Madâr
The Madâr, also called the Realm-cleaving, was the civil war that brought about the decline and eventual fall of the Shârate of Hamât. It ended the long period of prosperity known as the Years of Joy and left the Ikorbân Valley divided for generations.[1]
The Madâr began after the reign of Aragín the Queller, founder of the Shârate. Aragín’s unification of the valley had established a lasting peace, but after his passing, rival factions among the Ikorbâni noble houses and claimants to the throne contested the succession. The conflict first broke out during the reign of Queen Luzími, who commanded the loyalty of the Ambarûli and much of the western Ikorbân, while rebel forces established themselves in the east.[1]
The war lasted for more than a century, with shifting fronts and alliances. Gondor supported Luzími and her heirs as a counter to the Khandari, who provided strength and resources to the rebels. Neither side was able to secure a lasting victory, and the prolonged strife fractured Hamât into warring states. The devastation of the Madâr permanently weakened the Shârate, making it vulnerable to external influence.[1]
Peace was eventually imposed not by either faction but by merchants of Jaghâna, who brokered a settlement to stabilize trade. Under this agreement, Hamât was divided, and Ambarûl was declared neutral territory. It was placed under the rule of the Ibili council, established by Jaghâna to govern and enforce the peace. The settlement ended open warfare but left the valley politically fragmented and vulnerable to later incursions, most notably the Empire of Ordâkh.[1]
The Madâr is remembered by the Ikorbâni as the great fracture of their realm, the event that extinguished the promise of Hamât’s golden age. Later generations viewed it as both a tragedy and a warning, symbolizing the dangers of internal strife after unity had been won. In modern times, with the rebellion in Imhûlar seeking to restore Hamât, the Madâr is often invoked as a lesson against repeating the mistakes of the past.[1]