War of the Four Palatines

The War of the Four Palatines was an initially multi-sided, but eventually two-sided, civil war which engulfed the Helvandrian League from 1083 to 1087 CV (i.e. about one hundred and seventy years before the present day). It is one of the two major episodes of civil strife which the League has endured since its founding, the other being the War of the Yenrisi Succession in the mid-1100s CV. 
The war broke out over an irreconcilably disputed election for the Palatinate. Claims of rightful election to the Prince-Palatine's seat were made by Rhogal, Duke of Charagma; XXXXXXX, Prince-Archon of Stavlos; XXXXXX, Duke of Meniri; and XXXXXXX, Archona of Rhanamul. Each of these four magnates were prominent players in the intricate game of League politics and each commanded a faction of less powerful electors whose states followed their lead. 
After an initial spasm of violence, an attempt to negotiate Banisyra peace was made by the High Priest of Kothaur in Hakoris, the Deinoan priestesses of Miarkos, and the Sidrene high priestess in Torrune. However, the Duke of Meniri refused to take part, and the other factions used his sacrilegious stubbornness as an excuse to continue fighting as well. Negotiations were fruitless and fighting between the four factions continued for two more years. Under continual pressure from the priesthoods, Stavlos and Charagma were eventually compelled to admit that their positions were less defensible than that of Rhanamul’s Archona, and to withdraw their own claims and throw their support behind her cause instead. Meniri, badly outmatched by the consolidated Rhanamuli faction, was abandoned by its allies and defeated after another year and a half of war. 
Duke XXXXXX of Meniri, along with most of his retainers and family, was driven into exile after his defeat. The city of Lamasar, previously part of Meniri, was granted self-rule and the status of a Chartered Free City. XXXXXXXXX, Archona of Rhanamul, became the Princess-Palatine of the League. The duchy of Charagma, though it had eventually joined the winning side, was financially depleted by the conflict. Duke Rhogal died at the end of the war (reputedly from overeating at a victory banquet) and the merchants of Torrune were able to buy their independence from his foolhardy son and successor, Gharro. The aftermath of the War of the Four Palatines thus marked a lasting downturn in Dun Charag's fortunes.