Surenid Civil War

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Surenid Civil War
Part of the Alexandrium Wars, the Wars of the Dispossessed
Mehrshahr undergoing pacification by loyalist forces
Date 20.III.1732 AN Location Suren Confederacy Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Raspur Pact  Suren Confederacy (Vištāspa Faction)	Azad Eura  Suren Confederacy (Rustaham Faction)  Babkhan Restoration Movement
	Confederacy of the Dispossessed Jazir-e Kreyak Shahpéo
Commanders and leaders
Dāryuš Vištāspa	Mirza Rustaham Sūrēn
Units involved
Trans-Euran Command 2nd Directorate 5th Armoured Division 7th Cavalry Division Vanguard Division

The Surenid Civil War was an armed conflict that broke out in the Suren Confederacy on 20.III.1732 AN. It pitted loyalist forces under the newly enthroned Surenšāh, the recognised monarch, against rebel factions seeking to back the claim of a pretender to the throne. The main rebel group was led by the claimant, Mirza Rustaham Sūrēn, and allied with Azad Eura and the Babkhan Restoration Movement, a nationalist movement aiming to re-establish the ancient Babkhan empire. Several warbands of the disinherited also joined the rebel side. Rustaham's rebellion further attracted support from provincial satraps resentful of central authority, and disgruntled military officers unhappy with the crackdown on protests during the Bitter Spring.

Background

Tensions had been simmering in the Suren Confederacy for years prior to the outbreak of civil war, driven by economic woes, denial of rights, and lingering resentment towards the Raspur Pact's domination over Surenid affairs. The Surenid succession dispute of 1731 laid bare these deep-rooted fissures as the Surenid dynasty struggled to maintain unity among the fractious provincial nobility following the demise of Mitradokht.

Dāryuš Vištāspa, despite being the recognised heir as Crown Prince, faced challenges in securing allegiance from powerful satraps and sections of the military dissatisfied with the status quo. His rival, Rustaham Sūrēn, capitalised on this discontent, portraying himself as a champion of Babkhan identity and Euran self-determination against foreign subjugation.

The interregnum period after Mitradokht's death saw a bitter power struggle unfold within the Regency Council established to oversee the transition. Infighting and lack of consensus on confirming the new Surenšāh paralyzed decision-making, allowing resentments to fester.

A series of violent clashes in the capital Surenshahr in early 1731 AN, ostensibly triggered by a tragic incident involving local youths, quickly spiraled into sectarian violence between Umraid and Zurvanite communities. The harsh crackdown that followed, with the deployment of the 7th Cavalry Division, sparked widespread protests denouncing the brutality and reignited memories of the Bitter Spring's suppression.

The Durbar which had been intended to put the seal on Dāryuš Vištāspa's accession to the throne had been a fractious affair, with provincial delegations expressing dissent or, in some instances, departing before the conclusion of deliberations.

Outbreak of Hostilities

Rustaham Sūrēn seized this volatile climate of unrest to formally stake his claim to the Surenid throne in defiance of Dāryuš Vištāspa's legitimacy as heir of the House of Suren. His rebel forces, bolstered by defecting Surenid military units and foreign backers, made rapid gains by seizing key territories in the provinces of Kapavia and Norasht.