Arruns Calenus

Arruns is known for being a pivotal figure in the political field of the Nirvan Republic, becoming a consul twice and creating the Calenus Faction. Militarily, he was known for the Bhirn Campaign and teaching his son, Gaius. There are very few records on his parents and early life.

## Early Life

Arruns Calenus was born in **388PR** to a patrician family.

Little is known about his early life. What is known was that the Calenus family was dwindling in wealth, barely able to afford Arruns the proper teachers.

When he reached the age of 18, he joined the military.

## Military Tribune

The military is where Arruns began to shine. Joining the army during the Lorenzen War, he was immediately unlucky when a truce was called between King Eriksen of the Lorenzen Kingdom and King Octan of Nirva.

For 8 years he only dealt with minor skirmishes, fighting the Bhirnians and the Veti tribe at one stage. Though, even with the lack of action, he was able to become a Military Tribune. Though not a thick striped, which he wanted to be, he still did the best he could to learn and garner some influence.

In **414PR**, at the age of 26, Arruns was deployed in the Battle of Klaton. When the fighting got tough, Arruns joined the fray. While it was not normal for thin striped Military Tribunes to join, it worked for his favour. After the battle, Arruns was punished with a whipping for not following orders, though gained the respect of many others for using his initiative and not acting like another thin striped.

It is believed that Arruns also took part in the Siege of Yiburn, though he had been injured before when struck by a random arrow. If he were to have taken part, then it is likely Arruns contributed in the slaughter of the civilians, getting his fair share of raid loot and slaves.

When the Lorenzen War ended in **417PR** via a peace treaty, Arruns stuck with his army, though little happened.

## Senatorial Career

Using the small amount of influence he garnered in the Lorenzen War, Arruns was voted in to be Quaestor in **418PR**, becoming the first of not only his family to do so but the future Calenus Faction.

While he tried to become a provincial governor, his influence was not enough, overseeing the treasury and legion funds instead.

Outside of politics, Arruns used the funds he garnered from his military career to buy up some businesses, in order to give him a good income for future political campaigns. At this point, it is unlikely he spoke to his family anymore.

### Aedile

Arruns became an Aedile in **422PR**, taking his position seriously. His time in this position is notable for increasing his reputation and influence for his action to heavily repair and revamp the statue of Arlec and the nearby temple.

### Praetor

Arruns was unsuccessful in his first attempt to become a Praetor in **426PR**, costing him a lot of money. Though he was eventually able to bribe enough people in **427PR** to have a successful election.

Though he did relatively small things in the position, he made a very big show of the judicial process, acting it out like a play rather than a serious proceeding. This let him become more popular with the people and other Senators who were also growing popularity when presenting their cases to him.

## First Consulship

Making sure he gathered enough support, mainly by doing various favours to gain political allies, Arruns felt confident to run for Consul. While a very expensive process for him to run, requiring many bribes to different people and even forcing a political scandal on one of his competitors, though there were no links to him, he became Consul in **436PR** at the age of 48.

As he was not the popular vote, rather it was one of his political rivals, he held fasces second. In office, Arruns made sure everything he did was planned and careful, wishing not to leave the position with many enemies. In fact, he gained many allies during his time, passing legislation that was beneficial to the Reformer faction, such as a change to the agricultural make-up.

Once he left office, Arruns had already begun building the Calenus Faction, with many supporters on his side thanks to his popularity. His son, Gaius helped heavily during this time, using the advantage of him being outside of politics.

## Governor

Arruns was awarded the Agrippa province in **437PR** and given 3 legions to defend and maintain it. Knowing this was not enough due to his future ambitions, Arruns requested that the Senate allow him raise a 4th on his own dime, which was allowed. Further influencing and bribes to the Senate let him gain beneficial legislation with a vaguely written law, allowing him to offensively protect his lands.

The province itself was very easy to maintain, being so close to the city of Nirva and conquered a few decades ago. By collecting bribes, he was able to build his 4th legion successfully, and began preparation for a Bhirnian Campaign.

### Initial Invasion

In **438PR**, Arruns and 3 of his 4 legions marched on Bhirn. In the first year, he had very little opposition, giving him free access to the land and marching him all the way to the mountain range. When they built their fortifications, he left Gaius in command as he returned to Agrippa for the winter.

When he returned in **439PR** he found a troubling sight, the Nirvans had been attacked during almost the entire winter. If it wasn’t for the quick thinking of his son, Gaius, he would’ve lost most of his army. After awarding his son and the legion Legates, he built another fort blocking the path, placing a large garrison to watch it.

The rest of the year he was unable to lull the Bhirnians in to gain a decisive victory, only gaining a small amount of land before he returned to Agrippa for the winter.

Once again his troops were attacked, though the plans made in the campaign season let them take minimal casualties, hurting the Bhirnians more instead.

### Capture of the Fortresses

After the stalemate in **440PR**, Arruns and the Nirvans had a new problem. There was a series of forts through the mountain that blocked and/or slowed down his path. While he wished to avoid a string of sieges, his hand was forced.

The first fort was taken early in **441PR**, thanks to the plan of Gaius in the winter, though Arruns did weather with the troops. The other two fortresses were captured in a similar way, overwhelming the enemy with their superior number and speed.

With only one fortress left, Arruns and the Nirvans marched on Fort Urmnir. The battle ended in a loss for Arruns, who was quite embarrassed to be defeated in such a way but happy that he had managed to avoid total annihilation and no stolen standards. When his soldiers returned to their defensive line, Arruns made the difficult decision to return to Agrippa for the winter.

In **442PR** Arruns returned to his soldiers, bringings gifts to rekindle his relationship with them. Before too long, the Nirvans moved out again on the fourth fortress, quickly surrounding and besieging it before an enemy army arrived.

He decided to split the command this time, giving the Eastern and more difficult side to his Son, though left him the experienced Legates, while Arruns dealt with the logistics and used his greener legions to block the enemy.

Once the fort fell, Arruns marched on Vagh Bhirn and surrounded the city, trapping many of the Bhirnian soldiers inside. Again, he split his army in two. He left Gaius in command of one half, letting him go further into enemy territory to claim land, though gave him orders to be careful, while the rest remained with him. The reason for his placement at Vagh Bhirn is that it let him control the logistics of his army and deal with any problems in his province. A major benefit of Arruns being there was he kept up the hygiene standards of his troops, avoiding many of the diseases that plague besieging troops. The Senate elected to extend his governorship another 5 years.

After two years of sieging, King Urmnir surrendered to Arruns. When he entered the city with Gaius, their troops hailed them both Imperator, giving them the right to request a triumph from the Senate.

## Return to Politics

While still a governor, Arruns used his influence in the Senate to get his son, Gaius, elected as Quaestor in **444PR**. It was to no surprise to the Senate or people either when Gaius was given the provincial governor status of the Agrippa province, directly under his father.

At the end of his governance, Arruns campaigned successfully for Consul, giving him the position in **446PR**. This time, Gaius was a much stronger right hand for him, being a senator himself. Under him, Gaius began to influence many of the other senators and Quaestors to their side, which gave them more numbers in the voting process. When the time was right, Arruns brought forward his more known legislation, one that granted many of the veterans of the Bhirn Campaign land to farm and live on.

As his son went through the Senatorial ranks, Arruns continued to support him, slowly building a stronger Calenus Faction, which was announced after his Consulship ended.

In **457PR**, Gaius became Consul. New legislation was passed with the approval of the Calenus Faction that gained them more popularity for the future, increasing funding for the Octavian Institute and Caesar College.

When Gaius left for his governorship, Arruns continued to lead the Calenus Faction until his death.

## Death and Legacy

In **463PR**, at the age 75, Arruns passed away peacefully in his sleep. His will left almost everything to Gaius, including the leadership of the Calenus Faction. Only a small part was not given to him, which was monetary gifts to many of the soldiers that fought with him in the Bhirn Campaign.

To honour him, Gaius held a grand funeral along with 2 days of mourning in the city.

Arruns is known for 3 major things, creating the Calenus Faction which would eventually rule Nirvan politics under Gaius, the Bhirn Campaign and creating one of the most popular and notable figures in the Republic, Gaius.

## Personal Life

In **410PR**, Arruns fell in love with a woman named Julia Hybirda, a patrician. The two were able to get married with the blessing of her family, holding a small wedding.

The couple had their only child in **414PR**, which they named Gaius Calenus.

Arruns was very close with his son, having meals with him whenever he could or talking through mail. Unlike some children from noble families, Gaius did not have to worry about who he could love, Arruns giving him the right to love whoever, and was very respectful to Sertoria, who he treated like a daughter.

Both Julia and Arruns kept close watch of their grandchildren, keeping them safe and happy whenever Gaius was too busy with other tasks. This included a close relationship with Vibius, who was treated and respected just like Gaius was in his youth. Though old, Arruns managed to teach him many things when he was not attending Caesar College.