War of Æthic Succession

War of Æthic Succession
Nicholean calvary charging during the Battle of Klydefjork
Date 19 November 1853 - 17 August 1862 Location Æthele Result Nicholas IX coronated and recognized as King of the Æthics Ælfsige Corraidhín is captured, imprisoned for life and stripped of all titles.
Belligerents
Nicholean loyalists House of Meadwine House of Ealdgyð House of Dáire	Ælfsigean loyalists House of Valland House of Donneset
Commanders and leaders
Nicholas IX Lord Klaremont  † Lord Roberts Lord Alfred	Ælfsige IV Lord James Lord Phillips
Strength
33,500 31,000 36,000 14,500	34,000 29,500 14,000
Casualties and losses
Military dead: 31,421 Civilians dead:	Military dead: 24,921 Civilians dead:

The War of Æthic Succession (1853–1861) was a Belisarian conflict of the mid 19th century, triggered by the death of the childless Nicholas VIII of Æthele in February 1853. His closest heirs were his brothers of the Æthic House of Corraidhín.

Nicholas VIII's death immediately raised questions of succession, as he had left no successor to the throne; an Æthic custom if the Monarch has no children. Both of Nicholas' brothers, John and Ælfsige, determined they were to inherit the throne, leading to a political crisis which the House of Delegates was unable to resolve. Acting on the stalemate, Ælfsige gained the backing of the two largest houses, the House of Valland and the House of Donneset, to support him in seizing power. He was coronated King of the Æthics in Kleeds on 7 July 1953, taking the regal name Ælfsige IV. The House of Delegates dissolved itself three days later when John himself was coronated King in Edmond, taking the regal name Nicholas IX. Nicholas gained the support of the smaller houses of Meadwine, Ealdgyð and Dáire.

Both Houses quickly raised volunteer armies that fought mostly in the Sneerabd over the course of four years, with battles fought in open farmland with large cavalry engagement. Intense combat left 50,000 to 70,000 people dead.

The war effectively ended in August, 1862, when Ælfsige was captured and surrendered to Nicholas at the Second Battle of the Marð. Ælfsige's units quickly dissolved. Much of the Sneerabd infrastructure was destroyed, especially the transportation systems and agriculture. Ælfsige was banned from court, had his titles stripped and was imprisoned for life in Edmond. He died in prison in 1879. The Lords who supported him were banned from court and their families placed under house arrest for 25 years.