Archive:Govegz Rona

From CWS Planet
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Govegz Rona
govezj rona
GovegzRona.jpeg
King of All Norjihanis
Reign1305-1354
SuccessorMahiraz II
High Chief of the Norjihanis
Reign1305-1306
PredecessorDjerev Seqki
Konnor of Ronyg
Reign1296-1343
PredecessorKiran
SuccessorMahiraz II
Born(1278-06-15)15 June 1278
Garesav, Norjihan
Died23 May 1343(1343-05-23) (aged 64)
Listosord, Norjihan
BurialTemple of the Perfect Divinity, Tel Duvemuz
IssueMahiraz II, Thuhan Rona
HouseRona
FatherEsullaz VI
MotherJanysa Garesav

King Govegz I Rona (15th June 1278 - 23rd May 1354, Native Name: govezj rona) was Konnor of Ronyg from 1294 to 1343, High Chief of the Norjihanis from 1305 to 1306, and King of All Norjihanis from 1305 until his death in 1343. Often known simply as Govegz Rona (as opposed to the later Govegz II), or as Govegz Takkan, or Govegz the Leper, his reign saw the creation of the first real Norjihani state and the creation of Szezkia alongside the Szezk Genocide in which around 250,000 people were killed. He is in this arguably one of the most influential figures in South Baredinan history.

He received the epithet Takkan ("He who carries out Tan's will") from Grand Servant Gestan II following the death of Anlar IV. He was described by Anlar, whom he famously quarrelled with, as "stubborn, quick to anger and infinitely willful." He was, however, also viewed as a "champion of Tan and of Norjihan, quick-thinking and well versed in warcraft and speech". During his later life, however, opinion of him deteriorated due to his leprosy which it appears he contracted in the 1320s and which, alongside bouts of madness, led to strong factionalism between groups supporting his two sons, Mahiraz and Thuhan; he was, however, able to play them against each other until he finally succumbed after a period of illness in 1343.

Govegz spent much of his early career attempting to become High Chief of Norjihan, after originally consolidating his position of Konnor of Ronyg, a title he gained when he was 16 due to his father Esullaz IV's death in a riding accident. His main political opponents were the Seqki family of Szezkia who via marriage and bribery had built up a large support base to support a bid to the High Chiefdom, a position to which Govegz also inspired. The conflict with the Seqki family led to Govegz's Coup of 1305, an event which led to the creation of the first Norjihani state, but also to the Szezk Genocide. Govegz also initiated a series of financial and legal reforms, based on various Ekuosian models, and also attempted to control the church, although this led to the Holy Rebellion of 1339.

Govegz helped lay the foundations of the modern Norjihani nation-state, but his actions also brought centuries of low-lying tensions out into the open and severed any goodwill between Baredans and Xhovians more generally, leading to many of the later events in South Baredinan history. Within Norjihan he centralised power, promoting family members and close friends and reining in the powers of the northern barons, along with bringing in a slate of changes which strengthened Norjihan's economy and trading power within the Argeyaz. However, his Leprosy left him and Norjihan weak in his later years, alongside his fits of madness.

Early Years

Govegz was born in June 1278 (dated normally to somewhere in the region of 13-16th June, but births were not normally recorded in official records, where they existed) as the youngest of five children of the Konnor of Ronyg Esullaz VI. His mother, Janysa Garesav, had died in childbirth, leaving the newborn Govegz in a precarious situation; he was born at the fortress at Garesav whilst his father was on campaign, and the lords of Garesav had their own claim to the Konnora of Ronyg. Thus, it is believed there was an attempt to kill the infant Govegz a few days after he was born; luckily he was saved by Esullaz's Constable, Juhan Serti, who helped sneak the infant out of the castle and took him to Ronyg. Huner, Lord of Garesav, was later burnt in punishment. He spent the majority of his childhood with his father and uncle, Kiran, in the royal capital at Ronyg, where Esullaz was Chancellor. Govegz was to receive the best education available for a young child at the time, from the age of 10 being under the direct tutorship of Grand Servant Anlar III himself. Not much beyond this is known about his childhood, apart from that he was considered to be intelligent by a number of sources (although most of these were written later on).

After his father's death in a hunting accident in 1294, leaving Govegz as the heir-apparent, Govegz tried to leave Listosord quickly so he could be be proclaimed as Konnor. However, he was stopped before he could leave the city by his uncle, Kiran, and Djerev Seqki, the successor to Esullaz as chancellor appointed by the then king Hunnas II Vomeja. Seqki used document he claimed had been drawn up by Esullaz disinheriting Govegz and instead proclaiming Kiran as heir to the Konnora as reason to strip Govegz of his title. It was widely known that this was a fake, but Govegz was placed under house arrest and Kiran was invested as Konnor of Ronyg in an elaborate ceremony in Listosord. It is clear Hunnas himself had been involved in the plot, hoping Kiran would be more compliant than the more independent minded Govegz. Following Kiran's investment, and after swearing an oath in which he had to agree not to claim the title of Konnora, Govegz was released and given a mid-level army placement in Isugza. He quickly proved himself, defeating Ittohari raiders and siezing towns along the northern coast. During his time in the army it appears he became exposed to anti-Xhovian rhetoric by a priest, Arnad of Lesanna, who accompanied him, although this was of course also a result of his dealings with Djerev.

Assuming Control of Ronyg

After the death of General Marse, Lord of the Vaje, in late 1295, Govegz was proclaimed Grand General of the Southern Armies by a council of the army, called by him and a group of his supporters. This was very unusual practice, as generals would normally be chosen by election at the court in Listosord rather than by the soldiery themselves; however, Govegz clearly had their support, which he had gained during the Ittohari campaign. He instantly began to march northwards, reaching Ulo three days after the march of the army, where he was welcomed by Konnor Gerand of Ulo, who had his own personal grievances against the crown. It is believe Gerand tried to convince Govegz to march on the capital at such an early phase, and Gerand was to be an important figure in later events too. However, Govegz was willing to try and negotiate with the capital; he promised not to march on Listosord if his title as Konnor of Ronyg was restored to him. This was agreed to, as Listosord was virtually defenceless at that time as the Northern Armies were on campaign in X. However, Kiran refused to step down.

Kiran quickly left Listosord, presumably allowed to leave by King Hunnas, and tried to reach Ronyg quickly, hiring mercenaries and meeting up with forces led by Jall, Lord of Garesav (son of Hunr) who had been in Tel Duvemuz pressing a claim. Govegz, on learning of Kiran's advance, marched the Southern Armies up from Ulo, along with a detatchment from Ulo, to try and reach Ronyg first. Govegz reached the city on February 8th 1296, taking the sections south of the River Rone, but was unable to cross the Bridge of Tears after it was deliberately destroyed by the garrison on the north side. Kiran arrived a day later, and set up camp on the northern side of the river. Kiran was happy to wait in the northern half, hoping that the Southern Armies would eventually dissipate and Govegz's support would weaken. Govegz, meanwhile, was faced with the issue of how to cross the river, especially given the northern banks were placed under constant patrol by Kiran. However, Govegz managed to get messengers across the river to start negotiating with Jall to try and get him to defect; Govegz promised to make Jall's children his designated heirs to the Konnora. Govegz agreed to this demand, and in return Jall, whose troops were being used to guard the central town and the river crossing within the city, agreed to help ferry Govegz's troops across during the dead of night. On the night of March 10th, a small detachment of 200 soldiers crossed the river and, along with Garesav's troops, slaughtered the garrison and took the town. Govegz crossed over to the other side the next day, where he underwent the ceremonial "crowning" by the Grand Servant of Ronyg (second only to the Grand Servant of Listosord) for the title. Kiran, realising he had little chance of taking the city, surrendered on the 12th. Govegz had agreed to spare him, but this was not to be the case; he instead had him drowned in the Rone.

Exile

Return to Court

Coup of 1305 and the Szezk Genocide

Actions as King

Death and Burial