House Valmont

House Valmont has been the ruling imperial house of Orlais since the end of the Exalted Age. 
== Background ==
House Valmont first rose to prominence during the Exalted Age when Lambert Valmont, a young captain in the Orlesian army, distinguished himself during the Battle of Ayesleigh in 5:24. Lambert is said to have disregarded his orders and went to the aid of the beleaguered Antivans, saving them from absolute destruction (some say this was motivated by his infatuation with an Antivan camp follower, though this has never been confirmed). The Antivan force had been led by King Azar Adalberto Campana himself, and the King thanked his saviour by elevating him to noble rank and giving him one of his daughter's hand in marriage. Lambert adopted the lion as his symbol, a creature native to Eastern Thedas. When Lambert returned to Orlais the Emperor felt obligated to follow suit and granted him a Marquisate. Jealous nobles gave him the nickname of the Swaggering Lion, a nickname which Lambert embraced. 
House Valmont rose to royal status with Lambert's son, Alphonse, who led the civil war against the supposed usurper Xavier Drakon. He killed Xavier in single combat, giving rise to the great Orlesian legend of The Lion Slaying the Dragon and putting an end to the Drakon dynasty.Codex entry: The Lion of Orlais (Inquisition) As of Emperor Florian's reign, House Valmont consisted of the main royal branch and four cadet branches.Codex entry: Winter Palace In addition to their Antivan royal ancestry, the family is related to Nevarran nobility, Ander nobility, and the Orlesian noble houses of Chalons, de Montfort,Note: Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library) and de Ghislain through marriage.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 67–68 They were also related to the Nevarran royal Pentaghast family in the late Storm Age, through Emperor Etienne Valmont I's marriage to Princess Sotiria Pentaghast. Etienne's decision to divorce his wife and marry his mistress, Yvette, after the marriage failed to produce any children notoriously soured all further relations between the two great royal families and their respective countries.Codex entry: The Perendale War
Empress Celene Valmont I ascended to the throne in 9:20 Dragon after the death of her uncle Emperor Florian. 
== Known Valmonts ==
* Marquis Lambert Valmont – known as "the Swaggering Lion"
* Emperor Alphonse Valmont – the first Valmont Emperor
* Duke Isidore d'Arlesans – younger brother of Emperor AlphonseNote: The Lions of Orlais
* Duke Yvon of Savrenne – younger brother of Emperor Alphonse
* Duke Stephan of Val Montaigne – younger brother of Emperor Alphonse
* Divine Amara III – sister of Emperor Alphonse; elected Divine in 5:71 Exalted
* Empress Merise Valmont – ruled from 6:19 - 6:43 SteelCodex entry: Three Little Empresses
* Emperor Freyan Valmont – abolished the law preventing women from becoming Chevaliers upon succeeding his father as emperor in 7:44 StormCodex entry: Aveline, Knight of Orlais
* Emperor Cyril Valmont – ruled during the liberation of Kirkwall from the Qunari in 7:60 StormNote: Victory and Shade
* Emperor Etienne Valmont I – presided over the Exalted March against the Qunari; strengthened trade with Orzammar; father of Reville and Gratien Valmont
* Emperor Reville Valmont – better known as "Mad Emperor Reville"
* Grand Duke Gratien Valmont – Emperor Reville's twin brother
* Emperor Etienne Valmont II – eldest son of Emperor Reville; was assassinated four years into his rule by dissatisfied noblesNote: The Valmont Emperors (Etienne II)Codex entry: Council of Heralds
* Grand Duchess Leontine Valmont – daughter of Emperor RevilleCodex entry: Judicael's Crossing
* Emperor Judicael Valmont I – youngest son of Emperor Reville; rebuilt the Winter Palace at Halamshiral
* Emperor Judicael Valmont II – eldest son of Emperor Judicael INote: The Valmont Emperors (Judicael II)
* Emperor Florian Valmont – Ferelden regained independence during his reign
* Grand Duke Reynaud Valmont – youngest son of Emperor Judicael ICodex entry: Superstitions of the Royal Family
* Grand Duchess Melisande Valmont – youngest daughter of Emperor Judicael I
* Verene – granddaughter of Grand Duke Gratien; rumored to have escaped the massacre that killed her family at the age of eleven
* Camille – granddaughter of Grand Duke Gratien; she was massacred with her family at the age of eight monthsCodex entry: Mad Emperor Reville
* Crown Prince Etienne Valmont III – elder twin son of Emperor Judicael II; he died in infancy during the Hundred Days Cough of 8:77Note: Halamshiral Investigation - Clues (Grand Library)
* Crown Prince Leopold Valmont – younger twin son of Emperor Judicael II; he died in infancy during the Hundred Days Cough of 8:77
* Princess Evangeline Valmont – daughter of Florian; she died in infancy during the Hundred Days Cough of 8:77
* Comte Alphonse Valmont – murdered by the Ben-Hassrath operative known as Tallis
* Empress Celene Valmont I – daughter of Grand Duke Reynaud Valmont and Duchess Clarisse de Montfort; current ruler of Orlais (9:41 Dragon)
== Family tree ==
== Codex entries ==
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== Note texts ==
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== Trivia ==
* The Valmont heraldry is a golden lion on a purple field.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, Chapter 1
* The blood of Queen Asha of Antiva runs in House Valmont.
* The Valmonts have a fascination toward the occult. Emperor Reville believed in ghosts, Emperor Judicael I was fascinated by all things ancient and arcane, Grand Duke Reynaud collected carvings of halla and Empress Celene employed Morrigan, an apostate mage who was never part of the Circle of Magi, as an arcane advisor.
* Ser Michel de Chevin wears armour that bears the crest of House Valmont.
== See also ==
:Orlesian royalty and nobility
== Gallery ==
Emperor Etienne I (true).jpg |Emperor Etienne I
Emperor_Reville.jpg|Emperor Reville
Emperor Etienne II (true).jpg |Emperor Etienne II
Emperor_Judicael_I.jpg|Emperor Judicael I
Emperor_Judicael_II.jpg|Emperor Judicael II
Emperor Florian I.jpg|Emperor Florian
CeleneI.png|Empress Celene I
== References ==
Category:Orlais
Category:Families
Category:Orlesian nobility
Category:Royalty
Category:Royal families
uk:Дім Вальмон