Karl III of Horteny
| Karl III | |
|---|---|
| King of Horteny King of Searenland | |
 | |
| King of Horteny | |
| Reign | 1269–1287 |
| Coronation | 18 February 1270 |
| Predecessor | Chaburteen II (as King of the Helds) |
| Successor | Anniken the Elder |
| King of Searenland | |
| Reign | 1253–1287 |
| Coronation | 2 July 1253 |
| Predecessor | Þorfredr the Insufferable |
| Successor | Anniken the Elder |
| Born | c. 1220 Helderia |
| Died | 13 May 1287 (aged 66–67) |
| Issue | |
| Father | Chaburteen II |
| Mother | Orlîân Bon |
Karl III (c. 1220–13 May 1287) was a 13th century king who ruled as King of Searenland from 1253 and the first King of Horteny from 1269 until his death in 1287. After a series of civil wars during his father's reign, Chaburteen II, Karl succeeded, via the Treaty of Ambreux, in acquiring the southern possessions of Helderia, which would become Horteny.
Karl III was the eldest son of the Heldic king and his wife Orlîân Bon, Countess of Epondy. On several notable occasions, Karl and his brothers Lüdwig I, Volker I, and Korbinian I were in open revolt against their father to protest against the king's attempts to consolidate power. Upon the father's death, the four siblings fell into conflict with each other in a protracted civil. His attempts in reconstructing Helderia were largely unsuccessful. The 1270s were marked by conflicts with the King of West Helderia. On the other hand, Karl was able to resolve internal issues created by his father. His rule shows a notable decline in decentralization, a trend that continued well into the late 17th century and was seen across other successor states.
Early life
Karl was born in 1220, to Chaburteen II and Orlîân Bon. His father had assumed rulership over Helderia three years prior. His early years were primarily spent at Þorfredr the Insufferable's court, whose affection Karl notably won. When his father was captured by the Countess of Epondy, Karl fled to Searenland. In 1237 he became involved in the wars against the king, allied with his mother and brother, Lüdwig I. The conflict initially showed success for the princes, with their father deposed and imprisoned, but in 1239 he and Lüdwig lost their titles. After this, relations between king and heir soured.
After the execution of his mother by the king in 1242, Karl repeatedly descended into fits of rage against Chaburteen, and in one such fit he challenged his father to a duel. In 1245, all four of the king's sons revolted against their father, led by Karl, and refused his claims to legitimate rule. They succeeded in capturing and blinding the king, but lost in the Battle of Bouletair, and were each imprisoned.
Following the war, unrest in what would become Horteny prompted the king to send Karl as a hostage. There, the heir was subsequently blinded. In 1250, the prince was released from captivity and repeatedly made attempts to diminish the king's confidence in response to his increasing cockiness. However, his attempts failed as his father went to war with Searenland.
Reign
In 1252, Karl joined his father in the war against the Searic monarchy; it was not until 1253 that Karl first came to rule Searenland. In 1254 the prince undertook campaigns to curtail dissent against the monarchy. The first campaign saw notable reforms in governance. The prince traveled throughout Searenland and ordered a more diplomatic means of governance.
Fall of Helderia
Meanwhile, in 1255, the King of Helderia died, leaving the succession in question. Karl immediately returned to Helderia in attempts to secure his right to the throne, but was met with forceful opposition from his brother Lüdwig.
The war initially had only two sides, between the eldest two sons, but soon Volker I and Korbinian I joined with their own claims to the throne. Karl allied with Korbinian to resist Volker's armies, and the two allies defeated Volker at the Battle of Eltbourg. However, the two armies quickly turned on each other, and Volker was subsequently captured.
In the west, Lüdwig was beginning to seize control of Horteny. Karl fled to to Searenland in 1259, where he met with the local counts and promised his support in return for theirs. With fresh troops, Karl began a war of ambushing, successfully defeating Lüdwig and forcing him to retreat to East Helderia, where he was imprisoned. Upon his successes, the prince conquered what would become West Helderia and briefly held control, before Volker invaded.
All four brothers met in open battle in 1268 in Eltbourg, where the conflict ravaged the countryside and resulted in plundered land. 8,000 Heldic marks worth were destroyed in the battle, and all but one of the sons were severely injured for life. Karl received a hit from a hammer in the head, resulting in brain damage.
In 1269, the sons met in the former cell of their father and signed the Treaty of Ambreux, which detailed how Helderia would be carved amongst the four. Karl received Horteny in the south; Lüdwig acquired West Helderia; Volker gained East Helderia; and the youngest, Korbinian, received Lorangia.