Alaric the Great

Alaric the Great
Portrait of Alaric I
King of Rythene
Reign	18 August 1048 – 22 December 1061
Successor	Eadric I
Prince Regent of Casmire
Reign	7 March 1046 – 15 January 1050
Predecessor	Edgar I
Successor	(absorbed into the Kingdom of Rythene)
Born	c. 1016 Crown Palace of Eutavre, Casmire
Died	Outside Saint Rhaëg’s Hall, Casmire
Burial	Abbey of Saint Agar, Casmire
Issue	Eadric I of Rythene Godric I of Rythene Ætheline Osmund I of Rythene (illegitimate)
Father	Edgar I of Casmire
Mother	Idina

Alaric I (c. 1016 - 22 December, 1061), commonly known as Alaric the Great, was the first king of a unified Rythene, reigning from 1048 until his death in 1061. He was a descendant of William I of Blayk, and Prince Regent of Casmire from 1046 onwards. Following the formal assumption of powers during his father’s long term illness, Alaric launched a two year campaign into the divided island territory north of the Auressian mainland, marking the establishment of a seven hundred year monarchy. His later life was met by struggles against contenders for the throne, and confrontation with foreign powers accepting his rule.

Early Life and Regency

Alaric was born in 1016 at the Crown Palace of Eutavre, most likely in the summer months between late July to early August. He was the son of Edgar of Casmire, who mentored him personally in state and military manners to succeed himself as his desired heir, as he distrusted the ability of his court after his eldest child passed early in childhood. Alaric’s mother, the Princess Idina, was the daughter of Duke Gaus of Brënhemst, and died giving birth to her sixth child. The young prince was the third child of his parents; the eldest a boy who died at the age of seven in the care of their father’s steward, the second a girl promised to a neighbouring duke's son upon her birth, the fourth child a daughter who was resented for her infertility, the fifth another daughter, and the sixth another son ensuring the security of the succession. Whilst Alaric’s siblings were altogether close to one another, he didn’t share a similar bond with them himself as his father was weary of their influence on his upbringing. Some historians even believe that Alaric rarely saw his immediate family besides Edgar, and that he grew up in separate wings of the palace to his brothers and sisters.

The Crown Palace of Eutavre after architectural expansions by King John II in 1432

As a youth, Alaric was a popular heir apparent and considered by some to be the reincarnation of their house’s founding figure, Agar the White Stag. Common folklore at the time told that a sighting of a rare white deer (the sigil of the royal house) was associated with the coming of war and great change. During his teenage years, Alaric was betrothed and wedded to his sole wife, Ethel, who bore him his first son and future King of Rythene, Eadric I. Ethel birthed a further two children, Godric I and Ætheline, before she died of sickness pregnant with another child. Alaric never took another wife despite his father’s concerns, but did sire a bastard, Osmund, who was later legitimised by the Church and reigned over Rythene for seventeen years. In 1042, Prince Edgar suffered a terrible wound after an assassination attempt, and fell gravely ill. By 1046, he was rendered bedridden, and Alaric at the age of thirty was proclaimed regent.

As Prince Regent, Alaric was determined to live up to and exceed the reputation of his father, but was first required to turn his efforts inwardly. The Principality of Casmire had become a boiling pot of tensions during Edgar’s sickness, as neighbouring duchies vied for territorial power in light of short harvests. Bound to opposing noble families through marital ties, Alaric resolved the matter in a demonstration of strength. He sent men to besiege each hold in conflict with the interests of the state, and threatened to end the impending war with the decimation of their noble houses. Each party conceded, as the sheer display of military presence couldn’t be challenged, nor could they unify against Alaric.

Casmirean Expansion

Main article: History of Rythene

Alaric’s Preparations

The remaining years of Alaric’s regency were spent expanding Casmire’s military capabilities, and preparing for imperialistic expansion. Territory options were few and limited, as the principality was surrounded along their southern borders by the Kingdom of Blayk, and posed more of a challenge than Alaric cared to admit. This meant that the young ruler looked beyond the mainland, and across the channel that separated Casmire from prospect land. The small island directly north of the Auressian mainland was comprised of a number of petty kingdoms, renown for their efforts in repelling many raids during the Viking invasion. Their capabilities were recognised by other Auressian powers, and the island was given the name Ryþegn (meaning ‘reputable warriors’). These people were typically left in isolation, as foreign powers believed their efforts were best suited elsewhere. However, Alaric saw the island as his crowning achievement, and began to make preparations for an invasion.

The Prince Regent was more tactful about planning the development of his soon to be Kingdom, as he had already proved his ability in the swift handling of the conflicting duchies. He knew that the petty kingdoms ruled in seclusion, and held confidence that each could be fought and defeated on their own. However, his single concern for the invasion was if the islanders noticed Alaric’s threat to their sovereignty, and united against him.

By the dawning of 1047, Alaric held an army of 11,000 men: an estimated 3,500 - 4,000 of them cavalry and knights, and the remaining 6,500 - 7,000 were infantry. The issue of transporting his army across to the island of Rythene was identified early, but still plagued Alaric as he began to finalise his preparations to launch the invasion. To ensure the success of their passage, Alaric ceded the south-eastern duchy of Hâlforde to William IV of Blayk, land valued for its high production of agriculture, in exchange for a fleet of 150 Blaykish ships. Coupled with his own naval power, the Casmirean invasion force comprised of 225 ships, which were readied to launch by late July of 1047.

Invasion of Rythene

Main articles: Invasion of Rythene, Storming of the Ant Hill

On the 2nd of August 1047, Alaric and his invasion force landed on the shores of Rythene, and marked the beginning of the famous conquest. The bay at which the Prince Regent first set foot on is now known as Alaric’s Harbour, and was popularly used as a trading port throughout the Middle Ages, until the development of steam powered boats required larger docks. In the modern day, the harbour is a historical site dedicated to the nation’s first King, and contains a number of monuments relating to his conquest.

After establishing a small settlement at the landing point, Alaric was eager to push as far forward into the island as he could during the fine summer weather, and find a more suitable location to accommodate themselves and their large military presence. Having only brought limited provisions with them across the channel, Alaric was cautious of the priority of feeding his army. Whilst the lands surrounding them were teeming with game, they couldn’t hope to provide for roughly eleven thousand men. With this in mind, Alaric marched the army north of their settlement for three days until they encountered a small castle, home to a self proclaimed king and the luxuries provided from his lands. The ruler of the area Alaric marched on remained unknown throughout history, however, popular folklore and songs from the era titled him as ‘King of the Ants’. Despite language barriers, the King of the Ants offered his castle and service to Alaric, although the army at his gates hardly gave him any other choice. On the night of the 18th of September 1047, ten days after the Casmirean army had been granted hospitality, a group of two hundred men under the orders of Alaric slaughtered the court of the petty king in what became known as the “Storming of the Ant Hill.”

Following the events of the massacre, Alaric split his army into two; one half venturing west, the other east. Alaric led the eastern force, and met no challenge posed by the petty kingdoms in the first few months. He won battles in the open field at Ashstone, Hydebridge, and Ludport, and had later success in notable sieges at Maidenstead and Whitegrove. By February of 1048, Alaric’s presence was noted by the kingdoms along the eastern shores of Rythene, who in the wake of his military success decided to unify against the foreign invader. The previously isolationist kingdoms met in the modern day city of Leserin to discuss the Casmirean threat, known as the ‘Council of Crowns.’ At the council, it was decided that they would abandon their strongholds and make a final stand as one unified, powerful army.

At the eastern coastal town of Leedton on the 27th of February 1048, a native Rythenean army of five thousand strong defeated Alaric’s undefeated brigade in open combat, forcing the invaders to retreat west as far as twenty kilometres. Having expected a unified front from the state of the deserted castles they had marched by, Alaric attempted to employ his knowledge of military tactics to triumph in a seemingly impossible battle. However, the Rythenean force was closer to Alaric’s position then he had anticipated, causing them to meet head on. Knowing he couldn’t risk another confrontation, Alaric housed his army in an abandoned castle, and sent a message to the rest of his force in the west. The western army had similar success to Alaric under Edmund Ironarm’s command, and managed to march to the eastern front by mid-April. Whilst they were en route, the unified Rythenean force had been besieging the Casmireans in their borrowed castle, but had little success in breaking their own defences. On the 16th of April 1048, Ironarm charged the lines of the Rythenean army, soon backed by the support of Alaric’s forces who rushed out of the castle. The ensuing battle was the last major conflict of the invasion, and the largest confrontation of the conquest. By the end of the day, thousands had died from both sides, but Alaric was the clear victor, having decimated most of the Rythenean army.

At this stage, Alaric had established control of most of Rythene, with the exception of the far reaches of the west, which the remainder of his conquest was focused on attaining. By late July the island was conquered, and on the 18th of August 1048, Alaric was crowned King of Rythene.

Alaric as King

Statue of Alaric I, First King of Rythene

As part of his efforts to secure authority over Rythene, Alaric fortified the keeps and mottes already prevalent across the island, and ordered the construction of new Casmirean styled castles throughout the countryside. Native resistance to his rule was met with force, but for the most part the first people of Rythene were accepting of a single sovereign. Most of Alaric’s army elected to remain on the island, with some returning to the mainland to spread the tale of his conquest. This prompted a large migration of Casmireans to Rythene to help establish a functioning new society, and was seen as a prosperous opportunity by the lower classes.

Upon the death of Prince Edgar I in January 1050, the Principality of Casmire was officially absorbed into the Rythenean Kingdom, and was no longer a separate and independent entity. This prompted a minor outcry from nobles on the mainland, who questioned the legacy of the Casmirean founding fathers who had given their lives for independence, however, the merge did very little to change the political and social state of Casmire. Whilst Alaric declared the Casmirean city of Eutavre as the capital, he rarely ever spent time on the mainland during his reign, focusing his efforts on the management of his newly conquered land.

Death and aftermath

Whilst visiting mainland Rythene to attend the wedding of his daughter Ætheline, Alaric fell gravely ill following an injury sustained from his travel across the channel. He was present for the grand ceremony in St Rhaëg’s Hall, however, the King of Rythene died later that same night (22 December 1061) in the back of a horse carriage. Distraught, Ætheline believed that her marriage was cursed by the death of her father, and fled to Blayk, where she was discovered by a search party in a barn. Whilst she was returned to Rythene by 1063, she rarely left her bed chambers, and died the following year during childbirth.

Abbey of St Agar’s in 2008

Alaric’s eldest son, Eadric, was coronated on the first day of the new year at the Abbey of St Agar’s, where his father’s remains were buried in the crypts below next to Edgar I. Since then, Alaric’s grave was moved above ground and is on display in the main Church of the Abbey. The final resting place of the king has been disturbed twice; the first time in 1288 under orders from the monarchy, and the second during the Rythenean Revolution where over half of Alaric’s bones were stolen or lost.

Ancestry

Ancestry of Alaric I, King of Rythene
8. Edmund I of Casmire 4. Edmund II of Casmire 9. Judith of Casmire 2. Edgar of Casmire 10. Duke Eadmer of Warford 5. Margaret of Casmire 11. Duchess Godiva of Warford 1. Alaric I, King of Rythene 12. Duke Louis of Brënhemst 6. Duke Gaus Brënhemst 13. Duchess Ruth of Brënhemst 3. Idina of Casmire 14. Duke Maurice of Dorbarden 7. Duchess Anne of Brënhemst 15. Duchess Mary of Dorbarden