Kingdom of Coeth

The Kingdom of Coeth is a Breton realm in northern High Rock.

From his seat in the mountains, Henri XIV rules as king.

Geography
The land of Coeth is one of mystery and treacherous beauty. Great mountains cut across the landscape, entrenched in thick woodland. Two large lakes, called the Eyes of [Name], dot the realm. In the north there are frigid coastal towns, while in the south there are warmer settlements protected by tree and mountain. The eponymous capital of the kingdom, colloquially called The Jade City, sits atop the tallest peak. It is difficult to reach, almost impossible in winter, and has provided the rulers of Coeth with the seclusion peculiar to them since ancient times.

Political Makeup
The Kingdom of Coeth is a land marked chiefly by changing boundaries and non-hereditary rule. Though there exists a traditional feudal class in the rural landholding elite, the realm has largely moved towards a vicegerency closer to Imperial rule. The bulk of the nobility is made so simply by formal recognition and not necessarily by the grant of fiefdoms. Personal retinues have long been enabled and encouraged and among the most powerful subjects of the King are some of this fiefless nobility.

The government of the realm can be divided into three parts. The first is in the palatial court, wherefrom court officials dictate policy on behalf of the King. The second is in the landholders, hereditary and non-hereditary, who abide by and apply these policies. The third is in the civil service; a body of officials spread across the realm for its administration.

History
The long years of Henri XIV’s rule have proven tumultuous and fruitful both. Henri’s reign ostensibly began when he was only ten years old. He was naturally considered unable to rule and a regency was quickly established to govern the realm in his name. The boy-king’s father, seeking to undo the great shift of power to the Palace seen in the last century, left instructions on his sickbed: a regency should only be made by and between the rural nobility. This dying command, to which only the very courtiers of the palace were witness, was ignored. Instead, the regency council that followed the death of Henri XIII was drawn exclusively from the capital. Richard, the Keeper of Keys, led what would come to be called The Black Regency.

These coming nine years were so named for the terrors exacted on the land and its people. While at first he may have been diligent in his service to the crown, Richard swiftly became rank with ambition, corruption, and tyranny. With scant evidence, many suspected of plotting against the Regent were imprisoned and tortured. Not even the mighty were spared and in the fall of 3E 229 the entire Rouillac family, rulers of Stilo, were hunted and executed. This assault on the nobility led to semi-successful rebellions and ultimately to the overthrow of Richard.

In 3E 232, fresh revolts stirred when a letter written in blood escaped the capital and the watchful eye of Richard. Purported then and confirmed later to be penned by Henri XIV, it inspired terrible fury across the realm. Carried to the valley beneath by a lone servant, his journey made during the harshness of winter, it called on ‘the loyal and the true of this land to unmake the great tyrant’.

Rebels quickly seized the outlying towns, executing those supposed loyal to the ruling Regency. Though historians chronicling the events declared otherwise, it is undoubtedly the case many innocents were killed in the chaos. By 3E 234, the rebels were largely united under common banner and purpose. Rural lords led by Silvain Cernay marched to the foothills of [Mountain], intent on cutting the capital off from vital supplies the following year. In the company of these lords was Roland FitzHenri, the King’s bastard brother.