Chenek of Lorenvald

Duke of Joraje 431-446
 Predecessor: Ankred of Lorenvald
 Pretender: Prokop the Bad
 Successor: Moroslaf of Kostravald (disputed)
INTRODUCTION
Chenek of Lorenvald (408-446VC) also known as Chenek the Pious was the Second son of Jan the Wise and duke of Joraje from 431 to 446. Chenek ended the Loren Succession crisis by killing the usurper Prokop of Nidyitz, his uncle, and Tomas the Bold, Prokop's benefactor. After the end of the crisis in 435 the Loren treasury was bankrupt and Chenek failed to introduce the necessary economic policies to revive the Joran economy instead secluding himself for large periods of time to the chapel of Lorenvald castle.EARLY LIFE
Chenek was born in 408 to Jan the Wise and Helena of Pecka. During Chenek's childhood his Father re-established Loren hegemony of Joraje when he defeated Hejnrik II of Jehnidy in 413 at the Battle of Eshkonitze. Chenek was tutored by Hanz of Arryet abbey. With Jan the Wise's premature death in 417, Bruno of Rund took control of the country as regent for Ankred of Lorenvald, Chenek's brother.
LIFE UNDER BRUNO AND ANKRED
Bruno of Rund's calamitous reign of 6 years between 417-423 put the Lorens in a very weak position against Prokop the Bad. Bruno lost Rojmberk in 419, losing the loyalties of the Brehsa family simultaneously. The defeat at Norŝof in 420 made Bruno seclude himself in Ŝteck castle. Bruno's final defeat at Vernberk in 422 caused the revolt of a number of noble families which a 15 year old Ankred had to quell. When no ransom was paid for Bruno's release from Pallenburk castle in 422 Ankred took over the nation and had to deal with his Uncle, rebellious nobles such as Gerhard of Vitep and Ulrich of Jehnidy as well as Bruno's futile witch trials that had cost the Loren family money and authority. Chenek was present at the Battle of Zabuch and other minor conflicts with Prokop including an ambush at Hradec Zahlovy where Chenek narrowly escaped with his life, Janik the Blonde being killed during the same confrontation. After the successful Siege of Lorenvald in 430 by Prokop, Gerhard and Ulrich, Chenek was forced to leave the castle and retreat with his Brother to Hrad Ŝteck. In 431 the death of Gerhard of Vitep caused Ankred to launch an offensive to recapture Lorenvald castle but he died at Arryet abbey that same year. Chenek was proclaimed Duke of Joraje at Arryet in 431 by the army that was amassed there.
WAR AGAINST PROKOP THE BAD
Chenek was forced to abandon Ankred's plans to retake Lorenvald when a revolt was sparked in the city of Erndek by Babl Bednar a local guilder. After quelling the Bednar revolt in 432, Chenek had to deal with Prokop who had expanded into Southern Karred. Chenek tried to maintain control of the market town of Cerke Loda but was pushed back at the nearby village of Vidny Loda. Prokop ended his campaign in 433 and for a time lived in the Lorenvald castle which had been captured in 431. During this time Prokop's main benefactor and supporter, the 64 year old Ulrich of Jehnidy who had been ill for the last year, died of pneumonia. His successor, Tomas the Bold, was keen to end the war decisively after a number of years of stagnation. Prokop had left for Mibram to attend Ulrich's funeral and Tomas's succession. Chenek used this opportunity to march on Lorenvald castle and Prokop's rag-tag garrison of supporters and mercenaries. There, Chenek made a powerful religious speech and demanded the Werrans spare eachother a siege of suffering. The castle capitulated in 434 but Chenek had little time to celebrate his victory. Tomas the Bold and the exiled Prokop the Bad conspired to finally defeat Chenek and place Prokop as Duke of Joraje and a number of skirmishes took place along the Jehnidy-Loren borders, most notably at Bibec where Tomas lead his armies to defeat a Loren force under Nejbert of Brammof. In 435 Prokop and Tomas begun their siege of Lorenvald however 3 months in a relief army lead by Chenek crushed the armies of Prokop and Tomas at the Battle of Waldik Stream, where the sieging army was pinned by the garrison and the relief force. Tomas the Bold was killed in the action and Prokop the Bad was executed before the Battle had ended.
PEACE IN THE REALM
Chenek's glorious victory at Waldik Stream ended the 18 year long Loren Succession crisis and weakened the Jehnidy family. Mariya of Kolerecik ruled as female Lord of the Jehnidy and ended all hostilities with the Loren. Despite this the Loren treasury was bankrupt and Chenek could do little to reverse the situation. From around 437 he gave up trying to find a wife or enjoy typical hobbies and secluded himself to the Chapel of Lorenvald castle. Joraje was stable but lacked any strong leadership as seen by Jan the Wise. Chenek was often seen praying at his Brother and Father's graves at the Loren Chapel of Arryet abbey. He held a Hetzbukarn in 439 at Hrad Ŝteck where he ironed out the issues that had caused the Bednar revolt and resolved a feud between the Red and Black Eruda that had formed following the death of Janik the Blonde in 427. In that same year Chenek called for a synod at Arryet abbey to discuss the 'Mikniha' controversy. This was a philosophical debate about converting pagans to werranism and whether it should be conducted by the Sword or the Book (Mik-Niha). The perspective was never clearly defined by Werran scripture and St Lorau proposed a 'Mik' approach whilst St Oronod proposed a more peaceful 'Niha' approach. The synod was inconclusive and it started a theological divide that lasted until the Synod of 475. Chenek did not marry due to his religious convictions and focused more and more on prayer and worship as he aged being seen less and less in court.
DEATH AND SUCCESSION
In 446 the 38 year old Chenek the Pious died after a rapid decline and a series of epileptic seizures. He died without an heir and so his sister, Anna of Prodso came to rule with her husband, Moroslaf of Kostravald. Chenek was buried next to his brother and father at the Loren chapel in Arryet and donated a sizable sum of pfunds from his personal wealth to the abbey.