THE PETRAN CIVIL WAR

[Toffee 2843]

THE

A HAESENI PERSPECTIVE

 

 

PUBLISHED BY

 

ERIKA KORTREVICH

 

569 E.S. 

 

 

THE PETRAN CIVIL WAR, sometimes pejoratively called the Cuckold’s War due to the affair between Archduchess Renilde I and Prince Marius Audemar of Haense, was a year-long internal conflict in the Commonwealth of the Petra. The Archduke-Consort, Constanz Novellen, launched a coup d’état against his sovereign wife and successfully seized the capital city of Valfleur with the support of the Sons of Petra Resistance Movement. After a full year of occupation and martial law, the Partisan Loyalists on the side of Renilde I reclaimed Valfleur and put an end to the conflict.

 

This period of history is particularly compelling for several reasons. Unlike prior civil conflicts such as the War of the Two Emperors, Brothers’ War, Acre Rebellion, or Savoyard Succession Crisis—each resulting in catastrophic changes to their nations—the Commonwealth remained intact, showcasing the resilience of its political structure. The strength of the Petran Constitution played a crucial role in this stability, underlining its importance in preserving order during times of turmoil. Additionally, the war highlighted the power dynamics between a female sovereign and her consort, especially when contrasted with other female monarchs like Anne I, Holy Orenian Empress, and Queen Johanna I of Savoy whose spouses were elevated to equal regnal status upon marriage. Lastly, the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska’s involvement in this foreign civil war stands out, as no other external powers intervened—an unusual scenario given Constanz’s origins as a Prince of Balian, which might have suggested potential support from that Kingdom.

 

 

I

THE

 

Archduke Constanz shortly after his marriage.

 

CONSTANZ ANTON NOVELLEN, Archduke-Consort of the Petra, was born as Prince Constantine Anthony in 419 E.S. to John I, King of Balian, and Queen Gwyneth of Karosgrad. Although a fourthborn child and secondborn son, he was the leader of a strong faction during his father’s reign, a faction that rejected the neo-Akritian cultural direction John I had taken upon the formation of the Grand Duchy of Balian.

 

THE FORMATION OF BALIAN

 

To understand Empire-descended states such as the Kingdom of Balian, we must first understand how the Holy Orenian Empire met its end, and to understand this, we must know the impact of the Brother’s War of 421 E.S. This conflict was between Emperor Peter IV and King Frederick I over the succession of the Holy Orenian Empire. Peter IV, supported by the Imperialists, claimed his right of succession by being the firstborn son of Philip III and Anastasia I. Frederick I, though a younger son, claimed to have been the last to see his parents alive. On their deathbeds, Frederick I asserted that the Emperor and Empress bade him to take the throne and formally dissolve the Empire in favour of the Kingdom of Oren. His supporting faction was known as the Royalists.¹ The Brothers’ War was a short but violent civil war ending in Royalist victory when Frederick I stormed the capital of New Providence. Peter IV and his wife, Empress Lucia of Azor, were publicly executed in the throne room of the Aster Palace.

 

Prince John Casimir, brother to Philip III, supported the Imperialist faction during the Brothers’ War. He famously duelled Frederick I during the Battle for New Providence but was severely wounded.² Bleeding and broken, the battle all but lost, Prince John fled the city with a handful of surviving soldiers. They travelled south, as far from the lands of the now-Kingdom of Oren as they could, coming to settle in the southern deserts of Almaris, separated from the main continent by a narrow sea. It was there that Prince John founded the Grand Duchy of Balian. Named for Saint Lothar of Balian, it had been the Star of Saint Lothar that led Prince John to the lifesaving natural spring atop the Mont Monterosa, the spot where he and his wife would later construct the city of Atrus.³

 

Rather than wholly adopting the Petrine identity of the fallen Empire, Prince John had the opportunity to forge a new identity, one influenced by his own personal interests, the indigenous Qalasheen, and the Rhenyari traders who came by ship to the seaside city of Atrus. Prince John had a fascination with Akritian culture—an ancient culture from the island of Akritos that had more modern roots in the Archduchy of Lorraine (later the Kingdom of Lotharingia). He therefore adopted many Akritian customs, including style of dress and stargazing traditions. He reigned as Grand Duke of Balian for twenty years before adopting the title of King of Balian in 441 E.S.⁴

 

AS A PRINCE OF BALIAN

 

Two factions began to form in the latter half of John I’s reign, dividing support between his two sons, the Princes Alexander and Constantine. Prince Alexander, as the heir, would follow in his father’s footsteps of neo-Akritian customs, while Prince Constantine rejected what he perceived to be an emulation of an archaic civilisation with no real connections to the Balian people beyond his father’s fascination with it.⁵ Perhaps as a way to put an end to these squabbles, and ensure that Balian would follow in the culture he had designed rather than be swayed by the faction of Prince Constantine, John I agreed to an arranged marriage between Prince Constantine and the young Archduchess of the Petra, Renilde I.⁶

 

An old map of the Holy Orenian Empire.

 

When Prince Constantine departed north into the lands of the old country to marry, he was accompanied by many bureaucrats and government minds who had served in the Empire of Oren before its collapse. The quality of Balian’s leadership suffered in the wake of this exodus, as did the nation as a whole.

 

Under the reign of Alexander I, Prince Constantine’s brother, Balian pursued the Alexandrine Reforms (known to the Balianese as the Renovatio).⁷ This was spurred in part by the discovery of the Stones of Saint Lothar, a series of ancient tablets detailing the ancient and extinct Balthalite civilisation, which Balian then began to emulate, deeming itself a modern-day successor. The Renovatio helped to stabilise and revitalise the nation, which had suffered from the departure of Prince Constantine with his retinue of political minds. There was also a push to adopt more of the Rhenyari culture due to increased diplomatic ties with the distant realm of Ba’as, solidified by a union between Prince Hadrian, the heir to Balian, and Princess Andromeda of Ba’as. They reigned side by side as Adrian I and Queen Andromeda after Alexander I’s death in 474 E.S.

 

1] HL Justinian Nafis and HL Adolphus Gloriana, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE: Volume X; The Song of the Furnestocks, 452 E.S.

2] HL Justinian Nafis and HL Adolphus Gloriana, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE: Volume XI; The Plight of the Novellens, 457 E.S.

3] HL Luis Francesc Martin and HL Rupert Napier, The Balianese: The Heartlanders of the Terra del Sur, 468 E.S.

4] HL Casimir Vilac, The Monarchs of Balian, first published 525 E.S.

5] HL Luis Francesc Martin and HL Rupert Napier, The Balianese: The Heartlanders of the Terra del Sur, 468 E.S.

6] HRH Sibyl Novellen, Princess of Balian, The History of the Kingdom of Balian, 493 E.S.

7] HE Sarson Halgrim, Principal Secretary of the Kingdom of Balian, Renovatio, 459 E.S.

 

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II

THE

BETWEEN RENILDE AND CONSTANZ

 

 

THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN RENILDE I, ARCHDUCHESS OF THE PETRA, and Prince Constantine of Balian was a significant political union orchestrated by Dame Catherine of Furnestock, the Regent and Chancellor of the Petra. While King John I of Balian may have agreed to the marriage, it was Dame Catherine who played the pivotal role in arranging it. 

 

Dame Catherine was the firstborn child of Philip III and Anastasia I, making her the Princess Imperial of the Holy Orenian Empire and the elder sister of Peter IV, Holy Orenian Emperor, and Frederick I, King of Oren. She was one of the founders of the Commonwealth alongside Archduke Paul I and a signatory to the Petran Constitution.⁸ Following the untimely death of Archduke Paul I, Dame Catherine was called out of retirement to serve as Regent to his young daughter, Renilde.⁹ She worked tirelessly to cement the union between Renilde and Prince Constantine because, to her, this marriage was not merely a political manoeuvre but held deeper spiritual significance. 

 

Her motivation for arranging this marriage stemmed from a profound spiritual experience. Dame Catherine claimed to have been visited by Saint Julia in a vision many years before.¹⁰ This vision, she believed, tasked her with the holy mission of reuniting her family through the unification of the Novellen lines from both the Kingdom of Oren and the Kingdom of Balian. Although the Kingdom of Oren had since fallen due to the Harvest Revolution (also known as the Acre Rebellion),¹¹ this marriage provided an opportunity to reconcile the disparate bloodlines. Dame Catherine viewed the union as a means to end the cycle of destruction that had plagued the history of House Novellen. The union was also a cornerstone of the preparations Dame Catherine made as regent in order for Renilde to start her reign as Archduchess on steady footing.¹²

 

For King John I, this marriage represented a strong alliance with the new Archduchy of Petra.¹³ By having his son marry Renilde I, he sought to solidify the bond between their nations. This political strategy aligned with Dame Catherine’s more personal motivations, and the pair were married in 448 E.S. Even in the formal invitations to the wedding, the marriage was explicitly matrilineal, meaning any children born of their union would belong to their mother’s dynasty; all power Constanz had as Archduke-Consort derived from his sovereign wife.¹⁴

 

The very same year of their marriage, Archduke Constanz began signing international pacts on behalf of the Commonwealth alongside Renilde I. This suggests a high degree of involvement in international and diplomatic affairs for the Petra, considering there are at least eight treaties, trade agreements, and pacts bearing the Archduke-Consort’s signature.^15-22 He was also involved in many domestic matters including issuing edicts for mayoral elections,²³ the formation of the Chancellery,²⁴ and the creation of an exports company.²⁵ It was also during those early years that the Sons of Petra—a military group that famously aligned itself with Constanz during the Civil War—was formed. They held a feast in 449 E.S. to celebrate the Archducal wedding.²⁶

 

A young Archduchess Renilde I, attended by her sister, Charlotte, and her ladies-in-waiting.

 

According to an exclusive interview with Queen-Emeritus Renilde I, she described her marriage with Archduke Constanz in those early years as more of an acquaintanceship. He had been much older when they wed, and would “act as though he was humouring me when I would tend to the matters of the realm. As if he was in charge, and he was simply letting me have my little dream.” It is the Queen-Emeritus’ belief that Archduke Constanz was already solidifying power for himself in the earliest years of their marriage, and that a coup d’état was an inevitability. 

 

REBUKE OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH

 

Indeed, the Archduke-Consort had already embroiled himself in a matter of some controversy two years before the Civil War broke out, overstepping the bounds of his power as consort. Against the Archduchess’ wishes, he committed the Commonwealth to a series of demands against the Church for the attempted assassination of Prince Frederick II of Sedan.²⁷ These demands included the redrawing and creation of dioceses, the introduction of secular investiture whereby Canonist Princes would be allowed to appoint their realm’s Primate Bishop of Archbishop, a requirement that the Holy Inquisition seek permission from Canonist Princes before using force in their lands, and the immediate dismissal of Viktor Cardinal Nescia, who had led the attack on Sedan.

 

In a later petition to venerate King Charles I of Aaun and King Alexander I of Balian, the Archduke-Consort’s involvement was described thusly: “The ink had barely dried on the traitorous document as had war erupted in [the] Petra. Constanz, the Archduke of [the] Petra, was immediately outed as a subversive figure, and revealed to have been mongering for war against nations and institutions (such as the Church) which ought to have been her friends. The Archduchess rebuked him, begged God for forgiveness, and crushed that degenerate wormtongue in holy combat.”²⁸

 

The rebuke mentioned in this missive came in the form of a statement from Renilde I after the Archduke-Consort had launched his coup d’état, where she claimed that Constanz had overreached his station by inciting hostile relations against fellow Canonist Princes as well as opposing the Church and making demands for unfathomable privileges.²⁹ We turn, now, to the inciting incident of the coup d’état that devolved into civil war.

 

8] The Riverbook, Chapter I: The Republic’s Founders, 481 E.S.

9] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, and HE Dame Catherine of Furnestock, Princess-Regent of the Petra, A Declaration of Succession and Regency, 447 E.S.

10] HL Elizabeth Brae, Lady of Du Loc, President of the Northern Geographical Society, On the Covenant of Casica, 522 E.S.

11] HL Justinian Nafis and HL Adolphus Gloriana, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE: Volume XII; The Fall of Oren & Epilogue, 464 E.S.

12] HRH Paul Alexander of the Petra, Prince of Valfleur, Centennial de le Petrére, 508 E.S. 

13] HRH Sibyl Novellen, Princess of Balian, The History of the Kingdom of Balian, 493 E.S.

14] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, and HIH Constantine Anton Novellen, Prince of Balian, The Laurel Union, 448 E.S.

15] The Treaty of Atrus, 448 E.S. 

16] The Treaty of Spilt Blood, 451 E.S. 

17] The Petrine-Dwarven Free Trade Agreement, 451 E.S. 

18] The Petran-Urguani Concordat, 458 E.S.

19] The Song of the River, 459 E.S. 

20] A River of Stars, 461 E.S. 

21] In the Mountain the River Forms, 461 E.S. 

22] The Atrus Covenant, 461 E.S.

23] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, and HG Constanz Anton, Archduke-Consort of the Petra, The First Mayoral Election of Valfleur, 450 E.S.

24] Louis Valencour d’Azor, Lord Chancellor of the Petra, The Azor Administration, 451 E.S.

25] The Petran Export Company, 452 E.S.

26]  Lambert Lawrence, Commander of the Sons of Petra, and Laurens Henri Halcourt d'Artois, Sergeant of the Sons of Petra, The Feast of New Beginnings, 449 E.S.

27] HSH Frederick II, Prince of Sedan, and others, The Blood of the Goat, 460 E.S.

28] Anonymous, To Recognise the Standard Bearers of Canonism, 478 E.S.

29] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, A Cuckold’s Ire, 462 E.S.

 

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III

RENILDE’S

 

ARCHDUKE PAUL I HAD BEEN CLOSE FRIENDS WITH King Karl III of Hanseti-Ruska, meaning that Renilde grew up alongside the princes Georg and Marius. After Karl III passed away and Georg I ascended the throne, it was Prince Marius who would frequently visit the city of Valfleur to attend the Petran Court, as a means to continue fostering the relationship between Hanseti-Ruska and the Commonwealth. His visits became more frequent, no longer coinciding with sessions of court but rather to enjoy the company of the Archduchess. It is during these visits that the romance between Renilde I and Prince Marius blossomed, and continued in secret for close to a decade. They exchanged a number of letters in their times apart and met covertly whenever they could.

 

Their love for one another was true, and they even intended to marry, but first, Renilde I had to end her marriage to Archduke Constanz. A few short weeks before she could carry out her plan to seek a dissolution of her marriage, a man loyal to the Archduke-Consort broke into the Archduchess’ writing desk and discovered the letters from Prince Marius. War was declared against her the next day.

 

Renilde I engaged in a game of chess against one of her ladies, observed by Prince Marius of Haense.

 

There is no doubt that Renilde I committed the sin of adultery—a sin she has since confessed to and done penance for. Yet the immediate declaration of war speaks to the suspicions that the Archduke-Consort had already been intending to take power for himself, and that this revelation was merely a convenient excuse for him to do so. We need only look to the pages of history to realise that never before had a sovereign’s nation been taken from them due to infidelity. 

 

Male rulers do not face the same level of scrutiny or consequences for their behaviour. While a man’s infidelities might be gossiped about, as they were for Emperor Peter III and King Andrik III,³⁰ they rarely form the basis for challenging his right to rule or his capabilities as a leader. Instead, evaluations of male leaders tend to focus on their political decisions and military prowess. This disparity reflects deeply ingrained societal biases that have not shifted even with historical movements like the Rosemoor Convention and Karenina Accord. Women in power are held to impossibly high moral standards, with any perceived transgression used as evidence of their unsuitability for leadership. 

 

Many of the condemnations of Renilde I stemmed from her infidelity, not her ability to lead, even extending to claims that she had flirted with a dwarf while visiting the Grand Kingdom of Urguan for diplomacy.³¹ Parallels can be drawn with the slander and mockery of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Aldersberg, with allegations that she had become the mistress of the Grand King of Urguan.³² For women in power, their personal lives and conduct become targets for criticism. Rumours, regardless of their veracity, are used to paint women as morally corrupt and unfit to rule. Implying affairs with dwarves adds an element of the grotesque, further attempting to demean and ridicule these women. It is also offensive to dwarfkind, who are longtime and staunch allies of Hanseti-Ruska.

 

The use of slander as a political tool reveals a persistent undercurrent of misogyny. By focusing on alleged affairs or other misconduct rather than their actual capabilities or accomplishments, these tactics serve to reduce powerful women to their private lives, denying them the same consideration of their leadership qualities that men receive.

 

30] Father Blackwater, On Infidelity, 462 E.S.

31] Garedyn the Green, High Prophet of The Brathmordakin, High Chief of Hefrumm, Grand Steward of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan, The Cuckory Continues, 462 E.S.

32] HL Erika Kortrevich, The Empress Who Never Was: The Legacy of Princess Charlotte of Aldersberg, 558 E.S.

 

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IV

SONS OF PETRA

 

The city of Valfleur and the River Petra.

 

ARCHDUKE CONSTANZ’S BEHAVIOUR REFLECTS the pattern of an ambitious man seeking to assert dominance and power through his marriage to a ruling woman. By consistently referring to himself as the “Archduke” rather than “Archduke-Consort,” Constanz attempted to elevate his status and reduce Renilde’s position as the true ruler of the Petra. This specific linguistic choice reveals his desire to be seen as an equal or even superior authority figure. It also mirrors his earlier ambitions in Balian, where he had sought to implement his own vision of governance. The Commonwealth of the Petra presented him with a second chance to realise his imperialistic goals in the lands of the old country and reshape the political landscape according to his own ideals and that of his Imperial bureaucrat advisors, disregarding the established traditions and constitutional framework of the Petra.

 

No doubt Constanz assumed the unions between Anne I and Joseph II of Oren and Johanna I and Georg I of Sutica set a precedent. However, the decision to elevate Joseph Clement de Sarkozy and Georg Barclay to equal regnal status alongside their respective wives hinged on a complex array of factors that were simply not present in his marriage to Renilde I. While Anne I and Johanna I undoubtedly possessed the dynastic claims through their bloodlines, their husbands brought unique strengths and resources to the table that were deemed essential for effective governance and stability of the Holy Orenian Empire and throne of Sutica respectively.

 

In the case of Anne I and Joseph II, their deep affection and partnership played a significant role, with most decisions made with the input of the other.³³ Joseph II was a scholar with exceptional skills in statecraft and policy, having benefited from the tutelage of the previous Lord Protector of Oren, his father, Adrian de Sarkozy. Though not a military man, his wisdom allowed him to delegate effectively to competent generals. Beyond these personal attributes, Joseph was appointed the Duke of Adria and used his oratory skills to rise in station. These qualifications made him a wise choice of co-monarch alongside Anne I. The elevation of Joseph II was a testament to a new age of the Empire, where competency and partnership were valued alongside dynastic lineage, especially considering the years of instability in the wake of the War of Two Emperors and the subsequent periods of unrest and interregnum. 

 

The elevation of Georg I alongside Johanna I was driven by strategic considerations. While Johanna I, as the daughter of King Corwin I, held the bloodline claim to the throne of Sutica, the nation had to be reclaimed from the hands of pagans before she could assume the throne. The success of the Canonist Reclamation of 374 E.S. was largely due to the resources and support provided by House Barclay, to which Georg I was born.³⁴ The decision to crown Georg I as co-ruler, therefore, acknowledged his crucial contribution to restoring Canonist rule.

 

In contrast, Constanz came to the Petra to wed an Archduchess who already held her titles and ruled over a stable nation. There were no extenuating circumstances which suggested he should share equal status with his wife.

 

THE COUP D’ÉTAT

 

Upon hearing word of his wife’s infidelity, the Archduke-Consort acted quickly. While Renilde I was in Karosgrad on a diplomatic visit, the Sons of Petra seized the city of Valfleur and declared martial law. This left the Archduchess at the borders of her own realm, calling her loyal commanders to her side, securing the services of mercenary companies, and convincing King Georg I of Haense to commit the Brotherhood of Saint Karl to her cause.

 

As news of the affair spread, a wave of denunciations swept through the Commonwealth of Petra. One particularly scathing declaration branded the Archduchess a parasite, asserting that the people of the Petra held unwavering loyalty to Archduke Constanz.³⁵ This missive claimed that the city had been desolate during the reign of Renilde I, emphasising that the citizens had chosen Constanz as their rightful ruler, even though he was but a consort. Lord Albert, the eldest son of Renilde I and Constanz, issued his own statement. He implored his mother to surrender and called upon the people of the Petra to rally behind his father, the Archduke-Consort.³⁶ These declarations further intensified an already volatile situation, deepening the rift between the Loyalist Partisans and the Sons of Petra Resistance Movement as battle lines began to be drawn.

 

For her part, Renilde I responded to the allegations and her husband’s coup.³⁷ She accused Constanz of attempting to overthrow her rule and fabricating allegations of infidelity, as well as asserting that his actions threatened the republican traditions of the Petra as established by her father, Archduke Paul I. In particular, the recognised line of succession was limited to those born of the blood of Paul I, who carried the name of his House.³⁸ Invoking her constitutional rights, Renilde I dismissed Constanz as the Archduke-Consort and exiled him from the Petra. While this document was well propagated, it was not heeded. Constanz continued his occupation, even gaining the support of the Petra Post, which published articles urging the Petran people to turn against the Archduchess and provide materials, weapons, and armour for the war effort.³⁹ 

 

One of the earliest casualties of the Civil War was Lady Bianka Jazlowiecki. She was executed by men under the Archduke-Consort’s banner, an event which was investigated by Father Blackwater.⁴⁰ He reached the conclusion that Lady Bianka had been a non-combatant supporter of Renilde I, and that the claims that she was a practitioner of dark magic were both untrue and not the leading motive for her murder.⁴¹ Lady Bianka, who was the Lady Chamberlain of the Commonwealth, had been married to Lord Louis d’Azor, the Chancellor, some four years before her death.⁴² Lord Louis supported Archduke Constanz during the Civil War and, according to his own mother in a writ of disownment, allowed the gruesome murder of his wife.⁴³  At the conclusion of the war, he was stripped of his title as heir and exiled from the Commonwealth.

 

THE BATTLE FOR CASTLE MOERE

 

A Knightly Tribunal was called so that the knights of the Petrine Laurel could bring Renilde I to trial for her adultery.⁴⁴ Rather than attend in person, she sent forth Sir Paul Montalt, the leader of her Loyalist forces. Sir Paul had served as a general within the Petrine army during the reign of her father and had been the head of her own household guard before being exiled in the power struggles that followed the death of Grand Master Thomas of Balamena.⁴⁵ He nevertheless returned from abroad to lead the Archduchess’ armies, leading a raiding party that stormed Castle Moere during the tribunal. It was there that Sir Arthur de Lyons, Knight Paramount of the Petrine Laurel, was slain, allegedly by Azdrazi in the service of Renilde I.⁴⁶ Constanz was captured and brought to Courteis Hale for peace talks, which will be discussed in more detail in the next section.

 

The attack on Castle Moere was met with outrage by the Petran people who stood in support of Constanz. There were calls for Renilde I to be excommunicated by the Church and declared anathema, not only for her adultery, but also for her slaughter of the Petran people with the blades of the Ferrymen mercenary company and the Haeseni.⁴⁷ Her daughter, Lady Elowyn, penned a letter lamenting the attack on Petrans by foreign swords.⁴⁸ A similar sentiment was shared by Dame Livia d'Anpalais, who wrote, “There was no coup to dethrone Renilde over some sordid affair. There was only a response to the forces she brought to our doorstep, threatening many lives.”⁴⁹

 

Sir Laurens Halcourt’s actions to disband the Sons of Petra and form the Petrine Regiment,⁵⁰ along with his reaffirmation of fealty,⁵¹ came as a belated attempt to rectify a critical oversight in Renilde’s governance. It was a grave error on her part to have allowed Constanz control over the Sons of Petra, effectively giving him command of the Commonwealth’s main military force beyond household guards. This misstep forced her to rely on the Ferrymen and seek assistance from foreign powers like Haense when the Civil War erupted, placing her in a precarious position post-war of having to justify these actions to her people.

 

33] HL Justinian Nafis and HL Adolphus Gloriana, THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE: Volume VI; Anne & Joseph, 442 E.S.

34] HL Ulrich Lothar von Alstreim, Monarchs of Sutica, 411 E.S.

35] Anonymous, The Parasite of the River Petra, 462 E.S.

36] HL Albert Temesch et Moere, For the Commonwealth, 462 E.S.

37] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, A Cuckold’s Ire, 462 E.S.

38] HG Paul I, Archduke of the Petra, The Edict of 1893, 446 E.S.

39] The Petra Post, Vol I, No VII, 462 E.S.

40] Fr Blackwater, An Inquiry into the Death of Bianka Ophelia Jazlowiecki, 462 E.S.

41] Fr Blackwater, The Blackwater Dossier, 463 E.S.

42] HE, Sir Louis Valencour d’Azor, Challencor of the Commonwealth, and HE Bianka Jazlowiecki, Lady Chamberlain of the Commonwealth, On the Banks of the River Petra, 458 E.S.

43] TMH Mariana Antoinette d’Azor, Countess of Azor, Writ of Disownment, 465 E.S.

44] Sir Arthur de Lyons, Knight Paramount, and others, A Call to Trial, 462 E.S.

45] The Riverbook, Chapter I: The Republic’s Founders, 481 E.S.

46] TRH Robert Joseph de Lyons, Viscount of Enderoca, From River to Desert to Shore, 540 E.S.

47] Anonymous, Blood Within the River, 462 E.S.

48] HL Elowyn Temesch et Moere, To Renilde I, 462 E.S.

49] Dame Livia Elena d'Anpalais, One Last Chance, 462 E.S.

50] HE, Sir Laurens Henri Halcourt d’Artois, Marshal of the Commonwealth of the Petra, General of the Petrine Regiment, Baron of Artois, Dissolution of the Sons, 462 E.S.

51] HE, Sir Laurens Henri Halcourt d’Artois, Marshal of the Commonwealth of the Petra, General of the Petrine Regiment, Baron of Artois, Reaffirmation of Fealty 1909, 462 E.S.

 

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V

LOYALIST

 

Brother fights against brother in the Battle for Valfleur.

 

AT THE BATTLE FOR CASTLE MOERE, Constanz was not slain outright but rather captured and brought to Courteis Hale to engage in peace talks at the urging of Father Blackwater, a preeminent priest.⁵² Dame Catherine of Furnestock, wrought with despair at witnessing a third civil war break out within the heartlands during her lifetime, attempted to negotiate an accord between the Sons of Petra and the Loyalists.⁵³ The talks seemed promising at first, until Constanz abruptly withdrew from negotiations at the eleventh hour. Sir Paul Montalt gouged out Constanz’s eye in retribution and sent him and his commanders on their way.⁵⁴ They did not kill him outright at the urging of Father Blackwater, preferring instead to beat him and the rebel forces in righteous battle rather than when they had already been defeated at Castle Moere.

 

Preparations for the Battle of Valfleur then began in earnest, for the Archduchess and her Loyalist forces knew that Constanz would never surrender the city—it would have to be reclaimed to put an end to the civil war. The Ferrymen began rigorous training of the Petran Loyalists in preparation for battle, for the Sons of Petra greatly outnumbered them.⁵⁵

 

Constanz, meanwhile, consolidated his power in Valfleur. He named the experienced Sir Edmond de Rouen as his field marshal and gathered an army of some twenty-four hundred men.⁵⁶ The Sons of Petra had a numerical advantage, but they lacked the seasoned leadership of the Loyalist faction and the training of the Ferrymen. 

 

The Loyalist forces, numbering nineteen hundred, took up positions on the hills overlooking the city. The battle began with a hail of arrows, but few fell in this initial exchange. Seizing the initiative, Prince Marius and Joseph Vasile, a former Petran squire, led a daring flanking manoeuvre through the streets of the city. In the fierce fighting that followed, they managed to wound and capture one of Constanz’s principal commanders, Gregor Malinov.⁵⁷

 

Realising the precariousness of his position, Constanz ordered a full charge, hoping to overwhelm the Loyalist lines with sheer numbers. The fighting was intense and costly for both sides. Sir Paul Montalt took a spear to the leg but fought on, while Sir Valentin Mareno suffered an axe blow to the chest yet remained at the front. Even Archduchess Renilde I herself was unhorsed multiple times but refused to retreat. As the battle hung in the balance, it was Prince Marius who turned the tide. Taking charge of a group of Loyalist knights, he led a fierce counterattack that began to push back the rebel lines. In the chaos, Dame Charlotte Roberta, Renilde’s sister, struck Constanz from behind, forcing him from the field. With their leader fallen, the rebel army began to crumble. A last-ditch effort by Sir ‘Wings’ von Draco to salvage the day was thwarted in a whirling duel with Joseph Vasile.

 

Victorious, Renilde I and her Loyalists entered Valfleur to the cheers of a populace relieved that a prolonged siege had been averted. The civil war, though brief, had exacted a heavy toll on the Commonwealth. In the days that followed, both Renilde I and Prince Marius undertook penances for their adultery and fornication, seeking to make amends for the sin that had sparked the conflict. The surviving members of Constanz’s Round Table formally recognised the legitimacy of Renilde I and renounced any future rebellious activities.⁵⁸ Sir Edmond de Rouen, who had fought valiantly for the losing side, was stripped of his lands and titles and sent into exile. It was a bitter end for a knight who had served Petra faithfully for so long.⁵⁹

 

DUEL BETWEEN MARIUS AND CONSTANZ

 

The Petran Civil War was effectively over, with the Loyalist forces emerging victorious, and the defeated Archduke-Consort found himself in a desperate situation. As a final, dramatic gesture, Constanz issued a challenge to Prince Marius—a duel to the death.⁶⁰ This last-ditch effort was likely motivated by personal vengeance rather than a hope of altering the war’s outcome. The duel, which occurred in the arena of Karosgrad, represented a climactic end to the conflict, pitting the disgraced Constanz against the man he believed had caused his downfall.

 

Prince Marius emerged victorious from the duel, ending Constanz’s life with a blow to the neck. After he and Renilde I had carried out their penances, they were wed on the shore of the River Petra in 464 E.S. with the blessing of Prince Marius’ brother, King Georg I.^61-62

 

Archduchess Renilde I and her new consort, Prince Marius, at a session of the Petran Court.

 

52] Fr Blackwater, A Requested Mediation of the War in Petra, 462 E.S.

53] HL Elizabeth Brae, Lady of Du Loc, President of the Northern Geographical Society, On the Covenant of Casica, 522 E.S.

54] Sir Paul Montalt, There Is But One Archduchess, 462 E.S.

55] Ferrymen History, 504 E.S.

56] Fr Blackwater, The Life of Sir Edmond de Rouen, 467 E.S.

57] Sir Paul Montalt, The Battle for the Commonwealth, 462 E.S.

58] HE Louis d’Azor, Chancellor of the Commonwealth, and others, Writ of Dissolution, 463 E.S.

59] Fr Blackwater, The Life of Sir Edmond de Rouen, 467 E.S.

60] HIH Constantin Novellen, Prince of Balian, The Fate of the Second Sons, 462 E.S.

61] HG Renilde I, Archduchess of the Petra, HRH Marius Barbanov-Bihar, Duke of Markev, Rendezvous by the River, 464 E.S.

62] Patriarch Iosif, Lord Palatine, Patriarch of Jorenus, The Palatial Post: Seventh Edition, 466 E.S.

 

⌯◃⟐▹⌯

 

IV

 

THE RECLAMATION OF VALFLEUR marked a turning point for the Commonwealth. Renilde I, chastened by the near-loss of her throne, recommitted herself to ruling justly and wisely. As she recognised in her own retirement address some decades later, “I owe everything to my people and their enduring spirit. To the Heroes of the Petra, without which my reign would have come to an abrupt and humiliating end during the Petran Civil War.”⁶³ The loyalty of figures like Sir Paul and Sir Valentin was rewarded, and they became key advisors in the rebuilt government. The Civil War, however, left its scars.

 

HANSO-PETRAN RELATIONS

 

The Haeseni were brought into the conflict because of Prince Marius’ part in the affair, but also because some Haeseni had been present in Valfleur at the beginning of Constanz’s coup. The Lord Palatine at the time, Patriarch Iosif, stated, “It must be stressed that, while a sin had been committed, the false Archduke used it as a chance for opportunistic gain to try and usurp the title for himself in violation of God’s mandation despite having no dynastic claim and without any consultation with the Church.”⁶⁴ This shows an ideological support for Renilde I, aligning with her views that Constanz had been attempting to amass power for himself.

 

King Georg I was apparently very angry with Renilde I and his brother, Prince Marius, for causing such an ordeal, but after they had gotten back into his good graces, Hanseti-Ruska and the Commonwealth signed an alliance what was to last until the end of the King and Archduchess’ reigns, whichever should end first. In Queen-Emeritus Renilde I’s words, Haense coming to her aid in the Civil War “forged an unbreakable bond.” It is a bond we enjoy to this day, with close diplomatic ties with our friends in the Petra.

 

PUBLIC OPINION OF RENILDE I

 

The involvement of the Ferrymen in the Petran Civil War was a particularly controversial alliance for Renilde I. Having allowed Constanz control over the Sons of Petra, the Archduchess was forced to seek external support, most notably from Haeseni knights and mercenary companies like the Ferrymen. However, not so very long ago had the Ferrymen launched raids against the Petran people—aligning with a group that previously attacked the Commonwealth had the potential to damage the Archduchess’ credibility among her subjects.

 

The context of this is that Sir Valentin Mareno, a former Ferryman who had become a loyal Petran knight, left the Commonwealth due to the growing influence of Imperial supporters under Archduke Constanz’s leadership. Unable to maintain influence within the Commonwealth, Sir Valentin turned to his former comrades in the Ferrymen for assistance. This led to a series of raids against the Petra, culminating in a full-scale battle. It was here that Sir Valentin came across Sir Paul Montalt, a former friend within the Commonwealth who also opposed the increase of Imperial sympathisers brought by the Archduke-Consort’s. They agreed that, were there to ever be a coup d’état launched by Constanz against Renilde I, the Ferrymen would support the side of the Petran Loyalists.⁶⁵

 

Although the Archduchess was able to reclaim her throne and bring stability to her nation, these lingering sentiments would rise again in her later life, particularly with the controversies of the Marnan Brigade, a subject that will be discussed in a future publication.⁶⁶  There also remained lingering support for Constanz even decades following his death, for example the existence of the River Constanz, a tributary of the River Petra, which was mentioned in a pact between the Commonwealth and the League of Veletz.⁶⁷ That the river bore his name shows that he held remnant support, although the river has since been renamed to the River Leitha following the fall of Aaun.

 

A current map of the Commonwealth.

 

PETRAN STABILITY

 

The Commonwealth’s constitution and governmental structures provided stability during a potentially destructive civil war. The institutions of the Petra, rooted in Petrine Liberalism and reimagined under the Round Table, garnered support from sympathetic liberals not just in the Heartlands, but abroad.⁶⁸ Renilde I, as the successor of Paul Salvian, embodied the Republic’s ideals, positioning the Commonwealth as a bastion of elected, accountable government.

 

Through the strength of these institutions, the Petra has been able to survive not only the Civil War, but also the formation and dissolution of the Heartlander Confederation. The formation of the Heartlander Confederation during the reign of Queen Catherine I aimed to unite the Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun and the Commonwealth of the Petra, addressing shared histories of conflict and foreign interference. The Confederation’s structure maintained separate monarchies initially, with plans for eventual unification through marriage. It established a national government, including the Heartlandic Council and the Garmont Assembly, while preserving provincial autonomy.⁶⁹

 

However, the merger proved challenging. Despite the vision of unity, the sudden passing of the original monarchs left their successors without the same close relationship. Diverging identities and institutional divisions emerged between the Petran and Aaunic components.⁷⁰ Recognising these challenges, the Exit Clause (Article VII) was invoked, dissolving the Heartlander Confederation.⁷¹ This dissolution returned sovereignty to the Commonwealth of the Petra and the Apostolic United Kingdom of Aaun, releasing them from previous obligations while maintaining a defensive alliance.

 

That the Commonwealth persists to this day is a testament to the constitution’s strength and endurance.

 

BALIAN

 

Finally we come to the Kingdom of Balian, Constanz’ homeland. King Alexander I had not sent any aid to his brother during the Civil War, remaining neutral in recognition of the legitimate rule of Renilde I. However, once the conflict was done, he opened his arms to Petran refugees, particularly those who had sided with Constanz.⁷² The wife and children of Sir Arthur de Lyons, who had been killed at the battle for Castle Moere, fled to Balian, where the House continues to flourish to this day.⁷³

 

63] HRM Renilde I, Queen of the Petra, The Lioness Rests, 501 E.S.

64] Patriarch Iosif, Lord Palatine, Patriarch of Jorenus, The Palatial Post: Seventh Edition, 466 E.S.

65] Ferrymen History, 504 E.S.

66] Ser Stefan af Don af Petra, Knight of the Petrine Laurel, Lament for the Commonwealth, 539 E.S.

67] Pactus Pontis, 496 E.S.

68] Davide of Furnestock, Adrians in Petra’s Civil War,  510 E.S.

69] HRM Catherine I, Queen of the Petra, and HRM John I, Apostolic King of Aaun, To Unite the Heartlands, 525 E.S.

70] HRM Adalia I, Queen of the Petra, The Queen’s Address, 541 E.S.

71] HRM Adalia I, Queen of the Petra, HRM Charles II, Apostolic King of Aaun, HH Deunoro I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Two Roads, 540 E.S.

72] HRM Alexander I, King of Balian, To Those Who Are Lost, 462 E.S.

73] The Catalogus Baronum: Balian's Archive of Peers, 463 E.S.

 

⌯◃⟐▹⌯

 

IV

 

It has been my pleasure and my duty to serve you all, of the Petran realm, and to prove to the onlooking world that we are more than what was left behind in the ashes of the Petran Civil War. We are more than just a standing of a few people, being pushed around by the politics that surround us. We have risen, like a phoenix from her ashes, born again into a prosperous, bustling metropolis belonging to the bosom of the Heartlands.

 

Queen Renilde I of the Petra

 

THE PETRAN CIVIL WAR stands as a pivotal moment in the Commonwealth’s history, underscoring the enduring strength of its foundations even in the face of internal strife. It is a particularly compelling chapter in history because, unlike previous civil wars that led to fragmentation, the Commonwealth of the Petra demonstrated remarkable resilience. It emerged intact; a testament to the strength of its institutions and the will of its people. Perhaps the dream of Dame Catherine of Furnestock really did come to fruition; a strong, stable, and flourishing Heartlands.

 

PETRA, FLOWING WATER! AVE! AVE!

 

 

Her Ladyship, ERIKA KORTREVICH, 

 

 

[LuxyLucy 691]

A woman lost in her own study and writings would pause from her work. As another publicized work from her sister would arrive upon her desk as a large smile formed upon her features, pushing aside her books on agriculture and cuisine, as she'd lean back in her chair and admire the Heart of Kortreviches work.

[GMRO 6186]

"There is not a day that goes by that I do not miss my children. Marius was always my favourite though." Karl III grinned from on high.

[Nectorist 12869]

Although Sir Joseph Vasile lived a sinful life of betrayal, deceit, and warmongering, in his finest hour, he had stood firmly behind his old liege and given her all he could ever give to anyone: the service of his blade. He had won his spurs in the fighting for the Petra, and for it he endeavored to at least occasionally adhere to the creeds of knighthood and chivalry. With Renilde of the Petra as his guiding star, he forged a small legacy for himself, even if it would end quietly as he so feared.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Father Blackwater, by all accounts a pious man, could not help but tear his hair out in the Seven Skies each time one of his old friends mentioned that war, the eternal peace of the Lord's domain lost upon him only as his thoughts turned to his failure to broker an early end to the war. 

 

Damn you, Constanz! You fool! I had secured us all peace! 

 

Spoiler

Toffee this is absolute heat, you did fantastic here

 

[Aeus 2653]

"Petra, Flowing Water! Ave Ave!" Exclaims a Ser Emilio d'Anpalais watching over in the seven skies.

[bickando 3967]

Many wondered aloud what Paul I would have said, had he known of his daughter and realm's future. Would he have supported them, declaring those changes necessary as it moved into the future? Would he bemoan the slow degradation of those ideals he had put out when forming his Round Table? Or would he declare that blood and blade, the same blood and blade he used to carve out in the Imperial Heart a realm for his own, was the truer claim, and their victory in war was enough?

 

Whatever castigations he might have levied upon his descendants from beyond the grave...

 

He would have smiled upon the chronicler Erika for her work.

 

"Petra, Flowing Water! Ave! Ave!"

[mothsthetic 2250]

The leaves of the prophesized tree flow in the winds carried by the River Petra. What lies within the breeze would be honoured, proud, to see the chronicles written down, carried on throughout the lands of Aevos. And truth be told, that being in the wind could only hope that word would continue to spread, that tales of the Commonwealth and its legacy would be passed on for years to come.

 

Of course, however, it is only wind.

[sarahbarah 7105]

The author's mother, Lady Emma, added this incredible publication to her growing collection of Kortrevich-written works. 

[carebear 1291]

Noruiel tucked the well written account into her personal library, eager to read this over the next few nights.

 

"Another certified Erika banger," the Princess murmured with a nod.

[Cheese 8882]

Spoiler

I don't have a persona to reply to this but I need to say that this is absolutely gorgeous

 

[Legoboy7984 3155]

The former Grand King at the time, Agnar Grandaxe, let out a weary sigh as he read through the history, memories of that era flooding back to him.

"Constanz was a good lad, one devoted to 'is family and 'is country. Renilde, on d'e other 'and... I still cannot say d'e same. A great shame that s'e brought forth. If s'e did d'is way back when the umri's churches in the 1400s of the first ages, d'ey would've likely had her killed or forced her into the church as a nun. Forever wearing the letter a for such adultery and betrayal. Since I have read d'is and been reminded once more, rest in peace old friend." 

Agnar shook his head, setting the parchment aside as the weight of the past settled upon him once more.

[AndrewTech 3329]

The spirit of Dame Catherine was brought great joy from beyond the grave to know that scholars of such a high degree still existed in Canondom, and that her motivations had been accurately captured in the Lady Kortrevich's masterpiece of a study!

[Rig 17580]

5 hours ago, Nectorist said:

Although Sir Joseph Vasile lived a sinful life of betrayal, deceit, and warmongering, in his finest hour, he had stood firmly behind his old liege and given her all he could ever give to anyone: the service of his blade. He had won his spurs in the fighting for the Petra, and for it he endeavored to at least occasionally adhere to the creeds of knighthood and chivalry. With Renilde of the Petra as his guiding star, he forged a small legacy for himself, even if it would end quietly as he so feared.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Father Blackwater, by all accounts a pious man, could not help but tear his hair out in the Seven Skies each time one of his old friends mentioned that war, the eternal peace of the Lord's domain lost upon him only as his thoughts turned to his failure to broker an early end to the war. 

 

Damn you, Constanz! You fool! I had secured us all peace! 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Toffee this is absolute heat, you did fantastic here

 

 

 

 

Sir Paul Montalt had been an outcast since the very day of his bastard birth. Wounded gravely in the Acre Rebellion, he struggled with sickness all his life, yet still managed to become both a renowned knight and outlaw in his short time on this planet. His legacy was carved out on the battlefield with the use of his fabled thanhic-steel blade Ashcrow. Whether it was extorting Wood Elves for money with the Ferrymen, or taking crossbow bolts to the arm to defend the Paul of the Petra's daughter, Pavel -- later called Paul Montalt -- sought to conduct his personal matters with honesty, integrity, and an undeniable force of will. 

 

Upon being exiled from the Realms of Men once more, the Highlander had taken to donning a teal bandana alongside his closest friend, Sir Valentin Mareno ( @Malta).

 

In life, he had been betrayed repeatedly by those who he had considered his closest allies, but he ensured that his children would go on to live extraordinary lives. It is said that his cousin, Ilya Ivanovich ( @amongus) had claimed the first kill in the outnumbered fight in the city square. He had tears in his eyes and fought to avenge a female friend of his who had been murdered by her husband for alleged conspiracy against the reviled Pennyduke.

 

Munitions had been limited, but the Sons of Petra were still recurrently beaten back with ardor by the Sir Paul Montalt not merely to defend the Queen, who he had helped protect for nearly all her life; but also to prove one singular point: Alexander Salvian's ( @Halt) vision for The Petra would be avenged.

 

To this end, Sir Paul would even go on to kill some of his own very close friends in this pitched war, and was known despite that to have fostered no regrets. They refused to disarm and heed his wisdom to not fight in the coming battle, and so they were found not to be true friends at all, but in fact collaborators in a social order which sought to expunge the true Petran Founding Fathers from history. 

 

In the final years of his life, Sir Paul Montalt remained ostracized from his homeland, and developed a loathing for all nobles and members of the merchant class. 

 

Someday, he wrote a century ago, All men shall cast of the yoke of their slave-masters. Until that day, my people shall live in bondage, and I must hope for the future of my children's children that our great well-spring of Liberty is rejuvenated, and that the tyranny of unjust men and women is brought to a close at last.

 

Sir Paul Montalt was originally interred within the catacombs beneath his cabin in Adria, but now his remains dwell in the ruins of Belvitz, interred beneath the church at an undisclosed location. This dream of freedom has not yet entirely come to pass.

 

Spoiler

 

[EmiliainWonderland 2309]

An aged woman recalled the history from her own experiences. "Mon dieu, that was such a long time ago. Hard to believe I lived through it."

 

[Malta 2811]

Valentin Mareno smiled from above, his head draped in teal and his body rugged with time. He turned to his comrade, Paul, and spoke only a few words.

"I hope they got our good sides."