Prince Svenald, Count of Hearth

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Prince Svenald Lord Chancellor of Courland Reign: 1595-Present Preceded by: Title Created Personal Details Born: 2nd of the Grand Harvest, 1558 Riga, Courland, Oren Spouse: Renee Merchand✝ House: Staunton Father: Alexander, Duke of Courland Mother: Princess Philippa Maria of Alstion

Svenald Staunton is a Courlandic noble who serves his younger brother, King Tobias Staunton on his Privy Council, as Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom of Courland. Sven still claims the title of Count of Hearth, a title he inherited in 1572 within the Archduchy of Lorraine-Kaedrin. Svenald currently resides within Curonberg Palace, Aleksandria.

Biography

Early Life

Sven Staunton was born to Duke Alexander Staunton and Princess Philippa Maria of Alstion in the Duchy of Courland in 1558. Sven was born just before the Riga War. After the disastrous Battle of the Curon Forest and the following Siege of Kraken’s Watch, Sven was moved to the safety of the Grand Kingdom of Urguan with Edward Staunton, his great uncle. After the Courlandic victory at the Battle of Westmark and the subsequent creation of the Kingdom of Courland, Sven attempted to return to Courland as per request of his father, however before he reached the Duchy, a successful coup of Aleksander Staunton and his followers took place. Edward, Sven and his younger siblings remained in exile in the Grand Kingdom of Urguan for 13 years, however after the signing of the Treaty of Anpalais in 1567, the House of Hearth, a newly created cadet branch of House Staunton, was welcomed back into Oren under the Arch-Duke of Lorraine.

Coalition War

Main Article: Coalition War

For several years Sven held the county of Hearth, situated in the northern plains of the Archduchy of Lorraine-Kaedrin, striking a strong bond with the archduke, John d'Amaury. Following the return of his younger brother Tobias Staunton, who sought redemption for the Riga War and his titles returned to him, Sven left with Tobias to the castle of Ostwick, where they plotted and created their own cabal against the Imperial State.

Through an alliance with the Dwarven Kingdom, the forces commanded by Tobias led a surprising victory at the Battle of the Gorge, crippling the central Imperial army. Using this alarming, crushing blow against the Empire, Sven successfully convinced the Prince of Savoy (and with him, the Archduke of Lorraine-Kaedrin, John d’Amaury) to support the overthrow of the Emperor and take the titles claimed as theirs.

Privy of Courland

After the Fall of Johannesburg in 1595, Sven was elevated by his brother (now proclaimed as King of Courland) to the Chancellor position, a spot he currently holds today.

Northern Campaign

After the murder of Sven’s last remaining son, Meric Staunton, in the streets of St Karlsburg, and the abduction of his daughter, Annabel Staunton, Sven personally headed a small force to rescue Annabel from the Carnatian stronghold. However, this was seen as an act of aggression by King Marius Barbonov, who, after numerous raids on Aleksandria by Hansetian forces, issued an ultimatum to Tobias Staunton. After a brief discussion with his privy, Tobias refused the ultimatum and ordered Sven to raise the levies and find suitable transportation for the army to land in Tahn.

As the large Courlander host moved northwards, past the ruins of Johanessburg, they met Hansetian scouts within the Elba forest. What followed was the Battle of Elba, where Courlander and Hansetian forces clashed. Sven lead the Staunton cavalry, who were able to successfully route the Hansetian Cavalry whilst protecting the Courlander right flank.

After the Courlander victory at Elba, Sven used his diplomatic wit to secure Staunton military access through Dwed lands with Basion Ireheart. After such, the Battle of Curon ensued between the remaining Hansetian forces and the now re-stocked and bolstered Courlander forces. After the Courlander victory at the Battle of Curon, Sven along with Tobias negotiated the formal surrender of all Haense forces. With the Hansetian and Ruska crown passed onto King Tobias, Sven was blessed with the title ‘’Warden of the North’’’ soon after.

King-Regent

As many Courlander nobles returned to Asul, Tobias Staunton became bed-ridden due to an unknown illness. As designated-Regent, Sven took up the mantle of King-Regent, fulfilling the duties of the King of Courland. Sven’s rule as King-Regent was often seen as a prosperous one, with the growth of Aleksandria and the growth of the city-guard. Sven also secured a defensive alliance with the Dwarves of Urguan, in the Treaty of Aleksandria of 1604. However a failure of his reign was seen after the diplomatic talks with the Pontiff Owyn II and Peter Sigismund regarding the Mardonic rebellion, resulted in the murder of the Pontiff after he left the city of Aleksandria. The Crown did not affiliate itself with the murder, however Mardonic propagandists claimed that Knights of the Golden Eagle partook in the killing.

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage	Notes
Stephan Hearth	23rd of the First Seed, 1573	1580	Unwed	N/A
Edith Hearth	23rd of the First Seed, 1573	Unknown	Viktor Kovachev	Presumed dead.
Meric Staunton	7th of the Suns Smile, 1575	10th of the Amber Cold, 1599	Unwed	Killed by a Hansetian dissenter during a political mission at the court of King Marius of Hanseti-Ruska.
Cassandra Staunton	19th of the Suns Smile, 1580	Alive	Glendon Stafford	Currently the Countess of Cheshire.
Annabel Staunton	12th of the Grand Harvest, 1582	Alive	Unwed	N/A