Burning of Cyngvar

The Burning of Cyngvar was the penultimate battle in the conquest of Valkanren by Somnar the Great. It involved the arson of the ancient castle of Cyngvar, capital of the Kingdom of Cyngvar, as well as the slaughter of its population. After the destruction, Somnar was crowned High King of Valkanren by Cassius II, Supreme Pontiff.

History
After the Battle of the Snows, where Leodoth Blackheart led an army of 15,000 against Somnar's 10,000, Somnar managed to trick Leodoth into a difficult position and won the battle, slaying both Leodoth and his eldest son, Leostan. Countless lords who had served Cyngvar swore fealty to Somnar after the battle, principally the lords of Selvarn and Harthing. Instead of naming a Lord of Cyngvar, Somnar marched on the capital and burned it down, slaughtered the population, destroyed its crops and salted the land, leaving the area in ruins. This was so that he could prove the end of the Kingdom of Cyngvar for all generations to come. However, anger at his ruthlessness would plague the Kingdom of Valkanren for centuries to come.