Zahavan Civil War

The Zahavan civil war was a between Primogenitor Argentius Vairosean, the Borealis Segmentarch Zucarius Analiates, Argentius' uncle and the self proclaimed Dassaretian Confederacy under Tarquin Verpe over both control of the Imperium, and the establishment of a Dassaretian state. The Dassaretian Confederacy was never recognized by the Imperial government, or internationally.

The loyalist government was forced to implement expanded conscription and the raising of volunteer forces to combat the forces of the usuper Analiates, due to the majority of regular forces being committed to fighting separatist forces. By contrast the usurper forces consisted largely of domestic household formations and both domestic and foreign mercenaries forming what was known as the Zuraxian Legion. The Dassaretian's by contrast relied almost entirely on volunteers and domestic militia units, relying on the mountainous and rugged terrain to makeup for their lack of good equipment and training.

The war would be particularly devastating in terms of lives lost due largely to the use of outdated tactics and strategy in combination with the use of advanced and not fully understood military technology. The war would also see an end to the ____ dynasty following the murder of the Imperial family and the death of Argentius shortly after the conclusion of hostilities leading to the ____ dynasty.

The war would formally end with the surrender of Zucarius Analiates to Imperial forces after an 9 month long siege of his home base, Severian

Background
In 1878 Philon Vairosean died, his heir and eldest son Eulalius was set to marry Aeliatia Verpe daughter of Tarquin Verpe. The marriage was meant to ease tensions in the western territories of the Imperium, a region that had historically been a hotbed of revolt and shunned Imperial authority. The remote nature of the Zapadis region, and its terrain made enforcement of Imperial rule difficult, the prospect of a Zapadian aristocratic family to marrying into the Imperial family had eased tensions considerably.

The peace and unity the marriage was to bring however would not come to be. En route to meet his betrothed Eulalius became ill with fever and after several weeks of sickness and being bedridden he too died. Historically once a Primogenitor had pledged one of his children's hands in marriage, the next in line would take their elders place should something happen to their older sibling. Argentius however was in love with the daughter of courtier at his father's council, and had been having a secret affair with her. Argentius, against the advise of his Rehati declined to honor his father's agreement and rejected Aeliatia's hand.

The insult to Tarquin was so great that within a year he had rallied other Zapadian nobles to his cause, and declared all of Zapadis an independent state, known as the Dassaretian confederacy, taking the name of Tarquin's own, and the most prominent tribe in the region.

Mobilization
At the outset of the war, the Imperial army was some 50,000 men. Over 90% of this force was immediately mobilized and began being moved west