The
Siege of Canterlot was an engagement fought between forces of the United Earth Republic, more specifically its Equestrian autonomous self governing entity, the United Nations Administrative Region of Equestria, and the combined forces of the Crystal Empire and Equestria over the latter's (Equestria) capital city, Canterlot. It is the pivotal event of the Canterlot Strategic Offensive (itself beginning only a few days before this battle), with the namesake city's fall eventually leading to the follow up
battle at Ponyville 9 days after the end of the siege. It was, and still is, the bloodiest single day battle for the UER in the entire war, and one of the bloodiest in its history.
By the beginning of November 2031, huge influx of reinforcements continued to arrive from Earth to supplement the already present armed forces of the Human colony as the UER intensified its hold on the northeastern parts of the continent. This giant amount of backup was also to be used for internal security, especially in the aftermath of the Stalliongrad Uprising the previous September, where socialist Pony worker unions rose up in defiance of their Human occupiers. Wanting to finish the war with Equestria immediately due to the threat of the Changelings to the northwest and the ongoing resistance in the Yakyakistan and Stalliongrad regions, the United Nations High Command formulated a plan to knock Equestria and the remnants of the Crystal Empire (the latter still resisting in the form of remnant soldiers even after the fall of Crystal City in August) once and for all: the Canterlot Strategic Offensive.
Human forces were under the command of famed General Tony Jackson, who was well known for his actions during the opening stages of the conflict, and his main adjutant General Carl Wennington, a veteran sniper and a champion to the United Nations Armed Forces. Nominal authority was also held by Governor and Commander in Chief of the UNARE's Colonial Defense Force[1], John Marsh Williams. The Governor's own adjutants, Aidan MacMillan and Mike Thompson, held individual authority over the forces involved in the engagement. General TJ, as he is known, wanted to rush and assault the city head on, but his proposal was met with serious opposition from the other commanders who viewed the plan as suicidal. It was eventually decided to encircle the city. Additional objectives included the capture of the diarchy (Celestia and Luna) and other important figureheads (such as Cadence and Twilight) alive and the "forced pacification" of the settlement.
The combined Equestrian forces were of course led by Princess Celestia, who was coming off from heavy defeats at Manehattan and the Everfree Forest, although the latter ended in another pyrrhic victory for the Humans due to the environment's magical nature (the forest itself wouldn't be cleared of Pony resistance until Christmas Day). Still, the diarchy was determined to prevent the fall of the capital city at any cost possible. Fortunately, the population wanted to help out as much as possible. Civilians helped the defenders construct defenses on the walls, and civilian volunteers would act as scouts keeping eyes on UER movements. There was also at least 30-90 defectors from the Human side, who deserted from the UN shortly before the conflict, with the majority of them escaping the aftermath and would later fight under the United Front in the follow up Battle of Ponyville. The goal was to defend the city at all costs, although retreating from the settlement itself was considered an option. Celestia's mindset of not giving up would eventually prove futile, with the Equestrians being forced to retreat through an undisclosed route towards Ponyville. Captain of the Guard Shining Armor was the titular vice commander of the armed forces, although his wife Cadence and Twilight Sparkle, leader of the Elements of Harmony, held significant influence.
At first, Human forces had no difficulties in fighting against the Equestrian forces, driving them back using their much superior technology and more sophisticated battle tactics. By November 25, the diarchy's forces had been pushed to the northern parts of the Capital Region, which forced the Ponies into defensive operations to save Canterlot from being surrounded. The Ponies meanwhile were unable to hold back the technological tide and were forced to retreat from their defensive positions. On the 26th, the Humans came out of the bloody Everfree Forest and had sights on Canterlot itself, although as mentioned earlier, resistance would continue in the forest until Christmas Day. Devastated by the battle in the "Magical Death Factory" (namesake for the Everfree by the Army), commanders in the field including Aidan MacMillan and Mike Thompson wanted to hold back capturing the settlement until at least early December. In desperation to win some glory for himself, Jackson refuted these requests and declared that the taking of the city begins the next day, the 27th. Despite many protests from the exhausted troops, the Humans managed to cut off land based communications to the city, completely encircling Canterlot in the early hours of November 27. 600 aircraft were assigned to the area to hold back a possible Pegasi counterattack or a breakout attempt by supporting the ground units.
Canterlot's defenses were very strong despite the Equestrians' desperate situation. Geography would also be on the side of the Ponies. Since the city was situated on the side of a mountain, it proved difficult to simply assault it on land. The siege would require many mountain troops (at least when assaulting over the mountain), but only 1,400 of the units present were mountaineers. In addition, the open plains on the one road leading up to the gates of the city would basically be an uphill kill zone for the Humans as the Ponies were free to rain fire from their protective walls. Assault by air was considered, but not enough paratroopers could be mobilized immediately as they were being used in other areas like the Everfree Forest. Nevertheless, despite these risks, General Jackson wanted the city taken and taken now, even with the odds that faced them. The first offensive was scheduled for 10AM, on the kill zone area which is the one road leading to the gates.
A relentless artillery barrage opened up on the city at 5AM, supported by the Air Force who threw 4 consecutive raids on the defenses to hopefully soften them up to prevent a massacre for the soldiers on the ground. These actions would have a huge psychological damage on the civilian population, but Equestrian morale held high. And when the Humans began to charge up the hill, they were met with determined pony resistance. It was a massacre that claimed many lives but gained very little progress. By the end of the first offensive alone, over 230 Human soldiers lay dead, with another 400 wounded. Jackson was chastised by the Human public back home after news of the failure reached Earth and the core territories of the UNARE, being called a butcher and a brute. Even at least 50 soldiers defected to the Ponies, and would fight under the United Front at Ponyville. Despite the reputation he would gain from this engagement, Jackson would lead the Humans all the way to the end, and even at Ponyville.
2 more bloody offensives were attempted the next few days, with all ending in failure. Losing patience by their lack of progress on December 5, President George McPherson of the United Earth Republic threatened to remove Jackson from his position if he continued to launch attacks that will simply produce more dead soldiers, and ordered a "safer" approach to taking the city. By this time, under direct presidential orders, air forces were gathered up and it the decision was made for the Army to take the city via helicopters, as the Equestrians lacked significant air defenses apart from the Pegasi. The operation was planned to be "fast and easy". The decisive attack was launched on December 7, completely taking the defenders by surprise, who by now were resting from the numerous suicidal attacks the previous days.
Troops of the United Nations Marine Corps[2], the rapid response forces of the UNAF, had occupied Canterlot Castle[3] itself and were making headway to take over the rest of the residential areas of the city. Ground support arrived on the 8th and 9th, and it was here that all Equestrian resistance was destroyed by the morning of December 10. The diarchy managed to escape under the cover of night a day before the city completely fell, and would be evacuated to Ponyville. It would begin a chase by the Humans after the elite Ponies until they were captured near the end of the war in March 2032.
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Notes:
[1] - The Colonial Defense Force is essentially the military of the United Nations Administrative Region of Equestria (UNARE), made out of UNAF army units that were tasked to protect the colony from enemy intrusion. Throughout the war, the CDF and the main UNAF were referred in separate, as to note the UNARE's autonomous status under the United Earth Republic.
[2] - The UNMC is essentially the special forces of the Humans. There is no official special forces branch.
[3] - "Canterlot Castle" refers to the actual palace grounds itself, and not the city.