Dartaxes szel-Forramaz

### Notable Feats

Victor of the Battle of Habqez against Baharkand.First independent Akal since Jaher's landing.

### Allegiance

Kingdom of Birzartanšes (former)Akalate of Dartaxâgerdim

## Family Information

### Parents

Darian szel-Forramaz, Arantir I Birzartanzuir (Allegedly)

### Grandchildren

Ageela szel-Akal-Uak

**Dartaxes szel-Forramaz** was a Bahari nobleman, former Birzartanšesi general and founder of the Akalate of Dartaxâgerdim. During the Decades of Devastation he declared an open rebellion against the Kingdom of Birzartanšes becoming the first independent human king in Bahar since before the Phoenix Empire. He is also known for his unlikely alliance with the Harpylen Matriarchy, and later on for his contested ancestry.

## Early life

Born 1401 AA, as the son of an aristocrat and landowner from the town of Forramaz, Dartaxes had a privileged upbringing, not only due to his noble background, but also because of his father's connections to Keleorn Liandelzuir, the chief advisor to King Arantir I.

He spent part of his youth studying at the court of Birsartansbar, where he learned the Sun Elf language, as well as history, diplomacy and military tactics. He later joined the Royal Army on Keleorn's recommendation.

## General of Birzartan**šes**

### Early Career

Demonstrating an aptitude for command and a keen strategic mind, he quickly earned the trust of several Sun Elf officers. When the war between Baharkand and Birzartanšes broke out in 1419 AA, Dartaxes was appointed general of the northern armies.

### Battle of Habqez

In 1422 AA, Dartaxes' army achieved a decisive victory against the Baharkandi army in the Battle of Habqez. It was Dartaxes strategic planning and command that is said to have won the day, and his men were instrumental in achieving victory. When the Great Rebellion started in 1423 AA, Dartaxes was ordered to lead his forces to the north of Birzartanšes. He spent the next years quelling revolts and trying to contain the warlord factions that vied for control of the northern territories.

## The Great Rebellion

### Growing a Following

While fighting the warlord Factions and protecting the local populace, Dartaxes' army slowly grew with peasant volunteers, defectors and reformed bandits. It wasn't long until Dartaxes was considered the de facto ruler of the northern territories, even though he maintained he was only ruling on behalf of King Arantir I. It was during this time he met and made an alliance with The Green Helmets (Šebhulian). The local human population and Green Helmets alike were tired of elven rulers and inept leadership and wanted a human king, but it wasn't until 1428 AA, when Dartaxes was invited to Kuzak, the fortress-monastery of the Šebhulian, that he officially rebelled against both Arantir I of Birzartanšes and Kaltan III of Baharkand. Some sources claim that it was during this time he converted to the Old Sun Cult at the behest of the Green Helmets.

### Early Rebellion

Neither Birzartanšes nor Baharkand had recovered from the devastating war less than a decade prior, and Dartaxes knew both kingdoms tactics intimately. Both of these factors ensured a series of quick victories and successful campaigns early on in the war. He managed to take the upper Našra plain, and established his center of operations in the city of Akal-Uak. After failing to take control of the vital port of Deškumar, he retreated and prepare his army to siege both Aqatbar and Birsartansbar, but had to abruptly abandon his plans due to the Exodus Goblin invasion in 1435 AA.

### Becoming King

After suffering a defeat against the Marblehead goblins, losing Ur-Monkande to the Greysheep goblins and Habqez to Birzartanšes, Dartaxes and Arantir I negotiated peace in 1436 AA, officially recognizing Dartaxes as Akal, making him the first independent Human king in Bahar since the Jaherian Conquests centuries prior.

## Našra Reclamation War

### Leading Up to the War

Dartaxes considered the peace of 1436 AA to be a temporary measure, and fully intended to resume fighting as soon as he was able. Dartaxes conversion to the Old Sun Cult had also managed to rally the clergy of the New Sun Cult against him. Dartaxes had in turn swelled the ranks of the now elite Green Helmets, and in 1445 AA a group of Masnsih magi arrived at Akal-Uak to join him.

### Battles of the Našra Plain

The brunt of the war took place on the Našra Plain. After several small skirmishes, the two main armies clashed on the outskirts of Dartaxes capital of Akal-Uak. The battle was a near standstill between the two forces for almost two days. The battle was finally decided by the treason of Dartaxes nephew, Talimaz szel-Forramaz, who suddenly switched sides in the middle of the fighting. During the confusion, the Dartaxian army started to rout, with the Green Helmets remaining and fighting to the last man.

### Siege of Kuzak

Dartaxes managed to retreat with the remainder of his army to the mountain fortress of Kuzak. Keladora I sent her army in pursuit, and laid siege to the fortress. Dartaxes had managed to negotiate an alliance with the Harpylen Matriarchy, who were embroiled in a war of their own against the Birzartanšesi vassal of Gelkalis. By allying with Dartaxes, and making sure the fortress of Kuzak was well supplied, they prevented the main Birzartanšesi army from supporting their vassal. The siege would last for three years, and was finally called off with a peace treaty in 1454 AA.

## Death

### Second Siege of Kuzak

In the decades following the war, Dartaxes focused his effort soley inwards, in stabilizing and improving his realm. His alliance with the Harpylen Matriarchy allowed him respite from the threat of Keladora I and Birzartanšes. He continued to rule from Kuzak until 1484 AA, when Keladora I launched another campaign to retake her former lands. The second siege of Kuzak was successful, and the Birzartanšesi forces managed to capture Dartaxes. He was ordered to be burned alive at the stake by Keladora I, to serve as an example and warning against rebels and Old Sun Cult heretics alike.

## Legacy

Dartaxes conversion to the Old Sun Cult gave the religion a stronghold in the region, that would persist long after his death. With exemplars hunting the Old Sun Cult practitioners in the region for many decades, but despite their efforts, two Old Sun Cult states kept Dartaxes' legacy: Zanlib in Aelantir, established by refugees leaded by Dartaxes' grandaughter, and Garlas-Kel, a vassal state of the Harpylen Matriarchy.

## Controversies and Ancestry

### Claims of Elven Ancestry

Contemporary sources in the Jaherian Exemplars claimed to have found evidence of Dartaxes being of elven ancestry, effectively making him a half-elf. This belief was widely spread across his former regions, and seen as truth for many years. Modern chroniclers debate this as political historical revisionism, as there isn't any surviving supporting evidence provided by the Jaherian Exemplars. Also considering the convenient political nature of making the first independent human king in Bahar for centuries a half elf in the eyes of the remaining human population. This would help Birzartanšes stabilize the region, and turn his former followers against him.

### Nuršin Gillu-Gameš Theory

Some theories presented by Bulwari Scholar and Chronicler Nuršin Gillu-Gameš claim that Dartaxes was the bastard son of King Arantir I, and originally wanted to become a vassal Akal of Birzartanšes (like Gelkalis) ruling Ur-Monkande and Garlas-Kel. The theory even goes so far as to claim that Arantir sent Dartaxes to the north with this as a reward for his service and loyalty. When the Green Helmets discovered his true ancestry, they then either blackmailed or coerced him to declare independence, as the knowledge of his true ancestry would have gotten him killed.