Jakob av Varung
| Personal details | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth Date | 7532 |
| Birth place | Buça, Buçale Colony |
| Death date | 7574 |
| Death place | Ærilar |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | Hellish |
| Spouse | Ingrid av Luðfahalding |
| Mother | Talia Meier |
| Father | Henrik Varen |
| Foreign Secretary | |
| Status | Deceased |
| Term Start | 7570 |
| Term End | 7574 |
Jakob av Varung served as Aedeland's Foreign Secretary and Governor of the Imperial Sørtarnland Company.
Early Life
Born in the Buçale Colony at a Sørtarnland Company trading post, Jakob was the son of Henrik av Varung, a Company officer. His family fled Helland during the Decembrist Revolution, finding prosperity in Aedeland through Company service. His grandfather changed their surname from Varen to av Varung to assimilate.
Military Service
Jakob joined the Company-controlled Væringet in 7548 for national service, participating in the final engagements of the Pan-Anarian War. Leveraging his father’s connections, he rose quickly, commanding Fort Elise, a critical garrison in the dye trade.
Academic and Political Career
After the war, Jakob attended Harvard University, gaining renown as a foreign policy expert. He became a professor of government and later represented the Sørtarnland Company in the Aedelish Althing. Appointed Governor of the Company in 7570, his leadership marked a shift toward aggressive expansionism.
As Foreign Secretary under Vilhelm av Ambrodring, Jakob's appointment was controversial. He was the first non-ethnic Aedelander in such a high office, sparking debates about his dual roles in government and the Company. Critics accused him of prioritizing Company interests over Aedeland's.
Treaty of Ærilar
Jakob’s greatest achievement was orchestrating the Treaty of Ærilar in 7574. He traveled extensively to secure global support, cementing his reputation as a master statesman. The treaty's unraveling after his death underscored his unique influence.
Personal Life
Jakob married Ingrid av Luðfahalding, daughter of Lord Martial Elias av Luðfahalding, with whom he had five children.
Rumors of Illegitimacy
Persistent rumors suggested Jakob was the illegitimate son of Lord Henrik av Baliol, a powerful aristocrat, which critics claimed explained his rapid rise. Known derisively as “the bastard,” Jakob never addressed these allegations, though the resemblance was noted.
Assassination
A week after the Ærilar Conference, Jakob and his family were assassinated at their home by a Wolgosi agent of Vittmark. The assassin was later captured, but the event, one of the most violent in modern history, created widespread fear and contributed to the collapse of the Straits Cartel.