Julian dynasty: Difference between revisions

m
Line 57: Line 57:
Although Cónn and his kin were descended from a relatively recent King, they had become an obscure noble family by the end of the 12th century as the [[Urce River]] had been brought more firmly under the Urcean crown. Accordingly, Cónn (sometimes called "Cónn the Younger") spent his energies consolidating local estates and building a strong inheritance for his family without concern for Royal politics. In [[1209]], King Niall III conveyed on Cónn the title of Count Palatine of Holmfilth, recognizing the energetic efforts of Cónn to gain greater power and recognition. King Niall's reign as Apostolic King and [[Emperor of the Levantines]], combined with his heavyhanded nature, made him extremely unpopular with Urcea's [[Social_class_in_Urcea#High_Optimate|Optimates]] as a time when Count Cónn grew in popularity and noteriety. King Niall III died in [[1214]] and Optimates within [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] invited him to take the throne rather than the [[House of Aleckán]]'s heir, Prince Donnchad. Cónn accepted and was crowned Constantine I, establishing the Cónn as a new Royal house within the Julian dynasty. His acceptance of the crown unwittingly began two centuries of dynastic struggle between the Cónn and Aleckán families.  
Although Cónn and his kin were descended from a relatively recent King, they had become an obscure noble family by the end of the 12th century as the [[Urce River]] had been brought more firmly under the Urcean crown. Accordingly, Cónn (sometimes called "Cónn the Younger") spent his energies consolidating local estates and building a strong inheritance for his family without concern for Royal politics. In [[1209]], King Niall III conveyed on Cónn the title of Count Palatine of Holmfilth, recognizing the energetic efforts of Cónn to gain greater power and recognition. King Niall's reign as Apostolic King and [[Emperor of the Levantines]], combined with his heavyhanded nature, made him extremely unpopular with Urcea's [[Social_class_in_Urcea#High_Optimate|Optimates]] as a time when Count Cónn grew in popularity and noteriety. King Niall III died in [[1214]] and Optimates within [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] invited him to take the throne rather than the [[House of Aleckán]]'s heir, Prince Donnchad. Cónn accepted and was crowned Constantine I, establishing the Cónn as a new Royal house within the Julian dynasty. His acceptance of the crown unwittingly began two centuries of dynastic struggle between the Cónn and Aleckán families.  


Constantine I's son, Aedanicus III, ruled from 1231 through 1253. He was plagued with various mental health issues which culminated in early onset senility by the late 1240s. His inability resulted in Prince Donnchad of the Aleckán deposing him in [[1253]], though he was allowed to keep his life and even life in the [[Julian Palace]] until his natural death in [[1257]]. Aedanicus III's son, Adrian, recognized the graciousness of the act and disavowed his claim to the throne. He befriended Donnchad's son, Riordan [[House of Aleckán|Aleckán]], who became King Riordan IV in [[1266]]. Controversially, Riordan IV named his friend Adrian, rather than his brother Niall, as his heir, and Adrian assumed the throne in [[1275]]. He was unable to produce an heir of any kind, creating succession issues, but ruled relatively successfully for 37 years, dying in 1312. The next Cónn heir was also named Adrian (sometimes referred to as "the Younger"), whose relation to Adrian I was unclear but many historians believe he was a second cousin. Adrian the Younger took the throne after an 18 year period of Aleckán rule, killing the Aleckán King Lucás I in [[1330]]. An old man by the time he took the throne, King Adrian II died in 1339 after nine years on the throne and had no children. His death, with other factors, inaugurated the [[Saint%27s_War#Third_Phase:_Great_Interregnum|Great Interregnum]] in [[1339]], a 63 year period of division in Urcea, in part because Adrian had no consensus heir.  
Constantine I's son, Aedanicus III, ruled from 1231 through 1253. He was plagued with various mental health issues which culminated in early onset senility by the late 1240s. His inability resulted in Prince Donnchad of the Aleckán deposing him in [[1253]], though he was allowed to keep his life and even life in the [[Julian Palace]] until his natural death in [[1257]]. Aedanicus III's son, Adrian, recognized the graciousness of the act and disavowed his claim to the throne. He befriended Donnchad's son, Riordan [[House of Aleckán|Aleckán]], who became King Riordan IV in [[1266]]. Controversially, Riordan IV named his friend Adrian, rather than his brother Niall, as his heir, and Adrian assumed the throne in [[1275]]. He was unable to produce an heir of any kind, creating succession issues, but ruled relatively successfully for 37 years, dying in 1312. The next Cónn heir was also named Adrian (sometimes referred to as "the Younger"), whose relation to Adrian I was unclear but many historians believe he was a second cousin. Adrian the Younger took the throne after an 18 year period of Aleckán rule, killing the Aleckán King Lucás I in [[1330]].  
 
An old man by the time he took the throne, King Adrian II died in 1339 after nine years on the throne and had no children. His death, with other factors, inaugurated the [[Saint%27s_War#Third_Phase:_Great_Interregnum|Great Interregnum]] in [[1339]], a 63 year period of division in Urcea, in part because Adrian had no consensus heir. A civil war broke out between possible Cónn claimants between Adrian's death in August and the end of the war in Deceber, when a man named Caelian Cónn took [[Cálfeld]] and the Grand Duchy of [[Harren]], at which time he was recognized as head of the Cónn faction. Caelian Cónn's relation to the previous Cónn Kings is unclear, but newly uncovered evidence in [[2006]] suggests he was a descendant of Constantine I. Caelian Cónn was of uncertain age at the time of his accession as Grand Duke, but he died in [[1359]]. Caelian's son, Brian, led the faction until his own death in [[1382]] and was succeeded by his son, Aedanicus (1361-1402).


The status of the Cónn as "senior house" of the Julian dynasty has been greatly disputed by both contemporaries and modern historians. Throughout the [[Saint's War]] period, the Aleckán family retained the title of Custóir of the [[Julii (Estate)|Julii]], functionally making them the head of the extended Julian family. The Cónn were unable to dislodge the Aleckáns from that office due to the fact that a majority of the extended Julian estate supported the Aleckáns. The junior familial nature of the Cónn was a source of significant political embarassment throughout the Saint's War, and as stated historians are divided on whether or not they ever rose to the level of "senior house" despite having held the Apostolic Kingship.
The status of the Cónn as "senior house" of the Julian dynasty has been greatly disputed by both contemporaries and modern historians. Throughout the [[Saint's War]] period, the Aleckán family retained the title of Custóir of the [[Julii (Estate)|Julii]], functionally making them the head of the extended Julian family. The Cónn were unable to dislodge the Aleckáns from that office due to the fact that a majority of the extended Julian estate supported the Aleckáns. The junior familial nature of the Cónn was a source of significant political embarassment throughout the Saint's War, and as stated historians are divided on whether or not they ever rose to the level of "senior house" despite having held the Apostolic Kingship.