House Bagration

House Bagration coat of arms.

An Armiger Warglaive of House Bagration.

**House Bagration** is a noble Questor Imperialis hailing from the mountainous Feudal World of Didgori Tertius. A feudal world where blue sky, clear rivers and lakes as well as snowy mountains and old fortress wall the local called 'Tsikhe' stretches across the mountains. House Bagration is one of the few Knight Houses that still believe in the old Catheric Faith although mixed with their own unique beliefs. Stoic and practical, House Bagration favours guerilla and quick warfare utilizing Armiger Warglaives, Helverins, and close quarter combat type Questoris class Knights equipped with ancient technology known MileRotor, an STC only found in Didgori Tertius that enables their knights and armigers to move faster and show quick reflexes more than usual knight. This knight house is also possess a strong rivalry since the end of Horus Heresy with Knight House Melkonian.

## History

The history of Knight House Bagration dates back during the end of the Dark Age of Technology where Lord Vakhtang Bagration led the Iberians from the Terra to distant planet. The Iberians, through massive armada led by the daughter of Lord Vakhtang Bagration, Tamara arrived at a sector called the Herzavar Sector and finally reach a system of live sustained planets worthy of mass resettlement. The three planets were named after ancient places in Iberia where the army of their ancestors succesfully defeating an ancient nomadic empire, Didgori Prime, Didgori Secundus,and Didgori Tertius. The Iberians then divide the planet with House Bagration and all the nobles stay and rule over Didgori Tertius. Led by President Erekle Sakashvili, the middle and lower class Iberians now called the Didgorians settled in both Didgori Prime and Secundus.

As the Great Crusade launched by the Emperor of Mankind, Didgori system bend the knee with Lord David III Bagration swore allegiance to the Emeperor of Mankind and President Nikusha Kedzavelli become the Lord Governor of Didgori Prime and Secundus. It was said that the Emperor conquered the system not through coercion, or act of war but through honorable duel between First Captain Sigismund and a champion Didgori named Nikusha Margeli. The two swordsmen clashed in a battle to the death. The duel ended with Margeli fell to the ground but as the champion ready for his dead, the Imperial Fists Captain sheathed his sword and give a hand, raising him up and thank the champion for a good honorable fight. Didgori system is also a recruiting ground for Imperial Fists Legion with Nikusha Margeli become the first Space Marine recruited from Didgori. The local army of Didgori is then reshaped and giving additional training to become soldiers worthy for the Emperor.

The Horus Heresy hit the Didgori System hard as the local PDF and the Imperial Fist 91st Company led By Captain Davit Utmelidze defend the system from Iron Warriors and World Eaters incursion. With Horus focusing his intention on conquering Terra, much of the Traitor Legion leave Didgori following the Warmaster's path leaving the remaining Iron Warriors and World Eaters led by Warpsmith Tamer Sharphand to lead the conquest of Didgori. As the Warpsmith focus his attack on Didgori Prime, the local PDF, the Imperial Fist and Knight House Bagration fought side by side to repel the Iron Warriors out of Didgori Prime. The battle ended with Captain Davit Utmelidze and High King Darius Bagration sacrifice themself detonating the ancient cursed relic brought by the Iron Warriors to forbid a Greater Daemon to be summoned on the planet. As Didgori Prime citizens, the local PDF and the remaining Imperial Fists evacuate the planet, a huge explosion destroy the planet, leaving Didgori Prime nothing but a destroyed planet and asteroids. Didgori system is saved from the horrors of Horus Heresy with heavy cost of Didgori Prime.

After the Horus Heresy the creation of Didgori Avengers regiment (12th, 13th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd) is raised under supervision of both the Adeptus Ministrorum and House Bagration itself. David IV Bagration assume the throne replacing his deceased father Darius who died in Didgori Prime. Ten Terran years later, the high king David IV died due to sudden pneumonia while trying to built a mass Armiger for his army and his half brother Vakhtang II Bagration assume the throne. Under leader of High King Vakhtang II Bagration, co-lead by his wife High Queen Natia Serlidze, House Bagration able to bolster nearly 4000 Armiger Helverins and Warglaives. Even enabling his vassal to possess at least one Armiger knight per household. The High King decreed that the non nobles may possess and operate Armiger Knights in service to House Bagration and the Imperium.

## Rivalries

At the beginning of M32, Aleksandre and Nana Bagration with 300 Armiger and 100 Questoris Knight lead a crusade to aid the Imperium against the Chaos incursion on New Sertca. The forces of House Bagration able to drive the Forces of Chaos until the two siblings fought an enormous Bloodthirstier where they are met with Knight Artak Melkonian and his Marshall Tovmas Sarkisian. As the siblings fought side by side against the Bloodthirstier and the surrounding cultists and daemons, Artak manage to steal the glory by stabbing the Bloodthirstier with the Knight's Reaper Chainsword, banishing the demon. As the surrounding forces are defeated, so does a heated duel between Nana and Artak commenced that ended up in stalemate. Thus, begin the rivalries between House Bagration and House Melkonian that stand for more than 11 millenia. From simple friendly jousting to Big Game Hunter, these two noble houses are prove to maintain a strong rivalry and a cold ally when dealing with the enemies of the Imperium. Nevertheless the souring rivalries ended at 997.M41 where High King Hendrick XV of House Orenstein decided forge alliances, and use the rivalry as honorable competition in slaying the enemies of mankind. On the maw of Zyon, King Oto Bagration I, King Hendrick XV Orenstein, and King Tigran Melkonian sign a treaty of alliances known as Treaty of Zyon. The treaty itself is renewed during the 2nd year of M42. Where three more Knight Houses (House Shirvan, House Chakri, and House Masisi) join the alliances to secure Herzavar and Verturias sector and its surroundings from both Xenos and Forces of Chaos itself.

## Homeworld

Didgori Tertius is a Feudal world with castles and Tsikhe wall stretches across the mountain fromt he top to the slope. As 85% of the planet is filled with mountains and valleys, the planet climate is mostly cold between -20 degree to as warm as 13 degree celcius. The Fist of Bagrat was built ont he slopes of Mount Skhra the highest mountain formation in the planet. Over 200 rivers flow across the planet and take its end at the Far South of the planet known as the Batum Sea,covering 15% of the planet.

The Batum Sea itself is often frozen 3 times per Terran years and is used as the water source for the population. Unlike the Didgori Secundus that possess grasslands, hills and two great Ocean the Darial and Kartali, Batum Sea serve as the only greatest water source for Didgori Tertius.

Didgori Tertius is a home to Didgorian Sabermane, a giant Terran Lion with white and silver mane and cream fur with white spot. The Sabermane serve as the top of the foot chain and it could grew to as big as Fenrisian Black Mane Wolf. Aside from Iberian Sabermane, Ice Sasquadon, Didgori Iron Wolves and Batum Shark exist as the carnivores of Didgori Tertius whereas Grox,Gamastodon, Maraudon (hornless 6 legged ancient Terran lamb), Didgorian Ibex (Giant Bighorn Ram) and Prauxan Pig (snow giant rat) serve as the planet's cattle and wild herbivore.

## House Tradition

Stoic Progressivism and Conservative chivalry are the two ethos of House Bagration. While House Bagration maintain near similar culture and ethics like most knight houses. The state religion of House Bagration is not the famous Imperial Cult but rather Catheric faith, an ancient religion dates back to the ancient Terra. Nevertheless the Catheric Faith itself had evolved adopting the Bagration culture as well as the Imperial Cult showing the Knight houses loyalty to the Imperium. House Bagration and Didgorians is also known for their national dress the Chokha for Men, and Kartuli Kaba for women. As for House Bagration, the nobles wore Chokha during Imperial meetings, national assembly or even banquets.The nobleman wore Chokha with emblems of honorary title and medals from the Imperium. Some females of House Bagration that serve in battle wore female version of Chokha.

House Bagration is also known for its diplomatical hospitality, hosting dinner banquet known as Supra. From Imperial Knight Houses, nobles, Archmagos and Ecclesiarchy to Adeptus Astartes delegation or Imperial Commisars and Generals. Supra is always served at their banquet hall by the Knight House. By attending such banquet, a bond of respect is built between the guests and the Knight House leading to a better ambience and good compliance between the two actors.

House Bagration possess two to three champions and 18 lesser nobles that serve the house. Each noble possess their own Questoris Pattern Knights and below the 18 lesser nobles lies the 3 Marshall of the House. These marshalls are valorous commoners that show an exemplar to House Bagration and the Imperium. Lastly there were citizen soldier, each common men from mere servant to a worksman possess one Armiger Knights be it Warglaive or Helverin. The commoners are commanded by a Khevsur, a hardened veteran warriors that earn exemplar medal from the High King. Each Khevsure possess two Armiger suits, some Khevsur possess 1 Questoris Pattern Knights.

House Bagration is also known for its globalization policy enabling trades across the Imperium between planets or even Imperium private companies. The MileRotor technology that exist since the ancient time had been used, innovated and improvised over the course of times by both the Knight House and companies across Herzavar Sector for the sole use of House Bagration.

## Notable Figures

**Oto I Bagration** - High King of House Bagration. A strong devout of Catheric Faith, a conservative who believe in chivalry and staunch supporter of the Imperium. Oto operates on the famous Cerastus Knight Acheron - Fist of Kakheti armed with quad Heavy Bolters, Acheron Pattern Flame Cannon, and Relic Reaper Chainfist rumored created during the Age of Strife.

**Sherana Bagration** - High Queen of House Bagration, a void born and a top diplomat of House Bagration. She operates Cerastus Knight Castigator armed with twin Tempest Warblade.

**Vladimer Bagration** - The only son and crown prince of House Bagration, a tactician and masters of communing with various Machine Spirits. Vladimer spent ten terran years as a free blade acros Segmentum Tempestus before return to Didgori Tercius. Vladimer operates Questoris Knight Errant.

**Vrasken Koreli** - Sworn sword and a close friend to Vladimer Bagration, born to lesser noble sworn to House Bagration, Vrasken is masters of long range warfare, operating Questoris Knight Crusader armed with Twin Shield Breaker Missile.

**Erakle Antadze -** Sworn sword and childhood friend of Vladimer Bagration, together with Vrasken, and Niko the four knights had rampage xeno worlds and defending Imperium against xenos threat across Segmentum Tempestus. He operate Questoris Knight Paladin.

**Niko Rukhadze** - Sworn sword of Vladimer Bagration, Niko Rukhadze is a son of Patriarch Elya XVI of Didgori Tertius. Pious yet stern. Niko operates a Questoris Knight Galant.

**Maryam Guzabidze** - Vladimer's lover and long time childhood. Born to lesser house Guzabidze, Arnella is famous for her trading skill as well as battlefield tactics. She is master of Guerilla Warfare and earn it during Siege of Magtara Sector.

**Tinatin Shavitze** - Daughters to Grand Arbites Commander of Didgori system Nikoloz Shavitze, she serve house Bagration as the peacekeeper of Didgori Tercius. She operate Armiger Warglaive with mounted quad lascannons.

**Vakhtang Sebastiani** - First Marshall at arms of House Bagration, Vakhtang operates a unique Armiger Knights armed with Quad Lascannons, Shield Breaker Missile, and Helverin Cannons. Vakhtang leads the Armiger Knight 'infantry' as vanguard defense of Didgori Tertius.

**Avtandil Burdauli** - Second Marshall at arms of House Bagration, Avtandil lead the Armiger Helverin and masters of long range guerilla warfare.

**Tykedrian and Alexandros Arveladze** - Twins and Third Marshall at arms of House Bagration, operate a Dominus class Knight Valiant with four arms, each armed with deadly melee and close range weaponry.

**Tazo Rustaveli -** Champion of House Bagration. Tazo is a skilled melee fighter that never lost to any knight battle even defeating Vladimer Bagration in knight duel. Tazo operates Knight Paladin.

**Josephin Abrasveli** - Second Champion of House Bagration, she operates an unnamed Silver and Magenta colored Knight Crusader.

## Treaty of Zyon

At 997.M41, High King Hendrick XV Orenstein succesfully bind the rivalries between House Bagration and House Melkonian to secure Herzavar sector and its surrounding from Chaos and xenos incursion. The treaty and the oath of aliances renewed at the second year of M42 with three more house join the alliances both for military defenses, aid, as well as economic benefit between knight houses.

The treaty itself were signed by leaders of each knight houses and their homeworld:

1. High King Hendrick XV Orenstein from House Orenstein - Zyon
2. High King Oto Bagration I from House Bagration - Didgori Tertius
3. High King Tigran Melkonian from House Melkonian - Karabakh
4. Great Sultan Murad III Shirvanshah from House Shirvan - Tovuz
5. High King Reynald Hotumbu Masisi of House Masisi - Mogambe Prime
6. High King Vajralarongkut of House Chakri - New Siam.