious Minbari appeared with a replacement station of alien design and the apparent support of the Vorlons. The Minbari accepted this miraculous reprieve and used it to secure victory.
Valen tried to mend the problems between the three castes, who began to fight amongst themselves after their base had fallen. When the castes could not agree to work together, Valen formed the Anla'Shok, where no castes were recognized. The Anla'Shok became his fighting army. When the tide of the war turned in their favor, the castes desired to unite behind him.[2] Valen then led the Minbari to victory against the Shadows. When the war was over the station was abandoned.[2]
Defeated, the Shadows scattered, burying their weapons and ships in secret places and returning to their primary world of Z'ha'dum to await their next opportunity. The victory was not total; the Shadows were able to recover sufficient strength to begin another war, the Second Shadow War, only a thousand years later.
Other InvolvementEdit
Several of the Younger Races, such as the Narn, who weren't directly involved in the larger conflict nevertheless were affected by the larger events in motion.
As they gathered their forces the Shadows set up bases, scattered on many distant low-tech worlds. The Book of G'Quan tells of the events on Narn where the Shadows had established a base on one of the southern continents, taking little interest in the native Narns. Their presence was however deeply felt by the Narn "mindwalkers" and the Shadows took steps to wipe them out, lest they become a threat. However the last of the mindwalkers, lead by G'Quan and with the support of G'Lan and a number of other Vorlon drove the Shadows out, forcing them to abandon their base.[3][4][5][6]
They also attempted to establish a base on another distant world but as with Narn, the native race resisted. Unlike with the Narn the Shadows chose to make an example of this race and released a nano-virus, leaving the planet for dead.[7]
Though the surrounding circumstances are unclear, another incident during the war took place on over a planet in the Orion System in which the starship Qualtham carrying a shipment of slaves for a colony was shot down.[8]
The war occurred at roughly the same time that the Hyach developed interstellar travel, and that their religious authorities banned intermarriage with the Hyach-do. [9]
It is unknown whether this war had any manifestation in human history. Major events in the 13th century include the sacking of Christian Constantinople by crusaders, the signing of the Magna Carta in Britain, and the meteoric rise of the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan (which rose from an obscure group of warring clans to conquer the largest land empire in human history).
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ReferencesEdit
| Wars and Conflicts |
| Shadow Wars: |
| Last Great War • First Shadow War • Second Shadow War |
| Earth Conflicts: |
| Chilean War • World War III • War of the Shining Star • Dilgar War • Canal Wars • Earth-Minbari War • Earth Alliance Civil War • Telepath War • Second Earth Alliance Civil War |
| Centauri Conflicts: |
| War of 20 Million Deaths • 1st Centauri Occupation of Narn • Narn-Centauri War • 2nd Centauri Occupation of Narn • Centauri Wars of Aggression • Centauri War of 2262 |
| Other Conflicts: |
| Minbari Civil War • Drakh War • The Great Trade War |
| Limited Skirmishes: |
| Battle of the Scoria Plains • Battle of Nu'Shok • Battle of Douala • Liberation of the African Block • Battle of Janos VII • Invasion of Ragesh III • Raider Attack on Babylon 5• Battle for Epsilon III •Operation Sudden Death • Thirdspace Invasion |
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