Gratien Valmont

Grand Duke Gratien Valmont (born 7:99 Storm) was the younger twin brother of Emperor Reville Valmont. He was a member of House Valmont.
== Background ==
Gratien was born to Emperor Etienne I and his third wife, Yvette Valmont, in 7:99 Storm, one hour after the birth of his older twin brother, Reville. As the emperor had remained childless through two marriages and almost three decades, the birth of his twin sons was heralded as a blessing by the Chantry, prompting the Divine to declare the Blessed Age.Codex entry: The Mystery and Meaning of Eight Silks By all accounts, Gratien never felt envious of his older brother's position, instead feeling relieved at not being burdened with the throne. He was known as a kind soul who only had his brother's best interests at heart and was much enamored with his wife and children.Codex entry: Mad Emperor Reville
In 8:24 Blessed, Emperor Reville ordered the second invasion of Ferelden against the advice of Gratien, who warned that Nevarra would take advantage of the situation to declare war. The invasion was initially wildly successful, granting Reville the entirety of Ferelden and the approval of his court.
In 8:31 Blessed, Gratien accompanied King Barran Aeducan in an expedition to the Deep Roads, further consolidating the friendship between their nations and bringing back a deepstalker trophy that is still exhibited in the Winter Palace's trophy room.
In 8:46 Blessed, Gratien's warnings of war with an opportunistic Nevarra came to pass. As the bulk of the Orlesian forces were still committed to a guerrilla war in occupied Ferelden, Nevarra launched surprise attacks against northern Orlais. The chevaliers met spectacular defeat against the Nevarrans; the city of Perendale had to be permanently ceded to Nevarra.Codex entry: The Perendale War In the wake of that defeat, the opinion of the court turned against Reville and he became the target of whispers and the butt of jokes. Many of his courtiers pointed to Gratien as the source of the criticism, while others began to openly talk of putting him on the throne instead of his older brother.
When their mother, who had acted as a calming influence, died in 8:47, Reville snapped and ordered the assassination of Gratien and his entire family. Gratien, his wife, their three grown children and eight grandchildren were all killed at their estate in Sablissent on the Feast of Ascension, their bodies thrown into a mass grave and burned. The youngest, Camille, was only eight months old. A popular Orlesian children's rhyme, "In a ring of silver, who shall stay? One little child gets away," holds that Verene, Gratien's eleven year old granddaughter, actually escaped the massacre, though that rumor has not been verified.
The slaughter of Gratien and his family sent a chill throughout the Imperial Court. Reville became convinced that the angry ghost of his twin brother sought his downfallCodex entry: Superstitions of the Royal Family and grew increasingly paranoid, wearing armor wherever he went and refusing to let any physicians attend to him. Reville eventually died in 8:51 after spending more than a year locked in his room, fearing retribution for the assassination of Gratien and his family.
== Codex entries ==
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== Note texts ==
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== Trivia ==
* As children, Gratien and Reville were gifted an aquatic pet of unknown nature by the ambassador to Rivain, which they dubbed Messere Glubs. He was released to the sea after taking the hand of a page.Note: The Summer Home of Messere Glubs
== References ==
Category:Characters
Category:Historical characters
Category:Humans
Category:Orlesians
Category:Orlesian nobility
Category:Royalty