Council of Four

The Council of Four, whose individual members were referred to as the Dukes in the mid–14 and 15th century DR, was the governing body of the city of Baldur's Gate consisting of four powerful individuals elected for life. The council was part of the Lords' Alliance, which included Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Silverymoon, among others.
==Organisation== 
In the 15 century, Baldur's Gate was governed by the Council of Four, which consisted of dukes and was the highest governing body that decided on law and politics. One of the dukes, the Grand Duke, had the power to break deadlocks in the Council. Below them was the Parliament of Peers, which discussed future actions and made recommendations to the dukes on all matters.
One of the dukes is traditionally the highest ranking officer of the Flaming Fist.
==History==
The history of the council dates back to the earliest days of Baldur's Gate and the conflict between the rich farmers of the walled city and the sea-captains of the harbor who refused to pay for entering the gate that had been financed by their colleague Balduran. The captains overthrew the farmers and the four eldest among them were installed as rulers, jokingly calling themselves "dukes".
In the mid–15 century DR, Grand Duke Valarken tried to seize power using lycanthrope mercenaries, but failed. After that, surviving Duke Dillard Portyr dissolved the council, which was replaced by the Baldurian Parliament for some time.
In 1492 DR, the Council of Four and the Parliament of Peers were dissolved after Lord Enver Gortash was named the first archduke of Baldur's Gate following a vote in the High Hall by the peers. 
==Members== 
1357 DR:
(all known as Grand Dukes and Duchesses)
*Belt, a powerful warrior and famed adventurer;
*Eltan, the founder of the Baldurian Flaming Fist;
*Liia Jannath, a skilled mage; and
*Entar Silvershield, the richest citizen of the city.
1479 DR:
*Abdel Adrian, the famed adventurer and celebrated hero of the city;
*Torlin Silvershield, the wealthy and powerful cleric of Gond;
*Grand Duke Dillard Portyr, an elder businessman who was rather easily influenced; and
*Belynne Stelmane, a formidable politician who was possessed by a mind flayer.
1492 DR:
*Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard, a career officer within the Flaming Fist;
*Thalamra Vanthampur, a cunning patriar who built her family's wealth and lifted herself out of poverty;
*Dillard Portyr, the former Grand Duke before he ceded it to Ravengard; and
*Belynne Stelmane.
==Appendix==
===Appearances===
===References ===
Category:Councils
Category:Organizations
Category:Organizations in Baldur's Gate
Category:Organizations in the Western Heartlands
Category:Organizations on the Sword Coast
Category:Organizations in West Faerûn
Category:Organizations in Faerûn
Category:Organizations on Toril
Category:Bodies of government
Category:Members of the Lords' Alliance