War of the Marked

War of the Marked
Part of Makedonian Civil Wars
Date 1262-1265 Location Makedonian Empire Result Victory for Eryx and Serikos
Belligerents
Eryx Loyalists Serikos	Makedonian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Eryx Tai Zhihua	Zethos IV
Strength
~1,500,000	~1,000,000
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

The War of the Marked was a civil war within the Makedonian Empire sparked by a succession crisis within the Kaliarchos Dynasty. The conflict lasted from 1262-1265 CE, and was the last Makedonian civil war before the subjugation of the Empire by the Arkoennites in 1305.

The cause of the conflict originated in a dispute over the primogeniture succession of the Makedonian throne between the twin brother Zethos IV and Eryx. Following the death of Zethos III in 1261 Eryx disputed his brother's ascension on the basis that Zethos IV had been falsely stated to have been born first, and thus the birthright belonged to Eryx. Eryx, who had served as Viceroy of Serikos, rallied the Han to support his claim by forging an allaince with Tai Zhihua, daughter of deceased Emperor Tai Huixiu. Zethos invaded Serikos with a Makedonian army and met Eryx in battle on several occasions, but was unable to force a decisive victory. Zethos's efforts to subdue Eryx were unraveled by the rise of the Arkoennite Khanate in 1265, which forced Zethos to agree to a ceasefire while he moved south to meet the Arkoennites. Zethos was killed in battle and afterwards most of central Siduri was released from Makedonian control and Serikos declared independence from the Empire, although Eryx claimed to continue the rightful lineage of the Kaliarchos Dynasty. Eryx then married Tai Zhihua, merging the two dynasties into one and formally re-establishing the Divide Empire of the Han as a independent power in Siduri.

The War of the Marked, so name for the royal sigil both brothers laid claim to, was the final civil war of the Makedonian Empire and signaled the end of Makedonian influence in eastern Siduri. The subsequent rise of the Arkoennites and their invasion of Ruvelka ended Makedonian dominion in central Siduri and paved the way for the defeat of the Empire in 1305 at Nemaro. The war has come to be seen as marking the culmination of Han and Hellenic intertwining that had begun with the conquest of Serikos in the 6th Century and produced significant cultural impact on both states. Since the war Serikos has maintained that the Divine Empire is the rightful heir to the Makedonian throne, a claim disputed by Syara. The conflict remains a source of singifical cultural influence in both Syara and Serikos, and several works have been produced on the subject.