The Death of Augustin Fidalgo

The Death of King Augustin Fidalgo was a significant event in Gonarundun history, caused as a reaction from the loss of the Helicules War. It is the first recorded death of a Monarch by the people they lead.

## Background

By the time of his death in **416PR**, King Augustin had become a very unpopular Monarch. The start of his decreasing reputation began in **405PR** when he took the throne from his father, known already at the time as a spoilt child.

Augustin’s first major downfall was his treatment of neighbouring tribes of Gonarundu, treating them as lower individuals and angering them with an increase in tariffs on their trades. It didn’t take long for the raids to begin in **409PR**, the tribes forced to live off the income from it.

In **411PR** he began conscripting more and more men from the lower class to fight in his battles, dealing with the surrounding tribes of Gonarundu that he had angered. Protests began to break out but he quelled them with his Royal Guard, becoming violent in most incidences.

A consequence to his treatment of the tribes, when Ilaka began preparations for their invasion in **414PR**, he was forced to send one of his hated individuals, Miguel Baztan, to lead the defence. Only Miguel’s loyal troops followed, having no one else to spare for the defence of the city Helicules.

One of the final straws in his downfall was his treatment of Miguel when he returned victorious from the Battle of Helicules. Rather than listen to his general, he refused to give him permission to fight the Ilakans in Ilakan territory, causing Miguel to resign on the spot.

Later, when Miguel dies from mysterious circumstances, the King was blamed, causing more protests and riots. Again, Augustin used his Crown Guard to quell the riots, though some of the houses in the High District were damaged.

Instead of Ilaka coming to the King with a peace treaty, where he would get to dictate the terms, they came with another invading force. Still distracted with the River tribes, the King sent one of Miguel’s fired generals, Dario, to go out and defeat them. The Battle of the Kunan turned out to be an embarrassing defeat for the Gonarunduns, who now could do nothing against the Ilakans.

When they came with a peace treaty, King Augustin signed, giving up the city of Helicules and the lands East of the Kunan River. Angering the people further.

Hearing of the loss of such a major city, and the slaughter after, the people of Ralom rose in revolt, sick of hearing of the failures of their monarch.

## July 13

On July 13th, King Augustin Fidalgo made his announcement to the people that the Helicules War had ended in peace, choosing to give up the lands lost to the Ilakans.

Personally, the King shared the news in the morning to the Nobility, who were angry that they were losing some of their lands. After they shared their discontent, the King retreated back to Lofty Castle in fear of assassins.

Isolating himself in the Castle, Augustin sent out some of his civil servants to announce their defeat and surrender of their lands to the Ilakans. These announcements were taken even worse, causing the people to begin shouting out in anger. When the Crown Guard sent to escort the servants tried to stop the people, they were overwhelmed.

In their rage, the rioting crowds took over the stage, killing the servants.

Taking their anger further, the crowd began to join with the others and began their protest in front of the High District. The guards managed to block them from entering by closing the gate but now the city was under siege. Inside, the nobles' distrust of the monarch continued to grow, barring themselves in their houses for the rest of the day.

The protests continued all night, with many trying to get over the walls but were fended back. Nobles caught outside went into hiding, purchasing a stay at the inns and disguising themselves.

During the night, the heads of the noble families had a meeting, discussing that they would betray the current King in order to put his Cousin Julian in control. In the morning, they planned on opening the gate and letting the angry populace through, making it known that they supported their endeavour and avoid their own properties being raided.

## July 14

In the morning of July 14th, the Nobles managed to open the gates into the High District, pulling the guards back from the wall to protect the Noble properties. As the gates opened, the people poured through, being directed straight to Lofty Castle where there stood only the Crown Guard.

With the help of the nobles, the people were able to break into Lofty Castle, beating back the guards that had treated them so harshly. The remaining guards chose to surrender to the people, betraying the King and bringing him out of his room.

King Augustin at the time was none the wiser, taking little notice that the High District had been compromised and his castle was under siege. At the time it is believed he was still sleeping, known for his late awakening.

It came as a surprise to the young monarch when his guards burst into the room, dragging him out of Castle Lofty and into the streets of the High District. Protected from immediate death by his Crown Guard, the people and nobility escorted the King to the centre of the city.

## Death

A mock trial was held for the King, stating that he had betrayed the people and the Kingdom and now he would be sentenced to death. The King’s only response was “you have no right”. Spitting at the gathering of people.

No longer able to hold them back, the people charged the stage where the King was held. In a matter of moments, Augustin was beaten down. His screams could be heard over the crowd but it didn’t take long for them to die out, the King just left as a mangled corpse.

## Aftermath

The nobles were able to take charge after the wrath of the people, hanging up the King and leaving his body to rot outside the city. His body took further damage, with people throwing stones at the hated individual.

After dealing with the body, the Nobles were able to instill some peace in the city, bringing in Julian Fidalgo as their figurehead. Before he was crowned though, a council of all family heads was made, becoming the real power of the nation.

Outside of Gonarundu, the Monarchs of other nations watched the situation unfold closely, worried that their own people might get the wrong idea. Thus, news of the incident in nations with Monarchs was suppressed.