Erwin Barclay
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Erwin Konrad Barclay (Nicknamed: The Northern Fox) was the first Duke of Reinmar and the firstborn son of Wilheim Barclay and Marcella Barclay. Erwin succeeded his father as Lord Marshal in a career spanning over three decades, the longest serving occupant to date. His term is marked by the reformation of the Second Brotherhood of Saint Karl into the Haeseni Royal Army, significant growth of the military recruitment levels, and the development of military training toward a national cultural standard of Haeseni militarism and Biharism. Erwin also led the military through many conflicts, commanding forces during the progression of the Rubern War, eventually aiding the annexation of the Ruberni land lost during the War of Two Emperors.
Contents
Early Life
Erwin Barclay was born in 1729, in the town of New Reza. The Barony of Freising celebrated the birth of the future Duke, though without knowing that he would become the one. His parents, Wilheim and Marcella were always there, for him and for his sister Klara. They were inseparable, always running around the keep, like every other child.
But as young Erwin grew into his teens, he seemed to have the will to make something grand and worthy out of his life, as his father Wilheim noticed on time. The two spent their days discussing about being a real soldier worth living for the kingdom, where Wilheim also taught him swordsmanship, as well as the importance of the kingdom and its structure and diplomacy.
Day by day, young Barclay was no longer so young. There came a time of service in the army, where as a responsible young man he enlisted, continuing the military tradition of his family. He was perhaps a nobleman, but he was still taught to remain humble and honest with others, making him beloved among his men and ready for his further continuation of his life, soon as Lord Marshal and the first Duke, for a very long time.
Marriage & Family Life
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A portrait of Kamila Irena Barclay, Duchess-Consort of Reinmar, 1750 |
During his adulthood, and still, Erwin had the full support of his family, which was fair and honest, plus with a lot of effort he managed to achieve what he has today. There were many moments where young Barclay was the head of reason among the family, making him one of the more influential members of the family. In those old days, Erwin, although still a child, attracted the attention of a girl and later his wife, Kamila.
The two would go on various adventures all day, pretending to be knights and soldiers. He would encourage her to become a Dame one day, and she did the same, just encouraging him to be Lord Marshal - two things the two wanted the most, which later became true. Their children's game later turned into a love affair, and after a few years they got married in the Basilica of the Fifty Virgins, located in New Reza.
Lord Marshal of Haense and Duke of Reinmar
The beginning of the young Barclay's military career was extremely turbulent. His father served the kingdom as Lord Marshal, until one day an argument arose between him and the then Lord Palatine, Markus Kortrevich. This resulted in the dismissal of his father due to disagreements and quarrels with the Lord Palatine. Erwin found this a little harder - watching his father, a person who had taught him many important things in life, get fired, and he had no idea what to do. As things began to unfold from that cruel day, it increasingly seemed as if the army was weakening and beginning to disintegrate. That same army began to disintegrate in which Erwin himself was.
Something had to be done, it was obvious to everyone. With the arrival of King Andrew IV on the throne, new times began to be born. Erwin excelled in the military, showing responsibility and a willingness to work more and more. Everything went well until an even better thing came up, and that was the day King Andrew IV proclaimed Erwin Barclay the new Lord Marshal. From that day, a well known tradition continued for Barclays, to become dedicated soldiers and protectors of the Kingdom.
The new advancement of young Barclay, it may be said, brought much novelty and freshness to the army and to the Kingdom itself. Erwin saw that the military needed to be taught the history of their nation, the cultural standard of Haeseni militarism and Biharism that people before them had used and been proud of, and the techniques that would serve to defend the Kingdom only in the best possible way. What Erwin Barclay achieved, few could - he recommended and introduced a system of oathing, which every new soldier must take to become a true member of the army, a true brother to other soldiers, as well as a man who is ready to stand by his people and his Kingdom. In the later period, he introduced much more frequent patrols and more efficient trainings, which later paid off twice as expected.
Erwin's success in improving the military and establishing entirely new ways of working and training did not go unrewarded. Reinmar was County from 1751, until Emperor Peter III sent a letter directly to Erwin Barclay in 1765. That day, Erwin Barclay became the first Duke of Reinmar at the behest of King Sigismund II, who has recognised the Young Count’s family as worthy subjects.
Time passed, and the days were getting better for the army led by Erwin Barclay. However, the life of a Lord Marshal couldn’t pass without a skirmish or a struggle, and so it didn’t for Erwin. The beginning of the AIS war, in 1740, did what war always does to man. Mass collection of materials for weapons and equipment began, and numerous trainings were held, albeit at the very beginning of the war. Defeats followed, as did victories in various battles, but the battle in which Erwin left a great impression on later events after the war happened just in time. The Rubern War was one of the major wars in which Lord Marshal faced great threats and losses. But, at the end of the long AIS war, the moment came where the Ruberni lands were annexed under the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, Erwin Barclay and his army being the people who brought that to the success.
During one of the bloodiest sieges of the Kingdom of Haense, Erwin presided over one of the deadliest conflicts in Haense history. The siege of the Scyfling forces went on day after day, the enemy getting closer and closer to the walls of New Reza, and the army led by the experienced Barclay was moving further and further away from victory. Many people died, from nobles, adults to children and innocents. Nevertheless, the morale that the army received from Lord Marshal was one of the reasons for striving for victory, which in the end paid off. The last day of the war resulted in a peace treaty signed by both warring parties, allowing the remaining Scyfling people to settle on Haeseni land.
Resignation
Decades of service as one of the best and most respected Lord Marshals, Erwin was tired, and it was an indisputable fact that his years have come. The Barclay resigned, and left behind a great influence on the army and all the people of the Kingdom. His titles were inherited by his firstborn son, Manfred Barclay, who also took on the military that Erwin managed to improve from the core with his own hands and hard work over several decades, becoming the next Lord Marshal and the second Duke of Reinmar.
It is said that Erwin Barclay could be seen preparing as if it was a war preparation, deep inside Wilheburg keep, Reinmar.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manfred Barclay | 1752 | Alive | Isabella Barclay neé Barbanov | Firstborn son to Erwin and Kamila Barclay, Heir to the Duchy of Reinmar. |
| N/A |
