How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The History

This is the 5th post in a series on how to write a fantasy novel that sells.

I love history.  I have a degree in it and write about it on this site all the time.  It’s no wonder then that I also chose to create a historically-rich fantasy world.

My goal with The Jongurian Mission and the rest of the trilogy was to create a fantasy novel with political thriller characteristics.  Think more ‘Game of Thrones’ fantasy but without all the sex.  Instead there’d be lots of court intrigue, nobles stabbing each other in the back, and shifting alliances that could turn on a dime.

To create such a fantasy world I first had to create a history for that world.  After all, my whole story revolved around events that happened in the past.  It was the impetus that the people needed to get the action going in the story.  And all of the characters had different motivations based on their past experiences. 

To capture those past experiences I first had to define them in a detailed and historical outline.  Really what it became was a short novella on this world I wanted to create.  And when you think about it, a dozen or more pages wasn’t much compared to a trilogy of more than 400,000 words.

And I think this outline can really help some fantasy authors out there.  I know from my analytics report that a lot of people read the fantasy articles on this site.  This one is more than 4,000 words, so hopefully you can find some ideas to make your fantasy world’s history better.

Below is what I did to create my fantasy world’s history:

History

• East
• Jonguria’s history is one of political organization which stretches much further into the past than that of Adjuria
• While Adjuria has historically been a group of contending fiefdoms battling for supremacy of the region with each other, Jonguria has enjoyed relative peace under a unified central government
• Traditionally, Jonguria has been unified over the whole continent, with a strong central government, usually located in the north, and special administrative regions set up to better locally administer government to the different areas
• For most of its long history, the capital city has been in the province of Laojing
• During much of the history there have been 4 administrative regions to ease the task of governing
• These are Laojing in the northeast, Pu’lao in the northwest, Pudong in the south, and Ximen in the far west along the land bridge to Adjuria

4 Imperial Regions of Jonguria

• The central government is located in Laojing and has as its head an emperor who rules for life.
• The title of emperor will pass down to the eldest son upon the emperor’s death
• This system has worked well for generations, although at some points in the history different families have successfully claimed the imperial throne.
• The current imperial family has ruled for 136 years. 
• They came to power after a peasant uprising following several years of devastating floods which left the majority of peasants without homes or land to cultivate.
• Because of the inaction of the then ruling emperor, a well-to-do peasant family was able to marshal the forces of the discontented into a sizable military force, invading Laojing
• The emperor was bloodily disposed, and the peasant family took hold of the government.  Many years of prosperity followed.
• A devastating war between East and West occurred 78 years ago
• This war was fought when provinces in Adjuria decided to expand their territory past Ithmia and into Ximen.
• Several bloody battles were fought along the Isthmus, with no clear gains on either side.
• After 10 years a peace was established
• Terms of the peace specified that travel would be greatly restricted to those of Adjuria wishing to travel in Jonguria
• Trade, which had been plentiful before the war, was seriously curtailed.
• Only two trade avenues were allowed to remain open.
• One for sea shipments to the island of Nanbo along the southern coast of Pudong
• The other was a land route through the Isthmus into a treaty city in Ximen
• Trade would be one-way, as in Adjuria would bring the goods on their ships and caravans, and Jonguria would then load those empty vessels with return goods.
• Jonguria prohibited all of its people from going to Adjuria upon pain of death
• Following the East-West war, there were devastating earthquakes in the province of Pudong and horrendous forest fires in Pu’lao
• The emperor soon found opposition to his rule, as the peasants viewed natural disasters as a sign that the emperor was losing his mandate to rule.
• Several peasant uprisings occurred in these provinces, but were ruthlessly put down by the emperor with a great loss of life to the peasants.
• An uneasy peace was established, but many peasants were left with bitter memories.
• Rebel groups formed out of the discontented peasants, and secured bases of power in all 4 provinces.  They would usually employ hit-and-run tactics to disrupt the imperial government, but didn’t have the strength for an all-out rebellion
• It was evident the imperial family would have to rule with an iron fist to stay in power

 
Timeline

• 584 – Current Imperial family comes to power
• 690 – East-West War begins
• 700 – East-West War ends
• 704 – Earthquakes in Pudong and fires in Pu’lao
• 720 – Current year

• West
• Adjuria finds itself in the current state of 14 bickering provinces due to a Civil War.
• Before the Civil War, there were 9 provinces, and the relations between them all were much better.
• Trade flourished, travel was easy, and the people lived in peace.

9 Provinces of Adjuria before the First Civil War

• There were many factors and events leading up to the Civil War
• The death of the king of Culdovia, long seen as the unofficial province and official of Adjuria, was a main factor
• The king had two daughters and a son, all under the age of 10.
• Normally this would not have been a problem, as a regent would have been appointed from the royal family.  However, objections were raised as to the legitimacy of the heirs; as the king was know to be promiscuous, especially with the ill-health of the queen.
• The main objections were raised by a noble from the province of Regidia
• He was able to use his influence in court to persuade other provincial nobles to support him in furthering the claims of his nephew, who had a close link in the royal line
• He gained the support of Holstein, Myrmido, and Plainitia, as well as some lesser noble families in Culdovia.
• These challenges to the royal succession, coming so close on the heels of the king’s death, caught the royal family unprepared.
• Most of the nobles from the royal line were elderly.  It was seen as a joy when the king himself was finally able to produce heirs after so long by taking a younger, although frail, wife.
• With the backing of the nobles from 4 provinces, including the renegade nobles of Culdovia, the Regidian claimant was able to push the claim successfully. 
• There was not enough support from the rest of the provinces, as Montino and Ithmia stayed out of the dispute, leaving only Portinia and Tillatia, as well as the rest of Culdovia, to dispute the Regidians’ claim to the throne.
• The Regidian nephew was made king, but it was known to those in court that the Regidian noble really held the reins of power.
• The provinces went along with this, as most desired peace, and all knew that the previous royal line was close to an end anyhow.
• 5 years went by uneventfully, but behind the scenes the Regidian noble was trying to increase his power further by putting the rest of the provinces further under his heel.
• The court was moved to Regidia, and Culdovia wasn’t allowed to attend, even those nobles who’d supported the dispute.
• Furthermore, the mining rights of Holstein were infringed upon
• This was accomplished by promising Myrmido a lucrative stake in the mining output if they would pressure Holstein militarily.
• Also, Plainitia saw the taxes on her grain go up substantially, while those of Tillatia were lowered.
• The spark of the Civil War came when Regidia attempted to send troops into Montino to open the province up to more mining and imposed taxes.
• Montino fought back, but instead of just repelling the scant invading force, which was very easy, they in turn invaded Regidia.
• Caught off guard and unprepared, the Regidians found Montino troops outside their capital.
• Montino insisted upon the restoration of the previous royal family in Culdovia
• Regidia agreed, but as the Montino troops began to withdraw, a military pact was made with Myrmido to invade Montino.
• The Myrmidoans agreed, but also staged an attack on Holstein to further their gains.  The Holsteins fought back, weakening the front on Montino, which attacked Myrmido.
• Plainitia came to the aid of Montino, attacking Myrmido as well as sending troops into Regidia.
• Culdovia also sent troops to Regidia.  Soon nearly all the provinces were fighting each other.
• Peace was eventually restored when the Myrmidoans and Regidians agreed to lay down their arms.
• The royal court convened in Culdovia with representatives from all provinces meeting.
• It was agreed that Myrmido and Plainitia would be split into separate provinces, and Holstein would be split into 3.
• Culdovia would split in half, Duldovia being the name given to those nobles who sided with Regidia.
• Regidia was to have all noble rights rescinded, and was to have no role at court indefinitely.
• The Regidian noble responsible for the war was exiled to the island of Desolatia to live out his days.
• A regent was appointed from one of the lesser noble families of Culdovia to rule, as the heirs of the dead king had gone missing in the fighting.
• No one knew if they were dead or alive, and all efforts to find them at the time of the peace were unsuccessful.  It was rumored that one or more were still alive, whisked off to the safety of some of the outlying provinces during the war, but this could not be proved.
• Eventually to heal the wounds of the Civil War a new king was chosen with strong ties from Culdovia, as well as ties to Mercentia, one of the two new provinces to come from Myrmido.  All provinces agreed upon this as a way to move forward with a united Adjuria.
• An uneasy truce ensued between the 14 provinces.

14 Unified Provinces following the First Adjurian Civil War

Timeline

• 650 – King of Culdovia dies
• 651 – Regidia allies with Holstein, Myrmido, and Plainitia
• 651 – Regidian noble made king
• 652 – The royal court moved to Regidia
• 653 – Holstein mining rights diminished, those of Myrmido increased
• 654 – Taxes on Plainitian grain increased, those of Tillatia lowered
• 656 –
• Regidia sends army into Montino to increase mining in province
• Montino repels army, sends own troops into Regidia
• Regidia agrees to rescind claims to throne, restore Culdovian line
• 657 –
• Regidia makes military pact with Myrmido
• Myrmido invades Montino, but also attack Holstein
• Myrmido army defeated, Montino launches own attack
• Plainitia aids Montino attack, also sends troops into Regidia
• Culdovia sends troops into Regidia
• 658 –
• Myrmido and Regidia lay down arms, begin peace talks
• All province attend royal court in Culdovia to discuss terms
• 659 –
• Court agrees to split Myrmido and Plainitia provinces in half
• Holstein province to be split into three provinces
• Culdovia split in half, made into Culdovia and Duldovia
• Regidian rights at court eliminated, lead noble exiled to Desolatia
• 660 – Lesser noble from Culdovia appointed regent until new king decided upon
• 665 – Noble with ties in Culdovia and new province of Mercentia made king
• 690 – East-West War Begins
• 700 – East-West War Ends
• 708 – The year the Culdovian King died
• 709 – The royal court moved to Regidia
• 710 – Holstein mining rights infringed upon
• 711 – Plainitian taxes raised
• 713 – Regidia sends troops into Montino, Civil War begins
• 714 – Civil War ends with Regidia and Myrmido laying down arms
• 715 – Conspiring provinces split apart, now 14 provinces. 
• Regidian noble exiled. 
• Culdovian appointed to rule
• 720 – Current year

East-West War

• The war between Adjuria and Jonguria began 30 years ago.
• There were many reasons for the war
• Trade was a large issue
• Resources in Sheffield began to diminish as sources of ore dried up.  It was some time before new sources were found deeper in the mountains, and in this time shipments to Jonguria lessened as the demand in Adjuria was given priority.
• Because the resources of Sheffield were the most sought after in Jonguria, a trade imbalance occurred.  Jonguria began to send fewer quantities of silks, spices, perfumes, jewels, glass, and foodstuffs.
• Jonguria wanted little from Adjuria besides the Sheffield resources, as much of what Adjuria had to offer could already be easily produced or acquired in Jonguria.
• The demand for the Jongurian products did not abate, however, and Adjurians grew frustrated and angry at what they viewed as an affront from the Jongurians.
• Territorial disputes had a role
• The small rocky island of Yanshide off of the northeast coast of Ximen province in Jonguria and the western coast of Ithmia had been disputed for generations.
• The island itself was nearly worthless as any worthwhile site for settlement.  Its value lay in its proximity to the rich fishing grounds of the Ithmian Sea. 
• Fishermen from both nations trolled the waters year-round, and often used the small island as a base to replenish water supplies, off-load surplus fish, or make repairs.
• No satisfactory situation had been resolved as to the nationhood of the island, but it was used by both nations for generations without dispute.  Not until the problems between the two countries began was the islands future put into question.
• The area of medicine erupted
• Travel between the two nations was allowed before the war, with no restrictions in place other than a stated purpose of one’s visit to the port-of-entry upon arrival in either Adjuria or Jonguria for a foreigner.
• Citizens from both nations attended schools of learning, both scholarly and military, in each other’s countries. 
• The different schools of medicines, mathematics, astrology, and philosophy were sought after by the Adjurians, as well as the unique military techniques of the Jongurian nation.
• From Adjuria, the Jongurians sought new mining techniques, hydrological engineering skills, and land reclamation theories.
• Philosophies of the two societies were also studied and debated quite vigorously in an open, encouraging dialogue.
• A breakdown in academic relations occurred when the Adjurians accused the Jongurians of stealing newfound medical knowledge from one of the medical schools.  Medical schools were declared closed to Jongurians.
• This was a specious claim, as the free-flow of knowledge had always been encouraged.  Many thought this was a retaliatory measure directed at the lack of imported glassware from Jonguria needed in medical experiments.
• To not lose face in the matter, Jonguria took the drastic step of expelling all foreigners from its military academies.  The measure was seen in Adjuria as a step toward war, as many thought new Jongurian techniques were developing which would hurt the Adjurian soldiers in battle.
• Breakdown of diplomatic relations
• While tensions were building between the two nations, good relations still existed in the royal and imperial courts of the two nations.
• This changed, however, when the Jongurians accused an Adjurian diplomat of stealing official imperial documents, spying, and stealing from the imperial treasury.
• Before any investigation could begin, all Adjurian diplomats were expelled from the country, and the accused was summarily executed.
• Adjuria was shocked.  All Jongurian diplomats were expelled from the country and communication between the two nations ceased.
• Citizens lash out
• With the breakdown of relations between the two countries, tempers rose.
• The two governments encouraged feelings of ill-will in their people toward the other nation.  These feelings were then put into action by citizens of all types and persuasions. 
• Common people in both nations took out their frustrations on foreigners by attacking them in the streets, beating them severely, often resulting in deaths.
• Nobles in both nations did much to disparage their foreign counterparts living amongst them.
• Businessmen took the opportunity to lessen foreign competition for their goods by forcibly seizing the assets of their foreign counterparts.
• Soon foreign citizens residing in both Adjuria and Jonguria began to return to their own country, relations having reached the point where the majority of people felt unsafe in their adopted countries.
• The first blow is struck
• It was in the Ithmian Sea that the first blow of what would be called the East-West war was struck.
• A Jongurian fishing boat had landed on Yanshide Island to take on more fresh water before heading back home with their catch.
• An Adjurian fishing boat also landed to do some repairs on a damaged tiller.
• Both vessels were ashore in the same area, and the Adjurians took umbrage at a perceived slight by members of the Jongurian crew.
• Nothing came of this, and the Jongurian ship headed back toward their country.
• However, tempers boiled over among the Adjurians, and when repairs were finished, they set off after the Jongurian ship, coming upon her off the northern coast of Pu’lao province.
• Sending up a flag of distress, the Adjurians lured the Jongurian ship alongside her, then, with weapons drawn, forcibly boarded and killer her crew.
• The Adjurians took as much of the Jongurian catch as they could manage into their holds, set fire to the ship, and headed back toward their country.
• They were close enough to shore, however, that the Jongurians in a port city saw the fire, and a naval vessel was dispatched.
• A short-lived chase ensued in which the Adjurian ship was able to make it within sight of Yanshide Island before she was herself forcibly boarded and sunk by the Jongurians.
• This was in turn seen by a different Adjurian ship, which immediately headed back to port to relay the news that the Jongurians attacked an Adjurian fishing ship without cause.
• The news quickly spread all over Adjuria, and the people demanded war.  It didn’t matter that the Adjurians had attacked first, which was largely unknown, for the people wanted revenge.

Map of Jonguria

• The war officially began when Adjuria dispatched her navy from ports in Portinia and Ithmia to attack coastal cities in Jonguria.
• Adjuria attacks
• There was no clear goal at this point in the war, although the northern strategy of taking the Jongurian capital city of Fujing was the later aim
• To accomplish this, troops would be offloaded by ship near the mouth of the Baishur River, which would then be transferred to smaller river boats for the journey upstream toward Pulong Lake.
• Once at the lake, the army would head overland skirting the edge of the Kumou Lake to reach the capital.
• The southern strategy was to send troop ships from Dockside toward the coastal cities of Pudong, specifically Bindao.  From there the army would move northward to take the Pu’lao capital city of Xi’lao.
• The garrison forces at the Ithmian capital of Fadurk were bolstered, and an offensive operation toward the Ximen capital of Waigo was being planned.
• Jonguria responds
• Jonguria was a little slower in response.
• When word got back to the royal court of the sinking of a Jongurian fishing ship, troops were quickly mobilized from the military academies and the imperial army was sent toward the coastal cities.
• The imperial navy was dispatched both north and south to strike a blow at ships the emperor knew would be forthcoming.
• Adjuria advances
• The Adjurian navy made it to the coastal cities of Jonguria before the Jongurian navy could be fully mobilized. 
• In the north a bridgehead was developed along the Baishur River, and strong fortifications were erected as a base of operations for the push south to the capital.
• In the south the city of Bindao was taken after heavy losses on both sides.  The city would serve as a base of operations for the push north into Pu’lao.
• Jonguria responds
• The Jongurian navy responded to these encroachments swiftly. 
• In the north, a detachment was sent to bombard the Adjurian base on the Baishur River.  Another larger detachment was sent around Senlin Island to the Ithmian Sea, where a large number of troops were landed in the Adjurian province of Ithmia.
• The army landed behind the Barrier Mountains and proceeded to attack Fadurk from behind.
• In the south two armies were sent toward the city of Bindao.  One came from Waigo in Ximen province, the other from Xi’lao in Pu’lao province.
• Stalemate
• It soon became obvious the two nations were too well matched, and that a stalemate had occurred.  Neither side wanted to admit this, however, so fighting continued.
• Many times the Baishur River base was nearly overrun by the Jongurians, while the city of Fadurk was also taken and retaken several times by both nations.  Bindao continued to suffer her siege, but supplies continued to come in, as the Jongurian navy was too busy in the north to offer any serious opposition.
• Baishur River Campaign
• The Jongurian navy bombarded the Adjurian base on the Baishur River continuously.  There soon became no hope of moving south, as all troops were needed to defend the base.
• Another Jongurian army moved north from the city of Bidong in Pudong province to entrench to the south of the Adjurian base, which now suffered attacks on both fronts.
• The Adjurians had to continually reinforce the base from the sea, which kept the two nations navy’s busy in the north.
• Ithmian Campaign
• The Adjurians were caught off-guard by the attack on their own soil.  Even though they had reinforced Fadurk, the Jongurian offensive proved stronger.  The city was taken by the Jongurians for several months before more Adjurian troops could be sent to reclaim it, which they quickly did.
• Jongurian troops were replenished, and a base was established just north of the Barrier Mountains from which to attack the city.
• Bindao Campaign
• The Adjurians had successfully fortified the city of Bindao before they began preparations to set out to the north.
• Before the movement could begin, however, the two Jongurian armies from the north arrived to batter their own taken city.
• The fighting was fierce, but the Adjurians managed to hold the city.  The Jongurian armies surrounded Bindao, but the Adjurians were able to hold out with supplies and fresh troops provided by their navy.
• A long siege began.
• Breakout
• For many years the stalemate continued.  It was obvious that if neither side sued for peace or made a serious offensive, the war would have no end
• The offensive came from Adjuria
• After a devastating repulsion on an attack made against Fadurk by the Jongurians, and a sizable reinforcement of the troops their, an offensive across the Isthmus was planned against the city of Waigo from the west.
• This would be bolstered by troops landed on the southern coast of Ximen, who would then march overland around the Xishan Mountains to attack Waigo simultaneously from the eastern side.
• The plan called for massive troops, and it took some time to mobilize them from the peasantry.  When they were ready, the campaign began
• It proved disastrous nearly from the start.
• The troops marching over the Isthmus lost substantial amounts of men to the heat of the desert.  Corpses lay strewn the entire length between the two cities.
• The march overland in Ximen proved difficult as well, but with fewer losses.  These troops arrived at Waigo first, and proceeded to attack, not knowing the other wing of the siege had not yet arrived.
• Bringing their full might down on the attacking forces, the city of Waigo dealt devastating losses to the Adjurians.  When the forces marching across the Isthmus finally made it, their scant force offered little respite to the beleaguered troops on the city’s east.
• A retreat was called for, and what troops that could headed north to the Ithmian Sea to be picked up by the Adjurian navy, while those on the Isthmus began to trek back along the coast in hopes of being picked up by the navy as well.
• Peace
• After the heavy losses suffered in the failed offensive, the Adjurians decided that the time had come to end the war.
• Delegates from both nations met on the island of Nanbo to work out their differences, and peace was agreed upon.
• Adjurian troops boarded their ships in the north from the Baishur River and headed home.  The city of Bindao in the south was given back, the troops leaving on naval transport ships.
• The Jongurian army debarked from Ithmia and headed home.

 
East-West War Timeline

• 685 – Sheffield resources dry-up, shipments to Jonguria lessen
• 686 – Trade goods sought by Adjuria drastically lessen in quantity
• 686 – Adjurians expel Jongurians from medical schools. 
• Jongurians expel Adjurians from military academies
• 687 – Jongurians accuse Adjurians of diplomatic espionage and execute diplomats
• Adjuria and Jonguria expel all foreigners from their countries
• 689 – Sinking of Adjurian and Jongurian fishing ships
• 690 – East-West War Begins
• 690 – Adjurian army lands at Baishur River
• 690 – Fadurk fortified
• 691 – Bindao falls to Adjurian army
• 691 – Jongurian navy attacks Adjurians on Baishur River from sea
• 691 – Jongurian armies move south to lay siege to Bindao
• 692 – Jongurian army lands in Ithmian province in Adjuria
• 692 – Jongurian army attacks Adjurians on Baishur River from land
• 692 – Jongurian army captures Fadurk
• 693 – Adjurian armies retake Fadurk, Jongurians entrench near coast
• 694 – Stalemate sets in
• 699 – Adjurian forces send armies overland and by sea to Waigo
• 699 – Adjurian armies defeated in attack on Waigo, retreat
• 700 – Adjurians sue for peace, terms are agreed upon at Nanbo Island
• 700 – Peace established

Map of Adjuria

Adjurian Civil War

• Many factors contributed to what would become a Civil War in Adjuria.
• Tensions between the people and the government over forced conscription into the army had been rising as losses in battle among the royal armies mounted.
• The war dragged on longer than anyone had anticipated, and the ranks of the army and navy grew thin.  Peasants with no previous military experience were called up to fight, many forced to leave their homes and families to an uncertain future.
• The war strategy began to be questioned at court.  It was clear when the stalemate developed that the current strategy had failed.  The king was unwilling to admit this and argued that the fight must continue.
• The Culdovian king was very militarily-minded, as he, like many of his forebears, had grown up in Mercentia, training as a soldier most of his life
• He could not understand why his armies could defeat the Jongurians, and believed that if only more troops were thrown at the enemy, victory would come
• The king was persuaded to keep these views by his councilors, many of whom cared only for the trappings of power, and were unconcerned with the heavy losses among the citizenry.
• A small group of Regidian advisors viewed the growing discontent over the war among the citizenry as a chance to secure more power for themselves. 
• Regidia sought out the same supporters she had when the succession crisis and previous Civil War erupted years earlier
• Promising favor and royal positions of power to high-ranking nobles, Regidia enticed the provinces of Equinia, Allidia, Hotham, and Oschem to join in the intrigues, and a coup was set into motion.
• The provinces of Fallownia and Shefflin did not go along with Regidia as they saw their agricultural and mining interests too important to jeopardize, and Mercentia was not even considered in the proposal, as the current royal line hailed from there.
• The conspiring nobles waited for the right opportunity to act, viewing a large military failure on the battlefield to be the propitious moment.
• For this reason, pressure was put on the king to stage a massive military strike to end the stalemate.  It did not matter to the conspiring nobles whether Adjuria won the war or not, and indeed, it would be far easier to establish a new royal line if Jongurian interests did not have to be dealt with.
• The king was pushed into a risky military move, called the ‘breakout,’ and which entailed a joint strike against the city of Waigo from two fronts simultaneously. 
• The ‘breakout’ was a massive failure, and the nobles acted swiftly.  With peasants on the point of rebellion due to further conscription to keep the war going, peace was called for throughout the land.  The nobles encouraged this attitude.
• Peace was now being discussed in court, but the conspiring nobles wanted more, a complete change of the royal line.  The Regidians were the main voices in this chorus, seeing themselves as the main beneficiaries of such a step.
• The court was split upon this, however, and it looked as though the current king would continue to rule after the peace negotiations concluded with Jonguria.
• Seeing their well-laid plans going by the wayside, the Regidians knew that the time for drastic measures had arrived.  They would dispose the king themselves. 
• An assassin was dispatched into the royal palace dressed as a Jongurian soldier.  Equipped with a Jongurian-made crossbow with a Jongurian poison on the tip of the bolt, the assassin, with the aid of the Regidians, gained entry into the king’s chambers and shot the king in the chest, escaping undetected.
• The king’s assassination called for a renewal of the war, but the now Regidian-controlled court called for a cooling of tempers, and an end to the war.  They put out the claim that signs indicated it was not in fact a Jongurian soldier who killed the king, but a Shefflin mercenary.
• The Regidians put out this dubious and false claim in retaliation for the province’s refusal to go along with the Regidian intrigues.
• Many people did not believe this, but it was enough to put doubt into people’s minds.  Furthermore, after ten years of war draining the country of men and resources, everyone was ready for peace.
• The Regidians pressed their claims to the throne, but it was agreed by a majority of the provinces that the current royal line would continue to rule.  This meant that the king’s twelve-year old son would assume the throne, to be overseen by a regent until coming of age.
• The Regidians would have none of this, and called for a nullification of the rights of succession, the devastating war the main reason for its unfitness.
• With the assistance of the conspiring provinces, the Regidians rode into Culdovia with a sizeable army and forcibly took the new king prisoner, putting one of their own on the throne. 
• There were few able to contest this.  Many of the other provinces agreed with the Regidians argument about the unfitness of the royal family.  Also, the Adjurian army and navy were still in the process of extricating themselves from Jonguria, and could do little to dispute this latest move.
• The only token resistance came from Mercentia, which sent all the soldiers it could to Culdovia, but it was no match for the army the Regidians had been building in secret for many years in anticipation of this moment.
• The Regidians established their court, and things looked to be well for a time.  The majority of the army and navy was disbanded and began to head toward their various provinces. 
• Seeing in this latest political development shadows of history, not all provinces were content to let this plot continue.  Montino remembered all to well the outcome of the previous Regidian court in power, and decided action was called for.
• Gaining support from Mercentia and Shefflin, which was still smarting over the blame they received for the king’s death, a small army was formed.
• The army moved south toward the capital city of Culdovia, Baden.
• Having disbanded the royal army so as to lessen any chance of a military coup, the Regidians were caught off-guard.  They did all they could to swiftly raise an army from their loyal supporters in Equinia, Allidia, Hotham, and Oschem, and had it march toward Baden. 
• The province of Duldovia had also managed to raise troops and even convinced a sizable portion of the garrison from Fadurk to join them.
• The conspiring provincial armies of Regidia, Equinia, Allidia, Hotham, and Oschem met the loyal armies of Mercentia, Montino, Shefflin, and Duldovia north of Baden, and battled each other for three days.
• The conspirators were defeated, and the Regidian royal line came to a swift end.
• Instead of putting the twelve-year old king back on the throne, it was agreed that a time of transition was required.  The royal court would take over the task of governing, with all of the provinces having an equal say in matters.
• The five conspiring provinces were not allowed to join at first, but were assured if they swore their loyalty to a united Adjuria; they would soon be welcomed back.
• A time of uneasy peace developed after a ten-year war with Jonguria, and a brief Civil War amongst themselves.  Adjuria was ready to put down her arms and get back to the day-to-day process of living peacefully.

Adjurian Civil War Timeline

• 694 – East-West war stalemate begins
• 695 – Regidia begins to hatch plans to put themselves on the throne
• 696 – Regidia forms an alliance with Equinia, Allidia, Hotham, and Oschem
• 699 – ‘Breakout’ of the stalemate plan put into action, armies defeated at Waigo
• 699 – Culdovian king assassinated
• 700 – Twelve-year old heir becomes king, appointed a regent
• 700 – Peace treaty signed with Jonguria at Nanbo Island
• 701 – Regidians forcibly remove young king in coup, take throne for themselves
• 702 – Montino makes an alliance with Mercentia and Shefflin
• 702 – Duldovia and Fadurk garrison join with Montino alliance
• 703 – Loyal armies move south into Culdovia
• 703 – Conspiring provinces raise army, move toward Culdovia
• 703 – Battle of Baden takes place for five days, conspirators defeated
• 704 – Royal Court of the Provinces takes over the task of governing