Treaty of Widowhall
The Widow's Bargain
The Treaty of Widowhall was signed in 45 ET and brought an end to the fighting amongst the lords of Rhone. The Treaty, known as the Widow's Bargain, was a desperate attempt by those lords whose lands and people had been ravaged by the Struggles. It was a last-ditch attempt to hold the Kingdom together and, so far, it has lasted.
Document Structure
Clauses
A Cessation of Bloodshed Between The Brothers and Sisters of Rhone
First and foremost, the Treaty required all signatories to agree to cease all bloodshed between each other. It spoke in grandiose terms to the 'eternal bonds' held by the children of Rhone and their undying commitment to each other. It also created a form of defensive assurances that anyone who would, once again, attempt to stretch their greedy hands to another's lands would be answered by the whole of the nobility.A Recognition Of The Throne's Authority
While formally worded, this clause referred to the recognition that the lands granted by the Throne in days past remained in the hands of those who were invested with the responsibility. This clause caused the recognition of the Blackswan's claim to the Eorldom of Swans and cemented the authority of the other Eorls. It also had the effect of restoring and reducing other lords who had gained or lost lands during the Struggles. Many individuals and families had been rewarded with seized lands by their patrons as borders shifted over the years. Those whose lands belonged to an individual invested by the Throne were dispossessed by the superior claim. In addition, those who had lost their lands were restored so long as their authority was granted by the Throne.This clause has been the most contentious in practice. Families and honored knights who had been awarded for their service were required to relinquish their lands in many cases. Families that had been reduced to poverty through loss of their lands and titles were restored again; even if many felt they should not have been. In a moment, the Treaty ignited old grudges and created an entire underclass of landless nobility who had to seek favor from patrons once again.
The Stewardship of Rhuvael
The Treaty also enshrined the governing structure for the stewardship of the Council of Rhuvael. While it had existed since 24 ET after the Presumptuous Lords had been thrown out of the capital, the Widow's Bargain made it official. This clause was also met with much dismay by the citizens of the capital as they had very little representation at Widowhall during its formation.Historical Details
History
While the Struggles had ebbed and flowed for over two decades, there was a massive resurgence of fighting with the return of the Eorl of Swans, Vaerac Galaenis and the retaking of Swanhold and Swanhill by his forces. His father, Laerac Galaenis, the previous Eorl of Swans, had sparked the Struggles with a landgrab that exploded into civil war. In 28 ET, the Swanlord was pushed out of Swans and took refuge in the Aenwold with his family and retainers. Here, the Rebel Eorl, as he came to be called, led a minor insurgency against the surrounding lands and nobles in an attempt to reclaim his lands.
Between 28 to 38 ET, the various lords and Eorls met sporadically as each put forth their favorites or themselves for ascension to the Eorldom of Swans but no agreement could be made between them. As such, the territory had only several caretaker forces of varying quality and motives taking up residence as an office-holder until such time as a decision could be made. This revolving door of leadership left its mark on the people of Swans who grew to resent the occupation and, several times, actively resisted the caretaker forces either through old loyalties or in response to the greed and cruelty of the officeholder.
In 39 ET, Vaerac the son of the Eorl, led his forces out of the Aenwold in the chaos stemming from the conflict with the resurgent Monraven kingdom to the east. As deserters and mercenaries spilled out into the countryside of Aenar, the nobles were hardpressed to safeguard their own lands let alone maintain the token defense force that was holding the Eorldom of Swans territory. In time, all learned that the old Eorl of Swans had fallen ill and died although no one had confirmed it as yet. Vaerac, who has come to be known as the Blackswan, continued his father's campaign and in 39 ET made his move.
With the aid of much of the local population, the Blackswan and his forces, many of them grizzled outlaws and veterans from the wars, struck out against the caretaker forces which had been depleted at this time due to the troubles in the east. The Blackswan's attacks weakened and frightened the current Lord-Steward to such an extent that additional forces were called upon. Operating from several settlements and the cover of the Aenwold, the Blackswan avoided pitched battles until the time was right.
In 42 ET, the Blackswan maneuvered a responding force into a pitched battle at the Westwood. The 1st Battle of Westwood was waged by the Blackswan's forces against a token force from the Eorl Between-The-Waters and the Eorl of Thorns along with various volunteer troops from other lords who had come to maintain the peace. The battle was bloody and during its melee, the Blackswan slew the firstborn son and heir of the Eorl Between-The-Waters in single combat. Even with that blow struck against the leadership, the allied forces were pushing the Blackswan's troops back when Eorl of Thorns was slain by an errant arrow. With the two senior leaders dead or dying, the Blackswan took the opportunity to escape from the field with his surviving men. At best, the entire battle was a draw.
The following Spring of 43, the Blackswan returned with reinforcements from many of his former vassals as well as a few other lords who sought to right the wrong of the Eorls stripping the title from one of their own. This was a subject of much controversy as the Eorldoms had always been granted by the King or Queen and many traditionalists felt that only the crown could appoint or remove the office. That spring and summer campaign saw a series of small skirmishes that led to two major battles. The first, the 2nd Battle of Westwood, was a disaster for the allied forces as the Blackswan's bolstered forces put the unsteady token forces left behind to rout.
In its aftermath, the call went out to come to the defense of Swans. The response was mixed amongst many of the nobility; many of whom had their own problems. The most prominent was the Eorl of Swords who rode at the behest of the Eorl Between-The-Waters. The Eorl Between-The-Waters had sworn vengeance on the Blackswan for the death of his son and was the primary aggressor in all of the conflicts since. Even with the aid of the other lords and Eorls, the Blackswan was able to defeat them and retake the Swanhold; the ancestral castle of the Eorldom. With it falling, the local populace and most of their lords bent the knee once again to the banner of old.
Chastened by their loss, the nobles gathered again in 44 ET and attempted a two-pronged, land and water, assault upon Swanhold and Swanhill. Both of these attacks were beaten back at great loss of life. As the fighting season came to an end, there were skirmishes all over the Aenar and many of the contributing lords from afar had pulled back their troops or what remained of them.
Over the winter and into the spring of 45 ET, there was much discussion and arguing amongst the lords of Rhone. The battles and raiding had weakened all of their lands, the Cuth were continuing their raids in the south and the north was also dealing with lawless men in great numbers. In addition, there was still the lingering question of whether or not an Eorl could be stripped of their title by their peers. It was a delicate question as it would set precedent for each of the Eorl's own removal should their fellows so decide. In the end, it was a hard decision but a message for a meeting went out to the Blackswan. Several lords were required to act as hostages due to the belligerent threats of Between-The-Waters and others who had lost loved ones; including the young Eorl of Thorns.
In the fall of 45 ET, in the great chamber of Widowhall, that was carved out to serve as a throne room for the mountain kings of old, the lords and ladies of Rhone as well as proxies from further south, met and negotiated for the end of the Struggles and their aftermath.
Between 28 to 38 ET, the various lords and Eorls met sporadically as each put forth their favorites or themselves for ascension to the Eorldom of Swans but no agreement could be made between them. As such, the territory had only several caretaker forces of varying quality and motives taking up residence as an office-holder until such time as a decision could be made. This revolving door of leadership left its mark on the people of Swans who grew to resent the occupation and, several times, actively resisted the caretaker forces either through old loyalties or in response to the greed and cruelty of the officeholder.
In 39 ET, Vaerac the son of the Eorl, led his forces out of the Aenwold in the chaos stemming from the conflict with the resurgent Monraven kingdom to the east. As deserters and mercenaries spilled out into the countryside of Aenar, the nobles were hardpressed to safeguard their own lands let alone maintain the token defense force that was holding the Eorldom of Swans territory. In time, all learned that the old Eorl of Swans had fallen ill and died although no one had confirmed it as yet. Vaerac, who has come to be known as the Blackswan, continued his father's campaign and in 39 ET made his move.
With the aid of much of the local population, the Blackswan and his forces, many of them grizzled outlaws and veterans from the wars, struck out against the caretaker forces which had been depleted at this time due to the troubles in the east. The Blackswan's attacks weakened and frightened the current Lord-Steward to such an extent that additional forces were called upon. Operating from several settlements and the cover of the Aenwold, the Blackswan avoided pitched battles until the time was right.
In 42 ET, the Blackswan maneuvered a responding force into a pitched battle at the Westwood. The 1st Battle of Westwood was waged by the Blackswan's forces against a token force from the Eorl Between-The-Waters and the Eorl of Thorns along with various volunteer troops from other lords who had come to maintain the peace. The battle was bloody and during its melee, the Blackswan slew the firstborn son and heir of the Eorl Between-The-Waters in single combat. Even with that blow struck against the leadership, the allied forces were pushing the Blackswan's troops back when Eorl of Thorns was slain by an errant arrow. With the two senior leaders dead or dying, the Blackswan took the opportunity to escape from the field with his surviving men. At best, the entire battle was a draw.
The following Spring of 43, the Blackswan returned with reinforcements from many of his former vassals as well as a few other lords who sought to right the wrong of the Eorls stripping the title from one of their own. This was a subject of much controversy as the Eorldoms had always been granted by the King or Queen and many traditionalists felt that only the crown could appoint or remove the office. That spring and summer campaign saw a series of small skirmishes that led to two major battles. The first, the 2nd Battle of Westwood, was a disaster for the allied forces as the Blackswan's bolstered forces put the unsteady token forces left behind to rout.
In its aftermath, the call went out to come to the defense of Swans. The response was mixed amongst many of the nobility; many of whom had their own problems. The most prominent was the Eorl of Swords who rode at the behest of the Eorl Between-The-Waters. The Eorl Between-The-Waters had sworn vengeance on the Blackswan for the death of his son and was the primary aggressor in all of the conflicts since. Even with the aid of the other lords and Eorls, the Blackswan was able to defeat them and retake the Swanhold; the ancestral castle of the Eorldom. With it falling, the local populace and most of their lords bent the knee once again to the banner of old.
Chastened by their loss, the nobles gathered again in 44 ET and attempted a two-pronged, land and water, assault upon Swanhold and Swanhill. Both of these attacks were beaten back at great loss of life. As the fighting season came to an end, there were skirmishes all over the Aenar and many of the contributing lords from afar had pulled back their troops or what remained of them.
Over the winter and into the spring of 45 ET, there was much discussion and arguing amongst the lords of Rhone. The battles and raiding had weakened all of their lands, the Cuth were continuing their raids in the south and the north was also dealing with lawless men in great numbers. In addition, there was still the lingering question of whether or not an Eorl could be stripped of their title by their peers. It was a delicate question as it would set precedent for each of the Eorl's own removal should their fellows so decide. In the end, it was a hard decision but a message for a meeting went out to the Blackswan. Several lords were required to act as hostages due to the belligerent threats of Between-The-Waters and others who had lost loved ones; including the young Eorl of Thorns.
In the fall of 45 ET, in the great chamber of Widowhall, that was carved out to serve as a throne room for the mountain kings of old, the lords and ladies of Rhone as well as proxies from further south, met and negotiated for the end of the Struggles and their aftermath.
Legacy
The long-term effects of the Widow's Bargain are still being felt to this day. Anger over the recognition of the Blackswan and the questionable legal authority of the document led to the secession of Thorns. The Eorl Between-The-Waters is still known to have a blood-vendetta against the Blackswan for the slaying of his son and there are many former lords and officers that have seen their family's rise thrown out. This has forced upon the land of Rhone an entire group of landless nobility who are ambitious and in search of land and title once again. With the cementing of old claims, the acquisition of such land seems dubious at best so long as nobles adhere to the Treaty.
Many of these individuals have crossed the Sea of Winds in search of lands and glory elsewhere while others bide their time and hope for the winds of change.
The final legacy of kingdom-wide importance was the role that the High Church played in ensuring the attendance of the Eorls and other nobles. The Church vouched for the safety of all attending and condemned any treachery or violence while it was negotiated. These actions were rewarded with the Church's more prominent role in the Council of Rhuvael and in negotiations throughout the Kingdom. A rise of the Church elite in prestige and authority has coincided with the restoration of peace in the Kingdom of Rhone.
Many of these individuals have crossed the Sea of Winds in search of lands and glory elsewhere while others bide their time and hope for the winds of change.
The final legacy of kingdom-wide importance was the role that the High Church played in ensuring the attendance of the Eorls and other nobles. The Church vouched for the safety of all attending and condemned any treachery or violence while it was negotiated. These actions were rewarded with the Church's more prominent role in the Council of Rhuvael and in negotiations throughout the Kingdom. A rise of the Church elite in prestige and authority has coincided with the restoration of peace in the Kingdom of Rhone.
Type
Treaty, Diplomatic
Authoring Date
45th Year of the Empty Throne
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