Valenros

Famed round the world for their discipline and fervor, the grenadiers of Valenros were nigh-unbeatable on land.

### Era

134 - 958 (As the Kingdom of Valenoit)958 - (As the Kingdom of the Valenrosians)

The **Kingdom of the Valenrosians**, commonly known as **Valenros**, was a vast and influential nation primarily situated on the Valenoit peninsula in western Vaurithius. A proud and ancient kingdom, Valenros shared borders to the east with the Florantian Kingdom of Helmfeld and the Balverian Empire, to the north with the Kingdom of Almorea and the Celitaean Confederacy, and to the south and west with the Eblian-dominated Carrigan Sea. Despite its precarious geopolitical situation, the Kingdom of Valenros has endured as one of the primary Great Powers of Teciria for many centuries, through golden ages and periods of steep decline. The borders of the Kingdom have fluctuated greatly over the centuries; in its earliest form as the Kingdom of Valenoit, it was relegated to the western reaches of the eponymous peninsula beyond the Roime River; in the early fifteenth century, meanwhile, the Kingdom of the Valenrosians had expanded to encompass the entirety of Valenoit, reaching towards its so-called 'natural borders' on the River Almarine. Valenros has upheld a longstanding rivalry with the Ardonians to the north, and the Celitaean peninsula has often served as the battleground between the two proud Kingdoms. With the onset of the Age of Sail and the rise of vast empires throughout the known world, the typically landpower-focused Valenros struggled to compete in the race for colonial glory and riches against its seafaring neighbors in Ardonia and Eblia. Nonetheless, its military strength was not to be underestimated; with a burgeoning Airfleet to add to the ancient Kingdom's formidable forces, the Kingdom had begun to claw its way into modernity by the dawn of the fifteenth century.

The reformed Valenrosian military would participate heavily in the Scramble for Ahinador, siezing vast swathes of colonial territory; however, it was this rapid expansion that would soon truly put Valenros to the test. The Kingdom's colonial ambitions quickly began to clash with those of the emergent Florantian Republic; while a young nation, the Republic's rise to power had been exponential, and it posed a genuine threat to the ancient Kingdom. On Teciria itself, the two powers engaged in the dual partitions of Helmfeld in an attempt to resolve their borders; however, what hopes there were that such a solution would diffuse the crisis were soon dashed. As President Garavini in Coliari proved just as stubborn as the King in Renau, the 'Tantero Crisis' quickly spiraled out of control. With a single spark -- a brief engagement between naval vessels of the two powers over the Amakar Strait -- the Crisis exploded and full-scale war began. The Tantero War would drag on for years, draining the coffers and military strength of both powers; but as the dust finally settled in 1426, Valenros found itself humiliated. The Great Power - mandated Renau Summit, held in the Kingdom's own capital, delivered a peace distinctively favoring Florantia. In an effort to limit Valenrosian aggression and power, the Great Powers divided several territories of the Kingdom among themselves -- Tantero and most of Helmfeld to Florantia; Dorenhain and Nevnarine to Balveria; the lands of the Amakar to a new International Canal Mandate. This peace, though labelled a victory by the monarchy, send shockwaves throughout Valenros. Long repressed, the fringes of Valenrosian politics began to bubble over, no longer contained by the absolute strength of the King -- an image now decisively broken. The crisis of national conscience was only made worse by the failure of two colonial expeditions against Remikuma and Sokore, as faith in the military and aristocracy plummeted. The very fate of Valenros' status among the Great Powers was said to be at stake. Republicans clashed with Absolutists in the streets of Renau. There were whispers of mutiny throughout the military. To contemporary observers, it seemed that the ancient Kingdom was finally showing its wear, and nearing collapse at long last.

On April 26th, 1428, Valenros was transformed. A Republican mob in Renau was fired upon by the Royal Guard, instigating an enormous popular revolt. As the King and his Guard struggled to maintain control of the populace, popular military commander and far-right figure Dion Pelitellier siezed his moment. In a severe breach of protocol, Pelitellier led his Fifth Legion into Renau itself, harshly clamping down on the unruly civilian population. This riot-quelling, however, was merely a distraction for Pelitellier's ture goal: the vulnerable and powerless King Favrier II Bourdillon himself. Amidst the chaos of the military crackdown, Pelitellier led his closest forces in siezing the King. By morning, Renau was quiet; the mob had been violently crushed, Republican agitators put to the sword, while the Fifth Legion patrolled the streets. In the palace of Renau, though, a nation was being reborn. Under duress from Pelitellier and his 'Chevaliers de Feu', King Favrier signed decree after proclamation for hours on in end, reshaping the laws of Valenros in his vision.