Peace of Torlan

The **Peace of Torlan** was a short-lived truce between the rulers of High Rock. Negotiated throughout the final decade of the third century, it was concluded at the **Council of Torlan** in Mid Year 3E 298. No fewer than twenty provincial rulers signed the **Treaty of Torlan**.

Masterminded by Archmagister Engelard of Morfa, the Peace sought to end a '*half-century of strife*' marked by the War of the Imperial Succession (3E 247-256), the invasion of the Camoran Usurper, and countless other conflicts across the province.

Signatories of the treaty were admitted to the new Order of the Chalice.

## **Negotiation**

The foundations of the Peace of Torlan were first laid in 3E 292. Several years of careful diplomacy followed, during which the terms of the final treaty were amended and rephrased to the satisfaction of all parties. There were few revisions of the document between Engelard's first draft and the final treaty; its provisions were formulaic of most peace agreements.

More complex was obtaining safe conducts to allow rulers and their entourages to travel overland to the final peace summit (the Council of Torlan). It was necessary for some delegations, particularly those from western High Rock, to travel through the territories of multiple rulers, including enemies. The Abbess of Golau declared a '*holy armistice*', threatening Divine retribution on those who violated it. Many delegations nevertheless journeyed by sea, passing through Gylfin and sailing upriver to Torlan.

There was little real negotiation during the fortnight peace summit; the terms of the final treaty were settled beforehand. Certain rulers attempted to leverage trifling amendments to the text. Engelard was deft in congratulating such nuisances on their contributions, whilst simultaneously making no changes to his treaty.

## **Treaty of Torlan**

*We, the exalted and paramount princes whose great seals append and attest this covenant, do affirm unfeigned fellowship and love for each other, being of the same [Bretic/Bretonic?] nation, customs and faith.* *We, the said princes, have sworn sacred and solemn oaths to observe the provisions herein:*

***I.** The said princes shall preserve, without deceit, perpetual peace and amity between each other, their successors, their vassals, and their subjects.*

***II.** They shall, in all circumstances and without deceit, offer aid and support to each other.*

***III.** They shall not, under any pretence or provocation, do any harm or damage to the person, dignity, honour, dominions, vassals or subjects of each other.*

***IV.** They shall not harbour, counsel, support or favour, whether directly or indirectly, the enemies or rebels of each other.*

***V.** They shall not hinder the safe passage of each prince, or their vassals or subjects, through their dominions, but offer, without deceit or delay, all protection, succour and hospitality.*

***VI.** They shall not make peace with their common enemies without the knowledge and consent of each other, nor shall they they conclude any other treaty or alliance without the knowledge and consent of each other.*

***VII.** They shall do their utmost to induce other princes, whose great seals do not yet append and attest this covenant, to become parties to the said covenant and to observe its provisions.*

***VIII.** The said princes shall, without deceit or delay, declare and prosecute war against any party who violates this covenant.*

## **Aftermath**

Not since the Second Era had so many Breton rulers met beyond a battlefield. Despite expressions of friendship and the swearing of oaths, however, the Peace of Torlan was short-lived. Almost immediately, the provisions of the treaty were violated. Torlan, the architect of the Peace, soon concluded a separate alliance with Gylfin without the consent of other signatories (thereby contravening the sixth clause of the treaty). By the following spring, every clause of the Treaty of Torlan had been infracted at least once. Despite failing to achieve universal and perpetual peace in High Rock, no signatory formally disavowed the pact.

The Elder Council, monitoring these events through spies, anticipated the election of a High King during the summit. They shared the astonishment of many that Archmagister Engelard did not nominate his protégé, King Elzear VII, for this title. Without such an overlord, there was no authority to enforce the peace. Furthermore, the Treaty of Torlan made no provision for how principalities might resolve their disputes without recourse to war.

Although the Peace of Torlan itself was unsuccessful, it did occasion many separate treaties and alliances between its signatories.

## **Notes**

1. ↑ It was also called the **Mid Year Peace**. Later it was derided as the **Half-Year Peace**.
2. ↑ In the original draft of the treaty, this sentence ended with '*and fidelity to the Emperor'*, but Engelard was obliged to omit this following the protests of certain parties.