Pippin the Younger

**Pippin the Younger**, born **Pippin Dale of Eroda** was a Ahremian nobleman who reigned as a *pro tempore* ruler of Birgolon from 1317 SY to 1351 SY. Originally born into a influential Ahremian noble family, he married the widowed duchess of Tecurea in 1309 SY - giving him great influence in the court of Jonas Ethi'um, the (at the time) ruler of Birgolon.

Although acknowledged as being a quick-witted and very charming man, Pippin would become known as a tyrant during his reign. He did not allow the brother of the previous king to seize power once he returned to Alziron, and he also favored Ahremian interests and limited the power of local rulers.

## Heritage

Pippin is most commonly reffered to as Pippin the Younger, an informal title originally used to differentiate between him and his father, Pippin the Elder (also the count of Eroda). Pippin was from House Dale, who had been ruling Eroda for nearly a century by the time Pippin was born. House Dale in of itself was once House *DuAle*, as in a family from the Allé region of Lohn. Pippin had no Birgol roots, and thus was considered an Ahremian outsider.

## Biography

Pippin Dale was born in the year 1286 SY in Ahremia to Pippin Dale the Elder and his second wife, Jania. Although the first child of his father's third marriage, he wasn't in line to succeed his father as Count of Eroda. Rather, he spent his time studying primarily theology at various academies during his youth, rather than learning the art of ruling.

In his 20s, his family arranged him to marry Ecalena Travegi, the duchess of the late Duke Travegi of Tecurea. It was commonly assumed at the time (as well as now) that the dukes of the cities of Alziron, Sagda, Sesgir, Tecurea, Ballene, and Lacki would all serve important places in the court of the king of Birgolon. Thus, Pippin was the only foreigner to have a notable spot in the court of the king Jonas Ethi'um. He allowed his wife to locally rule Tecurea while he mostly spent his time in Alziron concerning himself with larger issues. He was the favorite of the king, mostly due to his charming personality and wit. During his stint as a steward of Ethi'um, he was generally well-liked by the Ahremian nobility.

Upon Jonas' death in the winter of 1316 SY, it was assumed his only son, Rjevic, would take power. Upon hearing the news, the 22 year old prince sailed from his diplomatic residence in Nexios to Birgolon - a journey which unfortunately would be cut short. The young prince caught the influenza on his journey and would die in the city of Teirbeda.

Being the only son of the king, the line of succession mandated that a brother of the king take power. Unfortunately, no brothers of Jonas were still living. His other child was unwilling to take the throne, being a priestess at the Chapel of Aela in the Ahremian city of Dilare. Even though the Birgol line of succession said that the king's male cousins were to then take power (of which he had many), Pippin was able to use his good reputation to seize power.

### Reign

Pippin began his reign by establishing diplomatic relations with Ahremia, the traditional enemy of Birgolon. He was known to have visited the Ahremian king, Darius Andalin II on two separate occasions. During and before his reign, the possibility of a war with the Grand Duchy of Katemia was becoming realized (a war which never took place), warranting Pippin's placement of garrisons near the Ballene Valley to combat this threat. In the same respects, he began drafting and supplying the militias among the western regions, seriously limiting the power of the local aristocracies.

Pippin also outlawed such practices such as the worshiping of traditional pantheons and the making of idols - something he probably did due to his previous career as a Pretorian scholar.

In the latter half of his reign, the illegitimacy of Pippin's right to the throne began to be realized by the aristocracy of Birgolon. It was assumed the living Ethi'um heirs, residing in Luhjia, would seize the throne. But it was to much surprise when the Duke of Sagda and a personal friend of Pippin's, Osman Lagadec, organized a rebellion among the central military in the late 1340s. Pippin was formally removed from his position as king in 1351 SY. He was kept prisoner in Rongedam Castle until his exile back to Ahremia the following year. He would die barely a year later in his home town of Eroda.