diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/functions/AmqpAdapter.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/functions/AmqpAdapter.md
index 96ca05a..96fd248 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/functions/AmqpAdapter.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/functions/AmqpAdapter.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 > **AmqpAdapter**(`options`): `EventAdapter`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/AmqpAdapter.ts:401](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/AmqpAdapter.ts#L401)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/AmqpAdapter.ts:442](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/AmqpAdapter.ts#L442)
 
 Create an AMQP/RabbitMQ adapter for @connectum/events.
 
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpAdapterOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpAdapterOptions.md
index 6c88313..74cf3d1 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpAdapterOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpAdapterOptions.md
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ false
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **lifecycle?**: [`AmqpLifecycleCallbacks`](AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md)
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:196](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L196)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:197](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L197)
 
 Connection lifecycle callbacks. Connection errors are surfaced here —
 not just logged.
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ Publisher options.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **publishTimeoutMs?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:206](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L206)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:207](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L207)
 
 Per-publish broker-outcome deadline in milliseconds. A publish whose
 ack/nack/return/connection-loss outcome does not arrive in time
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ How topology is established:
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **treatTopologyErrorAsFatal?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:190](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L190)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:191](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L191)
 
 Treat DETERMINISTIC topology drift during steady-state recovery as
 fatal: stop the reconnect cycle instead of retrying forever against a
@@ -293,10 +293,11 @@ re-subscribe explicitly.
 
 Scope: steady-state recovery only. Boot-time drift is the startup
 probe's job — see [failFastOnInitialSetupError](#failfastoninitialsetuperror). Setting both
-covers boot and steady state; the remaining gap — broker unreachable at
-`connect()` time with drift surfacing before the first successful
-connect — is covered by neither flag until the bounded initial phase
-lands ([https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198)).
+covers boot and steady state; the remaining window — broker unreachable
+at `connect()` time with drift surfacing before the first successful
+connect — is closed by
+[AmqpRecoveryOptions.initialConnectMaxRetries](AmqpRecoveryOptions.md#initialconnectmaxretries) (since 1.3.0),
+whose bounded phase surfaces those failures and rejects on exhaustion.
 
 #### Default
 
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpBindingDeclaration.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpBindingDeclaration.md
index be9c125..53dd002 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpBindingDeclaration.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpBindingDeclaration.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpBindingDeclaration
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:266](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L266)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:267](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L267)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:266](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **arguments?**: `Record`\<`string`, `unknown`\>
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:274](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L274)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:275](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L275)
 
 ***
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:274](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **exchange?**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:270](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L270)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:271](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L271)
 
 Destination exchange name (exchange-to-exchange binding).
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Destination exchange name (exchange-to-exchange binding).
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **queue?**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:268](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L268)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:269](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L269)
 
 Destination queue name (queue binding) — mutually exclusive with `exchange`.
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Destination queue name (queue binding) — mutually exclusive with `exchange`.
 
 > `readonly` **routingKey**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:273](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L273)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:274](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L274)
 
 ***
 
@@ -46,6 +46,6 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:273](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` **source**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:272](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L272)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:273](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L273)
 
 Source exchange.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpConsumerOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpConsumerOptions.md
index cd54c23..f4c7b55 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpConsumerOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpConsumerOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpConsumerOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:478](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L478)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:518](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L518)
 
 Consumer options.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Consumer options.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **exclusive?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:492](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L492)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:532](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L532)
 
 Whether the consumer is exclusive to this connection.
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ false
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **prefetch?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:485](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L485)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:525](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L525)
 
 Prefetch count (QoS) — how many unacknowledged messages
 a consumer can have at a time.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeDeclaration.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeDeclaration.md
index 3e42c26..acdedab 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeDeclaration.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeDeclaration.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpExchangeDeclaration
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:248](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L248)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:249](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L249)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:248](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **arguments?**: `Record`\<`string`, `unknown`\>
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:254](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L254)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:255](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L255)
 
 Raw AMQP arguments passthrough.
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Raw AMQP arguments passthrough.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **autoDelete?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:252](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L252)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:253](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L253)
 
 ***
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:252](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **durable?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:251](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L251)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:252](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L252)
 
 ***
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:251](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` **name**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:249](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L249)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:250](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L250)
 
 ***
 
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:249](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` **type**: `"headers"` \| `"topic"` \| `"direct"` \| `"fanout"`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:250](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L250)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:251](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L251)
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeOptions.md
index 833422f..188cbb9 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpExchangeOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpExchangeOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:427](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L427)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:467](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L467)
 
 Exchange assertion options.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Exchange assertion options.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **autoDelete?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:440](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L440)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:480](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L480)
 
 Whether the exchange is deleted when the last queue unbinds.
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ false
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **durable?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:433](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L433)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:473](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L473)
 
 Whether the exchange should survive broker restarts.
 
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md
index 89f0302..0348edd 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpLifecycleCallbacks
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:371](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L371)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:410](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L410)
 
 Connection lifecycle callbacks.
 
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ deprecated since 1.3.0 (removal not before 2.0).
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onConnected?**: () => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:391](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L391)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:430](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L430)
 
 #### Returns
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Since 1.3.0 — use [onLifecycle](#onlifecycle) (`type: "connected"`). Kept unti
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onDisconnected?**: (`cause`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:393](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L393)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:432](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L432)
 
 #### Parameters
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Since 1.3.0 — use [onLifecycle](#onlifecycle) (`type: "disconnected"`). Kept u
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onLifecycle?**: (`event`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:389](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L389)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:428](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L428)
 
 Single discriminated-union lifecycle callback — the preferred surface.
 Receives every [AmqpLifecycleEvent](../type-aliases/AmqpLifecycleEvent.md), including `blocked`/`unblocked`,
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ deterministic misconfiguration at boot.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onReconnectFailed?**: (`cause`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:406](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L406)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:445](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L445)
 
 #### Parameters
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Since 1.3.0 — use [onLifecycle](#onlifecycle) (`type: "reconnect-failed"`). Ke
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onReconnecting?**: (`info`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:404](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L404)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:443](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L443)
 
 A reconnect attempt has been scheduled. Fires exactly ONCE per scheduled
 retry (amqplib's `reconnect-scheduled`). A failed attempt that also emits
@@ -149,11 +149,12 @@ Since 1.3.0 — use [onLifecycle](#onlifecycle) (`type: "reconnecting"`). Kept u
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **onSetupFailed?**: (`error`, `ctx`) => `void`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:421](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L421)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:461](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L461)
 
 A setup/topology failure occurred while (re)applying the declarative
-topology — on the initial connect's validation probe (`ctx.initial: true`,
-`ctx.attempt: 0`) and/or on a reconnect whose topology re-assert fails
+topology — during the startup window (`ctx.initial: true`; `ctx.attempt`
+is 0 on the probe, or the 0-based attempt index in the bounded initial
+phase) and/or on a reconnect whose topology re-assert fails
 (`ctx.initial: false`, `ctx.attempt` ≥ 1).
 
 This surfaces deterministic configuration drift (e.g. a missing queue in
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpPublisherOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpPublisherOptions.md
index 35e465d..f799b18 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpPublisherOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpPublisherOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpPublisherOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:498](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L498)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:538](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L538)
 
 Publisher options.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Publisher options.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **correlationHeader?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:527](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L527)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:567](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L567)
 
 How `basic.return` frames are correlated to publishes when
 `mandatory: true`. The return frame carries no deliveryTag, so:
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ true
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **externalContract?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:556](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L556)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:596](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L596)
 
 Publish against an EXTERNAL (non-EventBus) message contract: suppress the
 EventBus envelope so the wire frame carries ONLY contract-specified
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ false
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **mandatory?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:512](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L512)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:552](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L552)
 
 Whether the message should be returned if it cannot be routed.
 Unroutable messages reject the publish with `AmqpUnroutableError`.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ false
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **persistent?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:504](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L504)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:544](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L544)
 
 Whether messages should be persisted to disk (deliveryMode=2).
 
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueDeclaration.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueDeclaration.md
index 038b389..71cb19b 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueDeclaration.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueDeclaration.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpQueueDeclaration
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:257](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L257)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:258](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L258)
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:257](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **arguments?**: `Record`\<`string`, `unknown`\>
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:263](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L263)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:264](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L264)
 
 Raw AMQP arguments passthrough (e.g. x-dead-letter-exchange).
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Raw AMQP arguments passthrough (e.g. x-dead-letter-exchange).
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **autoDelete?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:260](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L260)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:261](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L261)
 
 ***
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:260](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **durable?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:259](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L259)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:260](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L260)
 
 ***
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:259](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **exclusive?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:261](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L261)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:262](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L262)
 
 ***
 
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:261](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` **name**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:258](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L258)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:259](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L259)
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOptions.md
index 181fd2a..9dd398a 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpQueueOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:446](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L446)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:486](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L486)
 
 Queue assertion options.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Queue assertion options.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **deadLetterExchange?**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:467](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L467)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:507](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L507)
 
 Dead letter exchange name for rejected messages.
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Dead letter exchange name for rejected messages.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **deadLetterRoutingKey?**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:472](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L472)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:512](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L512)
 
 Dead letter routing key for rejected messages.
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Dead letter routing key for rejected messages.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **durable?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:452](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L452)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:492](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L492)
 
 Whether the queue should survive broker restarts.
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ true
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **maxLength?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:462](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L462)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:502](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L502)
 
 Maximum number of messages in the queue.
 
@@ -58,6 +58,6 @@ Maximum number of messages in the queue.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **messageTtl?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:457](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L457)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:497](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L497)
 
 Per-message TTL in milliseconds.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOverride.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOverride.md
index 3e1b143..c162989 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOverride.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpQueueOverride.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpQueueOverride
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:278](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L278)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:279](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L279)
 
 External queue override for a consumer group.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ External queue override for a consumer group.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **arguments?**: `Record`\<`string`, `unknown`\>
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:282](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L282)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:283](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L283)
 
 Raw AMQP arguments used when asserting the queue (assert mode only).
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Raw AMQP arguments used when asserting the queue (assert mode only).
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **durable?**: `boolean`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:284](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L284)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:285](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L285)
 
 #### Default
 
@@ -36,6 +36,6 @@ true
 
 > `readonly` **queue**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:280](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L280)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:281](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L281)
 
 Externally-defined queue name to consume from.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md
index 1f2a94e..1498347 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpRecoveryOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:311](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L311)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:312](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L312)
 
 Recovery knobs (passed through to amqplib's opt-in recovery).
 
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ Full jitter with a hard cap is expressible today: set `jitter: 1` and halve
 `initialDelay`/`maxDelay` — the delay becomes uniform in `[0, intended cap]`
 (verified against amqplib 2.0.1's internal formula; re-verify on upgrades).
 
-Bounding the initial connect independently from steady-state recovery, and a
-pluggable backoff hook, are tracked as future options — see
-[https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198) and
+The initial connect CAN be bounded independently since 1.3.0 — see
+[AmqpRecoveryOptions.initialConnectMaxRetries](#initialconnectmaxretries) (#198; upstream native
+support tracked in [https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856](https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856)).
+A pluggable backoff hook remains tracked in
 [https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/199](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/199)
-(upstream: [https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856](https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856) and
-[https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/855](https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/855)).
+(upstream: [https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/855](https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/855)).
 
 ## Properties
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pluggable backoff hook, are tracked as future options — see
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **factor?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:317](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L317)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:318](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L318)
 
 #### Default
 
@@ -43,11 +43,48 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:317](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 ***
 
+### initialConnectMaxRetries?
+
+> `readonly` `optional` **initialConnectMaxRetries?**: `number`
+
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:354](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L354)
+
+Bound the retry budget of the INITIAL connect independently of
+steady-state recovery: N retries = N+1 attempts, mirroring `maxRetries`
+semantics. A single `maxRetries` cannot express "bounded startup,
+unbounded steady-state" — its counter resets on every success.
+
+When set to an explicit finite value (a negative value clamps to `0` —
+single attempt — mirroring amqplib's `maxRetries` normalization), the
+adapter owns the initial window with a bounded validate-connect loop
+(the startup probe folds into it — validation IS each attempt, no extra
+connects): every
+attempt surfaces per-attempt lifecycle events (`reconnecting` with the
+next delay, `setup-failed { initial: true, attempt }` for topology
+failures), and budget exhaustion rejects `connect()` with a typed
+`AmqpConnectionError` after a terminal `reconnect-failed` — never a
+silent block. Backoff matches amqplib's steady-state formula exactly
+(same knobs above, same cap-before-jitter semantics).
+
+`failFastOnInitialSetupError` still short-circuits a deterministic
+topology error on the first sight, budget notwithstanding.
+
+Handoff caveat: after a successful validation the real recovering
+connect runs — a broker dying inside that small window blocks per
+amqplib's own initial loop.
+
+Unset (default): behavior unchanged — amqplib's initial loop with the
+shared `maxRetries` governs startup, and initial-window per-retry events
+are not surfaced. Since 1.3.0; upstream native support tracked in
+[https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856](https://github.com/amqp-node/amqplib/issues/856).
+
+***
+
 ### initialDelay?
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **initialDelay?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:313](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L313)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:314](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L314)
 
 #### Default
 
@@ -61,7 +98,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:313](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **jitter?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:319](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L319)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:320](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L320)
 
 Symmetric jitter factor (0..1): the delay is uniform in `[base × (1 − jitter), base × (1 + jitter)]`.
 
@@ -77,7 +114,7 @@ Symmetric jitter factor (0..1): the delay is uniform in `[base × (1 − jitter)
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **maxDelay?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:315](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L315)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:316](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L316)
 
 Base delay cap in ms; jitter is applied on top of the capped base, so the effective wait can exceed it.
 
@@ -93,9 +130,9 @@ Base delay cap in ms; jitter is applied on top of the capped base, so the effect
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **maxRetries?**: `number`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:321](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L321)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:322](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L322)
 
-Attempts per series (initial connect and each recovery series); resets on success.
+Attempts per series (initial connect and each recovery series); resets on success. To bound ONLY startup, use [initialConnectMaxRetries](#initialconnectmaxretries).
 
 #### Default
 
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpSerializationOptions.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpSerializationOptions.md
index 0e06619..18c47a6 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpSerializationOptions.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpSerializationOptions.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpSerializationOptions
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:219](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L219)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:220](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L220)
 
 Serialization metadata and optional wire transcoding.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Serialization metadata and optional wire transcoding.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **contentType?**: `string`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:225](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L225)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:226](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L226)
 
 AMQP `contentType` message property.
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ AMQP `contentType` message property.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **decode?**: (`content`) => `Uint8Array`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:238](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L238)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:239](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L239)
 
 Transform the incoming wire body before it reaches the event handler.
 Failures nack the message (requeue per consumer policy).
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Failures nack the message (requeue per consumer policy).
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **encode?**: (`payload`) => `Uint8Array`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:232](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L232)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:233](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L233)
 
 Transform the outgoing wire body. Receives the payload bytes the
 EventBus (or the application) produced. Failures reject the publish
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpTopology.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpTopology.md
index e9f4705..6b79a1c 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpTopology.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/interfaces/AmqpTopology.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Interface: AmqpTopology
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:242](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L242)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:243](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L243)
 
 Declarative topology.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Declarative topology.
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **bindings?**: readonly [`AmqpBindingDeclaration`](AmqpBindingDeclaration.md)[]
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:245](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L245)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:246](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L246)
 
 ***
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:245](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **exchanges?**: readonly [`AmqpExchangeDeclaration`](AmqpExchangeDeclaration.md)[]
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:243](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L243)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:244](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L244)
 
 ***
 
@@ -28,4 +28,4 @@ Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:243](https://github.com/Connectum
 
 > `readonly` `optional` **queues?**: readonly [`AmqpQueueDeclaration`](AmqpQueueDeclaration.md)[]
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:244](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L244)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:245](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L245)
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpLifecycleEvent.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpLifecycleEvent.md
index 6ff13a6..786c56b 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpLifecycleEvent.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpLifecycleEvent.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 > **AmqpLifecycleEvent** = \{ `reconnected`: `boolean`; `type`: `"connected"`; \} \| \{ `error`: `Error`; `type`: `"disconnected"`; \} \| \{ `attempt`: `number`; `delay`: `number`; `error`: `Error`; `type`: `"reconnecting"`; \} \| \{ `error`: `Error`; `type`: `"reconnect-failed"`; \} \| \{ `attempt`: `number`; `error`: `Error`; `initial`: `boolean`; `type`: `"setup-failed"`; \} \| \{ `reason`: `string`; `type`: `"blocked"`; \} \| \{ `type`: `"unblocked"`; \}
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:355](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L355)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:394](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L394)
 
 Discriminated connection lifecycle event, delivered to
 [AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.onLifecycle](../interfaces/AmqpLifecycleCallbacks.md#onlifecycle).
@@ -14,24 +14,30 @@ Exactly-once guarantees (pinned by integration tests):
   for the initial connect and `true` after a recovery.
 - `disconnected` fires once per connection loss (a socket-level cut no longer
   double-fires via the raw `error` event — fixed in 1.3.0).
-- `reconnecting` fires once per scheduled retry AFTER the connection has been
-  established once. `reconnect-failed` is terminal and fires for either of
-  its two triggers: the retry budget is exhausted (`maxRetries`), or the
-  fatal topology policy stopped the cycle (`treatTopologyErrorAsFatal`).
-- `setup-failed` reports a topology/setup failure on the initial validation
-  probe (`initial: true`, `attempt: 0`) or a reconnect re-assert
-  (`initial: false`, `attempt` >= 1).
+- `reconnecting` fires once per scheduled retry — after the connection has
+  been established once, and also per attempt of the bounded initial phase
+  when [AmqpRecoveryOptions.initialConnectMaxRetries](../interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md#initialconnectmaxretries) is set.
+  `reconnect-failed` is terminal and fires for any of its three triggers:
+  the retry budget is exhausted (`maxRetries`), the fatal topology policy
+  stopped the cycle (`treatTopologyErrorAsFatal`), or the initial connect
+  budget ran out (`initialConnectMaxRetries`).
+- `setup-failed` reports a topology/setup failure with `initial: true` for
+  the startup window (`attempt: 0` on the probe; the 0-based attempt index
+  in the bounded initial phase) or `initial: false` for a reconnect
+  re-assert (`attempt` >= 1).
 - `blocked`/`unblocked` surface broker flow control (RabbitMQ
   `connection.blocked`, e.g. under a memory/disk alarm); they have no flat
   callback equivalent.
 
-Scope: the retry loop of the INITIAL connect (broker unreachable when
-`connect()` is called) happens before the lifecycle wiring can attach, so
-its per-retry events are not surfaced; the startup probe covers the
-deterministic-misconfiguration case (`setup-failed { initial: true }`).
-Full initial-window observability lands with the adapter-owned bounded
-initial phase — see
-[https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198).
+Scope: with amqplib's own initial loop (default), the retry loop of the
+INITIAL connect (broker unreachable when `connect()` is called) happens
+before the lifecycle wiring can attach, so its per-retry events are not
+surfaced; the startup probe covers the deterministic-misconfiguration case
+(`setup-failed { initial: true }`). Set
+[AmqpRecoveryOptions.initialConnectMaxRetries](../interfaces/AmqpRecoveryOptions.md#initialconnectmaxretries) (since 1.3.0) to make
+the adapter own that window — its bounded phase surfaces per-attempt
+`reconnecting`/`setup-failed` events and a terminal `reconnect-failed` on
+budget exhaustion.
 
 The `type` values are deliberately broker-agnostic so a future
 cross-adapter generalization stays non-breaking.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpTopologyMode.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpTopologyMode.md
index 53a6aff..695384f 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpTopologyMode.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/type-aliases/AmqpTopologyMode.md
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
 
 > **AmqpTopologyMode** = *typeof* [`AmqpTopologyMode`](../variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md)\[keyof *typeof* [`AmqpTopologyMode`](../variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md)\]
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:210](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L210)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:211](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L211)
 
 Topology establishment mode.
diff --git a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md
index 7b6c8f8..2188bc9 100644
--- a/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md
+++ b/en/api/@connectum/events-amqp/types/variables/AmqpTopologyMode.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 > `const` **AmqpTopologyMode**: `object`
 
-Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:210](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L210)
+Defined in: [packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts:211](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/blob/main/packages/events-amqp/src/types.ts#L211)
 
 Topology establishment mode.
 
diff --git a/en/packages/events-amqp.md b/en/packages/events-amqp.md
index 449cb1c..7a6fa45 100644
--- a/en/packages/events-amqp.md
+++ b/en/packages/events-amqp.md
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@ const adapter = AmqpAdapter({
 | `maxDelay` | `number` | `30000` | Base delay cap in ms. Jitter is applied on top of the capped base, so the effective wait can exceed this (~20% at the default jitter, up to ~2x at `jitter: 1`) |
 | `factor` | `number` | `2` | Exponential backoff factor |
 | `jitter` | `number` | `0.2` | Symmetric jitter factor (0..1): the delay is drawn uniformly from `[base × (1 − jitter), base × (1 + jitter)]` |
-| `maxRetries` | `number` | `Infinity` | Attempts per series before giving up. Governs **both** the initial connect and each later recovery series; the counter resets on every success |
+| `maxRetries` | `number` | `Infinity` | Attempts per series before giving up. Governs **both** the initial connect and each later recovery series; the counter resets on every success. To bound only startup, use `initialConnectMaxRetries` |
+| `initialConnectMaxRetries` | `number` | unset | Bound the **initial** connect independently (N retries = N+1 attempts): the adapter runs a bounded validate-connect loop with per-attempt lifecycle events (`reconnecting`, `setup-failed {initial: true}`) and rejects `connect()` with a typed `AmqpConnectionError` on exhaustion (after a terminal `reconnect-failed`) — instead of blocking forever. Backoff matches amqplib's formula exactly. Available since 1.3.0 |
 
 ### `AmqpLifecycleCallbacks`
 
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ lifecycle: {
 
 Deprecated flat callbacks (compatibility shim): `onConnected()`, `onDisconnected(cause)`, `onReconnecting({ attempt, delay, error })`, `onReconnectFailed(cause)`, `onSetupFailed(error, { initial, attempt })` (since 1.2.0).
 
-**Scope**: the retry loop of the **initial** connect (broker unreachable when `connect()` is called) runs before the lifecycle wiring can attach, so its per-retry events are not surfaced; the startup probe covers the deterministic-misconfiguration case. Full initial-window observability is tracked in [connectum#198](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198).
+**Scope**: with amqplib's own initial loop (default), the retry loop of the **initial** connect (broker unreachable when `connect()` is called) runs before the lifecycle wiring can attach, so its per-retry events are not surfaced; the startup probe covers the deterministic-misconfiguration case. Set `recovery.initialConnectMaxRetries` (since 1.3.0) to make the adapter own that window — its bounded phase surfaces per-attempt `reconnecting`/`setup-failed` events and a terminal `reconnect-failed` on budget exhaustion.
 
 ::: tip Fixed in 1.3.0
 A socket-level connection cut used to fire `onDisconnected` twice; it now fires exactly once per drop on both surfaces (disconnect-counter metrics roughly halve). In `recovery: false` mode a server-forced graceful close now surfaces a single `disconnected` (previously no event).
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ Connection behavior:
 - **With recovery enabled**, `connect()` retries with backoff until the broker becomes reachable -- convenient for `docker-compose` startup ordering where the broker may not be up yet. Under the default `maxRetries: Infinity`, `connect()` blocks rather than failing fast; set `failFastOnInitialSetupError: true` to reject `connect()` with a typed `AmqpTopologyError` on a **permanent** setup/topology error at startup while still recovering from transient broker outages.
 - **`maxRetries` scope.** The retry budget governs **both** the initial connect and every later recovery series, with the counter reset on each success. A finite value chosen only to bound startup therefore also caps steady-state recovery: a transient blip of that many consecutive failures in any single series permanently stops recovery.
 - **Reconnect delay.** The effective delay is symmetric jitter around the exponential base -- uniform in `[base × (1 − jitter), base × (1 + jitter)]` with `base = min(maxDelay, initialDelay × factor^(attempt − 1))`. The cap applies to the base **before** jitter, so the wait can overshoot `maxDelay` (~20% at the default `jitter: 0.2`, up to ~2x at `jitter: 1`).
-- **Topology drift during recovery.** Under the default policy, a queue/exchange deleted or incompatibly redeclared while the adapter reconnects makes every recovery attempt fail deterministically -- the cycle retries forever, reporting `setup-failed` per attempt (and heals if the topology is restored). Set `treatTopologyErrorAsFatal: true` to stop the cycle on the first such failure instead: the adapter reports `setup-failed` then the terminal `reconnect-failed`, tears down fully (consumers are dead; a later `connect()` starts from a clean slate), and subsequent publishes fail fast with `AmqpConnectionError`. The gate is the AMQP reply code of the cause (`404`/`406` = deterministic; transient causes -- including the cluster classic-queue "home node ... down or inaccessible" 404 -- stay in recovery). Boot-time drift is `failFastOnInitialSetupError`'s job; the broker-unreachable-at-boot window is covered by neither flag until [connectum#198](https://github.com/Connectum-Framework/connectum/issues/198).
+- **Topology drift during recovery.** Under the default policy, a queue/exchange deleted or incompatibly redeclared while the adapter reconnects makes every recovery attempt fail deterministically -- the cycle retries forever, reporting `setup-failed` per attempt (and heals if the topology is restored). Set `treatTopologyErrorAsFatal: true` to stop the cycle on the first such failure instead: the adapter reports `setup-failed` then the terminal `reconnect-failed`, tears down fully (consumers are dead; a later `connect()` starts from a clean slate), and subsequent publishes fail fast with `AmqpConnectionError`. The gate is the AMQP reply code of the cause (`404`/`406` = deterministic; transient causes -- including the cluster classic-queue "home node ... down or inaccessible" 404 -- stay in recovery). Boot-time drift is `failFastOnInitialSetupError`'s job; the broker-unreachable-at-boot window is closed by `recovery.initialConnectMaxRetries` (since 1.3.0).
 - **With `recovery: false`**, `connect()` rejects immediately if the broker is unreachable, and a lost connection is not restored.
 
 Observe connection state through `lifecycle.onLifecycle` (discriminated union; preferred since 1.3.0) or the deprecated flat callbacks (`onConnected`, `onDisconnected`, `onReconnecting`, `onReconnectFailed`, `onSetupFailed`).