Artimenner Asugonnion

art'on er dey flee
ae van komnerni tanani
das 'r jortesis erpe
an Aleksandr graap.
[original in Geroian]
*(The all-brains of all eternity,*
*built upon his the flea*
*of a once common people*
*that 'is fortresses stand*
*on Aleksandr's hands.)*
*[translated to Vlandian]*

Sketch of Artimenner in office in 1271

### Born

Artimenner of Geroia22 September 1204(C.S.) 5 Autumnus 1204Geroia, Duchy of Geroia

### Died

28 June 1302(C.S.) 6 Aestas 1302 (aged 97)Asugan Castle, Asugon, Kingdom of Vlandia, Calradic Empire

### Awards

Order of Saint Aleksandr NevskyHero of CalradiaHero of VlandiaOrder of the Legion of HonorDuke of Argoron MedalOrder of the Black LionOrder of Infrastructure MeritHonor Medal (3)Companion Medal (3)War CrossMilitary Medal (3)

## Military Service

### Rank

Sergeant

Artimenner Asugonnion, born Artimenner was a commoner from Geroia before moving to the Kingdom of Swadia in 1254 where he became an civil engineer for King Harlaus specializing in the art of fortification and was one of the first Geroians to have migrated to the west coast of Calradia. However, after making a simple mistake in miscalculating support beams for the new tower of the walls of Praven, he indirectly killed the local castellan and was threatened with death. From there he fled to the nearby city of Suno.

## Early Life

Artimenner was born on 22 September 1204 in Geroia, Duchy of Geroia to a family of commoners who served as serfs for the local ruling family of his neighborhood, the Genoicinos and since his early childhood, he would have served for the family. But, his parents both died of exhaustion early next year leaving him for adoption. However, not all was poor for Artimenner. He was welcomed, although as commoner, was treated like a noble and was given whatever education he needed and by the age of 10, he was released of serving and went to study in the nearby library where he was given tutoring sessions on literature, medicine and mathematics. Though, his favorite was clearly architecture, design and technology. From then on, he participated in designing castles and keeps from as early as 16 and by 17, he had created one of the most prominent creations of his life. The walls of Castello San Andros, a small fort sat in the center of Geroia still visible even today and was even named a World Heritage Site in 1987.

## Career

Artimenner was officially an engineer for the Duchy of Geroia in 1221 and served as the Master of Engineers for the Genoicinos until 1254 where during this time, the engineer had worked on his new inventions though he never sold or handed them out. Notably, the rocket and Geroian Fire, an early concept of the flamethrower, which these two inventions were only discovered several centuries later. Anyhow, after 30 years of science and engineering, Artimenner grew weary of the nation he was birthed too. During the 13th century, the Geroians suffered several droughts and to make it harsher, the economy skyrocketed downwards into corruption after the eruption of the unexplored Mount Balimore in 1254 which caused the global temperature to drop by 2 degree celcius where crops failed and the onset of early and longer winters killed many especially in Artimenner's home nation. It was only until 1256 that the weather was reverted back to its normal state. However, for Artimenner, not being paid and as his reputation as a 'noble' was tarnished which caused for threats and loss of gold and wealth. He could not withstand it and was forced to migrate elsewhere. Artimenner became one of the first to have migrated to the nearby continent of Calradia and those who followed after between 1254 and 1354 numbered at around a million.

It took Artimenner a full 6 months to travel from the Geroia to mainland Calradia by taking a boat across Lake Saint and through the Khih River where he made landfall in Danustica. He waited for approximately a week before setting off towards the western side of the Calradic Empire administered by the Kingdom of Swadia, led by King Harlaus I dey Rulund. After joining a caravan, he reached Praven safely and quickly established a workshop there and for the first time, introduced himself to the Castellan of Praven as Artimenner of Geroia though his name was unknown at the time. Since then and for a short while, he assisted the castellan in organizing and designing the walls of Praven though that dream was lost as soon as 1257.

As 1257 approached, the Second Calradic War broke out initially situated in the old Kingdom of Swadia which was broken up into smaller kingdoms and the economy of Artimenner soon dropped and under the order of Harlaus I, the castellan was made to construct a new wall for the capital and assigned Artimenner for the job. However, due to the lack of funding, the project was never completed and so many materials needed to sustain a certain tower on the wall was nil and void. Even with Artimenner's warning to not tread on the tower, the castellan did so to check and was killed as the entire tower collapsed on him. Harlaus threatened to kill Artimenner and forced him into exile which were to come into effect by the following day.

## Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On 23 December 1257, the war in the west continued to rage as Artimenner, now homeless and struck by poverty hid in the tavern of Suno after he was exiled though clearly, Harlaus paid no attention to him whatsoever as Swadian soldiers who would walk by, order a drink and leave completely ignoring Artimenner. It was then when Aleksandr Nevsky, whom he had heard little of approached the solemn man asking if he wanted to join his warband. Artimenner agreed and was enlisted into what was then known as the Foreign Legion. It was on the 26th that Artimenner was promoted to a Sergeant taking part in Aleksandr's Companion Cavalry until 1 January 1258 when the Duke of Argoron's Foreign Legion stormed Asugan Castle and captured the town of the same name thus restarting the Kingdom of Vlandia.

Because of Artimenner's intelligence amongst Aleksandr's Companion Cavalry, he was elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs by the young king and was issued the title '1st Lord of Asugan' and the family name Asugonnion. Because of his national importance, he was named one of the Founding Fathers of Vlandia and is portrayed on the 1 Calradoi coin and was even called the 'Brains' of Vlandia alongside the 'Eyes' of Vlandia, Firentis Countore, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the 'Sword' of Vlandia, Lezalit Genoicino, the Marshal. They were both appointed simultaneously on the same day Asugan was taken.

Though being part of the Kingdom of Vlandia meant that the court was constantly on the move with an average of changing capitals every 2 months, it made it difficult for Artimenner to establish a strong firm hold on whatever his work was and that was by making alliances outside of the civil war. In the Letter of Ninety Days, he successfully convinced the Duke of Argoron and the old and weakening Emperor of Calradia Ioannes I to fund the so-called Vlandians in the war and that was possibly the turning point for the other warring states in terms of economics and attrition. It was clear by 1259 that the problem with supplies and manpower had dissipated for the Kingdom of Vlandia and only just 1 year of taking office, the city of Praven was taken. As the new capital Saint Aleksandaburg became the new center for the government where both ministers made it their home office.

When the civil war ended for the Kingdom of Vlandia in 1260, Artimenner continued to work on new alliances outside of Calradia and when an emissary arrived from Geroia, they presented an alliance. The Treaty of Asugon was signed on 3 September 1260 between King Aleksandr I and Duke Alkidi Genoicino, the elder brother of Lezalit Genoicino.

## Later Life and Death

Artimenner continued to live a well-earnt life and had married to a Khergit woman Borge of Dugar and before his 70th birthday in 1274, moved back to Asugon (previously Asugan named after Artimenner) to continue his work on inventions and new equipment though still retaining his position as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. But as he had gotten older, the Aleksandr's son, Emperor Vilelm II's court proposed to sack Artimenner but the Emperor refused stating "He is no better than the best." and allowed Artimenner to remain.In the time of peace, Artimenner's position became less useful and although there were certainly new alliances being created with Lokti, Balion and Nordland the idea of a minister for foreign affairs grew ever more weaker until the lord saw less need for work.

Just a month before Artimenner's eventual death, he resigned and his position was passed to Palin dey Anston where one could say he was overshadowed by Artimenner's actions in the past. On the morning of 28 June 1302, Artimenner's servants discovered that their master was not awake yet and called on one of Jeremus' students who declared him dead on the same morning leaving the world childless. He was eventually buried in the Asugon Memorial in the town square on 1 July.

## Titles and Styles

* 22 September 1204 - 28 January 1205: *Commoner* Artimenner ae Geroia
* 28 January 1205 - 23 June 1221: *Citizen* Artimenner ae Geroia
* 23 June 1221 - 6 December 1221: *Apprentice of Engineering* Artimenner ae Geroia
* 6 December 1221 - 25 October 1254: *Master of Engineers of Geroia* Sir Artimenner ae Geroia
* 25 October 1254 - 11 April 1255: *Citizen* Artimenner ae Geroia
* 11 April 1255 - 13 November 1257: *Second Castellan* Artimenner of Geroia
* 13 November 1257 - 23 December 1257: *Commoner* Artimenner of Geroia
* 23 December 1257 - 26 December 1257: *Cavalryman* Artimenner of Geroia
* 26 December 1257 - 1 January 1258: *Sergeant* Artimenner of Geroia
* 1 January 1258 - 11 November 1263: *The Right Honorable* Lord of Asugon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Vlandia
* 11 November 1263 - 7 May 1302: *The Right Honorable* Lord of Asugon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Calradic Empire
* 7 May 1302 - 28 June 1302: *The Right Honorable* Lord of Asugon