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.
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, 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.
Youth
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."
Michael left Falscraf in 1746 and took up civil duties in Nimminster. His father had fallen ill in late 1745 and never fully recovered. As heir to the Tarringway estates, Michael acted on his father's behalf when the Earl was too unwell to fulfil his duties. War had broken out that year and one of the Earl's responsibilities was the military organisation of the county. From those responsibilities Michael gained a keen interest in military affairs and, in 1748, was appointed Inspector-General of Militia by King Francis. Though the additional duties drew him away from his family, he took to the appointment with vigour and from March to September 1748, he toured the entire country inspecting garrisons and making improvements to local militias and fortifications. It was during this time that the family were devastated by the deaths of Enoch and David Fowler, who were both killed at the Battle of Collin's Field at the age of 16. Both twins were serving as Ensigns in the 4th Guards of Foot.
Succession
Never fully recovering from his illness, Lawrence Fowler died in June 1749 and Michael ascended to the Earldom. Still grieving the deaths of his brothers and mourning his father, the new Earl petitioned the King for a field command and was appointed General in command of the newly-raised Army of Ballaeter in December 1749.
The sudden succession of a young, unmarried gentleman to such an important position was met with intrigue among the Riverlander court. Michael's diary for August 1749 records no less than twenty private engagements with other families of the court. The Tarringway lands were rich and the family prestigious, if not an ancient bloodline, and a series of feuds and intrigues developed in the court over who would marry the young Earl. In the end it was Elizabeth, daughter of the Duke of Baynton, who won his affection. The courtship was been extremely short and the pair agreed terms of marriage in late November. As a dowry, Michael recieved Folkaster Castle and gave 300 fine horses to the Bayntons. Over the course of his life, Michael spent much time at Folkaster and successfuly developed it into a bustling market settlement. In his later political career he successfully lobbied for Folkaster to be converted into an estate of its own, it remains a Viscouncy.
Though a high-profile occasion, the wedding was small and took place on December 15th. The couple only had two days together before Michael left to take up his new command. At the time, the Siege of Fort Ruby was in full swing and northern Riverland was at risk of invasion. With this in mind, Elizabeth returned south to Baynton with Arabella, the Dowager Countess of Tarringway, in tow and remained in safety there for the rest of the war.
King Malcom's War
Conquest of Grythshead
Tarringway took up command of the Riverlander Army of Ballaeter on 19th December, 1749. At the time, the Army of Ballaeter was encamped in winter quarters around Tevetdale in southern Ballaeter and numbered 35,000 men. The army, consisting mostly of fresh troops, had been raised to defend the Kingdom of Ballaeter from an invasion from Grythshead which was expected to come in the new year. Tarringway's main ally in this area was the Viscount of Braedon who helped him settle in amongst his new command. Tarringway was very taken with his troops, despite the negative opinions of observers such as Count Roskoy, writing to his wife on 21st December: "Never before has such an impeccable force of fighting men been raised from our fields and cities."
Spies brought intelligence to Tarringway on 23rd December, reporting on the strength of the Grythsheader Western Army and its leadership. General Byng, the experienced commander of that army, had taken ill with Cholera and command had been taken up by Sir Eustace Salter, the Royal Secretary. Salter had a strong force of veteran infantry and quality cavalry and artillery at Helderny, a walled market town on the far side of the River Lochen. According to the reports Tarringway had received, Salter was planning a grand offensive into Ballaeter for the next March and already had 50,000 troops in various garrisons across northern Grythshead. The core of his army was with him at Helderny and Tarringway suggested to his staff and the Viscount of Braedon that they march on Helderny and destroy a significant portion of the Grythsheader army before it could combine and outnumber them. Braedon refused and Tarringway's staff advised him against the endeavour, though the winter was mild and a limited campaign would be possible, they believed that the new troops should spend the winter training for the campaign season of 1750. Tarringway would not be dissuaded and trusted that his troops, outnumbering the Grythsheaders, would be steadier than many thought. Overruling the objections of his staff, Tarringway marched his army south on 28th December and crossed the River Lochen on New Years' Day.
The Battle of Helderny was fought on 8th January 1750. The Army of Ballaeter met Sir Eustace Salter's army half a mile north of the town where the Grythsheaders had entrenched themselves. In five hours of fighting, Salter was killed and Tarringway's new army shocked the world by defeating the experienced veterans of the Grythsheader army and forcing the shattered remains of Salter's force to retreat south in ignominy.