Ruslan I, Duke of Valwyck
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Ruslan Eirik Baruch (Common: Rusland Eric Baruch; Ayrian: Riagain Eiric Baruch), (1797-1844), known as "The Sword of God", was the fifth Duke of Valwyck upon his father's assassination, and was a Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska.
Contents
Early Life
Born as the third son to Matyas Baruch, Ruslan would not have expected to succeed his father's titles. He received a standard education of a noble child in the mountains of Valwyck. Notably, he stood out as the most talented fighter amongst his siblings, eventually finding himself in the Brotherhood of Saint Karl based in the Haeseni capital. An exciting young fighter, he was competitive - participating in several tournaments around Almaris and placing first or second in most of them.
A particular moment of his childhood was his courtship with Lady Analiesa de Astrea - the young pair were fond of each other, and set to wed when they came of age. However, during the height of the "War on Drugs" within Haense, Analiesa died due to an apparent drug overdose, leaving Ruslan distant in his future courtships.
In his teens, his father Matyas had a declining mental state. In what some would describe as a fit of lunacy, Matyas received assent to designate Ruslan as his heir to the vassal lands of Valwyck, despite his son Petyr's extensive training to inevitably claim his birthright. He cited his firstborn's slothfulness and his second son's terrible temper. Reluctantly, Ruslan ascended to become the Duke over his disgruntled brothers when his father died in 1814.
Reign
Early Reign
After inheriting his titles, Ruslan oversaw the Duchy of Valwyck that was largely still under construction due to his father's prolonged efforts on the castle of Lichtestadt. His first order of business was to renovate the lands surrounding the keep. Primarily, he oversaw the completion of farms around the castle, infrastructure such as roads and a small port on Lake Voron, and small homes. In time, the area under Lichtestadt became known as the village of Lallybroch and was a home for several Ayrians, and an economic centerpiece in Valwyck. For his family, he also saw a grandiose crypt be built under Lichtestadt as a resting place for his Baruch ancestors.
Following the death of both his partner Analiesa and his father Matyas, Ruslan needed to arrange a marriage for himself. He quickly wed Elisabeth of Aldersberg, and the pair had one daughter. However, the marriage would only last until 1821 due to Elisabeth's disappearance. Rumor was that Ruslan's brother Otto had an affair with Elisabeth and had bastard children. Regardless, Ruslan married Marjorie of Vidaus in 1825, and the pair would stay together until Ruslan's death.
Military Career
Ruslan grew up as a talented fighter and rose through the ranks of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl. He became a sergeant under Lord Marshal Ailred Ruthern and led the shock troop, a detachment of heavy infantry. He served through the Sutican War and Silver War.
When he was a soldier, he got in many duels and brawls with various people, often reasoned because of Ruslan's cold personality. One of those being a man thought to be possessed by Iblees himself, moving unnaturally fast and with inhumane strength. When Ruslan defeated this man in single combat, he was given the moniker "The Sword of God".
Political Career and Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska
Along with the Duchy of Valwyck, Ruslan inherited political issues with other houses of Hanseti-Ruska, most notably a mutual bitterness with the House of Barclay. Tensions flared even more so when Ruslan became a prominent member of the Haeseni Ducal Union, a political alliance of lords including the Duke of Vidaus, Count of Jerovitz, Viscount of Aurveldt, and Baron of Richtenberg, which, as one of its doings, made an attempt to petition the Crown to strip the Reinmaren house of their Duchy. Much after its disbandment, Ruslan mended relations with the Barclays by offering to wed Georgina Baruch to the young Johann Barclay, the new patriarch of the house, joining the houses of Baruch and Barclay for the first time.
Notably Ruslan was very involved with the politics of the realm, as his fathers before him were. Early in his life, he occasionally substituted for his father the Justiciar at sessions of the Royal Duma. After he became Duke, he was extremely active within the legislative chamber and passed several bills, such as the Grave Robbing Act. Ruslan was elected as Lord Handler in three consecutive terms and he essentially was Lord Speaker Igor Kort's assistant. Igor's tenure was very unstable - he faced many accusations and impeachment hearings from members of the Duma. As a result, Ruslan sat in as a temporary Lord Speaker during such hearings, or other sessions where the Speaker was unable to oversee the Duma. Upon Igor's retirement in 1828, Ruslan was chosen as the obvious candidate to succeed him.
Ruslan's reign as the Lord Speaker of Hanseti-Ruska was relatively uneventful following the much more chaotic reign of his predecessor. Most of his time was spent returning the chamber to a normal order. Notably, he implemented an improved system of scribes and transcripts to better deliver the processes of the Duma to the public eye. He also implemented a change in the way that voting was done with greater access to absentee voting. Finally, Ruslan reduced the number of elector seats in the Duma.
Death
Ruslan was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1841, weakening him greatly, however he stayed in office and as Duke until his death three years later on the 13th of the Amber Cold, 1844, in his castle of Lichtestadt. He died at the age of 47. His titles were passed to his firstborn son and legitimate successor Eirik.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eleanora Helaine Baruch | 1819 | 1849 | Isaak I, Viscount of Aurveldt | Only daughter to Duke Ruslan and Elisabeth of Aldersberg |
| Eirik, Duke of Valwyck | 1825 | Alive | Princess Anastasya Bihar | Firstborn son to Duke Ruslan and Marjorie of Vidaus. The successor to Ruslan. |
| Margot Sofiya Baruch | 1829 | Alive | Vladrik I, Count of Jerovitz | Firstborn daughter to Duke Ruslan and Marjorie of Vidaus |
| Annabel Saorise Baruch | 1832 | Alive | Unwed | Second-born daughter to Duke Ruslan and Marjorie of Vidaus
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