Montiac-Isaran War

The **Montiac-Isaran War** was a major engagement between the Lepus states of Montiacos and Isara, lasting from ME 78 to 81. The war consisted primarily of large-scale stalemates between both sides, before Isara was struck with famine and eventually forced to surrender. Though the war ended with little territorial changes, Montiacos failure to swiftly conquer Isara led to the Montiac Civil War, and the ultimate fall of Montiacos and its royal family.

## Background

The Montiac King, Nonus Montiaco, had long desired to finish his grandfathers dream of a unified Domunian Peninsula. Upon inheriting the throne from his father in ME 75, Nonus proved to be an incapable leader, and was widely unpopular with most citizens. Realizing that the unification of the peninsula would rally his people behind him, Nonus launched the invasion of Isara on the 9th of Agorix, ME 78.

## Course of the war

The first days saw the success Nonus had hoped for. The Isarans, unprepared, were pushed back far into their own territory. However, once the Isarans regrouped in their capital, the Montiac army saw major defeats. The ill-equipped legions were overpowered and outnumbered by the Isarans, with Montiacos in a near-constant retreat for weeks. As the Isarans neared the capital, Nonus enacted conscription and diverted large amounts of civilian resources towards the war effort, much to the disdain of the population. The new conscripts allowed Montiacos to briefly go on the offensive, pushing back to pre-war borders. This frontline would stay relatively the same over the next year, with neither side able to break through. Cillium, then called Chaxuklas, became a major point of conflict as it was split almost perfectly in half by the two sides. The city, arguably the center of Chamael culture, was practically destroyed by the end of the war.

Near the end of ME 78, as the stalemate drew on, Montiac civilians began riots across several major cities, forcing a redirect of many frontline soldiers. Soon after, Montiac general Appius Salvian, using the riots to his advantage, revolted against the King along with dozens of other generals and commanders. In response to this, Salvian had his royal and military honours revoked by Nonus, and was replaced as the commander of the military by Pellian Casca. Salvian and his forces made an uneasy alliance with Isara, though the two sides rarely fought alongside. Despite overwhelming support from the population, the rebels were unable to claim a swift victory. Instead the war fell into one of attrition, with neither side taking any significant victory.

Isara, faced with a famine with most farmers sent to war, was finally forced to surrender on the 13th of Callanius, ME 80. Though seeking complete annexation, Nonus was forced to accept just small territorial gains, as he deemed a two-front war unwinnable.

## Aftermath

The end of the war changed little. The civil war continued, and the rebels loss of Isaran support didn't have the impact Nonus had hoped for. Ultimately, Montiacos would be defeated just over a year after Isara's surrender.

Isara was unable to recover from the famine, and was ultimately forced to fold into the newly formed Empire in ME 83. The Chamael, a species of Lizard-folk native to Isara, would go extinct following the nations collapse due to a mass famine for their species.