Wars of the 8 Princes

Following the death of Srecko III, a complex power struggle known as the Wars of the Eight Princes erupted among the Stojan clan. Srecko didn't have any heirs, and a regency council was summoned. It was ineffective and corrupt, though. Eventually, Grejgorz Stojan was not happy with his power in the Council. He enlisted the help of Krsto Stojan and Vidoje Stojan. Krsto Stojan's troops entered Serres unopposed by the central government. Then, the two princes, in collaboration with Grejgorz, couped the regency council.

## Vidoje Stojan

After the coup against the Regency Council, Vidoje became the only regent. Vidoje threatened Krsto and pressured him to return his fief and leave the capital. A few weeks later Grejgorz and Krsto, who was at the time in control of a battalion of imperial guards, conspired to have Vidoje killed. An imperial edict was issued accusing Vidoje of treason and Krsto and Grejgorz led another coup, killing Vidoje.

## Krsto Stojan

Immediately following the death of Vidoje, Krsto Stojan was advised to expand his power at the expense of Grejgorz, but he hesitated to take action against him. Two days after Vidoje's death, Grejgorz spread a rumor around Krsto's camp accusing him of having forged the imperial edict that had ordered Vidoje to be killed. Deserted by his followers, Krsto was sentenced to death and executed.

## Grejgorz Stojan

Grejgorz ruled Clante as the *de facto* regent while sharing power with his closest family members and supporters. Despite efforts from multiple ministers, the imperial court under the Grejgorz regime was overrun with corruption and bribery.

Eventually, the Clantean population was getting angry at not having an emperor yet and proposed that Srecko III's distant, popular cousin be emperor. Grejgorz Stojan orchestrated a scheme against him, by convincing him while drunk to copy a text that said, amongst other things, that Srecko III was an incompetent tyrant. Grejgorz then sentenced the suggested heir to death. However, he hadn't been executed immediately, as Grejgorz wanted to see the Clantean people's reaction first.

Vukmir Stojan was tutor to the suggested heir at the time and was considered a member of Grejgorz Stojan's inner circle. He also commanded some troops in the capital as general of the Right Army and was known to be "avaricious and false" as well as "simple and stupid". Vukmir had long wished to betray Grejgorz, but was convinced to wait until the heir was out of the way, arguing that because of Vukmir's reputed loyalty to the empress, his actions would only lead to the accession of the heir instead, who would then exact revenge on Vukmir himself. With Vukmir's encouragement, Grejgorz executed the heir early. Vukmir then raided the palace and executed Grejgorz.

## Vukmir Stojan

Vukmir at first proclaimed himself the only regent, but only a year later he usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. This turned out to be a mistake, and 4 princes rallied a coalition army to depose him. Those warlords were Đurađ Stojan, Milivoj Stojan, Miomir Stojan and Spasoje Stojan. Vukmir was quickly defeated and executed after the fall of Serres.

## Milivoj Stojan

After Vukmir's death, Milivoj became regent, but not emperor, not wanting to make the same mistake his predecessor did. However, other princes got jealous, and Đurađ convinced the other princes to rebel again. Miomir rose in rebellion with the aid of Spasoje. When news of the rebel advance reached the capital, Đurađ was implicated in a plot to remove Milivoj. Milivoj sent troops to kill Đurađ, who fled to the imperial palace for protection. There, using both imperial guards and his own personal forces, Đurađ defended the palace against Milivoj within Serres for three days. Eventually Milivoj's own officers betrayed him and he was executed.

## Đurađ Stojan

Đurađ's administration was incredibly incompetent. Also, Đurađ executed many generals of his former allies.

Miomir sent an army to attack the capital. Spasoje also sent an army against the capital. Đurađ managed to defeat these armies with much smaller armies. However he had left Serres unguarded, and his best commander took advantage of the situation by taking the capital. Đurađ eventually defeated the rebel, but he managed to stay near the capital and began a siege.

Spasoje offered to split the empire in 2 with Đurađ and betray Miomir. Đurađ, suspecting deception, declined.

After 15 months of siege, Draško Stojan killed Đurađ and surrendered the capital. However, seeing how few of the opposing army remained, the capital troops regretted surrendering.

## Spasoje Stojan

Spasoje immediately declared his intentions on becoming emperor, but first he accepted the position of regent. Draško rose in rebellion and hoped to kill Spasoje. However, Miomir came to Spasoje's aid and Draško was defeated. Then, Spasoje and Miomir attacked Serres and reclaimed the capital from the rebel. Miomir had a larger army, and forced Spasoje to give the title of regent to him instead. Faced with little choice, Spasoje accepted.

## Miomir Stojan

As soon as Miomir became regent, Draško rebelled and formed a coalition army to depose and kill him. Miomir settled his differences with Spasoje and convinced him to help defeat Draško. However, Draško decisively defeated their armies and began advancing to the capital. He offered to split the empire in 2 with Miomir, who accepted it, but Draško ignored it and conquered Serres. Miomir and Spasoje fled in disorder.

## Draško Stojan

Draško didn't manage to catch up with and kill Miomir, but he chased down Spasoje and killed him. He decided to consolidate his power in Clante while Miomir was practically a fugitive.

### New Fern Joining

Miomir eventually got back to what little power base he had left. He was unsure what to do and was considering suicide. However, he got news that Süss I Bölz of New Fern died and his successor was an unmarried Habsburg woman. He didn't have anything to lose, and offered marriage and an alliance. It was accepted, and New Fern sent their armies to Clante.

#### Turning of the Tide

As soon as New Fernian armies entered Clante, it was practically over for Draško. However, this was not because the New Fernian armies were stronger, but because Draško's troops weren't exactly loyal, as they were a coalition army, and began deserting to Miomir's side, as Draško was now the main public enemy, and the governors were jealous of his power. Whatever remained of Draško's army was crushed at the Battle of Brajte by young New Fernian general Dominik Straßfegen and Miomir conquered Clante on 17 March 2023.