Battle of Malga
The Battle of Malga was a decisive clash between the army of Theodore III. and the eastern rebel warlord Endoret. Endoret united the rebellions in the cities of Coulim, Tarakulina and Fire Rock and built a fortified camp at Lake Malga. Although he was able to make it difficult for the Imperial battalions to advance, the Imperial Mages set fire to the camp and forced it to surrender.
Rebellion of the East
During the reign of Theodore III. the east of the empire began to boil again. Although the former nomadic inhabitants were assimilated for a long time, their relationship to the freedom of the steppe never completely disappeared. Endoret was able to unite the three rebellions in the cities of Coulim, Tarakulina and Fire Rock. He also took control of some border towers and began summoning nomads from outside the realm to come to his aid.
Camp by the lake
Endoret prepared for the clash by building a fortified camp at Lake Malga. Its defenses utilized dug pits, narrow space and proximity to water, limiting the Imperial Army's ability to maneuver. Theodore III however, he did not underestimate the extent of the threat. He assembled five battalions, approximately one hundred thousand soldiers, and sent them against the rebels as a decisive force.
Fire of the Imperial Mages
The battle lasted almost four hours. Endoretus' fortified camp served its purpose at first, forcing the Imperial soldiers to fight in a less favorable area. But the imperial mages played a decisive role. They gradually managed to set fire to the entire camp, pushing Endoret into a hopeless situation. He could have surrendered, burned to death, or tried to escape across the lake. Because he couldn't swim, he finally gave up.
Execution of a rebel
Endoret was captured after the battle and publicly executed in 1346. Theodore III thereby sending a clear message that eastern rebellions would not be tolerated. The Battle of Malga ended the greatest eastern rebellion of the era, but not all its causes disappeared. It showed that the old nomadic identity in the East still survived beneath the surface of imperial rule.