Sundering of 2101

The Sundering of 2101 (not to be confused with the Great Sundering, or the Volkar Civil War, which is also occasionally called the Sundering), typically referred to simply as the Sundering, but also known as the Tekhrhys Sundering, the Seventh Sundering, and in the context of the Volkar Civil War as the First Sundering, was a civil war that divided the Volkar Stellar Imperium for approximately three years, from the beginning of 2101 until its conclusion in 2103. Primarily fought between House Tekhrhys and several houses loyal to the Imperial House Rhych, it is typically understood as an attempt by House Tekhrhys -- one of the Great Houses of the Imperium -- to usurp the Imperial throne.

House Tekhrhys was the most powerful of the Great Houses, and had been increasing in power for nearly two centuries before the beginning of the war. The war itself was ignited as a result of the Emperor granting House Ukna the status of a Great House, and House Tekhrhys objecting publicly. This repudiation allowed the Emperor to declare House Tekhrhys to be in open rebellion.

While the war is usually framed to the Volkara public as an attempt to overthrow the Imperial House Rhych, it was likely instigated by the Emperor and House Ukna in order to weaken House Tekhrhys.

Shortly after the war began, the leader of House Tekhrhys, Archduke Fyrhhatis, proclaimed himself Emperor. Several major Tekhrhys vassals joined the war on the side of the new emperor, the most notable of those being House Adel and House Siplim, at that time both Lesser Houses with territories on Rhych Kavalk.

The deciding factor of the war was the intervention of House Ukna on behalf of the Imperial House Rhych. This intervention demonstrated the absolute superiority specifically of House Ukna and more generally of a non-terrestrial power base. For this reason, the Sundering is also typically seen as the final transition of power from homeworld-based Houses to Houses based in other systems with their own planetary seats.

After the defeat of House Tekhrhys in 2103, Archduke Fyrhhatis and all members of his family were brought before the Emperor and executed, and their holdings confiscated by the Imperial House Rhych. Several of their vassal houses were similarly destroyed, though two -- Houses Adel and Siplim -- had their leaders executed and were then exiled from the homeworld. They would later in 2103 settle the planets Hakh and Pol Utesk respectively, using them as new power bases from which to compete with House Ukna.

The Sundering is also considered to be the beginning of the close relationship between House Ukna and the Imperial House Rhych, a relationship that has instigated several major conflicts since the Sundering.