Archon Rebellion

Archon Rebellion
Part of Symmerian Civil Wars
Zelusian cavalry during the conflict.
Date 108 - 110 Location Symmerian Empire Result Archonter Victory Overthrow of the Zelusian Dynasty Establishment of the Boulekratos
Belligerents
Archons	Zelusian Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Deniyos Archonter Hyrieos  † Evelthon  †	Nikoteles Thrasyllos
Strength
75,000 (peak)	65,000 (peak)

The Archon Rebellion was a civil war fought in the Symmerian Empire from 108-110, instigated by a group of Archons, the appointed rulers of the Empire's subdivisions, against King Nikoteles of the Zelusian Dynasty.

The rebellion was sparked by the extravagance of Nikoteles, during a time when the Empire was enjoyed relative peace and stability that become threatened by the increasingly burdensome taxes and tribute demanded by Nikoletes. Discontent caused by these burdens drove several tribes and client states across the Empire to rebel, sparking concern among the Archons of these provinces, namely Deniyos of Mansuriyyah, Hyrieos of Ruvelka and Evelthon of Boreas. After failing to convince Nikoletes to reign in his excess, the three Archons mobilized their own armies and planned to march on Parilla to force Nikoletes to abdicate in favor of his cousin Thrasyllos. The plot was discovered in the winter of 108 before all three Archons could meet, prompting Nikoletes to declare the three traitors and mobilized his own forces to crush the revolt.

Deniyos crossed the Matra Mountains into southern Syara in 109 while Evelthon sailed for Sena at the same time. Nikoteles remained behind in Symmeria to save off the invasion from the Sundering Sea while Thrasyllos marched east to deal with Hyrieos. Evelthon made landfall with his army near Sena and met Nikoteles in battle, only to be decisively defeated. He attempted retreat back across the sea but was cut off by the Symmerian navy, and was forced to make a mad dash east along the coast until he disembarked in Ruvelka and managed to unite with Hyrieos. Hyrieos fought several inconclusive skirmishes with Thrasyllos over the summer before Nikoteles joined him. The two armies met in battle outside of present day Kaposvár and the Archons were decisively defeated, with both Hyrieos and Evelthon falling in battle. Deniyos, who had just entered southern Galania with his army, learned of their defeat and elected to continue his campaign, despite now being severely outnumbered and without allies.

Nikoletes marched back to Symmeria to protect Parilla from potential attack while Thrasyllos marched south to meet Deniyos; the two met near Tomakow where Deniyos was unexpectedly victorious. The victory prompted Nikoteles to march his army in pursuit of Deniyos, meeting the surviving Archon outside of Sopron. Despite outnumbering Deniyos more than two-to-one, the rebel Archon was victorious and routed the army of Nikoteles in the summer of 110. Nikoteles withdrew back to Parilla and offered to negotiate, which Deniyos agreed to and marched on Parilla. Upon meeting Nikoteles Deniyos slew him and seized power in the capital, establishing the Boulekratos. Deniyos' victory despite the challenges he faced entered his name into folklore as one who triumphs against all odds, a term that remains in use in modern Syara.