King Daldon: 223 AE – 233AE Daldon and Essandra are twins. An almost unwilling participant in the civil war, the worst that could be said for him was he may have been too weak to stop it.
He was assassinated in 233AE, almost certainly by a family member.
Neither of Daldon’s children survived childhood.
King Kennod The General: 233AE – 260AE Daldon’s sibling (younger) – a gifted leader in times of war, Kennod personally led some remarkable victories during his 27-year reign. He survived what is recorded as the final battle of the war of succession, and true to history this was the last major battle. The survivors returning to their homes though mostly had to fight at least half the distance home. Kingdom’s history records that for Kennod the Succession War did not end, his journey home torturously difficult. He fought for 17 more years after the apparent final war. He died in the field in 260AE aged 53, axe and shield in hand.
Childless
260 AE – 410 AE records show that four monarchs reigned. Their names are recorded as King Esrel, Queen Caisgain, Queen Mergo, and Queen Asfarie… What order they were in is unknown for certain also how they are related is unrecorded. No achievements are recorded either, it can only be speculated that they led quiet reigns without much achievement.
King Barage The sire: 410 AE – 481 AE. Barage was believed to be the youngest son of the last of the previous four monarchs. Queen Asfarie is tipped as the most likely generally. He sired 17 children with 4 wives (many rumoured concubines and unknown bastards) during relatively peaceful times – this led to them all surviving to adult hood.
So, it was the four eldest remained in the capital with Barage, his heirs apparent and the other thirteen would lead an expansion of Kingdom territory or, rather a reinforcing of it. To this day, descendants of Barage can be found all over existing Kingdom territory.
Barage’s children: Princess Ursul (later queen), Price Reagan, Prince Gerrard, Princess Asfarie (the younger), Princess Caisgain (also the younger), Prince Theobold, Prince Arrad, Prince Trystlin, Princess Ildres, Prince Belfor, Princess Escondida, Prince Talon, Prince Anald, Princess Ermaigne, Princess Gertrayor, Princess Fallon, Prince Sig.
Queen Ursul The fragile: 481 AE – 485 AE The beginning of a time of unrest and poor record keeping. So many conflicting views on what took place from “fragile’s” rule until around 1000 AE. Most speculation leans towards a period of widespread civil unrest, initially at least, the monarchy is very unstable – the royal family is excessively large, for a time at least. The crown passed through many hands, or perhaps sat atop many heads during the next 385-year period, at times in fast succession. This period is oft referred to in modern times disdainfully as “Barage’s legacy”. In part true, due to him acting on the opportunity to raise many children. Even those who left the capital to settle other lands, sent at least one child “home” to be a Royal member,
There are records of an agricultural boom in 880 AE – this would indicate a reasonable chance of a period of stability around this time. First records of the Monarch Rose also appear in records texts.
Around 1000 AE documents record a King Allarch reigned during some of the time up until 1048 AE, if not the entire time. One obscure document found claims that Allarch and his entire family were killed during an Empire raid on the capital, however, this is not supported by any other records and there are certainly no records of the Hadovians having capacity to breach Geldheim defences – the idea is frankly preposterous. Suffice to say, Allarch died, and it does not appear he left heirs.
Queen Elyen the unforgiven: 1048 AE – 1050 AE
Poor Queen Elyen is the first “reliably” recorded monarch, previous to her reign, records are far too unreliable to present with any degree of confidence.
Elyen was a Monarch Rose selection, if the records are correctly interpreted; however, she was deeply unpopular and was poisoned after a brief reign. No significant achievements recorded.
No Children recorded.
A gap of five years, most likely civil war before the next monarch drank the tea unscathed. It is said three of the other candidates were not so lucky, fatally so.
King Kordath the hardy: 1055 AE – 1112 AE
Kordath survived the Monarch tea unaffected and had an astonishingly long reign even more so considering how perilous the times were. Plans were afoot for renewed military action against ages old foes. And of course, Kingdom politics was rife with danger; they seemed constantly on the brink of either civil war or outright rebellion.
Kordath is reputedly the King who expanded borders or formerly acquired territories at Hillfort, Sigvollor and crossing the river at Escondida Bay moving the border to its present location. He was not idle. He was also responsible for much restoration and maintenance throughout the land.
Kordath survived no less than six assassination attempts. People often only half joked that the King was immortal. However, one night, out of the blue, he dies peacefully in his sleep.
Kordath had sired a surviving heir.
Children: Prince Montague the elder (Died during assassination attempt on his father 1078), Princess Erial (Died during assassination attempt on his father 1078), Prince Montague the younger (Eventual King), Princess Arradine.
King Montangue the younger: 1112 AE – 1122 AE
Montangue the younger, Montangue the elder (his sibling) had been killed in one of the many assassinations attempts on his father.
Ironically, Montangue was 58 years old when he was crowned. According to surviving records, his was an unremarkable (and brief) reign. His most significant achievement was to come after his death.
His daughter Ostel (his only child) was hail and in her prime when Montangue died of fever.
Queen Ostel the solver: 1122 AE – 1153 AE.
Ostel was, among a myriad other things, fascinated with the Monarch rose. Particularly the occasional fatalities caught her attention. Upon looking into the stories surrounding these deaths, Ostel surmised that, for the main part, the deaths were caused by misadventure. Many were falling deaths, some drownings and several could be characterised as accidents almost, even despite knowledge of the ingested drug.
She made changes to the ceremony to ensure those contesting the crown were kept “safe” from their own actions, or as much as possible. It was not fool proof though.
Ostel also continued her father’s good work with keeping up maintenance throughout the kingdom. Whilst no significant changes occurred, she ruled during some significant battles as both our glorious Kingdom of Geldheim grew in numbers and so to, the rebellious Empire thieves’ numbers grew.
Her Royal Highness Ostel led many a noble and glorious campaign against our eternal foe. Several expeditions embarked into the forgotten lands, all to disappear without trace. Ostel was felled by an arrow in a skirmish near Moridale (Contested territory). Despite having had six children, none had survived her – she died leaving no heirs.
King Dale of Dry Mire 1154 AE – 1179 AE
Between 1153 and 1154 there were no less than seven Monarch Tea rituals performed. No fatalities recorded, however, an unlikely “monarch” turned up from the backwaters of Dry Mire. Dale, first King of his name (as far as records go) drank half a tankard of the tea and showed not a single sign of being “effected”. Two days later, he was crowned as the God’s chosen King. A bastard descendent from the Knife accord no less. It was assumed very few bastards were acknowledged; however, Dale was.
An unremarkable reign at face value, no conquest to speak of people could be forgiven for thinking that Dale had either forgotten or was completely unaware of the Empire’s existence. The Kingdom was prosperous during Dale’s reign; this improved a great many areas of life for all. The clearest indicator of the prosperity was the population increased somewhat rapidly during this period. Dale the Bastard as he was popularly and affectionately known among the low born was their King. The high born however, did not find him as endearing.
His third son (and first surviving one) Egar was next in line and therefore claimed as his eldest.
The succession process changed around this time quite mysteriously. (See after word Marcin Auberk - second scribe 1257)
King Egar the lame: 1179 AE – 1197 AE
Egar had been injured in a fall from a horse as a child. Despite his lame leg, he was known as a skilled fighter, tactician and negotiator.
He had brokered a return of prisoners in 1187, also of note the battle of Gelsnor crossing (contested territory), Egar out-manoeuvred superior numbers of Empire forces to lead a resounding victory.
It is widely held the belief that Egar both through military prowess and negotiating skill led one of the most peaceful times in recent history (notwithstanding his father’s reign, of course, there were not threats during that time though).
Deeper study of the period though suggests this was another time of re – populating and therefore less inclined to ongoing bloody conflicts.
Political unrest plagued the last two years of Egar’s reign, coming to a climax with an attempted coup in 1197 AE. The entire Royal Family was assassinated during the failed uprising; the lords responsible were rounded up and executed.
In the year 1198 AE, his most Royal Highness Kelto the first ascended the throne and took the crown, long may his reign bless and protect us.
This is where Hadrigan’s telling finishes – it was written in 1223 AE. Both he and King Kelto would be dead within the next five years, Kelto died falling from a horse and the scribe Hadrigan was stabbed in a tavern brawl some months later.
There are conflicting time frames around when Allard (Called Strongback in some friendly tribal regions) ascended the throne (another Monarch tea selected King), depending on who by and where the story is told, Allard either ascended in 1226 or 1230. There are myriad tales (who knows which are true and which are made up) of a four-year civil strife, war, disunity and widespread destruction. However, this does not seem supported by the evidence available in modern times. This was leading up to the time of renewed hostilities with our age-old enemies, the traitorous rebels who call themselves “Hadovean Empire”.
Long Live King Allard.
After, after word:
It was recently brought to the scholar's attention by an acolyte of the order of scribes that the line of succession rules changed during the reign of Dale of Dry Mire (Dale the Bastard). It had been assumed initially that this was due to both his bastard status and the number of children he was having, however, none of this were the case.
A simple (and admittedly rather silly) clerical error and misplaced word led to a significant change. The eldest child became the only legitimate heir, the other children were candidates, meaning that they were starters in any monarch rose tea ceremony.
This information was recently revealed and the error acknowledged to the council.
After considerable debate among the council, the new king and a large cohort of descendants (of the knife accord) it was agreed to keep the status quo and successfully argued, almost ironically, by one of the current King's own children that this seemed in keeping with the spirit of the knife accord, despite that meaning she was not a direct hier apparent. And so it was that the line of succession was formerly acknowledged by Rit, royal seal, council seal, the scribes and scholars as well. The first-born child is entitled to succeed the throne only, should they die, their siblings are candidates in Monarch Rose Tea ceremony.
