Jacques Criel

Principality of Cespar

**Jacques Criel** is a Breton politician, diplomat and merchant.

## **Summary**

Whereas his master Prince Anseau III is tall, slender and radiant, Sir Jacques Criel is short, stocky and dark. His lined face is defined by narrow brown eyes, thin lips and a large nose. Jacques' long black beard and cropped hair are both flecked with silver.

The Lord Treasurer is often attired in the fashion of Daggerfall's merchant class: padded doublets of browns, greys and blues. His voice is throaty yet sonorous, although his oratory in the Great Council is seldom celebrated.

Criel is defined and driven by attainment. In his own words, *"the fear of defeat weighs more heavily than the delight of victory"*. Following a successful career as a merchant and diplomat, the Lord Treasurer is now faced with the onerous task of *"enriching my Prince, by any such means, beyond His means".*

He is a proponent – or instrument – of Prince Anseau's enterprise to centralise power at the expense of the old Breton nobility. This has been interpreted by some as an attempt to reimpose an absolute hereditary monarchy upon the island. To this end, the Lord Treasurer has introduced numerous measures to increase his master's revenue.

## **Timeline**

**2E 563 — Jacques is born on 3rd Sun's Height.**

* He is born three months after his father, Jacques, succumbed to the Knahaten Flu. Adele, his mother, had been sent away to the county of Malja to escape the plague-ridden capital.

**2E 565 — Jacques becomes the ward of Pierre Meaux *(aged 2)*.**

* Meaux, a friend and associate of his late father, is an affluent member of the Spicers' Guild.
* As his guardian, Meaux assumes control over Jacques' estate.

**2E 566 — Pierre Meaux marries Adele, Jacques' mother *(aged 3)*.**

* Meaux thereby becomes his step-father.

**2E 575 — Jacques becomes the apprentice of Pierre Meaux *(aged 12)*.**

* This begins his formal introduction into the Spicers' Guild.

**2E 583 — Jacques attains the age of majority *(aged 20)*.**

* He finally assumes control over his late father's estate, most notably his mercantile interests.
* He is inducted into the Spicers' Guild as a Guildsman.
* Obtaining financial independence, he sails to Daggerfall to study at its university.

**2E 587 — Jacques obtains a lucrative trade deal *(aged 24)*.**

* He agrees a contract with the merchant prince Richard Felce, Baron of {Barony}, to export spices to Daggerfall. He had become acquainted with Felce during his residence in Daggerfall.
* He returns to Cespar, concluding his studies at the University of Daggerfall, to facilitate this deal.

**2E 593 — Jacques acquires a seat on the Great Council *(aged 30)*.**

* Despite meeting the parliament's qualification of wealth for some time, he was hitherto ineligible due to his age.

**2E 599 — Jacques is appointed ambassador to Daggerfall *(aged 36)*.**

* He is appointed due to his existing mercantile interests and connections in that kingdom.
* Bearing letters and gifts from {Reigning Prince} for the King of Daggerfall, Jacques is tasked with securing a trade agreement with High Rock's ascendant power.

**2E 601 — Jacques concludes a treaty with Daggerfall *(aged 38)*.**

* The treaty reduces (eliminates?) tariffs between Cespar and Daggerfall, inaugurating a pact of amity and commerce between the two realms.

**2E 604 — Jacques returns to Cespar *(aged 41)*.**

* Concluding his embassy in Daggerfall, he sails home to Cespar.
* He is elected a Master of the Spicers' Guild shortly after his return.

**2E 606 — Jacques is appointed to the High Council *(aged 43)*.**

* He is appointed to the office of Under-Treasurer by the newly-elected Prince Anseau III.

**2E 609 — Jacques is appointed Lord Treasurer of Cespar *(aged 46)*.**

* He succeeds Sir Eustache Tornay.

## **Career**

* Apprentice of the Spicers' Guild: 2E 575 – 583 (8 years)
* Guildsman of the Spicers' Guild: 2E 583 – 604 (21 years)
* Member of the Great Council: 2E 593 – *present* (20 years)
* Ambassador to Daggerfall: 2E 599 – 604 (5 years)
* Master of the Spicers' Guild: 2E 604 – *present* (9 years)
* High Councillor: 2E 606 – *present* (6 years)
* Under-Treasurer: 2E 606 – 609 (3 years)
* Lord Treasurer: 2E 609 – present (4 years)

## **Quotes**

### Quotes by Jacques

**Anseau III:** *"Do you mean to defraud our commonwealth, as did the headless Tornay?"*

**Jacques Criel:** *"No, Highness; I am rich enough."*

— Jacques is questioned before his appointment as Lord Treasurer.

*"He who lives modestly must, in his frugality, have money to spare. He who lives extravagantly must, in his prodigality, have money to squander."*

— Jacques applies a false dichotomy to justify an increase in taxation.

## **Notes**

1. ↑ Cespar (more specifically its Spicers' Guild) historically dominated High Rock's spice trade. The Daggerfall Covenant, which guaranteed free trade between High Rock and Hammerfell, thwarted Cespar's monopoly. Only after the collapse of the Covenant following High King Emeric's death in 2E 585 did the principality begin to recover its mercantile vigour.