House of Halcourt
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The House of Halcourt (Common: Halcourt; Relourian: Halcurie; High Imperial: Halcuriæ) is an old imperial family with origins during Asulon as the ruling family of a minor polity known as the Principality of Relouria. Since the fall of Relouria, Halcourts have held land in various human nations such as Savoy, Lorraine, and Curon. Presently, the Halcourts hold the titular Barony of Halcourt under the Holy Orenian Empire in Almaris.
Halcourt has always been known for their tenure as servants of the Empire. Cecil I lead the Petrus Watch during the Second Empire; Elise I was Countess of Aldersburg during the later period of the Third Empire; Sylvester VI served as Minister of the Interior during the Fifth Empire; so on and so forth. While they have rarely ever sought their own fame, they have amplified the successes of various dynasts. To this end, many royal bloodlines have intermarried with the Halcourts.
The main line includes descendants of Hightower, Ashford, and Staunton, to name a few. Hightower actually became functionally defunct during the Fifth Empire, merging with Halcourt. The leader of the house, Gareth, had been adopted into the House of Halcourt as Gareth Halcourt de Hightower, while marrying a Halcourt bride matrilineally.
Contents
History
Ancient
Asulon
Philip Gabriel Halcourt founded the Principality of Relouria in the badlands of Asulon. He rallied to his banner many houses: Fournier, founded by Augustus Halcourt as a cadet; Allard, composed of strong administrators and bureaucrats; and Montagne, with their soldiers aplenty.
Anthos
Eventually, Philip passed peacefully, and a few more Halcourts reigned in Vasile, the Relourian capital. The Summerguard was formed, lead by Jacques Montagne. Halcourt Brewing Co. was founded in 1423.
Athera
Relouria, the ancient nation which the House of Halcourt once ruled, fell to ruin. Its people fled to Savoy, due to historical ties between the people. Serving Olivier Ashford, who was then Duke of Savoy, Halcourt finally became associated with Oren. Sylvester I, founding the de Artois line, was Olivier's seneschal. When Olivier became King, Sylvester was granted the County of Aldersburg. Meanwhile, Cecil I, forming the de Vasile line, later served as commander of the Petrus Watch. Elise, their sister, created the de Pierrot line. Thus, there was Halcourt de Artois, Halcourt de Vasile, and Halcourt de Pierrot.
Axios
In Johannesburg, the family grew large and most well known when Sylvester III was knighted by the Emperor, John III Owyn, and landed as Count of Artois. The family served the fifth empire improving its military until sudden disputes arose, forcing the family to become a vassal of Lorraine later known as the Kingdom of Lotharingia. As years went by the family vanished for a while until Sylvester's son Jacques Halcourt, who came back to a fallen empire and a new head of humanity, the Courland, thus leaving him under the Kingdom which he was able to grow a personal military being granted the Barony of Vasile, and later the County of Aven.
Within the year of 1611, Jacques married Princess Ariana Staunton-Baden having only up to two kids, Isabelle and Sylvester III. This was a milestone for the Halcourt family in Courland until the Santegian Rebellion was declared forcing them to fight. After Evreux's fall to the Santegians the family were given land and resided in the swamplands near the Holy Orenian Empire's old capital Mardon. The family would sit there for almost 10 years until the disappearance of Count Jacques this led to his brother ruling Aven as regent. After a year ruling as regent Arnaud fell ill leaving many people leaving the County until it was abandoned, but when Ser Sylvestre III was of age he joined House Devereux in taking back Aleksandria placing them as Dukes leaving the Halcourt family as reigning Counts within the Duchy of Curon.
Atlas
After arriving in Atlas, the family following Duke Karl to new lands, helping build the Curonian capital, Cyrilsburg. The family had a wide power base across all of Atlas. Notably, Sylvester III became Mayor of Cyrilsburg in Curon; Cecil II became Mayor of Markev in Haense; and Sophia Halcourt became Mayor of Senntisten in Renatus. This marked a brief period where Halcourts lead municipal governments in every human nation.
During a time of turbulence in Curon, where the former monarch's wife seized power, Sylvester III Frederick helmed a resurgence of Relourian culture as he reformed the Barony of Vasile. Later, long after Sylvester III's death, Charles, the sixth Baron of Vasile, finished the family castle, and was instrumental in securing victory during the BlackRreach Uprising. Charles actually was the first Halcourt noble to secure independence in many centuries, owing fealty to no other lord. Vasile flourished until the transition to Arcas.
Modern
Arcas
Claudius Halcourt was rewarded for his service to the Kingdom of Curonia with the Barony of Artois. His daughter, Evelyn, later elected the first female head of the family, oversaw the completion of the family castle in Artois. Evelyn soon passed, with her cousin Silas being selected to lead the family as the new Baron in 1745, at the ripe age of 6.
Customs
Heraldry
The coat of arms is a shield crossed by cyan and yellow, the house colors, in four squares. An eagle, adopted from their original lieges, the House of Ashford, adorns two of the corners. The fleur de lis, a symbol of Relourian culture, fills the other two corners. The motto, "PRINCEPS IN OMNIBVS", is scrawled below. In Common, it translates to "First in all things."
Inheritance
When the House of Halcourt's leader passes, their foremost assistant will compile a list of the three closest relatives. These are usually their children. They will then confer with these relatives, confirming their intent to pursue the helm. If any reject the offer, the next closest kinsperson is included. Once a slate of three candidates has been approved, they will be presented at a moot with family elders and any vassals or banner lords present. These electors will determine which candidate inherits by publicly declaring their support.
Titles
Current
The scion of Halcourt de Artois currently holds the title Baron of Artois. While the scion of the Halcourt de Vasile currently holds the title Baron of Vasile within the lands of Aeldin.
Former
These titles were held by the mainline of Halcourt at some point since the 13th century.
Prince of Relouria, Count of Aldersburg, Count of Aven, Baron of Vasile, Baron of Williamsburg, Baron of Artois
This title was held by a cadet branch of Halcourt, the House of Fournier.
Baron of Riveryn
These titles were held by a cadet branch of Fournier, the House of Pasquier, which makes it a second-tier cadet of Halcourt.
Count of Rouen, Baron of Laval
