Andrik Baruch
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Andrik Jan Baruch (Common: Andrew John Baruch), or referred to simply as Andrik. He was the seventh Aulic Envoy of Haense, assuming the position in 1805; serving for a record setting thirty-four years under Henry II and Sigismund III. He is regarded as an exceptional Haeseni statesmen and is responsible for reforming the entirety of the Office of the Aulic Envoy.
Contents
Early Life and Young Adulthood
Andrik Jan Baruch (1785-1872) was born to Josef Marius and Karolina Baruch. Andrik only had one sibling, his older brother Sigmund Karl Baruch, and was far down the line of Valwyck succession, having been the second born son of the Duke Sigmar’s youngest child. Not much is known of Andrik’s upbringing, as he spent much of his childhood in Valwyck, being raised and educated by his grandfather and parents. It is said he was a rather gregarious child, being very sociable with his kin, however his father was overprotective and would prohibit him from venturing outside the castle walls during his youth. This protective and paranoid nature is attributed to the grave impact that the Scyfling Invasion had on the Baruch household.
Marriage
Andrik Baruch was married to Petyrina Vanir in the Duchy of Valwyck, officiated by an Ayrian priest. This marriage strengthened the bond between the houses of Vanir and Baruch. Over the course of their marriage, the pair would go on to have five children; three sons and two daughters. Later in life, it was rumored that Andrik had a hyspian mistress, named Rosita, who doubled as his wife’s handmaiden. Considering his later children’s more hyspian features, it could be likely drawn that his later children are in fact not his wife’s and are born out of wedlock. They would remain married until Petryina’s unexpected suicide in 1867. For the remainder of his life, Andrik remained a widower though the rumor of adultery lingered.
Aulic Envoy of Haense
By the time Andrik reached his thirteenth name day, he began to ward underneath Lord Palatine, Konstantin Wick. Andrik was tasked with a number of menial tasks for the Palatine and spent much of his time transcribing minutes of meetings during both Aulic Council meetings and diplomatic meetings with foreign heads of state. After a number of years serving as a ward, Andrik began to find an interest in the Office of the Aulic Envoy after being tutored by his grandfather, former Aulic Envoy Sigmar Baruch. For six years, Andrik served as an Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norland, which allowed him to establish himself as a promising Haeseni diplomat. During this time, he built a close rapport with Aulic Envoy Jericho ben Tertulian and King Henry II.
In 1805, Jericho ben Tertulian resigned, later recommending Andrik to be his successor. Within just a few weeks, Andrik was appointed to the position of Aulic Envoy by Henry II. After just a few months into his tenure, a crisis befell the republican government of Haelun'or causing it to eventually collapse. This left the Silver State in a state of chaos with several claimants vying for power. During this time, Andrik and Prince Franz Barbanov, the Grand Maer of Karosgrad, wrote an official decree of refuge and asylum for the High Elves of Haelun’or, offering them safe haven in the Royal City of Karosgrad. The following year, Andrik spent his time reforming the Office of the Aulic Envoy and restructuring it from the ground up, making it more efficient and filling open positions that would last until his retirement. For the next few years, under the instructions of Henry II, Andrik began to make webs of communication and relationships, including with the members of the former Iron Accord; namely the nations of Norland and Urguan. Additionally he worked tirelessly in forming a relationship with the newly formed government of Haelun’or. In 1811, the four sovereign states signed the second iteration of the Iron Accord, signaling to the rest of the world their alliance and cooperation with one another economically, militarily and diplomatically.
In 1818, the Tenth Nordling War, a conflict between the Kingdom of Norland and the Holy Orenian Empire broke out. This caused a rift between Haense and the two hostile states, since the independence treaty between the Kingdom of Haense and the Holy Orenian Empire had yet to expire. Additionally, the Iron Accord made it increasingly difficult for Haense to intervene as they were sworn protectorates to the Kingdom of Norland. Despite reluctance on Henry II’s part, Andrik convincingly decided on the King’s behalf that the Kingdom would remain neutral in the conflict, in order to honor both agreements. As the war heightened, the Kingdom of Norland was accused by Oren of attacking churches and clergymen. In order to come to protect the faith and the Holy Sites of Cannondom, Andrik alongside Prince Franz Barbanov and Lord Palatine Maric Ruthern drafted a joint arrangement, which the Kingdom of Norland and Urguan agreed to sign; wherein they would agree not to attack or harm Canonist clergymen and Holy Sites. This event and document was labeled the Greyspine Convention. A few years later, the conflict fortunately ended with the Kingdom of Norland surrendering.
In 1820, Andrik drafted a controversial decree that would serve as a doctrine on foreign policy for the coming years. This doctrine took an aggressive stance on foreign policy, one that matched the aggression and somewhat impulsive nature of Henry II. At the behest of Andrik, Henry II would agree and publicize the decree, labeling it the Heinrik Doctrine. This doctrine stated, “that in order to protect the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Haense and those it deems its partners and allies, the Kingdom would involve itself both directly or indirectly in protecting parties it saw as crucial to the welfare of the Kingdom of Haense.” On behalf of Henry II, Andrik eagerly negotiated the relocation of the Halflings to the Crownlands of Haense from Aegrothond, where they were given one-hundred acres of land to settle and construct their village. Additionally, Andrik convinced the Brotherhood of Saint Karl to expand their protection to the Halflings. As a result, they were established as a protectorate under the Kingdom of Haense within just a few months after negotiation efforts began. For the remainder of the reigns of Henry II and Sigismund III, the Halflings remained under the protection of the Kingdom of Haense.
After Henry II made the decision to intervene in the Sutican Civil War. The Sutican loyalists, led by Queen Johanna I, were heavily outnumbered by the insurrectionists until the Kingdom of Haense sent its forces to aid in the defense of Canonist Queen Johanna. After the rebels attacked the Haeseni forces in the Battle of the Rhein, where Andrik was garrisoned, the rebellion was put down and Queen Johanna was reaffirmed as Sovereign of Sutica. In the waning four years of his tenure, Andrik pursued various other diplomatic missions. His primary concern was to sway more allies to the Haeseni cause, as tensions began to rise once more with the Holy Orenian Empire. Shortly after Andrik’s resignation, the Kingdom of Haense and the Holy Orenian Empire erupted in a war with one another. Throughout the majority of his tenure, his diplomatic strategy was focused on coalescing the enemies of Oren together, so that when the time came, they could band together and defeat what Andrik regarded as humanity's greatest foe; Oren.
Later Life and Death
In 1817, Andrik alongside Prince Franz Barbanov would establish Barbanov & Baruch Consulting, a political consulting firm that aided in the campaigning and election process of many Haeseni officials throughout the years. This firm would aid in the election of many great duma representatives, including; Aldrik Baruch, Frederik Baruch, Tatiana Ruthern, Otto Morovar, Juliyus Kortrevich, and even Franz and Andrik for a term. For one term, Andrik served alongside his son Frederik Baruch within the Royal Duma, before opting to retire from public life. The Barbanov & Baruch Consulting firm’s campaigning techniques are still used today by many running for offices within the Royal Duma. Due to the firm’s success, the houses of Barbanov and Baruch benefited greatly with respect to wealth. Years prior to his death, Andrik was diagnosed with lung cancer after an excessive exposure to smoking. In 1872, Andrik would die of lung cancer at the age of eighty-seven.
Titles, Styles and Honors
Titles and Styles
- 1805-1839: His Excellency, Aulic Envoy of Haense
Formal Title
The formal title of Andrik was: Lord Andrik Baruch, Aulic Envoy of Hanseti-Ruska.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederik Karl Baruch | 1803 | 1854 | Esther of Kalden | Firstborn son of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
| Zerlina Baruch | 1805 | 1859 | Unwed | Firstborn daughter of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
| Sigmund Baruch | 1806 | 1884 | Unwed | Secondborn son of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
| Joren Baruch | 1811 | 1857 | Unwed | Thirdborn son of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
| Kamila Mariya Baruch | 1812 | 1875 | Franz Morovar | Secondborn daughter of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
| Viktor Josef Baruch | 1818 | 1873 | Eugénie Ashford de Savoie | Fourthborn son of Andrik Baruch and Petyrina Vanir. |
