Zobethos Civil War

Zobethos Civil War
Part of Makedonian Civil Wars
Zobethian phalanx in battle
Date 431-434 CE Location Makedonian Empire Result Zobethian victory Zobethos becomes national faith of the Makedonian Empire
Belligerents
Zobethians	Traditionalists
Commanders and leaders
Onomakritos I Danaos Hyperides of Pydna Idas Eumenes	Hegesistratos  † Aristandros Trophimus Phausius the Bold
Strength
200,000-400,000	150,000-250,000
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

The Zobethos Civil War was a religious-inspired civil war that occurred within the Makedonian Empire from 431-434 CE. The war was the culmination of the centuries-long rise of the cult of the Titan Gaia, known as Zobethos, which had steadily grown in influence and prestige within the Empire, and challenged the traditional Hellenic Polytheism that dominated the faith of Syara.

The Zobethos faith had spread rapidly across Makedon since it first appeared in the 1st Centry CE. Zobethos, the worship of the Titan Gaia, postulated the supremacy of the "All-Mother" as a monothesistic/pantheistic entity above the Hellenic pantheon. The faith proved exceptionally popular with the poor and down trodden of the Empire's large population, owing to its promise of eternal salvation in exchange for piety, which was lacking in Hellenic polytheism. Followers of the faith, known as Zobethians, gradually grew in influence throughout the Empire, and despite the autocratic nature of Makedon the Royal Court became mired in attempting to balance the growing spiritual disconnect between Zobethians and their opponents, known collectively as the Traditionalists.

Tensions boiled over into open conflict in 431 CE when Onomakritos I, King of Makedon, converted to Zobethos and declared it the official faith of the Empire. He further declared a cessation of construction of temples and shrines to the Hellenic Pantheon, which triggered riots among more conservative elements of the Empire. Hegesistratos, younger brother to the King and secretely harboring desires for the Throne, siezed the opportunity for rebellion and decried the proclomation while gathering military forces loyal to the traditional faith east of the Kurilla Mountains. Originally attracting support from the Makedonian Army, Hegesistratos invaded western Ruvelka and succeeding in defeating the Zobethian armies several times before being halted at Nemaro (near present day Sopron). Onomakritos counter-attacked in 433 and drove the Traditionalists back across the Kurillas before pursuing them into Arkoenn, where Hegesistratos committed suicide and the remaining Traditionalists surrendered in 434 CE.

The conclusion of the conflict paved the way for the ascension of Zobethos as the national faith of the Empire and removed remaining challenges to its supremacy as the faith of most Syarans. The war devestated much of western Ruvelka, leading to a decline in population that was steadily filled by ethnic Ruvelkans migrating out of their mountain settlements in the Kurillas and the Matras, tilting the region away from Syaran demographic influence.