House of Vanir

House of Vanir "The Sea Bows To None" Country: Oren, Akovia, Haense Former Titles: Duke of Akovia Duke of Vanaheim Margrave of Vasiland Viscount of Varna Baron of Vasiland Baron of Kraken's Watch Baron of Lorentz Baron of Serpentstone Lord of Hallaberg Current Head: Extinct Founder: Vasili of Vanaheim Ethnicity: Highlander

The House of Vanir (Raevir: Vanir; High Imperial: Basileii) is an ancient house, known for their seafaring traditions and allegiances to the Holy Orenian Empire and Kingdom of Haense.

History

Athera

Originating from Fjordem, Aeldin, the Vanirs were nothing more than common folk and pirates, farmers who tilled the land and lived off the sweat of their brows and raiders who looted minor plunder from the Autumn Sea. Seeking more from life, the family took up all they owned and sailed off, their destination unknown. Led by Vasili Vanir, the small group of Vanirs and their raiding men came upon a fertile valley on Athera, eventually forming a settlement. The group stayed mostly to themselves, only leaving the valley to hunt or forage for supplies during the cold winters. All would change one day when the Prince Alexander of Ruska (later the Emperor Alexander I) led the Imperial incursion into the lands, demanding the clan's fealty. Seeking to avoid conflict so soon after their landing, Vasili would bend the knee to Prince Alexander. As vassals of the Empire, the Vanirs were given the town of Karovia to steward. When the Empire fractured from the Renatus Rebellion, Karovia became the capital of the newly formed Kingdom of Akovia, and the Vanirs found themselves ensnared in Orenian politics. As the Schism War started up, the Vanirs were ennobled by Andrik Vydra, newly raised as King Andrew of Akovia, and made Dukes of Akovia and the heads of the 2nd Akovian Regiment, Akovia's main military force. Following Akovia's victory in the Schism War, the Vanirs would play a major role in the final peace negotiations, helping King Andrew reform the Kingdom of Oren.

Vailor

Following the rest of the Reformed Kingdom to Vailor, the Vanirs would settle along the coast of the northern continent. Although initially struggling to fully establish a settlement and a military, the Vanirs would help as best as possible, answering the Kingdom's call to arms during times of war. As time passed, tensions grew between the Duchy of Adria and the King, Olivier de Savoie, resulting in the Dukes' War. Although the small duchy attempted to remain neutral, it soon pledged itself to Duke Hugh of Sarkozic's cause after a young Britannus Vanir was captured and beaten by Savoyard soldiers. Following Adria's defeat at the Siege of Barrowyk, the rebellion was abandoned, and the Vanirs fled into exile to avoid capture and execution.

Many years passed, and after the formation of the Holy Orenian Empire by John I, Britannus Vanir returned to once again serve Oren. He served as a bannerman under Stefan Sarkozic, Duke of Carnatia. Duke Stefan's untimely death resulted in a total migration of Carnatian houses to the Province of Erochland. Britannus would follow them, earning the Barony of Lorentz for his service. It was at this time that Duke Anden Staunton of Courland was facing an internal rebellion against his brother, Alexander. Anden sought Britannus' help in return for the Vanirs' ancestral home of Kraken's Watch. Britannus agreed, and the rebellion was put to rest. However, in a sudden twist of fate, Richard Staunton, Anden and Alexander's father, supported Alexander's claim to the duchy. Ashamed, Anden Staunton took his own life, giving the duchy to Alexander. In an act of aggression, Alexander's first move as duke was to attack an aged Vasili Vanir; an attack which was prevented by the men of the Gold Corps of Carnatia. This attack would result in Imperial intervention, with Emperor John II calling for peace. Negotiations occurred at the Diet of Saltstone, and Baron Britannus Vanir accepted Duke Alexander's offer for peace and cooperation between the two houses. For his interest in preserving peace, Britannus would come to be known as the conciliator.

Unfortunately, Alexander would again attack Kraken's Watch, slaying the garrison whilst the Vanirs slept. The family was able to escape, and took refuge in the keep of Gryphon's Hold, in Carnatia. Together with their allies in Carnatia and Krajia, the Vanirs would reclaim their home through the Riga War, effectively ending all Staunton influence in the Empire, and solidifying their hold on Kraken's Watch.

Axios

For their loyalty, they were awarded the title of Marquis. The Vanirs currently held the March of Vasiland in the Kingdom of Haense and were loyal vassals to House Barbanov.

During the Year of Four Emperors, Marquise Brandon played an integral role, to his council's dismay, in assisting King Andrew II with his assassination of John IV, Holy Orenian Emperor and the rebellion that immediately followed. After immense pressure from family members and his council, the Marquis would ultimately pull his support for the independence movement, leaving the king without his support from his larger vassals.

Due to the immense mercy of Emperor Philip I (or to some, the intervention of the then Arch-Chancellor, Prince Leopold Francis), the Marquis would only be punished slightly, with Brandon only losing a hand for the role he played in the short rebellion.

Later on, however, the old enemy of the Vanirs in the Stauntons would return during the midst of the Coalition War, effectively giving it its namesake and bringing about the downfall of Oren. The Vanirs were especially unhappy with this, seeing as they had thought the Stauntons defeated in the Riga War. Shortly after this, the Vanirs would find themselves at war with the Stauntons yet again in the Great Northern War. However, this time the Stauntons emerged as the victors, sending the Vanirs, along with the rest of Haense into exile in Mardon.

While the Vanirs would later emerge from exile in the Greyspine Rebellion, they faced several challenges. For one, they had to take back their keep from the a family which, while originally being Courlandic, had turned during the rebellion. Following this, they established themselves once more as one of the principle noble houses of Haense. Yet, their power, along with much of Haense, was noticeably lacking from what it had been before the rebellion, with many of their soldiers and knights having since died, or ascended to nobility, in the case of the Tosalis.

Atlas

Upon their arrival in Atlas, the Vanirs once more ended up in Haense, where they retained their noble status. Though upon their arrival they'd be given land to which they'd begin to build their fort in the lands of Haense. After the construction of their new home, the family would isolate themselves for the majority of their time within the Atlas.

Arcas

After their arrival in Arcas, the new head, Iver Vanir, began working to make the family less isolated than it had been for years. Notably, he arranged the marriage between Klaudia of Vasiland and the newly crowned King Marius II, making her the first Vanir Queen-consort of Hanseti-Ruska. However, the family had once again reached a period of stagnation and inefficiency by the time of Iver's abdication to his eldest son, Henrik. Determined to restore his family to its former titles and glory, Henrik Vanir became a distinguished statesman and eventually the first Vanir Lord Speaker in the Royal Duma of Hanseti-Ruska. Furthermore, he received letters for the March of Vasiland, returning an ancient title to the house. After receiving the letters, he constructed Serpentstone, the Vanir keep on Arcas, in northeastern Haense by the sea. He reigned there until his death and succession by Brandon II.

Soon after young Brandon succeeded his father, the Vanirs would find themselves in a course of turmoil - their keep and lands undergoing several assaults on the front lines during the Scyfling Invasion of Hanseti-Ruska. In 1768, the Scyflings successfully occupied the castle, slaughtering most Vasilanders seeking refuge there and forcing the remaining family members into exile from their home. A successful siege followed by Hanseti forces, though, granting the Vanirs their seat back however not ending the pressing conflict on their shores. Naval battles became once again familiar to the Vanirs, forcing Brandon to prepare several ships and restore the reputation of naval prowess to the family. In 1775, a familiar battle on the sea with these same Scyflings cut Brandon's life short.

Almaris

Fiske III, son of Brandon II, led the family to Almaris. Following his reign, his son Britannus rose to power, though after a great period of stagnation and inaction, the family's titles were stripped by the Crown and the house was de-nobled. Over time, the family fell into obscurity until its members disappeared, especially the young son and heir of Britannus, Rickard Vanir.

Notable Figures

Vasili Vanir - Founder of the Orenian House of Vanir. He led the 2nd Akovian Regiment along with King Andrew I, and was Lord Regent in King Vydra's absence. He was also the Duke of the Duchy of Vanaheim, and one of the leaders of the Dukes' War.

Britannus Vanir - Reviver of the House under the reign of John I, he attempted to peacefully regain his home of Kraken's Watch, and was successful for a short period of time. Unforeseen aggression by the Duchy of Courland would ultimately result in a breach of the peace, causing the Riga War.

Fiske Vanir - Margrave of Vasiland, famed for his role as Lord Paramount during the Riga War. Reinstituted the House of Vanir to their noble status upon his capture of the castle Kraken's Watch.

Lukas Vanir - Fourth Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska.

Henrik Vanir - Sixth Lord Speaker of the Royal Duma. He eventually restored the House of Vanir the Margrave of Vasiland title through his work in Hanseti-Ruska, expanding the Vanir's diminished influence in Arcas greatly.