Wilhelm II won Wälf
| Wilhelm II | |
|---|---|
| Baron of Wälf | |
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| Born | 26 February 1674 Castle of Wälf |
| Died | 23 July 1749 (aged 75) |
| Burial | 19 June 1749 |
| Spouse | Bathilda won Wälf |
| Issue |
|
| House | Wälf |
| Father | George IV, Dauphin of Wälf |
| Mother | Magda won Wälf |
Wilhelm II won Wälf (Wilhelm Franz Jozef; 26 February 1674 – 23 July 1749) was a leading Hortenic magnate and claimant to the throne. He was a member of the formerly reigning Castor dynasty by virtue of being a direct male-line descendant of Wilhelm I won Wälf, the only son of King Karl of Ambreux. He was additionally a member of the cadet branch House won Wälf. However, his strongest claim came from his wife, who was the daughter of the ruling King Könrad of Horteny.
Wilhelm was born at the Castle of Wälf to George IV, Dauphin of Wälf and his wife, Magda won Wälf. When his grandfather George III won Wälf died in 1684, he became the new Baron of Wälf. Known as Minnon de Fénçor (Sir Defence), Wilhelm was a distinguished military commander and took part in the Wars of the Castors, a dynastic conflict that continued until the beginning of the Interregnum Wars across the Trihhimerein Peninsula.
Early life and regency
Wilhelm II was the grandson of George III won Wälf and the second son of George IV, Dauphin of Wälf (1646–1679) and his wife Magda. He was born in the Castle of Wälf on 26 February 1674. At the time, the possibility of Wilhelm inheriting the Barony of Wälf was relatively obscure. George III's oldest son, Wilhelm, Dauphin of Wälf, was expected to assume the baronial title upon the Baron's death. Next in line was his son, Wilhelm the Little Dauphin, then his father, George, and finally his elder brother, George, Dauphin of Wälf. However, the Trihhimic Plague steered succession in Wilhelm's favour. On 15 June 1679, Wilhelm the Elder Dauphin, who had been stricken by the disease for a year, died, and only fourteen days later George IV, followed Wilhelm the Little Dauphin's death on 6 January 1680. This series of death placed George V as the Dauphin, but on 12 February 1683 both George and Wilhelm contracted the disease. George was treated the traditional way, via physically cutting an artery. On the 23rd George died from the treatment. An atopsy on the exhumed body revealed that an artery to the brain had been the one that was split. Sébastiennes de Monscieurs,5th Baroness de l'Nôtre abducted Wilhelm and fled with him back to the Barony of Nôtre, where she personally cared for him; Wilhelm survived, and was subsequently raised by de Monscieurs.
When George III himself died on 18 March 1684, Wilhelm, at the age of ten, inherited the baronial titles. According to the Ambrosian law, noble territories would be governed by a regent until the noble reached the age of fifteen. The title was usually assigned to the mother, or to the closest adult male-line cousin. However, Magda had died in 1679 as well, and as the Barony of Knöpf was created for Karl I won Wälf-Knöpf, the title fell to his grandmother Theriesa won Wälf. However, George distrusted the thought of a regency, and formally dissolved the Ambrosian law in the Barony.
Theriesa noticed, and confronted the Queen Katherine III and asked for aid. The Queen, as the overlord of baronies within Horteny, ultimately had the authority of Wilhelm. In exchange for full regency powers, Theriesa promised higher feudal levies.
On 18 December 1686, de Monscieurs hurriedly re-abducted Wilhelm and and retreated into a small cottage home. During this time, Theriesa assumed the full duties of the Baron. In 1687, the Baron was taken away in tears from his beloved governess and placed in the care of the now 86-year-old Theriesa personally, who often resorted to physically abusing him. Theriesa instructed the Baron in etiquette, mannerisms, and diplomacy. Among his first guests included Henri V of Ambreux, who, against protocol, gave the Baron several friendly compliments. However, the shy Wilhelm was terrified of the newfound friendliness, and remained isolationist for the rest of his life.