Arnsteinn av Rygír
| Personal details | |
|---|---|
| |
| Honorific prefix | Fører |
| Birth Date | 7638 |
| Birth place | Ærilar |
| Nationality | Aedelish |
| Spouse | Diane Colmáin |
| Mother | Marlitt Hárdūne |
| Father | Henrik av Rygír |
| Residence | The Gimlé |
| Leader of Aedeland | |
| Status | Incumbent |
| Term Start | 7686 |
| Predecessor | Henrik av Rygír |
Arnsteinn av Rygír is the current Fører of Aedeland.
Early life
Arnsteinn was born at Áræði in 7638. His father Henrik was the third Fører of the New Republic. His mother was Marlitt Hárdūne. For much of his life Arnsteinn was not in line for the throne of Ærilar. It was not until his uncle Aedalberht, Aedeland's longest serving Fører, remained unmarried and childless into his old age that his younger brother Henrik's line was recognized as the future Fører's of Aedeland. As a result, Arnsteinn recieved little regard as a possible heir as a young man. He grew up on his father's estate on Áræði as the son of a second son destined for obscurity in the lesser nobility.
Military service
Arnsteinn volunteered for military service at fifteen and was admitted to the Væringet. Although enthusiastic, he was a poor fit for military service and was twice demoted for insubordination and never surpassed the rank of sergeant. He was nicknamed Hafrleðrháls, meaning "the goat", by his fellow soldiers.
Career and politics
Arnsteinn was thirty seven when his father was named Fører upon the death of his brother in 7675. It had become widely recognized that he was third in line to the leadership by 7655 and efforts were undertaken by Aedalberht to train his nephew for his future responsibilities. Upon leaving the Væringet at age twenty-two, Arnsteinn was appointed to represent Áræði in the Logretta as preparation for his ascension. Unlike his predecessors, Arnsteinn was the first of the dynastic Førers groomed for the leadership and he served in positions throughout government under the leaderships of both his uncle and his father. He developed a reputation as a keen negotiator and clever statesman. He was, in particular, a champion of completing the road and waterworks projects started by his grandfather, Ásgeirr
Fører
Named Fører at the age of forty-eight after the death of his father Henrik in 7686. He immediately embarked on an ambitious program of public works but public scandals surrounding his children and his own affair with Judyta, called the Easterner and the Harlot, has distracted his administration and his ambitious projects never regained momentum. Following a major corruption scandal involving his home secretary and his mistress, James directed his energy into the construction of a summer alpine retreat in Fjellgarður.
Personal life
Marriage and children
After his military service, James married Diane, a descendant of the Erebrioni Exemplar Colmáin. The Colmáins were an oft rebellious clan that gained a difficult and hard won Rig-Jarldom on Maleficarion and refused for centuries to submit to the Førers of Aedeland. Diane was a popular princess but was not well received by the royal household. Immediately following his marriage he took a position in service to his uncle Aedalberht.
James and Diane have three daughters and one son. Their children have been the subject of a number of scandals and have developed a reputation for wild excesses. Of their 13 grandchildren, only two are legitimate. His eldest daughter, Tamar, was called the Whore of Aerilar until her death by overdose. She had many sons and daughters of low birth. His daughter Guinevere was renowned for her religious devotion and never married, She was martyred while ministering to the poor. Thérèse, his youngest daughter, was in her youth the most famous socialite in Aerilar. She had two sons out of wedlock and never married.
Arnsteinn's only son, Guðfrið the Elder, also called mjǫksiglandi, “the far-traveler”, married Sieglinde, daughter of the ancient and noble Balles. Following his scandalous divorce from Sieglinde with accusations of infidelity, Guðfrið renounced his titles and joined the ancient Holy Order of Aetherion.
Since the abdication of his son the Arnsteinn has refused to name an heir leading to much confusion as to who will hold the throne of Aerilar after him. Some have speculated that Arnsteinn has not named a successor in the hope that his son will return to his position. Guðfrið the Younger is his only natural legitimate grandson as the only son of Guðfrið the Elder. He has a strong secondary claim through his mother’s family, the ancient and noble Balles who were once leaders of the Old Republic. Daníel, called the surtr, “the black”, is the legitimized elder son of Thérèse. Although he was exiled to Elysion for attempted murder, his forceful personality and cunning has garnered support in some circles. His younger brother Lukáš, called the finnahönd, “calm-hand”, is a favorite of Arnsteinn though recognized as a poor fit for the leadership and well under the influence of his brother and mother.