Alexander I, King of Courland

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Alexander Tobias Staunton (8th of the Amber Cold, 1523 – Unknown), mostly known by the Raevir-personified version of Aleksandr Staunton, was an Imperial noble, statesman, and general serving as Duke of Courland from 1550 to 1564, succeeding his brother Duke Andrew.

Alexander came to power through a successful overthrow of his brother, Duke Andrew, in 1550, his charismatic sway with the lesser nobility and gentry within their own duchy winning both favor and an army. Although rallying a large majority of his brother's soldiers and lords to his side, he was not able to unseat his kinsman till his manipulation of his own sickly father, the past Duke Richard, to support him over the other. Distraught and dismayed, Duke Andrew committed suicide (Believing all those once with him had betrayed him) and leaving Alexander to inherit.

A third generation noble from a recently-lifted family with many rivals in the older noble strata, Alexander enjoyed a turbulent relationship at best with his liege and later brother-in-law Emperor John II and aggressive exchanges with the Raevo-Hansetian lords Duke John of Carnatia, Ser Petyr Barbanov and his original vassal Baron Britannus of Kraken's Watch. Despite striking a victory at the Battle of Dogger Bay during the Third Rurikid Uprising when serving as High Admiral, his overall ambitions and actions came under heavy scrutiny within the Imperial State, namely for his deeds against his sibling which enjoyed favor from the Emperor himself.

Alexander is most famously known for his actions in the Riga War, flaring up the conflict in full swing with his controversial move in revoking Lord Britannus's title in the Storming of Kraken's Watch. He led an ultimately futile war effort against the accumulated Carnatian League (A group of nobles sworn to return the Lord Vanir's castle and lands to him), and when the Emperor refused to give Imperial-aid to Alexander (As the Emperor deemed the war just in the Second Diet of Saltstone in 1559), he turned to the Orenian dissenters, namely the former Rurikid rebels he defeated years before and the professional mercenaries under lead of Prince Denis, for assistance. After his victory at the Battle of Westmark with his new-found allies, the Imperial State effectively declared Alexander an enemy of the state and his titles null.

Months soon after, Alexander faced the same insubordination his brother had years before, and he was effectively removed from power in the Riga Coup in favor for his firstborn son, Lord Percival Staunton as Duke Percival II, who effectively ruled the regency of the lords of the Carnatian League in the Treaty of Ambrosa. Alexander himself left in exile, his current whereabouts unknown and is presumed dead.

Biography

Early Life

Aleksander Tobias Staunton was born to Duke Richard Staunton and Natalia Barbanov, named after his great grandfather, King Aleksander of Oren. He was the eldest of three children, Anden Staunton and Amelia Staunton (Briefly Empress Consort of Oren, married to John Horen). Aleksander was absent from court from an early age, after being sent by his father to be educated in the ways of Dukehood by the surviving courtiers and scholars from the reign of his grandfather, Percival “The Great” Staunton, the first Duke of Courland. Aleksander was disliked by many of his northern cousins, such as Jan Kovechev and Petyr Barbanov for ruling Riga, the capital of the north and one of the most significant, if not the most significant hubs in Valior as a Heartlander in the north. Though the Highlanders of Courland supported and admired him, the Highlanders of Carnatia largely did not. He served as General of the Eagle’s Vigil, later Die Starkee Armee, the official military of House Staunton for the duration of his life.

Dukehood & Privy Membership

Aleksander ascended to the Ducal throne in 1550, following the suicide of his younger brother, Anden. He was poised with the Vanir issue, the family which the house of Staunton had the longest on going feud with. Anden, in spite, handed the Palaiologos stronghold of Krakens Watch to the House of Vanir, who were no friend to Aleksander. To ease tensions, House Staunton and House Vanir called the first diet of Saltstone, to ensure that peace and stability for the sake of the Empire would mean that this feud could be buried. Aleksander successfully governed the Duchy of Courland, encompassing the County of Curon, Westmark & Saltstone, maintaining a large and well equipped military force for the duration of his reign, forming the backbone of the Orenian military. For his service to the Empire, the Emperor, John Horen, married off his sister to the Duke of Courland, Phillipa Horen. To commemorate the union, the Staunton family had a 30,000 mina flagship, HGS Princess Philippa erected. Together they had four children, Sven Staunton (Later Sven Hearth), Tobias Staunton, Frederick Staunton (Later Hearth) & Elizabeth Staunton (Later Hearth). Aleksander lead the fleet at the battle of Doggers Bay to recapture the Ruric land to place it once more under Imperial Control.

The Riga War

After more than 10 years of peace and stability, war once more broke out in the north. After revoking the Vanir Barony of Krakens Watch following several provocations from Vanir levy men and family members, the Duke decided to make the bold action of recapturing Krakens Watch. Following the storming of the castle, the second Imperial diet of Saltstone was called, where it was decided that the Northern Coalition, comprised of Carnatia, the Vanirs and the Hetmen would be permitted to try to reclaim the castle through war. The Courlandian forces at the initial part of the campaign were led by Ser Ulric von Aesterwald, and suffered defeats at the battle of Curon Forest and then the battle of Krakens Watch. Following turmoil within the Northern Coalition, the Hetmanate joined the side of Courland. This lead to a Courlandian victory at the battle of Westmark against the Coalition and the Empire of Oren, who intervened in favour of the Carnatians, preventing the foreseen Sacking of Riga and allowing the Courlandian forces to lay siege to the recently conquered fort of Kraken’s Watch. However the campaign to retake Krakens Watch was unsuccessful and ultimately lead to the exodus of the proud Courlandian people as Aleksander was deposed by a pretender impersonating his son. Refusing to support the pretender, most Courlandians left the Duchy, meaning that by the end of the war, there were no longer any Courlanders in Courland, leading to its swift dissolution. The war was named after the port city of Riga.

The Storming of Kraken's Watch - Courlandian Victory
The Battle of Curon Forest - Coalition Victory
Battle of Krakens Watch - Coalition Victory
The Battle of Westmark - Courlandian Victory