House of Lothar

The House of Lothar is one of Torrune's oldest and most historically significant mercantile clans, although it no longer possesses the political influence it once did. The first Lord of the City was Gideon of the House of Lothar and the household still takes great pride in this illustrious ancestor. 
The house's prominence as a trading clan goes back to the late 900s CV, shortly after the founding of the Helvandrian League. It was one of the first to grow rich from the renewal of the river-trade which is Torrune's lifeblood. In those days, Torrune was part of the Duchy of Charagma, and the House of Lothar was a close ally of the dukes in Dun Charag, which certainly helped them grow and prosper as the city did. 
After the conclusion of the XXXXXXX War in 1087 CV, which left Charagma saddled with both enormous debts and the ineffective leadership of Duke XXXXXXXX, the House of Lothar played a key role in persuading XXXXXXX to sell Torrune its independence. Gideon, head of the House, masterminded the cooperation of the city's often-contentious merchant clans in this effort and served as their chief representative in negotiations with XXXXXX. The merchants' cause benefited not just from his considerable personal charisma, but from his household's long record of friendship and loyal support for Dun Charag. This made it easier for the weak-minded XXXXXXX to imagine that he could sell the city its freedom in name (thereby resolving his dire financial situation) and still keep it under his thumb in practice. Of course this was not to be, and the Dukes of Charagma have resented the arrangement ever since.
When the deal was concluded in 1089 CV, Lothar won election as the first archon of the newly independent Torrune. He reigned for ten years before abdicating in 1098 CV due to his advanced age. His rule was considered wise and effective, and he did much to shepherd the city through those early days when so much work was needed on the institutions of self-rule. After his abdication, he was replaced by Talrik of the House of Turpin (Lothar's decision to step down due to old age helped establish the precedent which was used just five years later to pressure Talrik into also abdicating over his poor health). 
Since Gideon's abdication, the House of Lothar has not come near the seat of power again and has mostly avoided the rough-and-tumble of Torrune's politics. However, they remain a quite prosperous mercantile family, owning dozens of river-boats and two large warehouses on the Low City waterfront. They mostly deal in wine from Huareb and Lucidar, but also in wool and dwarven metal-works. The masters of the house have always been respectable members of the Merchants' Guild.