Maximus Angelos
First Paladin (a.k.a. the Usurper)
Maximus Angelos was the second son of Tacitus II Angelos, brother to Cicero Angelos and briefly held the throne of the Kingdom of Myrtana during the Angelosi civil war and the Holy War for Koron. He was fair haired and heralded by some as the ultimate paladin. His ideals and religious beliefds guided him throughout his life. In the end his ambition and ideals became his downfall though.
The Myrtanian civil war
Maximus had joined the Paladin order, while only a teenager. His father Tacitus was at that moment patriarch of the Angelos family and duke of Lutetia, while the Lannisters sat on the throne of Myrtana. During his lifetime Maximus saw that whole order of society change. During the Oblivion crisis his father had for the first time allied himself with The Night's Watch out of necessity. When two years later Eric I Strongborn returned to the throne of the Kingdom of Gotha and beat back the occupation army of the Lannister kings, Tacitus saw his chance. For long he had not seen eye to eye with Rhobar Lannister. Now Rhobar's troops were in disarray and the populace was turning against him because of the many military losses of the last years. Tacitus, spurred on by support from Marcus Vardenfell came out in open rebellion against the throne. Seneca marched on Vengard and when the Redcliff noble house remained neutral victory was guaranteed. Rhobar was executed and Tacitus proclaimed himself the new king. Rhobar's son Lee Lannister rallied the remaining forces and took refuge in Mulandir, bent on revenge. He succeeded in capturing the firstborn son of Tacitus, Cicero and executed him in an act of revenge against his assailants. A combined Angelosi and Night's Watch force defeated his army however and Lee was slain on the battlefield. During these wars Maximus led several of his fathers forces into battle.Angelosi kinghood and the Nordmarian invasion
When Tacitus took the Myrtanian throne he named his brother Seneca II Angelos duke of Lutetia. As a devout paladin Maximus was not allowed to lord lands. Two years after he assumed the throne the old Tacitus died of old age however. Because of the reason named above Maximus was not allowed to inherit the crown, therefore Seneca became the new king. He named his own son Appius as new duke. This had fueled resent from Maximus as he felt it was his right to rule. This resent was put on hold when the Nordmarian orcs launched their huge invasion. Looking to heal the divide Seneca named Maximus commander of the Myrtanian forces sent north to defend the Westfork. Seneca had hoped Maximus might perish in the onslaught, but Maximus proved a very capable commander and soon won the admiration of many Myrtanian soldiers.The Angelosi civil war
When Maximus returned to court in Vengard, he was hailed a hero. In fact, many Myrtanians openly asked themselves why he was not crowned king. With admiration tossed to his head at every turn Maximus was approached by Javier Redcliff, lord of Montera. He offered him his support for the throne and secretly hoped to install a puppet he could control. In this he was joined by the High Flame, who had felt dispowered by the Angeloi family. Maximus took their offer and incited an angry mob in the Vengard temple. They stormed the palace and demanded Seneca resign the throne to him. Seneca refused and was torn to shreds by the angry mob. Maximus had proved incapable to control the people he had unleashed and in defiance to their fathers murder Appius and Carolus Angelos declared war on Maximus and the Redcliffs. The Angelosi civil war soon became a stalemate, with no side capable of breaking through. Maximus' position grew precarious. Meanwhile the Kingdom of Corinth had also entered a civil war between the Baratheon king and the Inquisition. High Flame Pyrokar smelled an opportunity and provoked Maximus by declaring a holy war be fought for the city of Koron. Maximus jumped on this opportunity, partly because he hoped to stimulate his falling popularity, partly in the hope of gaining strength in the civil war by plundering the Corinthian lands and partly because of his devout following of the Chantry of Fire. Maximus assembled a holy army of paladins, knights, footmen and peasants. They were sacrified at the fields outside of Vengard and marched on the depleted city of Koron. Here they succeeded in taking the city, but took heavy casualties in the pursuit. This upset the balance in the civil war and Appius and Carolus succeeded in launching a surprise attack on the capital from sea. Maximus now was a king without a throne and settled with his forces in Koron. Meanwhile the Redcliff family had abandoned him and made peace with Appius. Maximus continued to rule from Koron, while searching for support against his cousins. The Inquisition launched an invasion of Koron however and Maximus perished on the battlefield. He had gone from a man who had it all to another casualty on a battlefield.
Species
Life
1365 3E
1428 3E
63 years old
Birthplace
Lutetia
Children
Gender
male
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments