The History of King Gautier Oweyn
This book gives the most balanced look at the life of King Gautier Oweyn, showing his ruthlessness but also his generosity. Despite the fact that its the most truthful account of his life, the book is banned in the kingdom of Aryia because his descendants claim it slanders his good name.
Purpose
To tell the most accurate portrayal of King Gautier Oweyn without the embellishment usually given to him by historians or the citizens of Aryia.
Contents
Introduction: A brief introduction to the book, and a foreword from the author including an explanation of why Anica felt she had to write the book.
Section 1: (age 0-9) This section talks about the scant information that remains from Gautier's childhood. Specifically talking about the small farm he was born on where he lived with his lazy, drunkard, father, hardworking but also slightly neglectful mother, bully of an older half-brother, and his two younger sisters, Sien and Aryia. As there is not a lot of solid evidence of this time, Anica spends a lot of time speculating how hard it must have been for everyone growing up in a farm on nearly barren lands and also talking about the constant warring that went on in this area between jumped up lords who called themselves kings or queens.
...the region that would become the Kingdom of Aryia today, was referred to as the 'Bloodplains' because the constant squabbles between lords fighting for just an inch more land left the earth nearly perpetually covered in the blood of soldiers and peasants who got caught up in the middle of them.Section 2:
This section talks about Gautier's life from the ages of 10-19 during which time three important events happened that shaped his life. First, when the future king is twelve his father in a drunken stupor falls from a bridge during winter and drowns in a river less than a mile from their farm. Second, Gautier's brother, Bertin, taking over the role as man of the house kicks Gautier out of the house, forcing the younger boy to seek refuge in the woods nearby. Finally, Gautier is found by a group of mercenaries who recruit Gautier. These warriors treat him horribly, forcing him to carry and take care of their gear but, they also teach him how to fight and be tough.
Section 3: (age 20-29)This section talks about his years as a mercenary as well as his return to his little hamlet with loyal men and women at his back. When he returns, Gautier discovers his family farm was destroyed in a squabble between two lordlings, with his mother and youngest sister perishing in its destruction. Bertin still lived, eeking out a living as a barrel maker while their remaining sister, Sien, ran a farm of her own. Gautier takes revenge by fighting and killing the two lordlings, becoming ruler over all three domains and marking the beginning of his conquests.
Of all the failures in Gautier's life, arriving too late to save his mother, but more importantly his sister Aryia, seems to have impacted him the most. After establishing Llyne, he made sure his remaining sister was taken care of and well protected while he was off conquering. Bertin disappears from all records during this time, and neither Gautier nor Sien ever made mention of him again.Section 4:
This section talks about the four other petty kingdoms Gautier conquers during his thirties. Anica talks a lot about his tactics and also points out both his penchant for alternating between cruelty and kindness even back this early in his conquests. These are some of his longest wars and time spent recovering as the Rune Casters have not been added to his ranks yet. The author also talks about the reforming of the land Gautier got in his early conquests into the city of Llyne as well as the formal naming of the kingdom to Aryia after the sister he'd failed to protect. Gautier also gets married to a woman named Madelien de Jager, a lady from the second kingdom he'd conquered.
Section 5: (age 40-49)This section talks about the integration of the early rune casters into the Aryite forces as well as the deal made between Gauiter Oweyn and Amelina Humbert, Folcher Chlothar, Otwin Theudemar, Osanna De Rege, and Rosmunda Blackwell. The author also talks about the expansion and fortification of Llyne to accomodate what would become Remia Academy of the Arcane.
Section 6: (age 50-59) This section talks about the quick succession of conquests Gautier had with the aid of Rune Casters. Anica also speculates on how quickly the conquest might have been without the six casters as well as what Aryia would have looked like in 120 ARC based on how long his previous conquests took. She also talks about the Iron Company as well as The Grerin War which led to the formation fo The Golden Circle. His sons and daughters start joining him on the battlefield having learned how to fight back in Llyne and he begins teaching them battlefield tactics so they can continue his conquest when he's gone.
Had she not already been his heir due to being his firstborn, Camille Oweyn, proved she was the right candidate as she was just as fierce and cunning in battle as her father. Within months of joining her father, Camille was given her own regiment to command.Section 7:
(age 60-69) Gautier's conquests continue, slowing down slightly as the king enters his sixth decade of life. He splits his forces in two with him taking one half further east, while his heir and eldest daughter Camille Oweyn takes her half north. His remaining children stay behind to govern the conquered lands.
Section 8: (age 70-79) The warrior king's conquest is finally put on pause when he falls ill and has to be taken back to the capital. With the help of the rune casters, he is back on his feet within a month but, the time spent recovering has weakened him severely, and he turns full command of the army over to his eldest child. Unfortunately, because both he and Camille returned to the capital, some of their conquered lands have been retaken.
Many kingdoms in the path of conquest seemed to believe that Camille would be easier to deal with than her father as they used Gautier's failing health and absence to rally their people. The survivors of the northern territories would have told them Camille was even more ruthless than her father had they been able to communicate with the eastern territories...Section 9:
(age 80-89) From the capital, Gautier watches his daughter trample kingdoms under her feet and also dedicated most of his time to making Llyne as fortified, and its citizens are not left wanting. It's during this time that the aqueducts and sewers were built and the port was expanded.
Section 10: (age 90-94) In his last decade on Iosis, Gautier drew up dozens of architectural plans, war plans, and social plans for ideas he hoped his daughter or her son would be able to see through during their reigns. At the age of 94, Gautier died of a brain aneurysm after a life of fighting and killing.
Document Structure
Clauses
This book is equally dedicated to talking about King Gautier's life before his conquests and his life from the start of his conquests to his death. Each main section is dedicated towards ten years of his life with the sections being further broken down into sections that detail the events that occurred within those ten years.
References
This book references a number of history books and biographies written by Aryite historians who depict King Gautier in an almost god-like fashion.
Publication Status
In all parts of the world, except for Aryia this book is publically accessible.
Legal status
Its valid under all laws, except for Aryia where it is banned.
Historical Details
Background
Anica Jovanović was a historian whose mother, Petra Jovanović, and grandfather, Branko Sandić, were also historians. Both her mother and grandfather made thorough recordings of major events that occurred during their lives, and Anica followed in their tradition. Going through Branko's notes shortly after his death, Anica realized that not all of the information she was reading lined up with the books about the conquests she had read. So, Anica set out to find out what was real and what was mere rumor by interviewing countless people and reading historical records made by both Aryia and the other major powers.
History
Gautier Owyer went from being the leader of his small hamlet to a small village to ruling over a fifth of the continent Thaesia during his lifetime. His daughter and granddaughter continued his conquest after his death but, his great-grandson, Gerard Oweyn, would be the one to sign treaties with both Rushil and the Tasnal Imperium. Even while he was alive, all the books or records written about him from Aryia's point of view played up his successes and played down his struggles making him seem superhuman.
Public Reaction
The people of Aryia were furious when word of this book reached them as it spread lies about the man who had built their kingdom. Some Aryites, who are descendants of the people who were conquered and forcefully added to Gautier's domain, thrilled in reading about their cultures from someone who did not have a historical bias.
In Kimiri, the book can be found in nearly every household, especially in those who are descended from people who fled in the wake of the Aryite conquests. They use this book to teach the actual history of the conquests as well as show the children the contrast between what is the truth and what the Aryites portray as the truth.
Everywhere else, the book is an exciting read, and many kingdoms also use it to teach the history of Gautier's conquest.
Legacy
Gautier Owyen's legacy isn't quite as luminous as it once was as Anica Jovanović talked about a lot of the atrocities he committed. Although Anica was careful to portray him as human, rather than slander him, the book is considered to be a smear campaign by her. Inadvertently, the book caused a slight rift between Aryia and the Kingdom of Solia, where the author lived and published the book, as the Tsarina refused to stop publication of the book at the request of Gautier's granddaughter Queen Solenn Owyen's request.
Term
The book spans from 43 BRC - 54 ARC, covering the whole life of Aryia's first king Gautier Owyen.
Very thorough! If I had one suggestion, it'd be to add some one-two sentence opening thing to describe what it is (I didn't realize It was a book, at first) or some snazzy quote perhaps :)
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Ah good point
Looks pretty good! :)
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.