Viktor Szántó

_{The native form of this personal name is Szántó Viktor. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.}

Viktor Szántó (Lovásic: Szántó Viktor; 7 Hocalta 1788 – 23 Fearda 1845) was the last reigning King of Barchu from 1819 until 1826, living in exile thereafter until his death in 1845. His rule was disputed by Prince Fergus M’Heugh of Covania,¹ who also claimed the title King of Barchu from 1819 until his death in 1826. Before his coronation as Viktor I, Szántó was Voivode of Keletegyek from 1815 to 1819.

He was the oldest son of Count Vidor Szántó and his second wife, Treasa of Dartry. His father descended from a noble family of the Nágyék tribe, and could trace his ancestry through a maternal line to the House of Almodozó. The family name is derived from the Lovásic word szánt, meaning “to plough.” Vidor Szántó became one of the wealthiest noblemen in the Kingdom of Barchu when he inherited the extensive landholdings of his brother Ugor Szántó² in 1782. His subsequent marriage to Treasa of Dartry, who was related to High King Stiofán VIII of Érevon, greatly increased the prestige of the Szántó family. Vidor Szántó became Nádor of Barchu in 1792 and held the posiiton until his death in 1799.

Viktor was born in 1788 at Castle Védettivár in Keletegyek, which was an important stronghold of the Szántó family. In 1805, he began his public career as a member of the Diet of Barchu in Várokirályi. Viktor married Johanna Koszorús, daughter of Baron Mihály Koszorús of Salmaváros, in 1811. He was appointed Voivode of Keletegyek in 1815, and quickly won the support of the gentry with his successful efforts to strengthen the royal defenses in the province and defend against Noamese incursions. In 1817 he was considered but passed over for the position of Nádor, which instead went to Botond Meggyesfalvi. Perhaps as a consolation, the Diet appointed him governor of child-king Tódor IV.

When young King Tódor IV was killed at the Battle of Legyözött in Lunis 1818, Viktor was accused of deliberate treachery by some in the Diet, for failing to arrive in time with his relief army. Nevertheless, the majority of the Diet, known as the Hüséges ("Loyal") Barons, elected Viktor king in Hestrew 1819. His opponents, who were called the Áruló ("Traitor") Barons, rallied behind the anti-king, Fergus M’Heugh, Prince of Covania, and in the midst of the Noamese invasion the country fell into civil war.

The coronation of Viktor I took place on 3 Glana 1819 at the Cathedral of Saint Leopold in Gomesztér, where the Crown of Saint Leopold was blessed and placed upon his head by Archcoarb Vencel Csorba of Gomesztér, thus fulfilling all four requirements of legitimacy under the Holy Crown Doctrine.³ Nevertheless, despite the lawfulness of his ascension, and strong support by the majority of the Diet, Viktor’s rival eventually succeeded in securing substantial territory in the west with the aid of Zorovian mercenaries.

As a result, Viktor and his allies were forced to wage war on two fronts, and lacked the full support of their countrymen against the powerful Qaghanate. Despite these significant handicaps, loyal Barchurian forces were able to hold off the massive Noamese army for nearly seven years, while preventing the anti-king from gaining any additional territory during the same time period. But in 1825, Viktor's forces began to falter in the face of mounting challenges.

The Qaghan, Ganbaatar VIII, had grown weary of the slow progress of the war, assigning four additional Tümen from Cyrontia to the invasion force in late Trama, in an effort to secure a Barchurian surrender. The 40,000 additional men made an immediate difference, and Noamese victories began to follow one upon another. Soon, the Barchurian army was in full retreat, with the Noamese pressing hard, preventing efforts to regroup and re-establish their lines.

With the razing of Gomesztér and Várokirályi in Hane and Trama of 1826, the conquest of Barchu was complete. King Viktor fled Gomesztér with his family and court as the city fell to advancing Noamese forces, first to Ferns and later to Sancta Sedes, establishing a government in exile there. He died of a brain hemorrhage on 23 Fearda 1845 and is entombed with other members of the Szántó family in a crypt beneath the Basilica Peregrinorum in Sancta Cedes.

His son, Viktor Istvan Szántó, succeeded him and was recognized in the West as Viktor II, although he never again returned to Barchu. The Barchurian Government in Exile established by Viktor I was recognized in the West as the legitimate government until the monarchy was officially abolished in 1915.

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¹ Uncle of Tódor IV, and a great-great-grandson of János II.
² Nádor of Barchu 1777 – 1782.
³ As related above, he was descended through a maternal line from the House of Almodozó.

Viktor I

King of Barchu (1819 - 1826)

Contested by Fergus M’Heugh, Prince of Covania

Reign:

1819 – 1826

Coronation:

3 Glana 1819

Predecessor:

Tódor IV

Successor:

Viktor II (in exile)

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Born:

7 Hocalta 1788

Castle Védettivár, Keletegyek, Barchu

Died:

23 Fearda 1845

Sancta Cedes

Burial:

Basilica Peregrinorum, Sancta Cedes

Spouse:

Johanna Koszorús

Issue:

Viktor Istvan Szántó

Terézia Szántó

Péter Szántó

House:

House of Szántó

Father:

Vidor Szántó

Mother:

Treasa of Dartry

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^{Image Credits:
The Author, using artbreeder.com.}