Bisos Civil War

Astians

The **Bisos Civil War** was a series of political and military confrontations between the legitimate successors of the throne, Gelon III and Phokasias Aurelia, and an usurper Aristogeiton that took power in 61 BC.

## Background

In 62 BC, emperor Gelon II died, while his two sons were too young to rule the empire. An allied statesman Ilioneus the Elder became the observer of the empire till the oldest son Phokasias Aurelia was 17. A year into Ilioneus reign, he was assassinated and another statesman Aristogeiton crowned himself emperor. The wife of Gelon II, Deiphobe Odiuras fled to Trabzus with her sons.

Aristogeiton was not popular with most of the governors in the east of the empire. Governor Hermon Tmoluras of Milegea even adopted the sons of Gelon II making it hard for Aristogeiton to kill them.

## Civil War

#### Phokasias in Madaresea (53-51 BC)

   In 53 BC, Phokasias Aurelia and a Milegean legion moved to Madaresea. Governer Ibanolis Alkmaioras defected to the Mikonian side and promised Phokasias an army. When Phokasias arrived in Nipora, he was welcomed as a liberator. Phokasias and his army moved north and conquered Halares and Setbe in 53 BC.

Aristogeiton sent an army led by Labdacus to Madaresea in 52 BC. The armies clashed in the Battle of Atauri, which was won by Phokasias. Phokasias ended up conquering several towns and villages in the south of Madaresia. Labdacus was sent a second time to stop the Mikonians, but failed.

After the victories in Madaresea, Phokasias moved back to Trabzus leaving Ibanolis Alkmaioras in charge.

#### Revolt in Milegea (51-50 BC)

In 51 BC, Gelon II's youngest son Gelon III led a revolt in Milegea, which was supported by the governor and his adoptive brother Vetranis Hermoras. The first revolt was crushed by the Astian loyalists led by Philon of Cobonius. The second revolt was successful and Gelon III controlled most of the eastern parts of the empire.

The Khovarid Fatidom backed the rebellion and Gelon III met fatir Lotfi I in 50 BC. During the civil war the fatidom expanded into Bisos territory and annexed the Trezinean Empire.

#### Siege of Idylon (50 BC)

On 20 April 50 BC, Phokasias Aurelia and Gelon III both lay siege to Idylon. The governor of Idylonea was a friend of Aristogeiton and refused to surrender to the brothers. The support of Phokasias Aurelia grew in Idylonea and soon the governor gave in and surrendered. Idylon became the de-facto capital of the Mikonians.

#### Campaign of Abdeiton (50-48 BC)

In 50 BC, Aristogeiton passed away and was succeeded by one of his sons Abdeiton. Abdeiton started a military campaign and conquered parts of south Maderesia back. He stopped his campaign in the south after he heard the Mikonians were taken cities near Sosa. The first battle took place near Kalamis. Abdeiton defeated the Mikonian army, which fled back to Idylon.

Abdeiton conquered most of Idylonia back from 50 BC to 48 BC. The Mikonians still held on to Idylon.

#### Campaign of Kaeso (49-48 BC)

Mikonian general Kaeso Calviras started a military campaign in Madaresea in 49 BC to distract the Astian army. The Astians army was split into two armies by Abdeiton and he put Sosius Gnipho in charge of the Astian defense against Kaeso. Kaeso met the army of Sosius near Kimmona in June 49 BC. Kaeso defeated the army and the Astians fled back to Patrysos.

In 48 BC, Kaeso took the city of Patrysos after the Astians moved north to protect Calysi.

#### Advance to Calysi (48-46 BC)

Phokasias raised an army in Milegea before starting a new campaign in Idylonia to reclaim lost lands during the campaign of Abdeiton. The Astians led by Philon of Cobonius suffered a great loss during the Battle of Calumisa and were forced to retreat back to Sosa.