The border wars were a series of wars that began in the later years of Edward's rule between the Kingdom of Daventry and neighboring countries.
Background[]
The wars began not long after the loss of the Shield of Achille, as Daventry no longer had any magical defense to prevent Daventry from losing. Following the loss of the Gold Chest they could no longer pay their armies and mercenaries to stop invading forces.
By the end of the wars Daventry was left with only 100 knights and soldiers defending the kingdom, and the magical spells of wizards placed on the castle to defend it.
Graham was forced to defend from the invaders from outside countries, and even his father Hereward another of Daventry's greatest knights died during one of the border wars. Perhaps the knight, James of Daventry died during one of these wars (though he may during the disordered years, during wars in Edward's father's time, or from a time long forgotten, whatever the case it is is unknown).
The invading forces continued to steal land (or lands broke away becoming independent), thus shrinking the size of the kingdom, and encroaching ever closer on the lands near Castle Daventry. The kingdom was expected to fall, until Edward gave his final order and quest to his favorite knight Sir Graham to find the three lost treasures to save the kingdom.
Notably, many of the lands that were 'stolen' or 'broke'away may have been part of the disordered nation from Edward's father's days. Before Edward and consolidated and ordered the war torn nation, forming the 'present kingdom'. At the time the kingdom was small and made up of warring provinces (with marauding armies, Warlords, nobles and would-be kings) all hoping to rule the realm. It was the treasures that protected Edward's father, and his disordered and beleaguered realm (giving him an advantage against those besieged his realm).
Potential nations that may have been at war with Daventry (or had been part of Daventry before they broke away) may include Cumberford, Cumberland and Lycathia, the western and southern kingdoms, as well as kingdoms to the north and east as well. The Swamp is also a small kingdom along the northern to north-eastern border of the kingdom, where monsters may have invaded from. Another possible close nation is Herenna, from there a great dragon once threatened Daventry.