Alsus Grain Riots

Disaster / Destruction

There was a deep famine in 1242 and 1243 LE, and the grain yields in those years were meager. By 1244 LE, the grain stockpiles in the city set aside for the indigent were depleted, though plenty of supply remained for those wealthy enough to purchase it. A formerly enslaved person named Alsus managed to amass popular support from among the poor in the city, and they began a series of protests. Most days, these protests devolved into riots. The Catbalus, needing to suppress these riots, elected Capibus Qulus Orquisus to the office of Biovbua (Dictator) and invested him with unprecedented powers with no accountability. It was assumed he would relinquish the title when the crisis was handled. Capibus savagely quelled the protests and riots. Once he had done so, he secured foreign grain sources and purchased them for distribution to the city's indigent. What he did not do was surrender his title.