A History of the August Dukes of Berranda

Duque Augusto Gerardo Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 664 - 675 YP (11 Years)

Duque Augusto Gerardo I was the first August Duke of Berranda, having been the patriarch of the Rodrigo family for the families final years in the Crowned Republic of Lucente. Having been ostracized by the other great families of Lucente, Gerardo, his family, and those who were loyal to him set out to establish their own state. Gerardo and his family did so on the river known as Rio Camino Caida or The Tumble Way River. Gerardo I had been a man of average size by all accounts. He had no interest in the art of war, but instead in the teachings of Aed, and his prophet Raegar. His devotion to the religion would set the basis for what the House Rodrigo, and even more-so the August Duchy of Berranda would become.

Duque Augusto Tomas Gustavo Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 675 YP - 680 YP (5 Years)

The Reign of Tomas Gustavo while short, can best be characterized as having been very active, both politically and socially. Throughout his reign he expanded Berranda's hold over the Tumbleway river through the construction of villages, establishment of trade, and the creation of lower nobility titles, such as Don/Dona, Conde/Condesa, Marques/Marquesa, He died only five years after ascending to the Berrandan throne due to illness.

Duque Augusto Juan Luis Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 680 YP - 698 YP (18 Years)

The reign of Duque Augusto Juan I was extraordinary in comparison to the reigns of the early Berrandan Dukes. He is considered to be the earliest of the military zealot Dukes. He began his reign by conquering nearby Pagan tribes, and converting them to Aedak, and incorporating their lands into the Duchy. His relations with the lower nobility would be characterized by cold at best. The lower nobles were not accustomed to being on the warpath. Juan Luis was not sympathetic to their distaste for war, and would raise troops without the consent of their nobles. Though Juan Luis was unpopular with the nobility, he was extraordinarily popular with the commonfolk who saw his wars as bringing both security, and glory to the Duchy. His popularity among the commoners was the main reason for which he was able to hold onto power whilst having no favor among the nobles within his realm.

Duque Augusto Juan Felipe de Berranda, el Segundo
Dates of Reign: 698 YP - 703 YP (5 Years)

Named for his father , Juan II knew he had high expectations to live up to. His first two years as August Duke he sought to repair the tenuous relations between the August Duchy and her vassal lords. Juan accomplished this by creating and awarding honorary titles to his vassal lords, as well as expanding their authority over their own lands, and increasing the autonomy of his Counts. After succeeding in repairing relations with his vassals, he sought to continue the cleansing of the nearby lands of the remaining pagan tribes. The trumpets of war sounded throughout the remaining seven years of his reign as the August Duke, until he was killed in battle. His heroic death in the center of the battlefield prompted his younger brother, a commander of the Army's right flank, to lead a mass charge which caught the opposing forces off guard, and routed them from the battlefield, leading to both a victory in the battle and the later surrender of the Pagan chief.

Duque Augusto Luis Tomas Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 703 - 707 YP (4 Years)

The shortest reign of all of the August Dukes had come from Duke Luis I of Berranda. The younger brother of Juan II of Berranda, he succeeded his brother as the August Duke following Juan II's heroic, yet untimely death in battle. The four years of reign were spent at constant war with the surrounding Pagans, which resulted in the surrender, conversion, and annexation of the final, and largest of the bordering pagan tribes. Having spent much of his life at war, he abdicated the throne in favor of his younger brother, Cesar I of Berranda, with the intention of spending the rest of his life in retirement at a local Aedak mission.

Duque Augusto Cesar Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 707 YP - 732 YP (25 years)

Cesar I Rodrigo was one of the longest serving August Dukes, the influence of his reign, however, did not match the length of it. Cesar had believed that he could rest on his laurels, content with the progress that his predecessors had made. During his reign he failed to expand political relations of Berranda by not securing marriages or alliances with other independent states in the Northern continent, and failed to expand the territorial claims of the realm through conquest. During his reign he had taken many mistresses, the exact number however is unknown. Though it is known that more than one of his mistresses were of common birth. His dalliances resulted in the births of at least three known illegitimate children. Though, the Rodrigo line would continue through his legitimate son, born of his wife, the Duquesa of Berranda.

Duque Augusto Francisco Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 732 YP - 742 YP (10 Years)

Duque Augusto Francisco I was the only legitimate child of his predecessor Cesar I of Berranda. By the time he inherited the throne he had already reached manhood. Relations with his father had long since been strained due to his father's illicit relationships with women that were not his wife. Francisco I had spent most of his adolescence with the family of the Count of Berja, as opposed to at the Royal court. When Francisco inherited the throne he sought to return honor, and dignity to the Duchy of Berranda. He did so by strengthening relations with the Vaekirate, as well as by increasing the size of the Berrandan military. This, in turn, provided work for laborers who were unemployed, and helped reinvigorate the military culture that the Duchy of Berranda had prior to the reign of his father. Due to his father's long reign, he did not inherit the throne until he was already well into adulthood.

Duque Augusto Juan Felix Rodrigo de Berranda, el Tercero
Dates of Reign: 732 YP - 738 (6 Years)

Juan Felix III was the son of Francisco I of Berranda. The reign of Juan III of Berranda is a mere footnote in the histories of House Rodrigo. His short reign lead to very few advances in Berrandan culture, and even fewer advances for the August Duchy. The final three years of his reign had been in regency, after he had fallen from his horse and sustained an injury to his head. He died after only six years of rule.

Duque Augusto Carlos Felipe Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 738 YP - 747 YP (9 Years)

Duque Augusto Carlos I of Berranda ascended to the throne in the year of the prophet 738. Though he had been the de facto ruler of Berranda for nearly three years prior to his ascension. During the last years of his fathers reign, he continued to the military reforms of his granfather, which went as far as to create logistical, and administrative corps within the Ejército-Berrandan. In an attempt to increase his popularity amongst the lower nobles, he instituted a system of rewards, only attainable by members of the Berrandan nobility. Many of the awards can still be earned to this day, among them are the famous Order of the Sword, Order of Triumph, and Order of Berranda. Many of the later August Dukes have been named to one or more of the now coveted orders. After nine years on the throne of Berranda, Carlos I died after a period of illness.

Duque Augusto Carlos Luis Felipe Rodrigo de Berranda, el Segundo
Dates of Reign: 747 YP - 772 YP (25 Years)

Duque Augusto Carlos II of Berranda inherited the throne from his father, Carlos I, in the year 747 YP. His reign would mark the first time in over 50 years that the August Duchy of Berranda expanded it's territory. Unlike previous August Dukes, Carlos II believed that the key to expansion was through exploration, and exploitation of local resources. Using this philosophy he was able to expand the influence and control of Berranda North on both the East and West banks of the Rio Camino Caida. During his reign he also expanded the influence of Aedak on Berrandan culture, through his numerous trips to the Holy City of Messara. During one of his trips, he took a Southern Noble as a bride, having been personally married by the Vaekir. A tradition which would continue for Berrandan dukes over the next five decades. After twenty-five years of peaceful reign, Carlos II died of natural causes.

Duque Augusto Alejandro Pascual Guillermo Rodrigo de Berranda, el Primero
Dates of Reign: 772 YP - 804 YP (32 Years)

Duque Augusto Alejandro I of Berranda ascended to the throne following his father's death. At the time of his ascension he was twenty-two years old. Shortly after his ascension, the unmarried August Duke was summoned to Messara by the Vaekir for a private meeting. It was at this meeting that the Vaekir informed the Duke that the Survaekom Empire, and the Vaekirate Armies had planned to invade the North in the name of Aedak. The August Duke offered the use of his land to the Vaekirate army, to be used as a staging ground for the Vaekirate Army's Eastern campaign. He further offered the use of his forces during the war. Before setting sail back to Berranda with the Vaekirate Armies, he was married by the Vaekir to a Southern noblewoman. After a three month trip back to Berranda along with the Vaekir Tovenaar-Akur Legate he raised 300 of his household knights, which he lead throughout the campaign. During the campaign he distinguished himself in action at the Battle of the Jetma. During the battle he, along with his entire household guard, charged downhill into the enemy army's right flank. During this action, Alejandro found himself dismounted by enemy pikemen, and was forced to fight on foot. He was able to inflict severe casualties on the enemy, however he sustained a wound in the fight. Even though wounded, he continued to fight until the battle was complete, at which point a Tovenaar healer saw to his wounds. Following the battle, Alejandro I had earned the respect of the Tovenaar-Akur legate, the Vaekir, as well as the adoration of his own people. In 777, following The Great Conquest, Duque Augusto Alejandro I was a signatory to the Northern Contract. For his contributions during the war, he recieved a second coronation in the city of New Byrnis, with the approval of both the Survaekom Emperor, and the Vaekir.