Arthur I

This article is about the Arthur I, Head of the Vieri Family from 1601-1653. For the legend of King Arthur, see King Arthur.

Arthur I
King of the Anglish Empire, Grand Duke of Eisenland, King of Vetullia, Duke of West Vermandia.
Portrait by Lambert Sustris, 1623.
Reign	1 March 1601 – 8 September 1653
Coronation	June 1601
Predecessor	Robert III
Successor	Anastasia, Queen of Anglia
Born	Artur Charles Philip Vieri 8 December 1579 Prinsenhof of Retie, Lower Desselands, Eisen
Died	20 April 1653(1653-04-20) (aged 73) Retoria, Angland
Burial	Eastminster Chapel, Retoria
Consort	Queen Madelyn of Leciria
Queen Madelyn of Leciria
Issue	Ferdinand III Anastasia I Pavel of Vermandia Tommen Vieri Illegitimate: Gendry Bloodwater
Era name and dates Arturian Era: 1601-1653
House	House of Vieri
Father	Philip of Leone
Mother	Odilia Maino

Arthur I (Vetullian: Artur I. 8 December 1579-20 April 1653) was King of the Anglish Empire and Protector of the Realm, Grand Duke of Eisenland from 1619 to 1653, King of Vetullia from 1604 to 1653 and Duke of West Vermandia from 1601 to 1644 as well as Lord of Suidenland as as titular Duke of Klokov from 1606 to 1553. He was heir to and then head of the rising House of Vieri during the first half of the 17th century, his dominions in Parthenia included the Anglish Empire, extending from the Anglican peninsula to northern Muanbia with direct rule over the Eisen hereditary lands and the Desselandian Low Countries, and West Vermandia with its Vetulian possessions of Campoleone, Basilio, and Busseto. He oversaw the long-lasting Anglish colonial holdings across the globe, notably in Atusia which grew in size during his reign with his influence spreading as far as Zyang and Kuthra. The personal union between the Parthenian and global colonial holdings gave Arthur the title of the first to rule over a collection of realms labelled "the empire on which the sun never sets". Historians consider Arthur as one of the most influential and powerful men in history.

Arthur was born in the Lower Desselands of Eisen to Vieri prince Philip of Leone (Son of Robert III of Angland and Mary of Almagria) and Odilia of Maino, middle child of Isabella I and Ferdinand II of Basilio (King and Queen of Vetullia). The ultimate heir of his four grandparents, Arthur inherited all of his family dominions at a young age. After the death of his father Philip in 1600, he inherited some Anglish and Desselandic states originally held by his paternal grandmother Mary. In 1601 his grandfather Robert III of Angland died and Arthur inherited the throne, becoming King of the Anglish Empire. Along with the Anglish crown came it's colonial territories and possesions as well as the position as Duke of West Vermandia. In 1604 he became the King of Vetullia follownig the death of Ferdinand II as well as the Vetullian overseas territories in Barnesia and Tarandra and in Leciria. Finally, he inherited the position as Grand Duke of the Duchy of Eisenland in 1619 following the death of his uncle and he was elected as head. He adopted the imperial name as King Arthur (Angland) or Emperor Artur (Parthenian politics), styling himself on the legend of King Arthur.

Arthur I revitalized the medieval concept of universal monarchy. Although his empire came to him peacefully as inheritances from strategic marriages, he spent most of his life waging war, exhausting his own royal revenues and leaving debts to his successors in his attempt to defend the integrity of his holdings from the Protestant Reformation and a series of wars between Vetullia and Vermand. With no fixed capital city, he made 40 journeys, travelling in different entities he ruled; he spent a quarter of his reign travelling within his realms. Despite this, Arthur spent a majority of his reign between the cities of Retoria, Angland and Campoleone, Vetullia. Arthur I borrowed money from Eisen and Vetullian bankers and, in order to repay such loans, he relied on the proto-capitalist economy of the Desselandi Countries and on the flow of precious metal, especially silver, from Kaliban and Hong Bang to Almagria, which caused widespread inflation. During his reign his realms expanded by Anglish conquests into Atusia and the conquests of Kuthra and neighbouring regions.

Hailed Grand Duke of Eisenland in 1619, Arthur sided with the Catholic church under Pope Julius X and outed Eisen theologian Paul Zwarteveen an outlaw at the Diet of Leaches (1620). The same year, Louis IX of Vermand, surrounded by Vieri possesions, declared war on the Eisen possesion of the Duchy of Florennes which lasted until the Battle of Pavanna (1624). Arthur also had to defend Vetullia from a Tarandran invasion from Hausminia.

Ultimately, Arthur died in 1653 following complications with pneumonia as well as other health issues over the years such as gout from his diet of prodominantly red meat. Following his death his possesions were delegated to members of the Vieri family and close advisors, his eldest son Ferdinand III got Vetullia, his daughter Anastasia got the Anglish Empire and his youngest son Pavel controversially took West Vermandia. Each of the inheritances were made according to his will.

Ancestry

Paleis of Koudenburg, where Arthur was born in Retie, Eisenland.

Born in Prinsenhof of Retie, Lower Desselands, Arthur was born the son of Vieri prince Philip of Leone (Son of Robert III of Angland and Mary of Almagria) and Odilia of Maino, middle child of Isabella I and Ferdinand II of Basilio (King and Queen of Vetullia). The political marriage of Philip and Odillia was first conceived in a letter sent by Ferdinand to Robert in order to seal an Anglish-Vetullian alliance.

From the moment he became Prince of the Angles (de facto Crown Prince of the Anglish Empire) in 1586, Arthur's paternal grandfather Maximilian had carried a very financially risky policy of maximum expansionism, relying mostly on the resources of the Vieri hereditary lands.

Birth and Childhood

Arthur's mother went into labor at a ball in 1579. At that point his parents were in Prinsenhof of Retie, Eisenland, on a diplomatic visit when Odilia went into labor. At that point the newborn's royal prospects were relatively modest as heir to the Desselandic Vieri realms and the low counties of Angland. He was named after King Arthur, a great legend king in hope Arthur would follow in his story. When Arthur was born, a poet at the court reported that the people of Retie "shouted Eisen and Angland throughout the whole city for three hours" to celebrate his birth. Given the dynastic situation, the newborn was originally heir apparent only of the Anglish Low Counties as well as the honorific Duke of Hartfordland and became known in his early years simply as "Charles of Carvershire". He was baptised at the Church of Saint Stephen in Retoria by Bishop of Abbey: Charles I de Roÿ and René Lorraine. His godfather was chosen as Afonso IV of Leciria and his godmother chosen as Lady Agnes of Vermandia. Arthur recieved a helmet and sword as baptism gifts from different Parthenian diplomats. In 1586, Miguel Angel died leaving Arthur heir apparent to the Vetullia, meaning he would now inherit Vetullian holdings as well as Anglish states.

The year following, in 1587, his parents left him in Carvershire with his godmother Lady Agnes of Vermandia as they went to establish presence in Vetullia, trying to guarantee the recognition of Arthur as Prince of Campoleone. They succeeded despite facing some opposition from the Vetullian Cortes, which was reluctant to create the premises for Vieri succession. Arthur only met his father again in 1590 while his mother returned in 1591. His mother suffered from presumed schizophrenia, and so was named "mad" by doctors and not allowed to see her children. His father Philip inherited the Desselandic coast as well as counties of Angland in 1599, however died a year later in 1600. This left him heir apparent to the Anglish Empire by his grandfather, Robert III. This turn of events left his mother Odilia in an even worse mental state as she was driven into insanity. She was retired into isolation in Vetullia. In 1601, Robert III of Angland died which left Arthur as King of the Anglish Empire and it's colonial territories as well as Duke of West Vermandia. A year following he also became heir to the Vetullian realms as his cousin Jon of Baracia died, leaving him as heir to Ferdinand.

Reign

A portrait of Arthur from 1602.

Given the vast dominions of the House of Vieri, Arthur was often on the road and needed deputies to govern his realms for the times he was absent from his territories. His first Governor of Vetulia was Margaret of Suidenland (succeeded by Mary of Baths and Jacques Philibert, Duke of Boroughsford). His first Regent of West Vermandia was Adrian of Kandbetten (succeeded by Isabella of Leciria and Philip of Almagria). For the regency and governorship of the Anglish hereditary lands, Arthur named his brother Ferdinand Archduke in the Anglish lands under his authority at the Diet of Leaches (1620). Arthur also agreed to favor the election of Ferdinand as King of the Eisens in Eisenland, which took place in 1626. By virtue of these agreements Ferdinand became Grand Duke of Eisenland and obtained hereditary rights over Eisenland at the death of Arthur in 1653.

A map of Eastern Parthenia under Arthur as well as colonial holdings of the Anglish Empire.

Vetullian Kingdoms

The city of Ferruela, the main seat of the Imperial court during his reign.

In 1586 the only heir to Vetullia, Arthur's paternal cousin Miguel Angel, passed away leaving him as the heir as the eldest grandson of Ferdinand II of Vetulluia. In 1604 Ferdinand passed away leaving Vetullia and it's overseas realms. His claim to Vetullia was supported heavily by the Cittas Anta as well as Pope Julius X, which gave his claim a great amount of support and legitimacy. Following this, his influence spread to the Vetullian overseas territories as well as far as to having claims in Leciria.

Thus, after the mourning of Ferdinand II's death in the March of 1604, Arthur was proclaimed king of the crowns of Campoleone and Vetullia. Finally, when the Basilio regent Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros accepted the fait accompli, he acceded to Arthur's desire to be proclaimed king and imposed his enstatement throughout the kingdom. Arthur arrived in his new kingdoms in autumn of 1604. De Cisneros came to meet him but fell ill along the way, not without a suspicion of poison, and he died before reaching the King.

Arthur spent a lot of his earlier life in Vetullia, spending much of his time in the city of Ferruela where he situated main seat of the Imperial court during his reign. Arthur was accepted by most Vetullians as king, despite his "Imperial" or "Germanic" way. Despite this, he still met resistance particularly from the courts of Basilio and Busseto which he eventually managed to overcome due to his skill in negotiation. Under Arthur, the government in Vetullia became even more absolute, with local lords having pure loyalty to him.

Opposition arose against him however as he began to raise taxes to fund Anglish expeditions into Atusia, which provided Vetullia with no benefit. He also used Vetullian tax money to fund foreign wars which they had no involvement with. This stopped in 1614 however as advisors warned of an uprising, which resulted in the Revolt of the Alba Barcos which Arthur suppressed.

Around the same time as the Protestant Reformation in 1620, which Arthur had also exhausted funds trying to repel, King Louis IX of Vermand launched a large scale invasion of Vetullia and Eisenland in attempt to no longer be surrounded by Vieri possesions. This lead to a longer series of wars between Vetullia and Vermand which would last up until the mid 1640s. In 1628 he again tried to increase taxation, but this time on all of his realms. This caused suprisingly less issue than before as many were understanding as to why the tax increase happened.

Elite elements in Vetullia called for more protection for the commercial networks, which were threatened by the Sapherian Empire. Arthur instead focused on defeating Protestantism in Eisenland and the Livonienburg, which proved to be lost causes. Each hastened the economic decline of the Vetullian Empire in the next generation. The enormous budget deficit accumulated during Arthur's reign, along with the inflation that affected the kingdom, resulted in declaring bankruptcy during the reign of Ferdinand III.

Contact with the Lecirian Kingdom

Carvoiero, Leciria. Home to the villa shared by Arthur and his wife Madelyn which they would holiday to.

Arthur was described as having an "obsession" with Leciria. His godfather upon baptism was Afonso IV, King of Leciria and close friend of his father. He was introduced to his future wife Madelyn at a very young age, and when he was 7 years old the parents arranged a marriage between the two to build relations between Leciria and the Vieri's officially. His first visit to Leciria was in 1598 where he went to visit Afonso with his wife Madelyn in Benavente. It is said that Arthur fell in love with the art and culture of Leciria during this visit and this would influence his later actions as monarch.

When he became King of the Anglish Empire he signed a Treaty of Friendship with Afonso IV in 1602, helping to guarentee positive relations between Leciria and the Vieri realm.

Eisen and the Desselands

Arthur depicted in Eisen robes and armour at the Palace of Brattenburg in Eisenland, 1634.

The latest of the territories Arthur inherited, he was elected as Grand Duke of Eisenland following the death of his uncle, Grand Duke Charles the Bold, in 1619. The territories sit within the western borders of the Empire, near West Vermandia, Suidenland and Vetullia. He found himself in constant conflict with the Livoni barbarians which raided and sieged many settlements near the border. Arthur I sent a letter directly to King Manuel IV of Livonienburg threatening that if he did not sort the threat of barbarians in the east he would invade. Manuel, it is reported, completely ignored the letter. This soon found the two nations at war with eachother, and Livonienburg was greatly outnumbered. Despite a victory, Eisenland was left in debt to local banks which it had borrowed money from for the campaign in Livonienburg however this ended up being compensated by the lack of barbarian attacks following the invasion.

From 1622 to 1625, Arthur's government in Eisenland also had to contend with the rebellion of Desselandic peasants (led by Pier Gerlofs and Wijard Jelckama). The rebels were initially successful but after a series of defeats, the remaining leaders were captured and decapitated in 1625.

Arthur extended the Eisen territory with the annexation of Reizen, Bree, Maasbracht and Herten. The Seventeen Provinces had been unified by Arthur's Eisen ancestors, but nominally were fiefs of either Vermand or Livonienburg. Arthur eventually won the Heelpollen Wars and united all provinces under his rule, the last one being the Duchy of Heelpollen. In 1639, Arthur issued a Pragmatic Sanction, declaring the Desselands to be a unified entity of which his family would be the heirs.

The Desselandic territories were generally loyal to Arthur throughout his reign, likely due to the amount of time he spent there during his early life. The important city of Reizen rebelled in 1639 due to heavy tax payments demanded by Arthur. The rebellion did not last long, however, as Arthur's military response, with reinforcement from the Duke of Bree, was swift and humiliating to the rebels of Reizen.

Issue

Issue

Arthur and Madelyn had three legitimate children, and all three of them survived to adulthood.Arthur also had one natural child before he married who was illegitimate.

Name	Portrait	Lifespan	Notes
Ferdinand III		21 May 1610 – 13 September 1698	Eldest son of Arthur, went on to become King of Vetullia following his father's death.
Anastasia, Queen of Anglia		21 June 1612 – 26 February 1703	Middle child of Arthur and Madelyn, Queen of the Anglish Empire.
Pavel		22 November 1617 – 13 July 1657	Born a dwarf, Arthur decided to keep Pavel which was a controversial decision. Eventually made Duke of West Vermandia however died shortly after

See Also

• List of Anglish monarchs

References

Elezia