The Candlebrooks

The Candlebrooks, more formally known as members of the House of Candlebrook, are the ruling family of United Merion.

## The Rise of the Candlebrook Throne and Unification

Following the collapse of The Old Throne at the hands of Barande and what would become the League of the Palisades, the House of Candlebrook assumed power over the remnants of the fallen monarchy. Ruling from the capital city of Wick, a city dating back to the time of the Old Throne, the Candlebrooks consolidated their power and began to build a new kingdom under their new monarchy. At first, the Candlebrooks claimed the lands previously held by the Old Throne. However, the new monarchy was considerably more aggressive about gaining land and bringing new citizens under its control. Soon, the Candlebrooks had brought together the various regions of Merion, establishing United Merion as it exists today.

## The Monarchy

The Candlebrooks are the only House to have ever ruled United Merion.

### Roles of the Monarch

As well as being the Head of State of United Merion, the monarch also exists as the head of the Six-Sided Church and the Grand Marshall of all Merionese armies.

### The Line of Succession

Succession to the Candlebrook Throne is determined by gender, descent, and legitimacy. The gender of the heir apparent is determined by the century; every 100 years, the heir changes from the next most legitimate man or boy to the next most legitimate woman or girl, and vice versa. After accounting for the century, the Throne is inherited by the previous monarch's child or by a childless monarch's nearest collateral line. The final decision of who inherits the monarchy falls to the Council of Graces.

### The Succession Crisis

Following the Cataclysm, four individuals would seek to claim the throne from King Colin I, asserting that they were the legitimate monarch of United Merion for various reasons. These claimants were:

* Alistair Candlebrook
* Hannah Candlebrook
* Caleb Burns
* Ben-of-the-Green

## Timeline of Candlebrook Monarchs

* **Alice I** (Alice the Glorious, Alice the Great, Alice First-Queen) - Ruled prior to Year of Grace Calendar.

### First King's Century

* **Zachary I** (Heir of Alice, Zachary First-King) - Crowned at age 35, Reigned 1-67 Years of Grace.
	+ First monarch and creator of the "Zachary Line" of the Candlebrook family. Following Zachary I's death, the crown passed to his eldest grandson Christopher (Prince Peter, Zachary I's son and Christopher's father, passed away before his father).
* **Christopher I** (Christopher Wise) - Crowned at age 14, Reigned 68-99 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a King's Century to a Queen's Century, the crown passed to Christopher's niece Alice.

### First Queen's Century

* **Alice II** (Alice the Acute) - Crowned at age 24, Reigned 100-133 Years of Grace.
	+ As Alice II had no direct female heirs, the crown passed to Zachary I's sister Grace First-Pope's great-granddaughter Anne. This was the creation and installation of the "Papal Line" of the Candlebrook family to the line of succession.
* **Anne I** (Anne of Grace) - Crowned at age 43, Reigned 134-175 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Anne I's death, the crown passed to her eldest daughter Juliana.
* **Juliana I** (Juliana the Blue) - Crowned at age 52, Reigned 176-197 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Juliana I's death, the crown passed to her only daughter Harmony.
* **Harmony I** (Mother Harmony) - Crowned at age 49, Reigned 198-199 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a Queen's Century to a King's Century, the crown passed to Harmony I's eldest son Zachary. Harmony I is famous for maintaining a significant amount of control in the kingdom, even after losing the crown to her son, through influencing her many other sons, all of whom were men of importance and high-rank across the realm.

### Second King's Century

* **Zachary II** (Zachary the White) - Crowned at age 28, Reigned 200-241 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Zachary II's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Zachary.
* **Zachary III** (Zachary the Great) - Crowned at age 48, Reigned 242-264 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Zachary III's death, the crown passed to his son and only child Lawrence.
* **Lawrence I** (Lawrence the Quiet) - Crowned at age 31, Reigned 265-279 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence I's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence II** (Lawrence the Brave) - Crowned at age 19, Reigned 280-286 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence II's death, the crown passed to his elder son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence III** (Lawrence the Fair) - Crowned at age 4, Reigned 287-299 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a King's Century to a Queen's century, the crown passed to the eldest female heir, Lawrence I's eldest granddaughter Juliana.

### Second Queen's Century

* **Juliana II** (Juliana the Black) - Crowned at age 41, Reigned 300-307 Years of Grace.
	+ Upon being crowned, Juliana II agreed to rule only until the time Lawrence III, 17-years-old at the time, had a daughter at which point Juliana II would serve only as a regent until the daughter turns sixteen, the age of Merionese maturity. During her time as queen, Juliana II began to enjoy her authority and lavish lifestyle, eventually convincing herself that Lawrence III would never actually have a daughter. When he eventually did in 305 YoG, Juliana II hired a group of assassins from the Eastern Duchies. A couple of years later the scheme was uncovered and, following a very long and very fair trial, Juliana II was found guilty and executed.
	+ During Juliana II's trial, the Council of Graces preemptively chose a new heir to the throne, settling on the eldest female descendant of Alice II, Ginnifer. Following Juliana II's execution, the crown passed to Ginnifer and the "Zachary Line" of the Candlebrook Family was reinstated as the line of succession.
* **Ginnifer I** (Ginnifer the Thoughtful) - Crowned at age 20, Reigned 308-329 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Ginnifer I's death, the crown passed to her only daughter Alice.
* **Alice III** (Alice Fortuna) - Crowned at age 19, Reigned 330-374 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Alice III's death, the crown passed to her elder daughter Anne.
* **Anne II** (Anne the Balanced) - Crowned at age 33, Reigned 375-381 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Anne II's death, the crown passed to her only daughter Gloria.
* **Gloria I** (Gloria the Green) - Crowned at age 13, Reigned 382-399 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a Queen's Century to a King's Century, the crown passed to Gloria I's only son Webster.

### Third King's Century

* **Webster I** (Little Webster) - Crowned at age 11, Reigned 400-405 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Webster I's death, the crown passed to his uncle Matthew (Anne II's son).
* **Matthew I** (Matt the Hearty) - Crowned at age 26, Reigned 406-423 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Matthew I's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Arnuld.
* **Arnuld I** (Arnuld the Slim) - Crowned at age 22, Reigned 424-462 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Arnuld I's death, the crown passed to his grandson (via his daughter, an only child) Christopher.
* **Christopher II** (Christopher the Pale) - Crowned at age 10, Reigned 463-499 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a King's Century to a Queen's century, the crown passed to Christopher II's eldest daughter Alice.

### Third Queen's Century

* **Alice IV** (Alice the Tall, Alice Ill-Fated) - Crowned at age 22, Reigned to only 500 Year of Grace.
	+ Following Alice IV's death, the crown passed to her younger and only sister Elena.
* **Elena I** (The Queen Who Vanished) - Crowned at age 20, Reigned 501-505 Years of Grace.
	+ In 505 YoG, Elena I vanished without a trace, presumed to be by her own accord, effectively abdicating the throne, with rumors saying that she went to live with the Ides in Adventuros, the land east of the Magewood. While the Council of Graces set about determining who the next official monarch would be, they installed one of Matthew I's great-granddaughters, Gloria, as a "placeholder" queen.
* **Gloria II** (Gloria the Lonesome) - Crowned at age 43, Reigned 506-523 Years of Grace.
	+ During Gloria II's reign, the Council of Graces decided that the rightful royal heir was Petra Candlebrook, a descendant of Alice III (Alice Fortuna)'s younger daughter. Following Gloria II's death, the crown passed to Petra. This was the creation and installation of the "Fortuna Line" of the Candlebrook family to the line of succession.
* **Petra I** (Petra Fortuna) - Crowned at age 36, Reigned 524-547 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Petra I's death, the crown passed to her elder daughter Anne.
* **Anne III** (Anne of the Diamonds) - Crowned at age 24, Reigned 548-594 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Anne III's death, the crown passed to her only daughter Anne.
* **Anne IV** (Anne of the Charms, Annie the Maid) - Crowned at age 31, Reigned 595-599 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a Queen's Century to a King's Century, the crown passed to Anne IV's only son Lawrence.

### Fourth King's Century

* **Lawrence IV** (Lawrence Long, Lawrence the Peacemaker) - Crowned at age 14, Reigned 600-653 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence IV's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence V** (Lawrence the Old) - Crowned at age 50, Reigned 654-661 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence V's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence VI** (Lawrence the Calm) - Crowned at age 41, Reigned 662-694 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence VI's death, the crown passed to his only son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence VII** (Lawrence the Dark) - Crowned at age 53, Reigned 695-697 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence VII's death, the crown passed to his only son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence VIII** (Lawrence the Dim) - Crowned at age 30, Reigned 698-699 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a King's Century to a Queen's century, the crown passed to Lawrence VIII's only daughter Alice.

### Fourth Queen's Century

* **Alice V** (The Little Queen) - Crowned at age 4, Reigned 700-731 Years of Grace.
	+ During the reign of Alice V, her aunt Petra -- Lawrence VII's only daughter, older sister of Lawrence VIII, and previously expected first queen of the Fourth Queen's Century until her father's sudden death -- grew furious over her loss of the throne to her toddler niece. Petra eventually partnered with a woman known as Alice Candlebrook (real name Belladonna Forge). With her assistance, following Alice V's death, the crown passed to Petra.

* **Petra II** (Petra of the Sorrows) - Crowned at age 65, Reigned 732-740 Years of Grace.
	+ During the reign of Petra II, her accomplice Alice Candlebrook betrayed her and revealed herself to be/claimed to be descended from Elena I, the Queen Who Vanished. Through the use of populist rhetoric and propaganda across the kingdom, Alice seized power and the crown from Petra II, with approval from the Council of Graces. This ended the "Fortuna Line's" hold on the royal line of succession.
* **Alice VI** (Alice the Tyrant) - Crowned at age 36, Reigned 741-749 Years of Grace.
	+ During the Reign of the Tyrant, civil war broke out between the forces of Alice VI and those who sought to depose her. The Wickish War ended with Alice VI's death and the Council of Graces' elevation of one Alice I's direct descendants, Grace, to the throne. This was the creation and installation of the "New Line" of the Candlebrook family to the line of succession.
* **Grace I** (Grace Returned, The Rectifier) - Crowned at age 34, Reigned 750-773 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Grace I's death, the crown passed to her only daughter Ginnifer.
* **Ginnifer II** (Ginnifer the Wise) - Crowned at age 36, Reigned 774-789 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Ginnifer II's death, the crown passed to her elder daughter Elizabeth.
* **Elizabeth I** (Bess of the Blade) - Crowned at age 19, Reigned 790-799 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a Queen's Century to a King's Century, the crown passed to Elizabeth I's eldest son Matthew.

### Fifth King's Century

* **Matthew II** (Matthew the Sharp) - Crowned at age 12, Reigned 800-812 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Matthew II's death, the crown passed to his elder son Zachary.
* **Zachary IV** (Zachary the Red) - Crowned at age 3, Reigned 813-876 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Zachary IV's death, the crown passed to his eldest grandson (via his daughter, an only child) Christopher.
* **Christopher III** (Christopher Sharktooth) - Crowned at age 17, Reigned 877-899 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a King's Century to a Queen's century, Christopher III had only one child, a son, and no direct female heir. The Council of Graces, fearing a situation similar to that of Juliana II/Juliana the Black (where the queen was supposed to abdicate in favor of a future descendant and then didn't), chose to elevate one of Christopher III's distant and seemingly unambitious cousins, Vanella, as a "placeholder" queen until such a time that a more direct female heir would be born.

### Fifth Queen's Century

* **Vanella I** (Vanella the Unready) - Crowned at age 51, Reigned 900-908 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Vanella I's death, the Council of Graces chose a second "placeholder" queen: Marcella, a direct descendant of Lawrence IV and a member of the "Fortuna Line."
* **Marcella I** (Marcella Fortuna) - Crowned at age 41, Reigned 909-925 Years of Grace.
	+ During the reign of Marcella I, Christopher III's son gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, who became the official royal heir. Marcella I continued to serve as a regent and mentor to Elizabeth until the young princess turned sixteen and was crowned queen. Despite this, Marcella continued to effectively rule through Elizabeth during the early years of her reign. Merionese historians are split on whether Marcella I was a power-hungry puppet master or a kind and selfless mentor for Elizabeth.
* **Elizabeth II** (Bess of the Books) - Crowned at age 16, Reigned 926-956 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Elizabeth II's death, the crown passed to her elder daughter Harmony.
* **Harmony II** (Harmony the Merry) - Crowned at age 26, Reigned 957-999 Years of Grace.
	+ At the turn of the century and the switch from a Queen's Century to a King's Century, the crown passed to Harmony II's eldest son Lawrence.

### Sixth King's Century

* **Lawrence IX** (Lawrence Millennium) - Crowned at age 48, Reigned 1000-1014 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence IX's death, the crown passed to his elder son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence X** (Lawrence the Good) - Crowned at age 39, Reigned 1015-1022 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence X's death, the crown passed to his only son Lawrence.
* **Lawrence XI** (Lawrence the Sailwright) - Crowned at age 26, Reigned 1023-1042 Years of Grace.
	+ Following Lawrence XI's death, the crown passed to his eldest son Lawrence.

* **Lawrence XII** (Lawrence the Strong) - Crowned at age 26, Reigned 1043-1084 Years of Grace.
	+ Following the Cataclysm at Brookhaven, the Council of Graces determined that Lawrence XII's nephew Colin was next in line to be crowned king. Due to the uncertainty regarding the cause of the Cataclysm and other claimants' beliefs and desires to be the monarch, this decision led to the Merionese Succession Crisis.