Viktor I of Korstadt
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Viktor Otto Kortrevich 'The Scholar' (Common: Victor Otto Kortrevich), known formally as The Margrave of Korstadt, or referred to simply as Viktor. He was the third patriarch of House Kortrevich, succeeding his father in 1758. He was the firstborn son of Margrave Markus and Winnifred Kortrevich. He was the fourth Royal Curator of Haense, assuming the position in 1788. He is regarded as one of the most renowned scholars in modern Haeseni history and responsible for the co-establishment of the acclaimed newspaper of the Golden Crow Chronicles.
Contents
Early Life and Young Adulthood
Viktor Otto Kortrevich (1742-1840) was born to Markus and Winnifred (Alimar) Kortrevich, alongside his younger brother Juliyus Kortrevich within Fort Korstadt; their familial home. As the eldest, he was heir-apparent to House Kortrevich. Viktor grew up in wartime as the relentless Rubern War sparked just two years prior to his birth. By being born in the military outpost of Fort Korstadt and his father’s role as Lord Palatine, he and his brother naturally became targets of war. He grew up rather isolated and disassociated from his peers. Much like his father, he studied under statesman Terrence May and seemed to be on a path to follow in his father’s footsteps as a future Palatine. Having been raised primarily by his mother Winnifred and grandfather Otto; he grew up taking great interest in journalism as opposed to diplomacy. As his father lost favor as Palatine, his resignation was anticipated. Because of this, Viktor began to represent his House in duma and became acquainted with various noble lords including; Sigmar Baruch, Henrik Vanir and Wilheim Barclay.
Marriage
At fourteen, Viktor was betrothed to his childhood friend, Marya Annaliese Baruch. By 1760, the pair married in the County of Ayr, officiated by a local Haeseni priest. This marriage strengthened the bond between the houses of Baruch and Kortrevich. Their marriage was filled with both love and admiration for one another. Having maintained a happy marriage, the pair would go on to have five children, four sons and one daughter. Later in life, the pair grew distant from each other, many believing they coexisted for their children’s sake. In 1791, Marya passed away due to breast cancer. Viktor remained a widower for the remainder of his life, choosing not to remarry.
Margrave of Korstadt
At seventeen, Viktor ascended as patriarch of his house following his father’s abdication. Very early on, Viktor was determined to end the feud between House Barclay and House Kortrevich, a feud perpetrated by his father, Markus. In just a few months, Viktor ended the feud after meeting with patriarch Erwin Barclay. The meeting was held at Korstadt, where the two swore to work together for the betterment of the Kingdom. This event would foreshadow much of his reign as patriarch.
Prior to his unexpected ascension, Viktor introduced the Royal Newspaper Act of 1755 with his father-in-law Sigmar Baruch. Having been unanimously passed in the Royal Duma, it received royal assent in the year following, prompting the creation of the state-newspaper of the Golden Crow Chronicles. For sixty-three years, the widely acclaimed publication sold tens of millions of copies in the nations of Haense, Oren, Kaedrin and Curon; receiving many nominations and awards for literary excellence. Additionally, many years later in 1769, he was inducted into the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily as a Kossar.
One of his first acts as patriarch was controversial, in 1763, Viktor disowned his cousin Ivan Kortrevich after he brought dishonor to the House. This act alone caused even further controversy later in his life. During the Rubern War, Viktor was captured and held as a prisoner of war for three weeks. While under captivity, he was tortured and beaten. Luckily, he narrowly escaped after a Haeseni host raided the encampment he was being held at. However, he lost his thumb on his dominant hand, causing him to write with his left hand for the remainder of his life.
As House Kortrevich grew to its height underneath Otto and Markus, an immense amount of pressure was placed on Viktor to maintain his House’s standing in the Kingdom as houses like Vanir and Ruthern saw resurgence. In 1760, he successfully negotiated the acquisition of the vacant keep of Kovachgrad and the surrounding lands. For the first time since the construction of Fort Korstadt, House Kortrevich once again became “landed nobles.” Due to its vacancy, the keep was in disrepair, Viktor renovated the keep entirely and utilized the surrounding lands as farmland.
Under Viktor’s directive, the outskirts of Korstadt proved to be fertile farmland that cemented House Kortrevich as an agricultural reliance for Haense during the Scyfling Invasion. Throughout the invasion, House Kortrevich was instrumental in supplying the Kingdom with bushels of wheat, potatoes, corn and carrots. Very much like his father, he sought to expand his House’s influence outside just the military. In doing so, Viktor established Kortrevich Krafters, which became both a popular business in Haense and a wealthy one as the business expanded to the cities of Helena, Owynsburg and Avalain.
Having served as Deputy Palatine for a period of time, Viktor was suspected to succeed Otto Alimar as the twenty-sixth Lord Palatine of Haense. Though, it was later revealed that Petyr Baruch would be appointed instead. Similarly, Viktor was expected to succeed Henrik Vanir as the seventh Lord Speaker of Haense. Though, he later opted for his wife to assume the position instead. While Haense was under Imperial subjugation, it was integral for Haense to maintain autonomy over their domestic affairs. From 1775 to 1784, Viktor was selected to serve as Lord Speaker of Oren and represent Haeseni interests abroad.
Prior to the Kingdom’s breach into independence, Viktor was appointed as the fourth Royal Curator of Haense. For twenty-four years he would serve until his eventual resignation in 1812. With the migration to the continent of Almaris, Viktor continued to expand his house’s influence, as he returned to his house’s roots by increasing the size of his house’s representation in the military. Additionally, Viktor negligently spent much of his house’s treasury towards the construction of Karosgrad, leaving his house nearly bankrupt. Because of this, he was awarded the Viscounty of Krusev. After forty-one years as patriarch, Viktor served as Royal Curator of Haense for twenty-four years and Lord Speaker of Oren for nine years. Prior to his abdication, his eldest son Karl joined the clergy, causing his second-born son, Rickard to become heir-apparent. In 1799, Viktor abdicated, prompting his son to succeed him as the fourth patriarch of House Kortrevich.
Lord Speaker of Oren
While Haense was under Imperial subjugation, Viktor was selected to serve in the House of Lords for nearly ten years from 1775 to 1784. Through three consecutive diets, he was elected as Lord Speaker of Oren and was one of the key Haeseni voices representing Haeseni interests abroad. As a vassal under the Holy Orenian Empire, the Kingdom of Haense lacked autonomy over their noble affairs, which sparked concern for Sigismund II. As a result, Sigismund II ordered for Viktor to negotiate for the houses of Ludovar and Vyronov to be granted nobility. Convincingly, Viktor built a rapport with the Orenian coalition in the Imperial Diet; including Archchancellor Simon Basrid. Because of this, through Viktor’s influence, the houses of Ludovar and Vyronov were granted the County of Otistadt and the Barony of Astfield respectively.
Additionally, Viktor was instrumental in negotiating against strict taxes that were being levied against the Kingdom of Haense. While King Sigismund II and Emperor Peter III often clashed over various matters, Viktor’s influence in the upper chamber of the Imperial Diet proved fruitful as he made Haense’s subjugation underneath Oren less burdensome. In the nineteenth Imperial Diet, Viktor was selected to serve in the House of Lords for a fourth consecutive diet. He ran for reelection as Lord Speaker, but lost due to the supermajority put in place by Emperor Joseph II. In 1784, Viktor opted to return home to Haense, having his seat in the House of Lords replaced by an Orenian lord.
Royal Curator of Haense
With the Kingdom of Haense being granted independence from the Holy Orenian Empire, Haense was required to establish an entirely new framework for the Kingdom to follow post-independence. The creation of a legal codex was key, as previously the Kingdom followed the Orenian Revised Code. While under Imperial subjugation, Haense’s academic sector lacked funding, which prompted Joseph I to commission the reconstruction of the Kingdom’s defunct academic sector and the Royal Archives. Due to the notoriety of the Golden Crow Chronicles and the popularity of Viktor’s vast literary works, Joseph I appointed Viktor as the fourth Royal Curator of Haense.
From 1787 to 1788, Viktor mapped out extensive plans to revive the Kingdom’s academic sector. After gaining unanimous approval in the Royal Duma, Joseph I granted assent to his plans. In 1788, the Royal Academy of Saint Charles was established; being inspired by his father many years prior. Starting out, the academy boasted a 26:1 professor to student ratio for commoners and a 13:1 professor to student ratio for nobles. Under Viktor’s directive as Headmaster (Hauchdragus), the academy taught in various fields including, history, law and medicine. Early on, the academy provided employment to nearly a thousand faculty members.
After twelve years since the academy’s establishment, it turned out sixteen-thousand graduates; averaging roughly a thousand annually. As a result, literacy rates skyrocketed, the job market flourished and offices in the Aulic Government expanded twice fold. From 1788 to 1812, the academy began to offer internships for various Aulic Offices. For the next twelve years, the academy turned out an additional eighteen-thousand graduates; averaging fifteen-hundred each year.
Under Viktor’s learned guidance as Royal Curator, the Kingdom’s academic sector was successfully reconstructed. It offered affordable education for Haeseni from as young as six to eighteen years old, providing literacy rates to skyrocket and the job market to prosper. In 1812, Viktor resigned as Headmaster (Hauchdragus) after twenty-four years. As a result, the Royal Academy of Saint Charles was dissolved, leaving the building vacant for several years. To much of Viktor’s discontentment, he lobbied for the academy’s reestablishment, this came to no avail. Viktor’s academic sector is regarded as the most successful in Haeseni history.
While serving as headmaster of the academy, Viktor worked diligently in reforming the neglected Royal Archives. For the entirety of his tenure as Royal Curator, Viktor wrote hundreds of award-winning studies, directories and literary works and compiled them into one concise document. Some of these documents include; the Kings of Haense, the Directory of Haeseni Works, Nobility of Haense and the Guide to New Marian. Charitably, he donated hundreds of copies of these documents to the public library, to the affordable housing units and even to the lands as far as Valwyck, Reinmar and Vidaus. In 1812, Viktor was inducted into the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily as a Hauchkossar for his contributions to the Kingdom’s academic sector and his maintained organization of the Royal Archives. A few months later, Viktor resigned as Royal Curator prompting the position to be dissolved and removed from the Aulic Council. Despite entering his seventies, he is credited for maintaining the Royal Archives till his death in 1840.
Later Life and Death
As he entered retirement at seventy-two, Viktor maintained his presence in public life as he served as a High Judge (Jovenaar) for a short period of time and was even elected as a Royal Alderman for one term. Though, towards the waning years of his life, he spent much of his time in the County of Jerovitz advising his grandson, Jan. Additionally, he enjoyed fly fishing, clamming and boating within Lake Voron. In 1828, he and his cousin Ivan went on a hunting expedition outside Karosgrad. They encountered marauders, as a result, Ivan sacrificed his life and allowed Viktor time to flee the area. Following his unexpected sacrifice, Viktor posthumously reversed the disownment against Ivan, which sparked controversy. In 1840, Viktor and his brother Juliyus went on a deepwater fishing excursion off the coast of Providence into the Kahaean Sea. Unfortunately, a storm brewed unexpectedly overhead, costing the pair to be lost at sea. A few hours later, the remains of a fishing boat washed up on shore. Viktor died at the age of ninety-eight.
Posthumously, the study titled; ‘Ve Edlervik’ was published by Baruch & Kortrevich Publishing after its discovery. It contains the entire history of the Kingdom of Haense and was written by Viktor in its near entirety. Having died prior to its completion, Valwyck scholar Maxim Attenlund wrote the very few remaining sections. It is believed that Viktor began work on this study ten to fifteen years before its publication and is regarded as one of Viktor’s best literary works. After its publication, it received various nominations and awards for literary excellence, adding to his already expansive collection of awards. Six years following his death, Sigismund III inducted Viktor into the Order of the Queen Maya and the Lily as a Valtakossar; joining the like of Terrence May to receive the highest civilian honor.
Titles, Styles and Honors
Titles and Styles
- 1787-1812: His Excellency, Royal Curator of Haense
- 1774-1784: His Excellency, Lord Speaker of Oren
- 1758-1799: The Most Honorable, Margrave of Korstadt
- 1799-1799: The Right Honorable, Viscount of Krusev
- 1758–1799: His Lordship, Baron of Koravia
Honors
- 1846: VKML, Valtakossar of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily
- 1812: HKML, Hauchkossar of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily
- 1769: KML, Kossar of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily
Formal Title The formal title of Viktor is: Lord Viktor Kortrevich, Royal Curator of Hanseti-Ruska, Lord Speaker of Oren, Margrave of Korstadt, Viscount of Krusev, Baron of Koravia, VKML of the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily.'
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Anton Kortrevich | 1766 | 1846 | Unwed | First-born child of Viktor I and Marya Baruch. |
| Rickard I, Viscount of Krusev | 1771 | 1820 | Erika of Vasiland | Second-born son of Viktor I and Marya Baruch. Successor of Viktor I. |
| Anya of Kortrevich | 1772 | 1806 | Warren of Mondstadt | First-born daughter of Viktor I and Marya Baruch. |
| Aldrik of Kortrevich | 1773 | 1847 | Leana of Nenzing | Third-born son of Viktor I and Marya Baruch. |
| Varon of Kortrevich | 1775 | 1821 | Unwed | Fourth-born son of Viktor I and Marya Baruch.
|
