Xer's Campaigns, also known as the Cronese Wars, represent a chain of military operations initiated by the Pirate King Xer VIII during the Pre-Republic era, specifically between 25,150 BBY and 25,130 BBY. These campaigns culminated in his ascension as King of Cron and the subsequent domination of the entire Tion Cluster, with the notable exception of the Livien League.
Roughly around 27,000 BBY, Human colonists, traveling aboard sleeper ships originating from the Core Worlds, established settlements within the Tion Cluster while the galaxy was under the dominion of the Rakata Infinite Empire. Following the Rakatan Civil War, the Infinite Empire was either driven out or retreated from its far-flung colonies, leaving behind a substantial amount of its technology for its former slaves. By 25,200 BBY, the year that Xer VIII was born, the Human inhabitants of the Tion had coalesced into three distinct political entities: the Kingdom of Cron, the Kingdom of Barseg, and the Livien League.
Argai, Xer's homeworld, was theoretically a component of the Kingdom of Cron, which was then concentrated around an arc of worlds spanning from Janilis VII to Algor. However, this remote world, situated at the edge of the Ihala Spiral, was consistently overlooked by the royal court based on Chandaar.
Following the path of many Argaians, Xer VIII embraced piracy, quickly rising to prominence as a pirate chieftain. Proclaimed as the lord of Argai, he captured Dravione and declared the establishment of the Kingdom of Argai. Xer advanced along the Ihala Route, and within a decade, he had expanded his kingdom as far as Panna.
Reacting to Argai's increasing power, King of Cron Ferece summoned Xer to Chandaar, where he proposed granting the pirate-lord noble titles in exchange for a pledge of allegiance. Insulted by the offer and perceiving weakness in Ferece and his court, Xer decided to seize control of the Kingdom of Cron.
After assembling a fleet at Panna, Xer destroyed a Cronese fleet that was assembling at Duinarbulon before conquering Chandaar and forcing Ferece to flee. Proclaimed as the King of Cron, Xer subjugated the kingdom, taking the heirs of nobles and warlords he deemed valuable as hostages, and eliminating the families of those he considered useless.
Xer's adolescent son, Xim, established a fearsome reputation during the Cronese Sweeps, killing everyone within the Timber Palace of Pasmin, setting the royal barges of Eibon adrift into the core of the Ihala Spiral, and razing the High Fane of Xo on Nuswatta, thereby converting the theocracy to Xer's cause.
The Cronese Sweeps resulted in a unified, expansionist Kingdom of Cron with a combat-proven navy. Xer quickly prepared to extend his conquests beyond Cron's borders, targeting the Three Allied Kingdoms, an alliance comprising Jaminere, Cadinth and Barseg, situated on his north-rimward flank. Xer advanced along the Cadinth Run and conquered the three kingdoms, along with other worlds such as Arcan IV, Corlax, and Lianna.
Following this, Xer expanded his conquests beyond the Ihala Spiral. Moving from Algor, he proceeded north along the Back Spiral, securing victories at Caluula, Brigia and Tion. After the conquest, Xer constructed opulent palaces on Raxus Prime and granted the world to his concubines and their retinues. This world eventually became known as "the Circlet of the Tion".
The Livien League, a coalition of worlds centered around Livien, Desevro and Kanaver, was the only military force within the Tion Cluster that successfully resisted Xer. Xer's attempts to advance into the Livien League from Corlax and Barseg were defeated at Amarin, and again at Lorrad. Subsequently, Xer concluded his campaign against the Livien League and paused to solidify his existing conquests.
Recognizing that he had overextended his reach, Xer VIII ceased his expansionist efforts and dedicated the remainder of his reign to transforming the Kingdom of Cron into a formidable empire. This involved expanding its network of hyperspace beacons along the Back Spiral and the Cadinth Run, as well as establishing an efficient bureaucratic system. Despite this, Xer still held ambitions regarding the Livien League. He reorganized Cron into three provinces, each governed from Chandaar, Raxus Prime, and Cadinth. However, court ceremonies continued to acknowledge the Four Thrones of Cron, referencing these three worlds along with the still-independent Desevro.
The Livien League would eventually be conquered by Xim, Xer's son and heir.