House of Staunton
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The House of Staunton (Common: Staunton; High Imperial: Santonia) is a Heartlander family of original burgher origins, most notable for their substantial rise from ignoble originals to a ducal coronet, ruling their given Duchy of Courland under five consecutive lords.
Contents
History
Athera
Originating from the Eruthos, House Staunton started out as ignoble merchants, famed for selling their Stauntonic wines in the bustling city of Petrus, grown in the vineyards of Highclaire, Eruthos. When starting out, the Staunton family had a small and disorganised militia, which would protect the northern part of the Eruthos from raiders, and protect convoys coming and going to the capital. Vasili Vanir, who was lacking in manpower, decided to offer Percival Staunton the title of Baron of Eastbourne, should they decide to relocate to Vanaheim. It was at this point reforms began to take place within the Stauntonite ranks, seeking to strive to become a more organised and centralised group. Percival Staunton was named Baron Percival “The Loyal Man” of Eastbourne before the transition into Vailor.
Vailor
House Staunton became the Barons of Fjordham and served the Vanirs of Vanaheim up until the Duke’s war. After removing the Staunton’s just before the Duke’s War, the Stauntonite levy lead by Percival Staunton travelled south to the Orenian capital. Shortly after the war Percival Staunton was named the first Staunton Count, following his efforts in aiding the Savoyard Crown against rebellious Vanir and Barbanov forces. However following the death of Guy de Bar, Percival supported John Horen’s claim to the throne, and in turn, became one of the founders of the fifth Orenian Empire, serving as its first Duke of Courland and the first Lord Treasurer. Percival maintained a large and respectable force forming the backbone of the Empire up until his death in 1537, and founded the first city of Riga, the largest and most popular metropolitan trading hub of Riga. Under his eldest son, Richard, Courland, whilst respectable and large in magnitude and influence dwindled. Richard was able to bring in some military reforms, forming the Eagle’s Vigil, House Staunton’s military that protected the city of Riga and the surrounding Duchy. House Staunton reached its peak under Duke Aleksander Staunton, briefly King Aleksander I of Courland.
Following the coup of Alexander Staunton and the end of the war against the Empire, House Staunton was stripped of its titles and exiled from the Holy Orenian Empire. In summer of 1967 the Emperor saw fit to allow the Stauntons under Sven Staunton to become House Hearth, in the treaty of Anapalais. In exchange the Hearths were to reaffrirm their loyalties to the Empire and adhere to a long list of statutes. After the Treaty of Anapalais it was specified that House Staunton no longer existed and those that bear the name would be charged with treason by the Holy Orenian Empire.
Notable Figures
Percival Staunton - The founder of House Staunton, the son of a wealthy wine merchant and original Lord Patriarch. Edward Staunton-Hearth - The founder of the cadet branch of House Staunton, House Hearth, who attained the titles of Counts within the Duchy of Lorraine.
Alexander Staunton - The most infamous and controversial member of House Staunton, the fourth Duke of Courland and the protector of the North. He is known as the White Eagle of Staunton and considered by many to have been the Stauntonite patriarch to wield the most power and influence. While he may have held the most power during his reign, he was responsible for the loss of power and subsequent exile House Staunton faced after the loss of the Riga War.
Richard Staunton - The second Stauntonic Duke who brought in many highly relevant and long lasting military reforms, which laid the foundations for his son to create the largest single military and civilian population in Valior.
