King Altti "the Silver King"
Altti Ilkitala (a.k.a. The Silver King)
Altti, otherwise known as King Altti or The Silver King, was the King of Doria between the years 5366PA to 5391PA having been the monarch to unite the Doric tribes. He is celebrated by modern Doric people not only as being the founder of their cultural union but also due to his exceptional reign in which he is credited for establishing many of the laws and institutions that are fundamental to the modern-day Grand Duchy.
born the fourth son of the last of the Caenan Kings, King Olkanen, Altti was not destined for greatness and spent much of his developing years as a ward of his uncle, Count of the now-extinct county of Tolta. While his elder brothers were tutored in statesmanship and warfare, Altti was instead righteously educated in theology by his uncle who had become close with the hallowed faith since he had inherited the historic bishopric of Tolta.
Though perhaps the most versed in the hallowed faith, Altti was instead utilised by his uncle as his county sheriff, while his brother, the third of King Olkanen’s sons, who would join the heralds of the Hallowed faith and travel to Brondholm to join its convent. In his role as Sheriff of Tolta, Altti was responsible for tax collection and grants of permission to peasants and vassals alike on behalf of his Uncle. It was in this role that Altti grew an affinity for administration, always looking to improve the efficiency and profit that could be had from taxes, grants and fines.
Altti's priorities shifted however as tensions grew between the Caenan Kingdom ruled by his father and the two neighbouring petty kingdoms situated in the foothills of Sjolund and the rolling fertile fields of Rydant. Both neighbours of Sjolund and Rydant sought the opportunity to cut the expanding Caenan Kingdom down to size, waging a series of wars against King Olkanen, ravaging the countryside and claiming the lives of his two eldest sons during combat. This would be the catalyst that brought Altti to the fray.
With two of his elder brothers slain in battle and the third taken to the clergy in a foreign land, Altti seemed to be the natural heir to his father's title. His father was burdened by a struggling war, a domain in decline and disloyal allies, it would not be long before Sjolund and Rydant would claim their spoils. Altti quickly left his stewardship role under his uncle, travelling the heartland of Doria under the company of several close royal guards, where he would visit local churches of the hallowed faith and speak to crowds therein. Soon Altti had travelled from Tolta to Eidehn, from Jade Hall to Emberdale, successfully encouraging the people of his kingdom to form militias to repel the invasion and wanton destruction inflicted by Sjolund and Rydant.
It was exactly Altti's involvement with the Hallowed Church that financed his requirement of an army and supplies to take the fight to his enemies. Altti primarily fought on the southern front against Rydant, where he fought a campaign along the Tila River, capturing important settlements on either side of the river at Ankop, Antway and Manttila. Eventually, he had cornered off the southern foe and negotiated peace at Kattori in 5363.
The troubles of the Caenan Kingdom were not at an end, Altti's father fought off Sjolund by preparing defensive outposts on the banks of the Tora River, the two combatants largely reduced to a de facto stalemate over the next year. This changed however when Sjolund brought their armies to the crossing at Ratora, supplemented by mercenaries from the north. They took the castle and town that lay upon the river fork and held it for the next two years. King Olkanen laid a relentless siege to the settlement while Altti oversaw the development of defences and further recruitment for armies along the Tora River. It would not be until 5366 that any significant changes occurred. King Olkanen launched a mass attack upon Ratora in a bid to push back the Sjoland forces and claim control over the Tula River.
The attack on Ratora was successful, with King Olkanens forces taking the settlements castle and pushing back the Sjolund forces to beyond the river. However, during the battle, King Olkanen’s horse was mortally struck by an arrow, and in its death throes, writhed into the marsh at the river's edge. King Olkanen was retrieved from the marshes by his royal guard, however, he had drowned in the incident. While Altti was yet the youngest of four brothers, he was then the most expedient claimant to the Kingdom. He had been on route to join his father at Ratora when he received the news of his death, stopping within the Baneswood, Altti would be crowned King of the Caenen Kingdom, its territory now including all of modern Doria south of the River Tora, in the great hall of Ilpamett on 21st Loka, 5366.
The conflict between Altti and the Petty Kingdom of Sjolund would continue, being much of a stalemate for the next few years. Altti would use this time to bolster his defences, overseeing the constructions of the unprecedented fortress of Pilkala to protect the western flank of his kingdom. He would try to push over the Tora into Sjolund but the resistance was well ordered and dug in. Altti would eventually put his focus into dominating all travel on the Tora, setting up ship stops and tolls to make sure he could control any resources heading to his enemies. He then thought of an idea, having learned that the southwest of Sjolund was sparse and lightly defended, he would build a set of floating rafts, large enough to hold a significant force crossing them, allowing him a cheap and reusable crossing. This plan would come into action in 5369 when he crossed the Tora personally with just over 10,000 men just north of Poltama. He and his army would quickly move east and seize the bridge at Eaking to allow more men to cross. By the winter that year, a particularly harsh one, He had captured much of western Sjolund, knocking at the gates of Vilhma and Sjolund. The Petty King of Sjolund saw his opportunity as Altti's men waited out in the cold. He offered them peace, meeting with Altti personally and gifting him a valuable sword as a token of vassalage. Of course, the petty king of Sjolund would remain pretty much independent, his only obligations being trade co-operation and yearly taxes to his southern neighbour. This, however, was victory enough for Altti and his people.
It would be this next phase of King Altti's reign in which he would establish his lasting influence on the Doric region. By bringing together the lands of Doria, Altti would strengthen their bond in faith by commissioning hundreds of temples across the land and financing many religious orders. Though his endeavours domestically would have the Kingdom in good stead, perhaps his greatest accomplishment was securing the independence of these lands from outside threats. He would lead campaigns against the lands of the Toranians and Redorians in his time, in an attempt to secure the advantageous lands of the Vallen Marsh and the Redcrest Mountains so that Doria may have more readily defensible borders. It would be in his wars with the Redorians that Altti would have himself a sword forged within the Redcrest mountains that he claimed contained the soul of the great hero Valtuutettu. He would go on to win the infamous Battle of Widows Crag where he would use his hero-infused sword to slay the heir to the Redorian throne. Though his territorial gains would slowly erode over time, Altti would extend the Doric Kingdom to its greatest historical extent, and from these wars and gains, would make Doria a powerhouse of the south.
born the fourth son of the last of the Caenan Kings, King Olkanen, Altti was not destined for greatness and spent much of his developing years as a ward of his uncle, Count of the now-extinct county of Tolta. While his elder brothers were tutored in statesmanship and warfare, Altti was instead righteously educated in theology by his uncle who had become close with the hallowed faith since he had inherited the historic bishopric of Tolta.
Though perhaps the most versed in the hallowed faith, Altti was instead utilised by his uncle as his county sheriff, while his brother, the third of King Olkanen’s sons, who would join the heralds of the Hallowed faith and travel to Brondholm to join its convent. In his role as Sheriff of Tolta, Altti was responsible for tax collection and grants of permission to peasants and vassals alike on behalf of his Uncle. It was in this role that Altti grew an affinity for administration, always looking to improve the efficiency and profit that could be had from taxes, grants and fines.
Altti's priorities shifted however as tensions grew between the Caenan Kingdom ruled by his father and the two neighbouring petty kingdoms situated in the foothills of Sjolund and the rolling fertile fields of Rydant. Both neighbours of Sjolund and Rydant sought the opportunity to cut the expanding Caenan Kingdom down to size, waging a series of wars against King Olkanen, ravaging the countryside and claiming the lives of his two eldest sons during combat. This would be the catalyst that brought Altti to the fray.
With two of his elder brothers slain in battle and the third taken to the clergy in a foreign land, Altti seemed to be the natural heir to his father's title. His father was burdened by a struggling war, a domain in decline and disloyal allies, it would not be long before Sjolund and Rydant would claim their spoils. Altti quickly left his stewardship role under his uncle, travelling the heartland of Doria under the company of several close royal guards, where he would visit local churches of the hallowed faith and speak to crowds therein. Soon Altti had travelled from Tolta to Eidehn, from Jade Hall to Emberdale, successfully encouraging the people of his kingdom to form militias to repel the invasion and wanton destruction inflicted by Sjolund and Rydant.
It was exactly Altti's involvement with the Hallowed Church that financed his requirement of an army and supplies to take the fight to his enemies. Altti primarily fought on the southern front against Rydant, where he fought a campaign along the Tila River, capturing important settlements on either side of the river at Ankop, Antway and Manttila. Eventually, he had cornered off the southern foe and negotiated peace at Kattori in 5363.
The troubles of the Caenan Kingdom were not at an end, Altti's father fought off Sjolund by preparing defensive outposts on the banks of the Tora River, the two combatants largely reduced to a de facto stalemate over the next year. This changed however when Sjolund brought their armies to the crossing at Ratora, supplemented by mercenaries from the north. They took the castle and town that lay upon the river fork and held it for the next two years. King Olkanen laid a relentless siege to the settlement while Altti oversaw the development of defences and further recruitment for armies along the Tora River. It would not be until 5366 that any significant changes occurred. King Olkanen launched a mass attack upon Ratora in a bid to push back the Sjoland forces and claim control over the Tula River.
The attack on Ratora was successful, with King Olkanens forces taking the settlements castle and pushing back the Sjolund forces to beyond the river. However, during the battle, King Olkanen’s horse was mortally struck by an arrow, and in its death throes, writhed into the marsh at the river's edge. King Olkanen was retrieved from the marshes by his royal guard, however, he had drowned in the incident. While Altti was yet the youngest of four brothers, he was then the most expedient claimant to the Kingdom. He had been on route to join his father at Ratora when he received the news of his death, stopping within the Baneswood, Altti would be crowned King of the Caenen Kingdom, its territory now including all of modern Doria south of the River Tora, in the great hall of Ilpamett on 21st Loka, 5366.
The conflict between Altti and the Petty Kingdom of Sjolund would continue, being much of a stalemate for the next few years. Altti would use this time to bolster his defences, overseeing the constructions of the unprecedented fortress of Pilkala to protect the western flank of his kingdom. He would try to push over the Tora into Sjolund but the resistance was well ordered and dug in. Altti would eventually put his focus into dominating all travel on the Tora, setting up ship stops and tolls to make sure he could control any resources heading to his enemies. He then thought of an idea, having learned that the southwest of Sjolund was sparse and lightly defended, he would build a set of floating rafts, large enough to hold a significant force crossing them, allowing him a cheap and reusable crossing. This plan would come into action in 5369 when he crossed the Tora personally with just over 10,000 men just north of Poltama. He and his army would quickly move east and seize the bridge at Eaking to allow more men to cross. By the winter that year, a particularly harsh one, He had captured much of western Sjolund, knocking at the gates of Vilhma and Sjolund. The Petty King of Sjolund saw his opportunity as Altti's men waited out in the cold. He offered them peace, meeting with Altti personally and gifting him a valuable sword as a token of vassalage. Of course, the petty king of Sjolund would remain pretty much independent, his only obligations being trade co-operation and yearly taxes to his southern neighbour. This, however, was victory enough for Altti and his people.
It would be this next phase of King Altti's reign in which he would establish his lasting influence on the Doric region. By bringing together the lands of Doria, Altti would strengthen their bond in faith by commissioning hundreds of temples across the land and financing many religious orders. Though his endeavours domestically would have the Kingdom in good stead, perhaps his greatest accomplishment was securing the independence of these lands from outside threats. He would lead campaigns against the lands of the Toranians and Redorians in his time, in an attempt to secure the advantageous lands of the Vallen Marsh and the Redcrest Mountains so that Doria may have more readily defensible borders. It would be in his wars with the Redorians that Altti would have himself a sword forged within the Redcrest mountains that he claimed contained the soul of the great hero Valtuutettu. He would go on to win the infamous Battle of Widows Crag where he would use his hero-infused sword to slay the heir to the Redorian throne. Though his territorial gains would slowly erode over time, Altti would extend the Doric Kingdom to its greatest historical extent, and from these wars and gains, would make Doria a powerhouse of the south.
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