Episode 147 Epilogue: The Tomb of the Great King - The Saga of Lioncourt

After Varian's death, a ceasefire agreement was swiftly concluded between Lioncourt and Amoros. The conditions were straightforward: maintain the status quo. Both parties withdrew their armies, signaling the end of the war. It was a simple matter of mutual inability to continue the conflict due to each side's damage and internal issues. The Lioncourt army suffered heavy casualties, compounded by the death of their king, while the Kingdom of Amoros found itself invaded by the southern Vabre-Fauré alliance due to its military movement. Particularly significant was the battle on the Canard Plain, where Varian claimed the life of Gerard, the king's legitimate grandson and son of Crown Prince Charles. This loss crippled Amoros's morale, leading to a peace treaty heavily favoring the Vabre-Fauré alliance. This Battle of the Canard Plain marked a turning point in the Amoros region. The result was a draw of sorts: the rising Kingdom of Lioncourt lost its king and thus some of its power, while the Kingdom of Amoros relinquished its hegemonic status due to the Vabre-Fauré intervention. Varian's body was embalmed at Castle Barca and returned to Lioncourt, where his funeral was held. Following his will, he was buried outside the fortress city of Portus. The people of Lioncourt wept, believing "the king protects Lioncourt even in death." Varian became an object of reverence, and twenty-eight years later, he was beatified by the Eastern Church, being honored as a devout exemplar, distinct from a saint known for miracles. After the funeral, Varian's heir Robert ascended to the throne as Robert I of the Lioncourt Kingdom, but his reign was fraught with turmoil. Just after Robert's coronation, Varian's father, Count Rudolf of Lioncourt, returned from exile to claim his right to the throne. Backed by the marquises of Fauré and Vabre, he returned with an army. Naturally, such a claim received no legitimacy. King Robert, supported by Jean de Groot and José de Bénirol, marshaled forces to defeat Rudolf's army. Forced to retreat once more to the Marquisate of Fauré, Rudolf disappeared from the political stage. Taking advantage of the chaos, Robert’s half-brother Simon, supported by Ge Baron and Count Darmont, raised an army. Simon seized lands in Barca and Kluge, redistributing them to bolster his faction, quickly expanding his power. Robert's army, seeking to consolidate his legitimacy, deliberately excluded Simon, an oversight that backfired. Feeling ignored and seeing Robert's army pass him by, Simon had his reasons for discontent. Jean, who effectively commanded Robert's forces, advocated for an attack on Simon, sparking open conflict—the start of a civil war. Initially, Jean's tactical prowess overwhelmed Simon, and Robert's forces maintained an advantage. But misfortune struck the Lioncourt Kingdom when Rodrigue de Lioncourt, conducting state affairs, passed away, necessitating Robert's return. With Robert's withdrawal, Simon seized full control of Barca and Kluge, turning the tide in his favor. His triumph created a formidable power base, absorbing territories and placing countless regions under his dominion. Despite Simon's newfound dominance, he fell short against fortified Portus, defended by Jean, resulting in a stalemate. For a year and a half, Simon and Jean's evenly matched forces clashed intermittently, without decisive victory. An unexpected betrayal by Dominic de Daumier shattered this deadlock, allowing Simon’s forces to infiltrate Lioncourt via the newly constructed Elbow Kud River canal, bypassing key fortifications. Simon's army pressed straight towards the capital, left vulnerable amid expansion works. Caught off guard, Robert and his uncle Andre de Cocas mounted defenses but were ultimately defeated and killed. Jean, now isolated in Portus, surrendered, later serving as a military advisor for Simon. Thus, the Lioncourt dynasty, founded by Varian, ended within a mere five years as Simon de Casta ascended as Simon I, founding the Casta dynasty in the Lioncourt Kingdom. Initially, Simon was welcomed by the people as Varian's rebirth, but his lack of interest in governing caused disillusionment. Claiming one of his father's wives, Chiara de Person, as his own, he departed for Castle Barca, abandoning Lioncourt. While the populace initially rejoiced, Simon's departure led to profound disappointment, earning him the reputation of a fool king. Rumors painted him as "a king unworthy of Varian," with the church records even dubbing him the "Demon King." ............... King Simon showed no interest in governance, repeatedly leading the army his father had honed on numerous conquests. Without a clear strategic vision, these conquests appeared as mere exercises of power, fulfilling his simple desire for conquest. To Simon, newly acquired territories were nothing more than soldier sources. Over time, Simon ruthlessly dominated surrounding regions and controlled all of Amoros without ever bothering to govern the conquered lands. His relentless pace of conquest defied belief. As Simon's campaign extended southwards beyond Amoros, internal dissent troubled him. Despite facing betrayals from those disillusioned by the aimless attacks, Simon continued his campaigns driven by a childish impulse to conquer everything in sight. Tragically, his exceptional physical prowess, military skill continually honed by Jean, and the Lioncourt soldiers trained under King Varian enabled his reckless conquests. Simon amassed victories as he suffered betrayals from followers, pushing on ceaselessly. After more than twenty years of relentless military campaigns, discontented nobles rallied Simon’s younger brother, Raymond, to lead a rebellion. However, this uprising was swiftly suppressed by Jean upon his return. Raymond was subsequently captured and met a suspicious death. Regardless, Simon’s strength was undeniable. Ultimately, after conquering an area twice the size of Amoros, Simon was assassinated at the age of 42. The assassin was said to be Gilbert de Coupe, a close friend and trusted confidant. Simon became known as the "Conqueror King," leaving a profound legacy on future generations. Yet, his contemporaries regarded him as a "tyrant." Illustration (By Mitemin) Following Simon's death, the kingdom crumbled. His disgruntled vassals rose simultaneously in rebellion. However, the lands Simon had distributed among his vassals during his conquests were a patchwork, leading to chaos and fragmentation. The Amoros region dissolved into a multitude of small states. From this point onward, the unification of Amoros was never achieved again. ............... Afterward, the Lioncourt Kingdom existed as a regional power, limited to the Lioncourt Basin and surrounding areas. Having no direct heirs and with Raymond deceased, Simon's sister Emma de Lioncourt inherited the throne. Together with her husband Albert de Bénirol, who served as co-regent, she adeptly governed the Lioncourt region while severing ties with other territories. This bold decision stabilized the previously tumultuous Lioncourt Kingdom. Thus, Emma's lineage founded the Bénirol dynasty. The Lioncourt Kingdom continued under the Bénirol dynasty for about eight generations, gradually losing territory until the monarchy was eventually abolished in a subsequent dynasty. The last king was the 44th in line from Varian. ............... Varian’s tomb, initially outside the gates of Portus, was eventually encompassed within the city as it expanded. It was said that those with respect always dismounted in reverence before Varian's grave. Emma's son, during the era of Varian II, maintained the tomb, guarded by a particular sibling pair, reportedly former slaves.