War of Imperial Succession
"The Empire of Zinruna collapsed in the only way such a young empire could, with civil war and fracturing."~On the Empire of Zinruna
The Conflict
Prelude
The Empire of Zinruna had existed for only 15 months before its founder and emperor Alganvi died at a young age with no legitimate children. His illegitimate children were used by powerful military leaders as puppet claimants to the imperial throne and when no clear successor could be agreed upon, war became inevitable.
Outcome
Total collapse of the empire of Zinruna. Continuation Wars.
Aftermath
Fracturing of Kosva culture. Rise of the Heptarchy in Zinruna.
Historical Significance
First Succession Crisis
The First Succession Crisis began when the first and only Knir of the Empire died suddenly at the age of thirty-seven, just fifteen months into his reign. Alganvi had no legitimate children as he was unmarried until shortly after founding the empire. This power vacuum left no clear successor so his illegitimate children flocked to powerful regional generals to petition them to push their claim to the imperial crown. The ensuing conflict lasted for eighteen months and was only ended when the warlord Alvessi managed to capture the last of the surviving children of Alganvi and place his five-year-old puppet Valdam on the imperial throne, though he was never officially crowned Knir. The conflict did not completely destroy the empire but severely weakened imperial legitimacy and prestige as well as inflaming animosity between the different regions of the empire who had so recently conquered the land as comrades in arms.Second Succession Crisis
Seven months into the reign of Alvessi, Anya, the wife of the late emperor Alganvi, declared that she had born her husband a son shortly after his death and demanded that Alvessi depose Valdam and instate her son as Knir. Sources disagree on Alvessi's exact responce to this demand with some claiming that he flatly refused while others claim that he offered to do so on the condition that he remain as regent. Whatever the case, Alvessi did not depose Valdam and the realm was once again thrown into conflict, with various regional warlords declaring for one side or the other, Beginning the Second Succession Crisis. The exact end date of this crisis is debated but the most popular model is to declare the founding of the Kingdom of Ankosvia, with the subsequent conflicts falling under the banner of the 'Continuation Wars,' which continue in some form to today.Legacy
The Succession war is viewed almost universally with sadness and regret as each of the modern Kosva states view themselves as the legitimate successor to the empire.
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