Third Northern Rebellion
| Third Northern Rebellion | ||
| Date: | 1668-1669 | |
| Place: | Holy Realm of the Great North | |
| Casus belli: | Declaration of independence by the Northern Realm. | |
| Outcome: | Treaty of Fieldburg, Shirithian sovereignty restored | |
| Participants | ||
 Holy Realm of the Great North
|
 Imperial Government
| |
| Commanders | ||
| Eki Verion Stephen Lewis
|
Kaiser Ayreon IV
| |
| Strength | ||
| Unknown, at least 60,000 | 3,019,902 (Imperial Forces) | |
| Casualties | ||
| 210 casualties | 3,900 casualties (2,600 civilian) | |
| Notes | ||
| Strength and casualties of both sides are estimates | ||
The Third Northern Rebellion of 1668 was the last of a series of uprisings in Northern Shireroth. The revolt followed a legacy of political turmoil and anti-government sentiments in former Elwynn, that have lingered since the early 17th century.
Background
The North of Shireroth has always been a source of trouble for the Imperial Government. Elwynn, previously being an independent state, rejoined Shireroth in the late 16th century, and immediately saw the birth of several independence movements. Aside from an Ayreonist attempt for independence, the most notable was the Icebear Rebellion of 1609 to 1610. The religious cult known as the Holy Church of the Divine Icebear started to gain prominence in the North. After decades of turmoil, this finally lead to the Elwynnese civil war of 1660, a conflict that lead to the demise of the Imperial State of Elwynn. During this time, the North again declared independence as the Holy Realm of the Great North. The attempts for a peaceful settlement of the war resulted in Eki Verion, who sided with the Icebearians and became a figurehead of the seperatist movement, becoming the last Princess of Elwynn, and later ruler of the North. An uneasy relationship between the Imperial Government and the Northerners, who by then had formed a broad coalition of Icebearians, Verionists, Libertarians and private actors such as the Iron Company.
The Revolt
The Folksraad elections of 1665 were a new moment of extreme division within Shireroth. A bloody, negative campaign beween National Humanist, Democrats and the Verionists fractured the party. The North, mostly Verionist, became even more isolated from the Imperial Government, especially after the Verionist Union decided to pursue a policy of abstention and did not take their seats in the Folksraad. In 1668, Eki Verion unilaterally declared independence. The Northern Realm, as it was then known, immediately followed through militarily by attacking Imperial bases in the North and notably bombing the city of Civitas Nova. This lead the Imperial Government to respond with threats. Unwilling, however, to enter into a full-scale war, the Imperial Government did not respond militarily but instead sought a diplomatic solution.
End of the Revolt
Within the North, there had been opposition to Eki Verion ever since the 1665 elections. Moderate Verionists blamed the sometimes erratic Queen in the North for their election loss. The connection with radical Icebearians was more than the moderate seperatists could stomach. In secret, plans were made to end the uprising and to reach a settlement with the Imperial Government.
In mid-1669, the Iron Company officially renounced its support for the rebellion, immediately followed by some prominent Verionist leaders such as Stephen Lewis and Titus Morvayne. A peace treaty had been drafted before this moment, and Eki Verion was forced into signing this deal. The treaty would acknowledge the Shirithian sovereignty in the North, grant immunity to the rebels, and would end the secessionist aspirations of Icebearians. Meanwhile, the Iron Company got the right to govern Cimmeria, Fieldburg and Elsenar. Upon signing the treaty, the third Northern revolt came to an end.
