Archibald I

**King Archibald I**is a main character in *War.*

In terms of the series narrative, Archibald is the last King of Ursus, reigning during the War.

## Appearances

### *War*

King Archibald debuted in "The White Ship" two years into the War. Up until that time, Ursus had remained staunchly neutral with its allies Porcinia and Simeone. Due to a skirmish in souther Simeone, Queen Ana III and her father, Prince Regent Tomasz Czerny, were sent to Ursus for safekeeping. Their ship was deliberately sunk by the Vulpus Armada, killing them both. No longer able to stand idly by, Archibald and his allies entered the war on the side of the Granite Bloc in 710.

During the ravaging years of the War Plague, Queen Grace fell ill and quickly died. Her death greatly impacted Archibald and Theodora. She was buried in the Chapel of the Chains in Tardisham Tower. In "Buried in Satin," after the War Plague pandemic ended in 715, Archibald met with Babar Waarheid, Bacon IV, and Horatio V to discuss the war effort on the Psittancynesian front. At a summit in Ursus, the nations agreed to attack Psittancyna, but the plan backfired when the parrots correctly anticipated their move and launched a counterinvasion of Ursus. Archibald was forced to deploy his troops to the Cape of Alyaska to defend the coast. He went to the front with Princess Theodora, where the trenches fell under a bomb attack. During the confusion and chaos, Theodora was separated from her father and captured by chipmunks. She was taken hostage by Commander Rico of Psittancyna and ransomed. However, during the hostage exchange, a chipmunk accidentally shot Theodora. She died on the beach, where Archibald found her. Devastated by the loss of both wife and daughter, Archibald vowed revenge against the Summer Sun. His decision to not remarry sent the uncertainty of Ursine succession to the hands of Parliament. It was later determined that the Speaker of the Parliament, a polar bear, was to be the designated heir presumptive upon Archibald's death.

Archibald attended the Granite Bloc's annual summit at Highland Castle in 719 ("Two Moths Drawn to the Flame"). He reported on Psittancyna's recent invasion into Ursus.

By 723, Psittancyna had invaded much of northern Ursus on their quest for annexation. In "Never Trust a Fox," Archibald learned that Macaw Arini himself was leading troops through the country. Archibald challenged the Macaw to single combat to avenge Theodora, which Arini accepted. Archibald triumphed over the parrot king and decapitated him. The head was brought through Ursine ranks to raise morale.

In 725, Archibald was offered a spot on the expedition south, but he declined. In "The Good Must Associate," Archibald told Queen Navarra II of Equine Isle that he would remain in Ursus until the war was over, even if it meant defeat. He instead offered his spot to an orphaned bear, and began to prepare Tardisham Tower for a forthcoming siege.

Archibald led Ursus through the remainder of the War, culminating in the fall of Tardisham Tower and Ursus on September 1, 726. He was publicly executed on the same day, and thereafter the War was proclaimed over.

## Character

### Namesake

Archibald is named after Archibald Roosevelt, the son of Theodore Roosevelt. The name was chosen because the Roosevelt family famously kept a pet bear in the White House. Its name was Jonathan Edwards, but Archie Roosevelt often played with it.

## Trivia

* Archibald's parents, Alice and Kermit, are also named after members of the Roosevelt family.