Zarina's Civil War

Zarina's Civil War
Part of Makedonian Civil Wars
Phalanxes clash during the war
Date 94-91 BCE Location Makedonian Empire Result Zarinan Victory
Belligerents
Zarizans	Menedemus Loyalists
Commanders and leaders
Zarina	Menedemus
Strength
150,000	200,000
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

Zarina's Civil War, also known as the First Makedonian Civil War, was a civil war in the Makedonian Empire lasting from 91-94 BCE. The conflict began as a power struggle between Queen-Rengant Zarina and King-Regnant Menedemus over control of the Makedonian throne following the death of Kharaxos. Zarina's refusal to marry Menedemus led him to believe Zarina was intended to seize the throne for herself, leading Menedemus to order the deaths of Zarina and her child (and heir-apparent) Nikomakhos. Zarina fled Parilla with Nikomakhos and began gathering loyal military forces in Galania and Ruvelka.

Zarina sought support from family members in the Makedonian military while Menedemus gathered his own forces in Makedon. Although Menedemus had control over the capital and the loyalty of much of the Royal Court, the popularity of Zarina's late husband and her family allowed her to mobilize significant numbers of troops in Ruvelka, especially in the North Koryal Plain. In the spring of 93 BCE Zarina's forces gathered near Kunhegyes, leading to a battle with Menedemus that ended in his favor. Zarina and her loyal forces were forced to flee through the Sundering and Sanguine Seas to Boreas, where she gathered more forces. Menedemus originally offered terms allowing Zarina and Nikomakhos to live out their lives in partial exile in Boreas in exchange for recognizing Menedemus's complete ownership of the throne, but Zarina refused. Unable to force a surrender, Menedemus mobilized his navy to sail for Boreas in the summer of 92 BCE, but was defeated in a major naval battle between the Boreas coast and the island of Chryse, losing most of his ships and many of his commanders.

Menedemus returned to Makedon and offered terms again, but Zarina refused again. In spring of 91 BCE Zarina sailed for and landed in Makedon with her forces and engaged Menedemus in a series of battles that ultimatley ended in victory for Zarina. Menedemus was killed, either in the final battle or shortly afterwards, paving the way for Zarina to claim the throne undisputed until Nikomakhos came of age. The ultimate fate of Zarina is unknown after Nikomakhos assumed the throne; she disappears from recorded history around 56 BCE, though her death is alluded to in the summer of that year.

Zarina's Civil War was the first of three civil wars that would erupt within the Makedonian Empire. The outbreak of the war would force a disruption in Makedonian efforts against the Seyahd League, which would not resume until Nikomakhos's son Arcidamus became King.