Ieshian Civil War

* King Philip IV
* The Raoist Church
* Philip II

Royalist's

* King Athered
* Queen Magdalena
* Henry of Ieshia
* Armanda de Lorgenzo

The **Ieshian Civil War** was a period of civil unrest in the Kingdom of Ieshia from 802-805. It was fought between the Loyalist's and the Royalist's. The Loyalist's supported King Philip IV, and the Church of Ieshia. And the Royalist's supported Philips brother, Athered. The Royalist's also supported the idea of the Ieshian Empire, where the Loyalist's supported the abolition of the Empire, and dissolve their colonies.

The war began after a failed coup d'état of 801 by a leading group of nobles to abolish the monarchy and create a republic. The leading Noble, Armanda de Lorgenzo organized the coup d'état because of Philip's failure to secure Ieshia on the world stage. After he died in 802, Athered, Philip's brother assumed power and changed the focus of the war to securing him on the throne. The leading nobles obliged and supported him. The royalist's were comprised of Athered, the leading nobles, the army and a majority of the rual folk or the farmers who lived in southern and wester Ieshia.

The Royalist's advanced from their strongholds in the south and west, capturing most of Ieshia's northern and western coastline in 802. They also besieged Vrist, however the capital city did not surrender until 804, when the capital moved Carlin in northern Ieshia, near the valley of mortis. After capturing most of Ieshia, the Loyalist's held out for another year, they made multiple attempts to push back towards the former capital city, however all but one attempt were unsuccessful. In November of 804, the Loyalist's push towards the capital city finally made headway. With the victory of the Battle of Dorthea, the Loyalist's had a clear path towards Vrist. Under the leadership of Philip II, the Loyalist's finally took back the capital city. But, the Loyalist's hold on the city was short, in February of 805, the Royalist's made another attempt to take back the city, and won. With Vrist captured again, Philip IV escaped captivity and fled to Carlin once again. Finally, the Royalist's attacked Carlin and seized it in April of 805, capturing King Philip IV and forcing him to abdicate the throne. Philip then was exiled and fled to Griffin where he lived out his final days.

## Background

#### **Nationalism and Absolutism**

The 7th and 8th centuries was a turbulent time for Ieshia, the conflicting ideals of the Absolute Monarchy, and the ideals of the leading Nobles and Lords is the direct cause of the unrest. Multiple revolts were attempted from 790-800, however all were short-lived as King Philip III immediately destroyed them. His powerful military (created by his father) easily "squashed" the revolts. When Philip III died in 800, the factions used this opportunity to strike, the new young King, Philip IV was inexperienced and Ieshia was in a weekend state. The group before the Loyalist's the "Conservatives" wanted to abolish the Monarchy, or at least curtain its power, under a constitution, the King's power would be weakened. However, the Privy Council, denied and rejected the constitution. By September of 800, the Loyalist's split, and they wished to not abolish the monarchy, but to abolish the Empire. By removing the colonies, and Ieshia's large oversea's dominions and territories, it would allow the King to focus on mainland issues. The other half of the now split loyalist's turned into the Royalist's, who wished to keep the empire, but still curtain the King's power. There were several attempts to curtain the King's power peacefully in 800 and early 801, however all were rejected by Philip IV and his Council. The newly formed political party, the Royalist's, began to become more active in the government. Originally Athered supported his brother Philip IV, however when Philip had denounced Athered's idea's to keep the empire, Athered decided to switch sides and take the crown for himself.