Michael, 5th Earl of Tarringway
| Michael Fowler 5th Earl of Tarringway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Michael Fowler 11 July 1728 Tarringway, Kingdom of the Riverland |
| Died | 28 July 1809 (aged 71) |
| Title | Earl of Tarringway |
| Other titles | Baron Nimminster, Baronet Fowler |
| Nationality |  Riverlander |
| Residence | Nimminster Castle |
| Wars and battles | King Malcom's War |
| Offices | Captain-General of the Army MP for Tarringway |
| Predecessor | Lawrence, 4th Earl |
| Successor | Michael, 6th Earl |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Elizabeth Baynton |
| Issue | Michael, 6th Earl Felicity, Lady Darren |
| Occupation | Soldier |
Lord Michael Fowler, 5th Earl of Tarringway, Baron Nimminster, and Baronet Fowler, was a Vionnan soldier, nobleman, and later politician. In a military career spanning fifty years, he established himself as one of the most successful and famous Vionna-Frankenlischian military commanders of the 18th century, leading armies of the Kingdom of the Riverland and its successor state, the Kingdom of Vionna. His victories during King Malcom's War secured the Riverlandian Conquest of Grythshead, particularly the battles of Helderny and Staffmoore, and successfully prevented an Erinite invasion of Cunaris with his victories at Fowler's Ford and Cebrennec. Belonging to the Fowler family, he held the parliamentary constituency of Tarringway and served briefly as Lord Armourer to the Vionnan Empress Elizabeth of Vionna.
Early Life
Family and Birth
The second son of the 4th Earl of Tarringway, Lawrence, and Arabella, Lady Tarringway, Michael was born at Nimminster Castle. His father had enjoyed a short military career in the Fletcher's War but after serious wounds at the Siege of Rollanburgh he spent the rest of his life at court and managing his demense. Lady Arabella was the daughter of the Viscount Tornan and, besides some well-recieved harpsichord compositions, achieved little of note during her life. Michael's elder brother, William, was four years his senior and died in a hunting accident at seventeen. The family had three other children: two sons and a daughter. The daughter, Elizabeth, who married Lyle Huntingforth, who served as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Vionna. The younger sons were a pair of twins: Enoch and David, born in 1732.
Childhood
Michael's childhood was mostly spent at Nimminster, a town which was central to the Tarringway lands. Nimminster Castle was the traditional seat of the Fowlers and the five children of Lawrence Fowler grew up there. As with most children of the aristocracy, Michael's early education was managed by private tutors until he attended Nimminster College from the age of eleven. Though he did not excel academically, he was a skilled horseman and creatively gifted. As the second son of the house, he had greater freedom to decide his path and, though he enjoyed artistic pursuits, was not on any committed path by the time his elder brother died in 1741.
With the death of William Fowler, Michael became heir to the Earldom and his hopes for an artistic career were dashed for the first time. As heir he was granted the courtesy title of Baron Nimminster and he was enrolled in the University of Falscraf, which his father believed would give him the skills which would be important when he took up the Earldom. Michael did not enjoy his time at Falscraf and lamented its lack of sporting and artistic opportunities. Later in life, Michael had his revenge for his time at Falscraf, writing: "During the Conquest, I had the good fortune to command the force which lay siege to Falscraf. Though by this point, my dear Katherine had become the chief of my artillery, I took great pleasure in directing the gunnery myself. Once the castle had surrendered, I ordered the old punishment books burned and a new study chamber torn down. The space where it stood was made, by my instruction, into a field for the playing of Cricket. One hears that Falscraf School today boasts one of the finest cricketing teams in the Kingdom."