Shortly after the death of the High King, Artur Hawkwing, in FY 994, an alliance of nobles descended from the pre-imperial nation of Tova attempted to restore that kingdom. During a ball held in the city of Cairhien to celebrate this occasion, there was a massacre and most of those present were killed. Months of fighting on the streets and in the back alleys followed, with battles and assassinations raging until every last descendant of the Tovan rulers were slain and one nobleman, Colmcille, had established a clear advantage over the others. Colmcille was thus crowned the first king of the new nation of Cairhien.