Cildanian War of Unification HaMalḣamit HaQildarit shel `Elḣadit | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Divine Kingdom of Cildania Forces of Patriarch Joseph VII |
Principality of Hebilon | ||||||
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The Cildanian War of Unification was a 19th century conflict between the Divine Kingdom of Cildania and its subordinates on one side and the Principality of Hebilon on the other, that eventually led to the unification of the country under the Divine Kingdom.
Background[]
Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Cildania was ruled by a number of petty kingdoms and principalities, with overlapping and conflicting sovereignties. These were formally united only in 1396 under the authority of the Council of Princes. In fact, however, the Council eventually became a symbolic body, and the territory of Cildania remained split into a few large states and hundreds of tiny entities (principalities, bishoprics and free cities and even free villages), each jealously maintaining its de facto sovereignty and independence. Hebilon was traditionally considered the most powerful of the Cildanian states, but Akildar was becoming increasingly powerful. By the beginning of the 19th century, Akildar managed to secure the support of the Patriarch of the Cildanian Church, and thus significant influence among the other states of the island.
Taking advantage of this influence and as a result of personal ambitions, Prince Gildas Kilian I of Akildar dissolved the Council of Princes in 1806 and declared himself Divine King of Cildania (HaMelek HaʾIilohi shel Qildar) with the Patriarch's consent. Akildar's allies in Cildania supported this move, but Hebilon, the most powerful state on the island at the time, saw its power threatened by the Divine Kingodm. Prince Jugurtha of Hebilon disputed the authority of the Patriarch and the Emperor and declared himself Hebileean Patriarch-Prince, consolidating both roles. Hebilon and its allies raised an army against Cildania, beginning a war that was to last more than thirty years.