Eirik Sigismund Baruch

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Eirik Sigismund Baruch
EirikSigismund.jpg
Senator of the Imperial Senate
Tenure: 1750 - 1754
Predecessor: Siguine Ruthern
Successor: Konrad Stafyr
Circuit Judge of Oren
Jurisdiction: Northern Circuit
Tenure: 1756 - 1786
Born: 8th of the Sun's Smile, 1709
Valwyck, Haense
Death: 4th of the Grand Harvest, 1812
Valwyck, Haense
(aged 103)
Spouse: Marjorie of Graiswald (m. 1731)
House: Baruch
Father: Jan Baruch
Mother: Lilliana Kortrevich
Issue: 2 children

Eirik Sigismund Baruch (Common: Eric Sigmund Baruch), dubbed The Crude, or referred to simply as Eirik. He was the second born son of Count Jan and Lilliana Kortrevich. He was elected as a Senator in the Imperial Senate and served as a Circuit Judge in Oren. He is remembered for his brash and arrogant temperament, oftentimes feuding with Orenian statesmen and Haeseni nobles.

Early Life and Young Adulthood

A painting of Marjorie Vyronov, c. 1731

Eirik Sigismund Baruch (Common: Eric Sigmund Baruch) was born to Jan and Lilliana (Kortrevich) Baruch, alongside his twin brother Sigmar Baruch within the Keep of Marianburg in the County of Ayr; their familial home. Eirik was the youngest of the two, being born only minutes after Sigmar, meaning he would inherit no titles by right. His parents would later bear another child, Kamilla Baruch, a year after the twins. Eirik grew up in wartime as the War of Two Emperors broke out. Very early on, Eirik lived secluded in the County of Ayr as the Kingdom of Haense was thrusted into war. Following his father’s betrayal in 1714, Eirik and his siblings were raised by their grandfather, Marius. Having been raised primarily by his grandfather, Marius; he grew up taking a great interest in politics as opposed to enlistment in the military. As his brother Sigmar ascended as Count of Ayr (later Duke of Valwyck), Eirik oftentimes found himself representing House Baruch in duma and began to be seen as a fresh glimpse of what the next generation of Haeseni lords had to offer.

Marriage

In 1729, Eirik was reluctantly betrothed to the daughter of Duke Lerald Vyronov, Marjorie. It is known that the two had no fondness for one another. The pair often clashed at their vastly different lifestyles. Nevertheless, a few years later in 1731, Eirik Baruch married Marjorie Astrid Vyronov in the County of Ayr, officiated by a local Ayrian priest. This marriage strengthened the bond between the houses of Vyronov and Baruch. Like most marriages backed by political means, their marriage was the least bit amicable; allegedly being quite contentious at times. It is rumored that they slept in separate beds for the majority of their marriage. Somehow, the pair would go on to have two children, one daughter and one son. They reluctantly remained married till Marjorie’s questionable death in 1769. Afterwards, many believe that Eirik went on to father many children born out of wedlock.

Imperial Senator from Haense

In 1749, Eirik was persuaded to run as a candidate for the Imperial Senate Election of 1750, by his brother Sigmar Baruch and close family friend Sir Terrence May. Within days, Eirik announced his candidacy to fill the vacancy of Senator Siguine Ruthern. Unfortunately, Selrik Wick was the only other candidate to enter the race, which rekindled the centuries old Baruch-Wick feud during the campaigning season. After six months of arduous campaign efforts, the results were announced with Eirik winning a comfortable sixty-one percent of the vote to Selrik Wick’s measly thirty-nine percent.

Eirik Baruch’s tenure within the Imperial Senate is remembered by his sharp wit and cutting comments. As a self-described Feudalist, he brought with him staunch conservative Haeseni values and often obstructed what he viewed as Imperial overreach or expansion over Haeseni interests. Notably, Eirik Baruch blocked the nomination of an Orenian Dark Elf vying for a tenure as a Western Circuit Judge, giving both a memorable and prejudicial speech objecting to an Elf serving on the Circuit Court in the Holy Orenian Empire. Controversy was no stranger to much of Eirik’s tenure. Notably, Eirik was the sole opposition to the Shearing Act, which banned the clipping of elven ears within the Holy Orenian Empire. Additionally, Eirik also opposed the banning of tobacco and cactus green. As a result, a bill was later presented and eventually failed due to Eirik’s fervent opposition. Unlike the rest of the Imperial Senate, Eirik was notorious for not participating in bipartisanship. It is believed this was the case because he viewed his constituents as, "half-witted and repugnant creatures." Later on, he would reluctantly support the passing of the Worker’s Rights Bill alongside the Napier-Rutledge Act, a bipartisan effort that would be stalled by Eirik’s strategic lack of attendance to prevent quorum from being reached.

Nearing the end of his term in 1753, Eirik sought re-election to the Imperial Senate, hoping to go unchallenged like Terrence May. However, not long after, former Lord Palatine and Lord Speaker Konrad Stafyr announced his candidacy, signaling a challenge to Eirik’s incumbency. Eirik, alongside his brother Lord Speaker Sigmar Baruch, campaigned vigorously for his reelection, knowing they faced a more established opponent. After four months of grueling campaign efforts, the results were announced with Eirik Baruch losing with forty-nine percent of the vote to Konrad Stafyr’s fifty-one percent of the vote. This would spark the end of his senatorial tenure in the Imperial Senate. Afterwards, Eirik, paired with lawyer Fabius Bracchus, filed a civil lawsuit against the Orenian Board of Elections, where they petitioned for the recounting of votes. Within just four days, the lawsuit was quickly rescinded after the President of Oren, Sir Terrence May intervened.

Eirik Baruch serving as a Circuit Judge, c. 1756

Circuit Judge of Oren

After the loss of his reelection campaign, Eirik would return to Valwyck for a year. Not much is known about this stint as he remained mainly isolated, visiting only with family members and those who resided within the demesne. In 1756, Eirik was nominated by Lord Regent Otto Alimar to the Northern Circuit Court of Oren and went through the arduous Senate nomination process. His former Senate colleagues surprisingly unanimously favored his appointment to the bench, and the motion passed eight in favor with zero in opposition. Though, it is rumored that some voted in fear of the unpredictable Baruch. Eirik would be sworn in as a Circuit Judge later that same year.

During his tenure, Eirik would oversee cases few and far between, mostly menial petty crimes and other minor infractions. Eirik was known to be a harsh judge, sentencing even the most minor offenses with the most severe punishments permitted. He also developed a reputation of needlessly arguing with state prosecutors and defense attorneys. Oftentimes, wasting the court’s time, dragging court proceedings on for hours. Several Orenian bureaucrats brought their concerns regarding Eirik’s authority before the Imperial Senate (later House of Commons). Unfortunately, many of these concerns fell on deaf ears due to Eirik’s corrupt influence over the legislature's constituency.

Eirik would continue to serve as a Circuit Judge for the Northern Circuit Court until the Kingdom of Haense was granted its independence from the Holy Orenian Empire (1786), after which his position was moot as the Northern Circuit was dissolved after Haense and Oren severed political ties with one another. Within the first few months post-independence, Eirik lent his legal prowess to Lord Palatine Konstantin Wick and High Justiciar Lauritz Christiansen in their formation of the Haeseni Legal Codex (Haurul Caezk) and Aulic Court. It is known that his contributions were inconsequential but offered nonetheless. Surprisingly, he opted to not return as a High Judge in Haense and instead opted to retire from public life altogether, returning to the Duchy of Valwyck to live a life of seclusion.
A painting of Eirik Baruch, age 77

Later Life and Death

Having returned to the Kingdom of Haense following his tenure in Oren, Eirik grew increasingly bored and crazed. During the latter years of his life, Eirik oftentimes would tell fanatical stories to the youth of House Baruch. He famously caused controversy when he told the impressionable Otto Voron Baruch and Adryana Rozalina Baruch that their father, Matyas, was a eunuch. In an attempt to drive Eirik’s influence away from Valwyck, High Justiciar Lauritz Christiansen was convinced to hire him as a Royal Jurist. For three years, Eirik served as a state prosecutor in a number of cases. It is public record that he won each case convincingly. In 1789, Eirik retired at the age of eighty, as it became evident of his early onset case of dementia. As a result, he returned to the Duchy of Valwyck and spent his time hunting, fishing and whaling. In one of his last moments of lucidity, Eirik confessed to having his wife killed in 1769 by hired mercenaries under the guise of the Scylfing Invasion. In 1812, Eirik Sigismund Baruch died of natural causes at the age of one-hundred-and-three.

Titles, Styles and Honors

Titles and Styles

  • 1750-1754: The Honorable, Senator of the Imperial Senate
  • 1756-1786: The Honorable, Circuit Judge of Oren

Formal Title

The formal title of Eirik was: Lord Eirik Baruch, Senator of the Imperial Senate, Circuit Judge of Oren.

Issue

Name Birth Death Marriage Notes
Katharina Arika Baruch 1734 1793 Vorion Sturholm Firstborn daughter of Eirik Baruch and Marjorie Vyronov.
Lerald Karl Baruch 1735 1775 Unwed Firstborn son of Eirik Baruch and Marjorie Vyronov.