Marg Dyðan Bennand
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| Marg Dyðan Bennand | |
|---|---|
 Depiction by Germans Vomeu, c.1880 | |
| Born | c.1260 Bennand, Norjihan |
| Died | 2 September 1332 (aged 72) Listosord, Norjihan |
| Resting place | Temple of Tan, Listosord |
| Nationality | Norjihani |
| Occupation | Explorer, assassin, writer, mystic |
| Known for | The Peoples of the World |
Marg Dyðan Bennand (/mark ty.van bɪ.tn̥ɛːnt/, c.1260 - 2nd September 1332) was a Norjihani explorer, assassin, writer, historian, mystic and fraudster who travelled along trade routes around the region of Ekuosia during the late 13th and early 14th centuries, pretending to be the King of Norjihan. He recorded his travels, what he could learn of the histories of regions, and commentaries and arguments on religion, in his "Arguments Regarding and Against the Nations and the Peoples of This World", which was later to become the popular travel guide "The Peoples of the World". He was also a noted assassin, being implicated in a number of high-profile murders across much of Ekuosia; indeed, he discusses this career in the text of his book. He was marred by accusations of cannibalism following his return from his travels and for the rest of his career. He is a popular historical and folk figure in Norjihan, appearing in fiction and multiple dramatized accounts of his life.
Life
Birthplace and family origin
From his name, it is clear that Marg was born in Bennand, a member of the local Dyðan clan whose members are restricted to the western coast in the borderlands with the Algaz. In his own biography, Marg tries to claim, much as he did in journeys, that he was in fact the King of Norjihan but it is clear that this was not the case, nor will he have had any connection with the royal court, which at that time was based on the other side of the country at Ter Duvenniz. Many of the circumstances of his childhood are unclear, as he begins his account on his exit from Listosord, where we know he was present in the early 1280s having just come of age; from this, it is possible to discern that he must have born in the early 1260s.
Travels around Ekuosia
Galadros
After convincing the nobility of Galadros to assassinate the heir of the Grand Duke of Galadros, the major nobles of the country were so impressed with his work they offered him a position as the head spymaster of the country after their impending coup; he declined this position, as Galadros was not a Gennist country and protested his supposed royal status, albeit this was not successful. He then proceeded to inform the Grand Duke about the impending coup shortly before vacating Galadros entirely and moving on with his journey, taking with him further goods stolen from the royal treasury alongside the payments from both the nobility and a series of Pashaist texts etc.
Career as an Assassin
Accusations of Cannibalism
Juðan Listosordu, a scholar and writer of religious panegyrics, was killed by Marg following a dispute in which Juðan supposedly made "many false accusations", specifically that of cannibalism. The two had an extremely sour relationship due to a number of theological disputes that rose between the two. Juðan had a general reputation for annoying lines of questioning and his criticisms of secular rulers, and he turned this on Marg, who proceeded to murder him. A royal court held the next month acquitted Marg of the crime and the accusation of cannibalism, and indeed Juðan was declared a heretic. In any case, the accusations which Juðan stated were an amplification of some that had emerged beginning with Marg's return to Norjihan, and the incident ensured that such rumours would constantly dog him, despite the official acquittal.