Second Montanaro Rebellion

The Second Montanaro Rebellion, is an ongoing conflict between Aciria and the Montanaro State representing the Montanaro people. The conflict started on the 4th of April 2026 following the assassination of Imperial Governor Maurenzo Basilvestri by UML forces, and the subsequent declaration of the Montanaro State. The Imperial Seat has progressively closed off all non-military and government entry or exit out of the region, with little information of the conflict available outside of news outlets affiliated with the Imperial Seat.

Origins
The conflict can trace its roots back to the 18th and 19th centuries following efforts by the Imperial Seat to integrate the various tribes that spoke languages related to Acirian, the most removed of which being Montanaro. Unrest among the Montanaro people eventually lead to the First Montanaro Rebellion, which resulted in further efforts to integrate Montanaro identity under the wider Acirian identity. Violent resistance persisted for a decade after the conflict, with groups advocating for Montanaro autonomy or independence sprouting up in the early 20th century.

Radical elements in the groups became more popular following the Second Great War, where Montanaro brigades were often used for operations seen as more dangerous and likely to take heavier casualties than their Acirian counterparts. Many leading figures of the groups were also imprisoned for suspected espionage for the duration of the war.

United Montanaro League
The oldest and largest group advocating for Montanaro rights is the United Montanaro League, often abbreviated as UML. With a long history of opposing violence to achieve their means, UML has regularly since its founding appealed to both the People's and Imperial Senate alongside funded programs to preserve Montanaro history, language and identity.

In the spring of 2026, UML once again appeared before the People's Senate to be forwarded to the Imperial Senate to discuss the potential recognition of Montanaros as their own distinct ethnic group in Aciria and the Montanaro language to be given official status and the protections that come with it. The talks came to an end a week later following the People's Senate's refusal to forward Acharigi, which resulted in him walking out during the talks. As a response to the collapse of the talks, the UML two weeks later detonated bombs in the suburbs of Trossera, resulting in many both wounded and dead.

Declaration of the Montanaro State
The PAI demanded the UML to hand over Acharigi for questioning, and following the UML's refusal to do so, PAI mounted a raid to apprehend Acharigi. The operation was unsuccessful, resulting in PAI agents shot dead by UML radicals, and Acharigi's whereabouts remaining unknown.

Two weeks following the PAI raid, a firefight took place in Campo Scarletto, a military base located near Chegallari. The perpetrators were identified as members of the 4th Alpini Regiment, consisting mostly of ethnic Montanaros. The regiment raided the armory before escaping deeper into the highlands of Montanaro country. To safeguard both the economic interests and the Acirians of the region, Emperor Ignazio I authorised military operations in Montanaro country.

In an attempt to de-escalate the conflict, Ignazio I hosted peace talks in Chegallari where the Imperial Seat was represented by Imperial Governor Maurenzo Basilvestri, and the UML sent spokesperson Larquin Menesulu. The peace talks resulted in Basilvestri and his entourage to be shot dead by UML forces, who simultaneously had attacked the Imperial Palace to declare the Montanaro State.

Internal conflicts
The region referred to as "Montanaro country" is not a region recognized by the Acirian government, but is a part of the Santa-Beatrice administrative region. Ethnic Acirians have inhabited the lowlands for at least 600 years, and in the past centuries have slowly moved up into historic Montanaro lands. The escalating conflict resulted in ethnic violence perpetrated by both Montanaros and Acirians, which has resulted in the migration of Acirians out of the region. Many Montanaros have also attempted to leave the region as the conflict rages on, but the Imperial Army Of Aciria has set up checkpoints on all roads leading out of the Montanaro country, forbidding ethnic Montanaros from leaving the region. The Imperial Seat stated the blockade of the region was put in place to minimize potential terrorist attacks against civilian targets by the UML.

The Acirian nationalist paramilitary organization Acirian Liberation Movement has declared its allegiance to the Imperial Seat in the conflict, and has been reported to have been attacking Montanaro insurgents and civilians alike. The UML has noted the lack of reaction by the Imperial Seat regarding the civilian casualties caused by the ALM.