Conflict over grain
The Grain Conflict was a war between the Empire and the Free Kingdom, sparked by the effects of the Three Year Drought. The Free Kingdom was hit hard by the crisis and began to make conquests. Magnus VIII. in the end he won the conflict and forced a century-long non-aggression pact as well as tribute for the affected areas.
Hunger beyond borders
The Free Kingdom was hit very hard by the Three Year Drought. Food shortages and rising tensions led to conquests against the empire, which had a better chance of surviving the crisis thanks to supplies. Magnus VIII. thus he found himself in a situation where he had to simultaneously manage a famine at home and military pressure from the outside.
Army after Anna I
Magnus had the advantage that the army was still in good shape. The popularity of his mother, Anne I, meant that the military ranks were full and many men were willing to fight for the empire. This allowed Magnus to react more decisively than the Free Kingdom would probably have liked.
Peace and tribute
The war ended in 1310 with a peace between Magnus VIII. and King of the Free Kingdom Jan II. The Free Kingdom has committed to a non-aggression pact for the next hundred years. A tribute to the affected areas was also part of the agreement. Thus, Magnus emerged victorious from the war, even though the empire was still struggling with the effects of the drought.