Nonus Montiaco

**Nonus Montiaco** (ME 67-99/110) was the fifth and final king of Montiacos. Following his fathers death, Nonus inherited his throne, and ruled Montiacos from ME 75-81.

Nonus was wildly unpopular throughout his reign. Nonus had little understanding for the needs of his citizens, and his attempted invasion of Isara failed spectacularly, leading to the Montiac Civil War, the fall of the royal family, and his eventual exile.

Upon his banishment Montiacos became the Montiac Empire, which continues to rule much of Calast to this day.

## Biography

### Early life

Nonus Montiaco was born on the 17th of Zavagius, in the 67th year of the Montiac Era. From the first days he could read, Nonus was said to take great interest in his grandfather's campaigns across the Domunian Peninsula, and would regularly discuss the aborted invasion of Isara with his father.

At nine years old, Nonus attempted to enlist in the army. Though he proved to be a capable soldier, his duties to the royal family ultimately barred him from pursuing a career in the army.

### King of Montiacos

Decimus Montiaco died peacefully in his sleep on the 5th of Thallanium, ME 75. A week of national mourning followed, before Nonus took the throne.

The first years of King Nonus's rule were wildly unpopular. Nonus had little relationship with the average citizen compared to his father, and therefore was unable to properly deal with their needs. Many laws that he passed resulted in heavy backlash, even from his inner circle. Two years into his rule, support for Nonus from the populace was incredibly low. Seeking a political win, Nonus sought to finish what his grandfather had started, and launched the ill-prepared invasion of Isara.

The first days saw the success Nonus had hoped for. The Isarans, unprepared, were pushed back far into their own territory. However once the Isarans regrouped in their capital, the Montiac army, now reduced in size, saw major defeats. The ill-equipped legions were overpowered and outnumbered by the Isarans, with Montiacos in a near-constant retreat for weeks. As the Isarans neared the capital, Nonus enacted conscription and diverted large amounts of civilian resources towards the war effort, much to the disdain of the population, many of whom were already against the war. The new conscripts allowed Montiacos to briefly go on the offensive, pushing back to pre-war borders. This frontline would stay relatively the same over the next year, with neither side able to break through.

As the stalemate drew on, Montiac civilians began riots across several major cities, forcing a redirect of many frontline soldiers. Soon after, Montiac general Appius Salvian revolted against the king. Salvian, a respected figure in Montiac society, had long opposed Nonus's rule and pushed heavily for an elected ruler rather than a monarch, and took the opportunity presented by the unrest to finally pursue it. Despite overwhelming civillian support and an alliance with Isara, Salvian forces were forced into a war of attrition, unable to take a major victory. Isara, faced with a mass famine as most farmers were sent to war, surrendered in ME 80, though little territory was taken by the fractured Montiacos. Nonus attempted to turn Isara's surrender into a celebration, with little success.

Though the boost in manpower was expected to help, Salvians new form of warfare proved difficult to combat, with no traditional frontline to send troops to. As Salvian's attacks neared the capital, Nonus banned travel between cities, fearing spies in his territory. Morale in the Montiac army dropped substantially near the end of the war. Many soldiers began switching sides, sneaking off in the night, and some city garrisons near the front lines would simply hand the city over at the sight of Salvian's forces. Just over a year after Isara's surrender, Salvian's forces marched on the capital and, after little resistance both from the local population and the Montiac Army itself, took the city and ended the Civil War.

### Exile and later life

Nonus was said to have initially pleaded with Salvian, before eventually arguing with the general and stepping down from the throne himself, though it's possible this was simply propaganda from Salvian's government to boost support for himself. Nonetheless, Nonus was exiled from his city on the 12th of Arrunus, ME 81, just hours after his surrender.

Nonus's ultimate fate remains unknown. Leosians in Calor have told stories of a Lepus matching Nonus's description helping hunt Angels, and Chasa speak of a similar Lepus passing through northern Meridian on his way to the south of the continent, though it should be noted that brown furred Lepus aren't uncommon. Ultimately, though long dead, the fate of the disgraced king will likely remain a mystery.

Presently, Chasa in the Shanorin Dynasty often speak positively of Nonus. Chasa will rarely speak highly of a member of another species, especially one of significance, and it remains unknown why exactly the Cat-folk admire Nonus.