The First Halesche Crusade was the first of a number of wars conducted by the Kingdom of Halengard, and the Church of the East during the height of the Blessed Era. The popularity of the war drove many Septist rulers to join the war. It started as a war of revenge against the Orcish dynasties that had plagued the southern borders of Halengard, but ended as a reconquest, with many of the East Astrian rulers partially funding and reinforcing the idea of two independent Astrian kingdoms in Akhatai. The war ended with the decisive Siege of Nauenstadt.