The Great War - What's it all for?

[Verno]

+ High Councillor Traachon vetoes himself out of office - the Autobot Council of Elders steps down and gives supreme executive authority to Optimus Prime. For the first time ever, supreme command of the Autobots now rests in the hands of a soldier and not politicians who had never seen battle.

Would you consider this to be the point that The Great War began? Or when they awaken from the Ark, as Blackarachnia states?