Duke Merritt-John Belaroth (a.k.a. the Warrior)
"Try, try and try again. Those who never try, never achieve anything."
Merritt-John Belaroth was duke of Ciello from 747 until his death in 780.
From 733 until 735 he was the primary general in his father's army during the Genteel Revolt. He was the architect behind the victory at the Two-Fordes.
From 736 to 746 he fought as a Condottieri in the Free Cities during the war of Seven Cities, leading Ciellan troops from the duke's army, hired out to service the debt accrued in the revolt. He participated in the sack of Cassopolis.
In 748 he seized the city of Pelantir. This prompted the other southern Free Cities to band together in the Coalition of Justice which aimed to cut Ciello down to size. This they did. At the battle of Galard the Coalition fleet decisively defeated the Ciellan force.
He waged war against the mountain tribes surrounding Lavello between 751 and 755. He achieved some minor successes. The raiding of Lavello's hinterlands declined for a decade following his war, but this came at great cost to the treasury.
From 757 to 762 he participated in the
Cataali war of succession, throwing his own name into the ring for possible heir. He enjoyed success early in the war, but at the battle of Tiram he was defeated and captured. His ransom was ruinously expensive to Ciello. It also forced him to withdraw from the war.
In 772 a large duergar warband emerged from
The Botaan Pit to raid and enslave. Wary of facing the horde in battle the duke withdrew all the people he could into the fortified places of the country. Yet many thousands were still slain or captured. His heir Willard protests against his father's actions and led a group of volunteers out to meet the foe. None of them returned.
spouse
Towards Seanna Jaiden de Madruzzo
spouse
Towards Merritt-John Belaroth
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