The House of Ruthern (Common: Ruthern; Raevir: Ruthovic; High Imperial: Rutenes) is the current ruling family of the County of Metterden and vassal of the Kingdom of Haense. Originating as a bastard cadet branch of the senior line of the House of Carrion, Ruthern originally gained prominence under Exalted Sigismund and his succeeding Carrion monarchs: King Henry I and King Francis I. However, with Ruthern's hand in the bloody Franciscan Massacre which saw King Francis of Oren killed within his court, Ruthern diminished in power and prestige. It was thought that only the Demetrian line remained, but the arrival of Arik Ruthern of Ailred's line proved this incorrect.