Maclain Larence

**Maclain Larence**
**Bishop of Elchaerlain**

"Chief Commander Larence inspects the infantry" by Claude Francis

**Bishop Maclain Larence, Bishop of Elchaerlain** (born Maclain John Larence; 8 June, 1989 - 4 April, 2019) was a Saepic nobleman and military commander, best known for his role as the Commander-in-Chief of the North Army during the Livic Invasion of the Saepic Confederacy.

He played an important role in the pivotal Battle of 2019, in which he died. He is remembered as one of the Confederacy's most capable generals.

## Early life and career

Larence was born in the town of Vioikefsky, on June 8, 1989. His father, John Larence, was an Archbishop of the Saepic Diocese and his mother, Faira Larence, worked as a priestess.His family was of Scottish-English descent. He was interested in the military from a young age, attending an academy at the age of 15, and graduating as an ensign at 17. His father died of disease in 2008, and as a result, Larence became the head of his family. Due to this, he did not start a family of his own.

As an ensign, he showed bravery and tactical skill in the battles he participated in. Since the Saepic Confederacy was at peace at the time, he worked alongside the Qantarans to defeat the Livics. He slowly climbed the ranks of the army and became a divisional commander when the Livic Empire launched a surprise invasion against the Confederacy.

## Livic Invasion of the Saepic Confederacy

*Main Article: Livic Invasion of the Saepic Confederacy*

He was made Second-in-Command of the North Army under Bishop Ferdinand Alexis. In the Battle of Zardenn, Bishop Alexis was killed by a Livic rifleman. As his second, Larence took command of the army, and led it to victory against General Ronald V's forces. For this victory, and due to Bishop Alexis's death, Larence was made Commander-in-Chief of the North Army.

During the final battles of the campaign of Demariies, he fought and succesfully retreated from a trap set up by the vastly superior forces under Brigadier General Rupel near the large town of Elchaerlain. He was able to reach the town and garrison it, thereby depriving the Livic forces of an important strategic point. As a reward, King Cathorii ennobled Larence as the Bishop of Elchaerlain.

In the campaign of Nantgarth, he played a pivotal role in defeating Ronald in First Battle of Nantgarth. He was, however, unable to repeat the same success when Ronald fought for Nantgarth again, only a week later. Nantgarth fell, and the Saepic army was forced to retreat. Both armies then went into winter quarters to recuperate.

A few months later, the Campaign of Whitbrien had begun. After the disastrous Battle of Henyes, the King was compelled to retreat, but his generals, Larence included, urged him to turn around and fight, at a field near St. Mary's village, resulting in the final battle of the campaign, the Battle of 2019.

## Role in the battle of 2019 and death

*Main Article: Battle of 2019*

Larence was commanding the left wing of the army. He attempted to construct redoubts and walls around the field to slow the upcoming attacks, but the structures were poorly built, due to a lack of engineers. As the battle begun, Brigadier General Egerton moved several columns forward to meet Larence's lines, and both sides were engaged in heavy firing.

Eventually, Egerton moved his artillery forward, and flanked Larence using heavy cavalry. Larence was forced to move back, as all of the Saepic lines were under heavy pressure. A large cavalry assault by Lieutenant General Mark routed the whole army, forcing Larence's men to retreat. Larence himself refused to stop fighting, and was eventually killed in the field by a Livic hussar.

## Legacy

After his body was found and identified by Livic soldiers, they presented it to General Ronald V. He gave them orders to find his family and inform them of his death, along with allowing the family to bury him in a place of their choice. The grief-stricken Larence family requested that he be buried in the town cemetery of Vioikefsky. As such, he was buried there, with full military honors.

Military scholars consider Larence as one of the best military commanders in the Saepic Confederacy's history. He had commanded in around 10 pitched battles, and was only defeated once.