High King

The rank of High King has existed in Aedrinarian culture since the mythical First Kingdom led by Odin. Unlike other monarchies in Prima Terra, Aedrinaran High Kings are elected via a moot of the most powerful houses and clans within the realm at the time. High Kings or Queens have held various territory within the Aedrinaran isles since the first age, at times pushing control into areas of Jotun or Asrinheim. The current iterration of the title is held within the Eighth Kingdom of Aedrinar.
Since the title is non-hereditary, the capital can move between high monarchs as the royal court moves to the home of the ruling house or clan. The monarch's immediate family and house often undertake roles within the government and running of the kingdom, with the ceremonial title of prince or princess often being granted to the monarch's children.

Appointment

The High King is appointed by the Jarlsmoot upon the death of the previous high monarch. This meeting is traditionally done in the home court of the former monarch with the Jarls and Thanes of the realm journeying to the court to elect a replacement. When a monarch dies, Household riders will travel to each noble court. When the oppertunity of magic such as sending is available, this is sometimes taken in times where nobles or their proxies are scattered such as during the 40 Year War.
When each rider returns with confirmation of who will attend the moot, the election will begin only when each noble or their proxy has arrived. When they do, they can nominate who they wish to replace the high king, including themselves. When a majority of 50%+1 is met, the high monarch immediately assumes the oaths of their vassals unless someone wishes to challenge in ritualistic combat. This has not been done since the seventh kingdom. The High monarch must also conduct their own oaths in a blood letting ceremony before taking a crown, swearing to protect their vassals, honour the gods, and defend the rights of the honurable.
A formal coronation and feast may take place within weeks of the moot and will involve inviting notable heroes of the common folk of the monarch's home.

Duties

The High King, unlike other monarchies, has a complicated set of oaths that are a mix of religious, social, and political obligations within their realm. These obligations are considered ancient and sacrosant and sworn in the blood oath during their appointment as king or queen.

Religious Obligations

Aedrinaran culture does not have an organized or centralised religion, but the High Monarch is expected to uphold themselves to the ideals of the Honoured Gods and Odin's example. They are seen as an agent of Odin's authority in the material plane. High Monarchs must promise to practice the teachings of the honoured gods and defend the 'heirs of Jotun, Aesir, and Vaniri.' Within their home courts, the High Monarch must oversee all religious ceremonials with the aide of local temples and religious leaders.

Social Obligations

A key seperation between the Aedrinaran monarchy and authoritarian states within the continent is their lack of involvement within the lives of the common classes. High Kings, as part of their blood oath, swear to defend the independence and rights of every warrior within their land. Although nominal taxes and tributes are expected to the high king, these are often used to fund defences and social projects within their realm. Monarchs who have failed to uphold this often find themselves challenged by rival houses or even commoners.

Political Obligations

The High King is sworn to defend the independence of the other noble houses. Although their feudal lord, the High King actually has little control on any hold outside of their own. Each Jarl, Thane, house, or clan can undertake their own diplomacy or war. However, any alliance forged with the High King will often take priority. The High King has the power to call upon all warriors of the land in times of war.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

High Monarchs will rule until their death. If a high king or queen is condsidered to be unpopular, corrupt, or not obliging with their oaths, any warrior within Aedrinaran can challenge them to a combat to replace them. Whoever kills the high monarch will often claim the right of claimance, which allows them to inherit all the titles and lands of whoever they slew. This practice has been found throughout Aedrinaran history, and caused the centuries long blood feud between House Winter-Shield and House Coldstar.

History

According to legend, the first High King was Odin, who united the oppressed Humans of Aedrinar and formed the Kingdom of Aedrinar. This kingdom is largely considered mythical, and lasted just over a century. This precident was passed on as myth amongst the early Aedrinaran humans who lived in in independent city states and nomadic clans. This period is often called the Great Division in the legends and chronicles of Aedrinaran houses.
The title was reclaimed by Astrid I Dragontamer, the only monarch of the second kingdom, in the early first age during the flight of the dragons. Continental historians such as those in the Grand Eldron Society of History state that Astrid used the myth of the high kings to unite her people into the second kingdom and fight the dragons as a single front. Despite her reputation and victory against the draconic invaders, the title of high king was lost again for a thousand years in the 'Age of a thousand clans.'
Following the Age of a 1000 clans, their was a greater push to unity amongst the aedrinaran peoples. Ragnar I, the Great, of ancient Halgafjar, united the 1000 clans with the 'tongue of Loki' and forged the third kingdom. Considered one of the greatest kingdoms until it's collapse, it was the third kingdom that created the modern rituals and customs of the monarchy, adpating the ancient tradition of the moot to the monarchy and codifying the blood oath required to rule as high king.
In disputed records, the third kingdom allegedly claimed most of Asrinheim in this time as well under the rulership of Haarold I, the Seansnake, a legendary high king who was lost at sea with his famed treasure fleet. The third kingdom also allied themselves with the Sun Elves and led to thousands of Aedrinaran warriors defeating Soulthek at the Battle of Adar alongside surviving Sun Elves, Moon Elves, dwarves, dragons, and humans of Gwenydd and Kernow. Despite being a great victory, the loss of many key warriors and leaders of the third kingdom saw the nation destablise and suffer a series of internal conflicts and weak monarchs, ending with Rollo II, the Weak, failing to control his restless vassals.
The succeeding age of iron and blood saw centuries of internal blood feuds and warring between the houses and clans. Ragnar III, the Wintersheart, of House Winter-Shield united the clans again his reputation as a great leader and warrior. The fourth kingdom was the height of Wintershield power and would last from 812, 2e to 1014, 2e. Amongst their acheivements, the Winter Kings would launch the first full scale attacks and raids on continental Prima Terra and forge the foundations of modern Aedrinaran traditions and strategy.
House Wintershield lost control of the kingdom in 940, 2e, when the Coldstar Clan of Dawnfall defeated High King Geir in ritual combat. Currently legend and sagas claim Geir was a beloved king who was kind to his people and well liked and how the Coldstars were cruel and power hungry. The defeat of Geir lead to a century long blood feud between the two great houses, and would lead the dissolution of the kingdom in 1014 with the Wintersrevenge war breaking the kingdom apart in civil war. The Coldstars were completely annhilated by the Wintershields, with the 'Fall of the Cold Star' song becoming a popular form of intimidation from House Wintershield into silenencing their potential enemies.
The Age of Long Winter, the interregnum between the fourth and fifth kingdoms, lasted for 916 years with the fifth kingdom being formed by Haarold II of Lastlight in 1930, 2e. This Kingdom became infamous in the continent of Prima Terra for their invasions of the western regions beginning in 2055 under Ragnar IV, the Bloodaxe, and saw the Aedrinaran Empire usurp the Marcian Empire and begin the dark ages of western prima terra. The empire's size meant the kingdom fell apart under the rulership as Sigrun II of Kriegerholm in 2136 as petty kings and jarls relied less on the islands for their control and wealth.
This began the lesser interregnum period from 2136-2191, marking the shortest period interregnum in Aedrinaran history, and saw Olaf II, one of the greatest Aedrinaran monarchs, unite the home islands under his rulership. Olaf would die in the western continent, his body never recovered. Rulership of the kingdom then transfered to Ivaar I Warthunder of Oskunstrond, a powerful high king and only high king to originate from Drekenheim. The kingdom then fell apart with the weak King Ebbe who incurred the wrath of King Knut. Depending on house alleigances, some count the sixth kingdom as ending with Ebbe in 2263, or with Knut between 2285 and 2299.
The Great Interregnum would begin following the war between Knut and Ebbe, marking the sixth kingdom as the last united Aedrinaran kingdom of the second age. It would not be until 519 of the third age the Aedrinar would be united once again with Olaf III, the Kingmaker, a half-elf of House Dragontooth invades the other holds, forming the seventh kingdom. Olaf settled in Odinsthrone, taking the place of House Thunderstone. This began the dominance of Odinsthrone rulers as high kings of Aedrinar.
Olaf's son, Karl III, was considered weak and spent much of his time fighting internal rebellion. Karl would die at the hands of Haarold V the great uniter who put down the remaining rebellions and began the Century of Light, a period of modernisation in Lastlight led by him and his heirs, Astrid III the Titan Queen, Ingrid II the Builder, and Haarold VI. With Haarold's death, the kingdom entered a steep decline and saw Ulfgir V the Wolf defeated by the Eldrian Empire at the sea, with Sven II ending his rulership as a mark of shame upon the kingdom for it's losses in 799.
The Eighth Kingdom was formed after a century of modernisation in the realm and saw Sigrunn III conquer and unite the nation again through her alliances with Estra Wintershield and her husband, Jarl Bloodraven of Lastlight. Sigrun's reign is still talked of fondly and she is regarded amongst the best rulers of all Aedrinar. With the kingdom united, Sigrun III focused on strengthening the kingdom and expanding its global influence. Through control of Lastlight, Winterharbour, and Halgafjar, the new kingdom now had the largest trade dominance in the Aedrinaran trade network and controlled nearly all exports and imports through Lastlight and Terrasic trade network. Sailors from around the kingdom would become travelling merchants and fleets from the various jarls would offer protection against pirates to merchants from the Eldrian Empire and Dragonborn cities of the Crag.
Sigrun also oversaw a massive restructuring of the southern hold, which had remained divided since the end of the seventh kingdom. Sigrun helped to restore the ancient city of Odinsthrone, and pushed for a local minor noble named Ivar the Older of the Thornstrom house to take over the city, effecitevly using her soft power to convince the other thanes and huscarls of the city to declare him the new Jarl.
His son, Ivar the Younger, would succeed Sigrunn III as Ivar II and saw his house rule over the kingdom until Karl V died in battle. His shieldbrother, Haardrada Iceaxe, stood over his body alone, defending against Eldrian attacks until a relief army arrived. In recognition of his honour and braveness, Haardarada was elected unanimously as high king in 1035, and has ruled ever since.

Type

Nobility, Non-hereditary

Status

Active

Equates to

• King/Queen (Eldrian Empire)
• Supremator (Seldrinar Supremacy)
• Duce (Altruscia)

Source of Authority

Jarlsmoot

Length of Term

For Life

Current Holders

• King Hardrada

Past Holders

• King Knut

Related Organizations

• Eighth Kingdom of Aedrinar