THE ARMORIAL OF HOUSE BARUCH

[Duchy of Valwyck 117]

Written & Formatted by @Zanthuz

Heraldry by @Zanthuz

 

“Ri Beinn, Abhainn, Agus Gual”

Motto of House Baruch

‘By Mountain, River, and Coal’

 

 

THE ARMORIAL OF HOUSE BARUCH

Published 467 E.S. | 1914 A.H.

 

Or, AN ARCHIVE OF THE ARMORIAL OF HOUSE BARUCH

BY

EIRIK SIGISMUND BARUCH

 

MAINTAINED BY:

ARCHIVIST OF HOUSE BARUCH

 

---

 

The ARCHIVIST, or officially known as the RECORD KEEPER OF BARUCH, serves as the leading authority of the family’s archives, second only to the Patriarch of House Baruch, and is responsible for the record keeping of House Baruch. Their main priority being the preservation of the house’s history. Historically, the Archivists are appointed by the patriarch and are compensated with a comfortable wage. For generations, the house has stood the test of time under various kings and with that have garnered a rich history, culture and traditions, paired with the acquisition of an assortment of titles as follows;

 

---

 

 

HERZ VAN VALWYCK

The Duchy of Valwyck

298 E.S. - Present | 1745 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: King Andrik IV

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Duchy of Valwyck symbolises House Baruch’s isolated nature, loyalty to the Kingdom of Haense, and the Scyfling Invasion. The three spears depicted recognizes three Baruch lords who were instrumental in the defence at the Siege of Valwyck; from left to right, (Sigmar, Petyr and Eirik).

 

Per fes Sable and Or (Kingdom of Haense); on three spears (Siege of Valwyck)

 

HISTORY

The house of Baruch fell under scrutiny following the betrayal of turncoat Ser Jan Baruch during the War of Two Emperors. Upon the ascension of Sigmar Baruch as Count of Ayr in 1715, people continued to doubt Baruch’s loyalty. Luckily though, under the new Count’s directive, the Baruch household would slowly re-establish itself as a prominent member of the Haeseni peerage, as members entered into various offices of the Haeseni government.

 

Following the house’s vast contributions and restored reputation, Sigmar Baruch assembled a coalition of Haeseni lords to petition King Andrik IV for a titular elevation. In 1745, House Baruch was enfeoffed the Duchy of Relavia. A few days later, the ducal title was renamed to the Duchy of Valwyck.

 

---

 

 

MARGRAVIRZEM AG VANDERFELL

The Margraviate of Vanderfell

(Formerly; the Grand Duchy of Vanderfell)

44 E.S. - 57 E.S. | 1491 A.H. - 1504 A.H. (13 yrs)

(In Abeyance)

Enfeoffed by: St. King Andrew I of Vyrdra

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Margraviate of Vanderfell (formerly Grand Duchy of Vanderfell) symbolises Baruch’s lineal roots to Saint Otto ‘the Bald’ and their ancestry to Waldenia. The bloodied black eagle represents the armorial of the Kingdom of Aesterwald (used during the Schism Wars). The black bear represents the House of Baruch, as descendants of Saint Otto. The half band across the eagle symbolises the bastardization of Rovin of Ayr, with the cross symbolising the legitimization of Marius Baruch. The crown on top represents the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

Or canvas on Sable eagle with Gules talons and beak (Kingdom of Aesterwald) conjoined to Sable bear rampant (House of Baruch), both crowned in jewelled Crown (Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska)

 

HISTORY

Otto Arius Heinzreich was a Waldo-Haeseni nobleman and politician who served as the Grand Duke of Vanderfell from 1491 till his death in 1504. Otto was canonised by the Church of the Canon as one of the three Defenders of the Canon for his actions in the Schism War; the two others being Saint Daniel of Cyriaum and Saint Emma of Woldzmir.

 

Since 1504, the title remained in abeyance till it was wrongfully claimed by House Barclay during the Waldenic Diet.

 

---

 

 

KOMITZEM VAN AYR

The County of Ayr

135 E.S. - Present | 1582 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: King Andrik II

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the County of Ayr symbolises Baruch’s strength and loyalty as a vassal to the Kingdom of Haense. The black eagle and gold field represents the Kingdom of Haense, where the bloodied talons and beak represents Baruch’s unquestioned strength in combat. The County of Ayr shares the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Aesterwald, where House Baruch’s ancestry derives from.

 

Argent on Sable Eagle with Gules talons and beak

 

HISTORY

Following the foundation of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the then-baronial House of Baruch began to solidify itself as a prominent, contributive and steadfast vassal. Upon the succession of King Andrik II, the then-Baron Eirik Baruch was awarded the County of Ayr (shares name with Imperial title of Ayr) for his House’s loyal service and vast contribution to the Kingdom’s economy. The County of Ayr is recognized as Baruch’s first Haeseni title, with the Barony of Voron being an Imperial title initially.

 

---

 

 

ZWEINKOMITZEM VAN VORON

The Viscounty of Voron

(Formerly; the Barony of Voron)

126 E.S. - Present | 1573 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: Emperor John III

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Viscounty of Voron symbolises Baruch’s whaling traditions and the Kingdom of Haense’s dominance over the seas. The black and gold horizon represents Baruch as the leading seafaring vassal, contributing to Haense’s vast royal fleet. The mahogany ship represents Baruch’s ancient whaling tradition, dating back to the 1500s.

 

Tierced per fes Sable, Or and Azure (Kingdom of Haense); on whaling ship with Cendrée sails (House Baruch)

 

HISTORY

In 1573, Emperor John III of the Holy Orenian Empire enfeoffed Eirik [I] Baruch the Barony of Voron, elevating the Baruch household to the Imperial peerage for the first time since their dawning. Following the unification of the crowns of Hanseti and Ruska in the summer of 1578, the Imperial title of Voron transitioned to become a Haeseni title by King Petyr I. As a result, the House of Baruch was elevated as one of the first houses in the Kingdom of Haense’s nascence.

 

In 1799, King Josef I upgraded the Barony title of Voron to a Viscounty. Since then, the Baruch household continues to hold the title in perpetuity.

 

---

 

 

BOSSIRZEM VAN GANT

The Barony of Gant

243 E.S. - Present | 1690 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: King Robert I

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Barony of Gant symbolises lumberjacking, forestry and carpentry. The pair of axes represent House Asford de Arryn’s inhabitants of the Gant forests as vassals of the Holy Orenian Empire. The black and gold field represents the Baruch (Haense) acquisition of the title through marriage and dissolution.

 

Per fes Sable and Or (Kingdom of Haense); on two crossing axes (Lumberjacking)

 

HISTORY

In 1680, the heir of House Baruch, Sigmar Baruch married the Baroness of Gant, Klara Ashford de Arryn. Nine years later in 1689, Klara Ashford died due to contracting tuberculosis. Due to the marriage being matrilineal, the barony title of Gant was granted to Sigmar Baruch. For a year, a series of legal disputes were challenged between the two houses to contest the title’s inheritance. In 1690, King Robert I, settled the dispute by affirming Baruch’s claim as legitimate through a royal decree.

 

---

 

 

BOSSIRZEM VAN LAVAL

The Barony of Laval

175 E.S. - Present | 1622 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: King Stefan I

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Barony of Laval symbolises Baruch’s hunting traditions and House Baruch’s isolation in mountainous terrains. The brown elk represents a hunter-gatherer-esque culture. The snow faced mountain represents a cold climate, typical for the Baruch household to settle and adapt to.

 

Or, with Brunâtre (Brown) elk on Argent mountain (Northern geography)

 

HISTORY

In 1622, the House of Pasquier went extinct following the death of John Pasquier and his inability to rear an heir. Due to Pasquier’s vassalage underneath Count Otto Baruch, House Baruch assumed the barony titles of Laval and Riveryn.

 

---

 

 

BOSSIRZEM VAN RIVERYN

The Barony of Riveryn

175 E.S. - Present | 1622 A.H. - Present

Enfeoffed by: King Stefan I

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

The coat of arms of the Barony of Riveryn symbolises Baruch’s hobby of fishing and their pescatarian diet. The golden barbels and the black field represent the colours of House Pasquier, the original title holders of the Baronies of Riveryn and Laval. Riveryn means River in New Marian. 

 

Per wavy Sable and Azure (River water); on two Or reversed Barbels (Fish)

 

HISTORY

In 1622, the House of Pasquier went extinct following the death of John Pasquier and his inability to rear an heir. Due to Pasquier’s vassalage underneath Count Otto Baruch, House Baruch assumed the barony titles of Laval and Riveryn.

 

---

Edited March 9, 2023 by Duchy of Valwyck

[argonian 12836]

Quote

Since 1504, the title remained in abeyance till it was wrongfully claimed by House Barclay during the Waldenic Diet.

 

"The Margraviate of Vanderfell isn't even held by House Barclay, nor was the Waldenian Diet founded by House Barclay, nor were House Barclay the first Lord Vandalores to use the title of Margrave of Vanderfell, nor was this claim ever contested by House Baruch during their tenure on the Diet where they participated in the elections of multiple Margraves of Vanderfell.

It's not clear, then, by what means the author intends to suggest the Margraviate of Vanderfell was stolen by House Barclay, or what he intends to inform the reader of at all, other than that his unhealthy obsession with and envy of the house has led him to unjustifiable delusions," remarks Stanimar upon reading!

[Ramon 3877]

2 hours ago, Duchy of Valwyck said:

---

 

 

MARGRAVIRZEM AG VANDERFELL

The Margraviate of Vanderfell

(Formerly; the Grand Duchy of Vanderfell)

44 E.S. - 57 E.S. | 1491 A.H. - 1504 A.H. (13 yrs)

(In Abeyance)

Enfeoffed by: St. King Andrew I of Vyrdra

 

SYMBOLISM | BLAZONING

 

The coat of arms of the Margraviate of Vanderfell (formerly Grand Duchy of Vanderfell) symbolizes Baruch’s lineal roots to Saint Otto ‘the Bald’ and their ancestry to Waldenia. The bloodied black eagle represents the armorial of the Kingdom of Aesterwald (used during the Schism Wars). The black bear represents the House of Baruch, as descendants of Saint Otto. The half band across the eagle symbolizes the bastardization of Rovin of Ayr, with the cross symbolizing the legitimization of Marius Baruch. The crown on top represents the Crown of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

Or canvas on Sable eagle with Gules talons and beak (Kingdom of Aesterwald) conjoined to Sable bear rampant (House of Baruch), both crowned in jeweled Crown (Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska)

 

HISTORY

 

Otto Arius Heinzreich was a Waldo-Haeseni nobleman and politician who served as the Grand Duke of Vanderfell from 1491 till his death in 1504. Otto was canonized by the Church of the Canon as one of the three Defenders of the Canon for his actions in the Schism War; the two others being Saint Daniel of Cyriaum and Saint Emma of Woldzmir.

 

Since 1504, the title remained in abeyance till it was wrongfully claimed by House Barclay during the Waldenic Diet.

 

[!] A reply arrived at the territory of the Duchy of Valwyck by raven mail, bearing the seal of the Lord Vandalore. 
@Duchy of Valwyck

 

---

 

 

---

 

To the good and noble Archivist of House Baruch,

 

Blessings of the Lord GOD upon you and your noble house. I write this with but a singular goal in mind: to correct a small group of mistakes as presented as fact within the Armorial provided, though first, allow me to express my admiration for your work. Truly, the importance of preserving the history of one’s family and as a result heraldic achievements thereto is oftentimes neglected in great quantity, and as a result, I suppose you have my gratitude for this publication. It has allowed me to learn much of the history of Baruch, and I am sure that as it has been able to educate me, so it shall educate many in the years to come.

However, as fate would often have it, things aren’t as black and white as one would hope. I write in particular to address claims made within the Armorial regarding the Margraviate of Vanderfell, or the Markgrafschaft of Vanderfell in our own tongue; as unfortunately, whilst the rest of the Armorial was a educating read, various historical inaccuracies were taken note of regarding this particular subject.

Firstly, there is the claim that the Margraviate of Vanderfell remained in abeyance until the Waldenic Diet under the House of Barclay lay claim to it. This is a misunderstanding. The title was recognized as rightfully belonging to Sir Anton Rovin, as once held by His Majesty the King Otto III of Haense, in 1653 and was carried by the Rovins for two generations prior to being granted to the Waldenic Diet at the Waldenfest of 1686 by its last Rovin holder, Sir Hans Rovin, the son of the aforementioned Anton Rovin; during which it was established that it would belong to the Lord Vandalore as an elective title.

Then, after nearly two centuries had passed since the first election of the titular Margrave of Vanderfell at the Waldenfest of 1686, came the Waldenfest of 1850 which saw the Waldenic Diet’s revival at the hands of Venerable Ulrich Lothar von Alstreim. It is therefore impossible to claim that the Margraviate was stolen by the House of Barclay as its first Vandalore, Saint Johann Barclay, did not take up the mantle of Lord Vandalore and Margrave of Vanderfell until as late as the dark year of 1860, in the same Diet at which House Baruch were made electors, upon Venerable Duke Eirik’s own request.

It is, as a result, kindly requested that such slanderous and wrongful accusations be removed from your publication. In addition, it is kindly requested that you amend your publication further. I personally care little as to whether or not you would desire to have the Margraviate mentioned within this Armorial, as afterall, it is part of Baruch’s history to some degree, but there exists no doubt whatsoever that the current reigning Margrave of Vanderfell is myself as the twelfth Lord Vandalore, and that it shall be held by my, by the Waldenic Electorates elected, successors when my time on this mortal plane has come to its end.

For your personal reading pleasure, I have made sure to attach relevant documents to this letter. 

 

---

 

GOTT MIT UNS,

LORD VANDALORE.

 

[!] A variety of relevant documents were attached to the letter as promised.
 

Spoiler

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/170864-transfer-of-the-markgrafshaft-of-vanderfell-1653/
https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/176824-waldenfest-1686/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/207923-the-waldenfest-of-1850/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/210332-1st-session-of-the-3rd-waldenic-diet/ 

 

[Islamadon 4426]

Saint Robert Rovin, Patron of Feasts, shakes his head from the Skies as he watches another petty line of Haense attempt and lay claim to his Family's title once more. Saint Robert remembers it clear as day when the Kingdom of Haense sought to steal the title the first time, because no less could have been expected from such ambitious and callous sons of RAEV.

[Lomiei 1487]

2 hours ago, argonian said:

 

"The Margraviate of Vanderfell isn't even held by House Barclay, nor was the Waldenian Diet founded by House Barclay, nor were House Barclay the first Lord Vanderlores to use the title of Margrave of Vanderfell, nor was this claim ever contested by House Baruch during their tenure on the Diet where they participated in the elections of multiple Margraves of Vanderfell.

It's not clear, then, by what means the author intends to suggest the Margraviate of Vanderfell was stolen by House Barclay, or what he intends to inform the reader of at all, other than that his unhealthy obsession with and envy of the house has led him to unjustifiable delusions," remarks Stanimar upon reading!

 

 

1 hour ago, Ramon said:

[!] A reply arrived at the territory of the Duchy of Valwyck by raven mail, bearing the seal of the Lord Vandalore. 
@Duchy of Valwyck

 

---

 

 

---

 

To the good and noble Archivist of House Baruch,

 

Blessings of the Lord GOD upon you and your noble house. I write this with but a singular goal in mind: to correct a small group of mistakes as presented as fact within the Armorial provided, though first, allow me to express my admiration for your work. Truly, the importance of preserving the history of one’s family and as a result heraldic achievements thereto is oftentimes neglected in great quantity, and as a result, I suppose you have my gratitude for this publication. It has allowed me to learn much of the history of Baruch, and I am sure that as it has been able to educate me, so it shall educate many in the years to come.

However, as fate would often have it, things aren’t as black and white as one would hope. I write in particular to address claims made within the Armorial regarding the Margraviate of Vanderfell, or the Markgrafschaft of Vanderfell in our own tongue; as unfortunately, whilst the rest of the Armorial was a educating read, various historical inaccuracies were taken note of regarding this particular subject.

Firstly, there is the claim that the Margraviate of Vanderfell remained in abeyance until the Waldenic Diet under the House of Barclay lay claim to it. This is a misunderstanding. The title was recognized as rightfully belonging to Sir Anton Rovin, as once held by His Majesty the King Otto III of Haense, in 1653 and was carried by the Rovins for two generations prior to being granted to the Waldenic Diet at the Waldenfest of 1686 by its last Rovin holder, Sir Hans Rovin, the son of the aforementioned Anton Rovin; during which it was established that it would belong to the Lord Vandalore as an elective title.

Then, after nearly two centuries had passed since the first election of the titular Margrave of Vanderfell at the Waldenfest of 1686, came the Waldenfest of 1850 which saw the Waldenic Diet’s revival at the hands of Venerable Ulrich Lothar von Alstreim. It is therefore impossible to claim that the Margraviate was stolen by the House of Barclay as its first Vandalore, Saint Johann Barclay, did not take up the mantle of Lord Vandalore and Margrave of Vanderfell until as late as the dark year of 1860, in the same Diet at which House Baruch were made electors, upon Venerable Duke Eirik’s own request.

It is, as a result, kindly requested that such slanderous and wrongful accusations be removed from your publication. In addition, it is kindly requested that you amend your publication further. I personally care little as to whether or not you would desire to have the Margraviate mentioned within this Armorial, as afterall, it is part of Baruch’s history to some degree, but there exists no doubt whatsoever that the current reigning Margrave of Vanderfell is myself as the twelfth Lord Vandalore, and that it shall be held by my, by the Waldenic Electorates elected, successors when my time on this mortal plane has come to its end.

For your personal reading pleasure, I have made sure to attach relevant documents to this letter. 

 

---

 

GOTT MIT UNS,

LORD VANDALORE.

 

[!] A variety of relevant documents were attached to the letter as promised.
 

  Hide contents

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/170864-transfer-of-the-markgrafshaft-of-vanderfell-1653/
https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/176824-waldenfest-1686/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/207923-the-waldenfest-of-1850/ https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/210332-1st-session-of-the-3rd-waldenic-diet/ 

 

Ser Erwin 'The Headhunter' Bishop blinks down all the way from the 7-skies onto the historic document as it sat in the view of the public eye, though it could not be technically considered blinking, because his eyes' narrow never exceeded more than 1 millimeter through the entirety of the Vanderfell portion of the archive. Erwin, who was among the first generation to revive the diet in Almaris, huffed.

Deciding that this was a matter for the living, he returned to his high life in the presence of GODAN!
 

[Optimus420 1732]

Leopold von Reuss, former Elector of Velen on the Waldenic Diet reads over the armorial coming across the statements about the Margraviate of Vanderfell, "What an odd thing to say, seems as though one does not know the histories. But who am I to speak on such matters, I am retired." he said before going back to sleep.