Austaferraz Succession War
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The Austaferraz Succession War was a conflict that occurred in the pre-Decarchy Kingdom of Austaferraz between 367 and 370. In Austaferraz' fairly long and peaceful history, it is the only time that a succession conflict was ever undertaken, and marked the beginning of Allablað's code, an oral code that acted as the law of succession within Austaferraz specifically, and which caused all pretenders found guilty of treason to be ineligible for inheritance. The war concluded with a victory for the incumbent forces, and the cession of the rebellious Eiþanates to the crown, later to be granted to loyal subjects.
Background
In 354, King Allablað I died, and divided up the sizeable crown demesne between his three sons. The eldest, Askablað, was left the core lands surrounding Newjaburgh and Awomunþa, as well as the title of King of Austaferraz, and all associated symbols of the office. His two younger brothers were made Eiþans, this being the second time this had occurred in Austaferric history, with the second-eldest, Hwatblað, being made ruler of the lands surrounding Awoskelð, and the youngest brother Anblað being made ruler of the lands surrounding Anblaðburgh. In 358, King Askablað II's wife, Queen Agdaga, gave birth to a son, Allablað. Agdaga is believed to have been fairly paranoid of plots against her son's life, and had the young prince never leave the palace during his early life. In the years leading up to the war, Askablað and Agdaga would have two other sons, Hwatblað and Aþalblað, though was most concerned about threats to Allablað's life, thus allowing both younger children more-or-less free reign outside of the palace of Newjaburgh.
It is believed that Agdaga was not altogether wrong to believe that there were threats against her son's life, as the King's brothers Hwatblað and Anblað had long desired the throne. Some historians assert that an agreement had existed between the brothers that should their brother Askablað die, then both of them would rule either as co-Kings or split the realm between the two of them. The birth of Allablað ought to have quelled many of these ambitions. However, there was a long-held belief that Allablað must have been sickly for his mother to care so much for his health. As such, between 358 and 360, the King's brothers felt that the matter of succession was still in the air. Adding to this was the distinct feeling that their brother held undue sway over them, and that his authority was both unjust and unearned. There is no correspondence between the brothers at this point, but it is believed that the brothers had planned to, one year, winter with the King and his family, and while there murder the King and his sons, leaving the succession to them.
The winter of 366 is recorded as having been one of the worst for early Austaferraz, and so when Hwatblað wintered in Newjaburgh with his brother, it was not particularly unexpected. However, some issue arose which caused Anblað difficulty in travelling to Newjaburgh, and so Hwatblað did not go through with the plan, instead returning to Awoskelð when the harsh snow let up. The next year was far milder. An impatient Anblað insisted on going through with the plan that year, but Hwatblað refused, stating that it would draw suspicion. This proved to be correct, as the arrival of Anblað unannounced provoked deepening suspicion amongst the Queen. Through some manner of quiet deception, she had her children secreted away, while taking three peasant-children to sleep in the royal apartment. Anblað undertook his plan immediately, and in the night, killed the three peasant children, though his actions awoke the King, who rushed to where he thought his sons were sleeping, only to be killed by Anblað as well. Agdaga had attempted to stop her husband, but as he insisted on going, Agdaga called her husband's sworn warriors to order the capture of Anblað. Anblað, seemingly having realised the deception too late, attempted to flee, only to be captured by Agdaga's men who discovered the dead King on the floor.
War
It is unknown if Hwatblað knew whether the plan had succeeded or not, though he had evidently decided he ought to act quickly once he realised that his brother was away.