King Julius I

Life: 30-68 Fourth Era

Reign: 60-68 Fourth Era

Spouse: Mariam of Tyber

Predecessor: none

Successor: King Julius II

Biography

Early Life

Julius was born to a Krystal merchant in a small refugee camp at the base of the Krystal mountains. Much of his childhood was spent on the back of merchant wagons as they traversed the war torn foothills, learning about the world from fellow travelers and merchants.

Rise to Command

As Julius became an adult, his father gave him more and more control of the defense and logistics of their wagons in the caravan they travelled with. He became the commander and leader of the entire caravan at the age of 22 after a series of bandit raids left his father and other caravan leaders dead. Hundreds of leagues north of their homeland of the Emerald coast, Julius was tasked with safely guiding the caravan back. While daunting, he reorganized the caravan defense based upon the military organization the roving warbands that occasionally crossed paths with the merchants. Realizing that the constant border wars were growing more intense and more violent, Julius pushed the caravan as fast as possible to the south.

Ascension to the Throne

With experience gained from leading the caravan home, Julius became a capable military commander in his people's village. Word of his success and fame spread to nearby villages, and several representatives from the surrounding regions came to offer tribute to Julius in exchange for protection. Julius collected warriors from the united villages to form a small army. The cycle of villages pledging loyalty and then Julius using their warriors to expand his army continued for several years until the entire region was under Julius's protection. After Julius and his army prevented a blood feud from destroying an entire clan, he used his newly gained prestige and honor to claim the title of king of the Krystallans. What few people could object were quickly silenced by his loyal warriors.

Rule and Death

The now King Julius spent most of his rule using his warriors to build infrastructure between villages and further establishing his hold on the realm. In 66 Fourth Era, King Julius began conquering surrounding villages, expanding his kingdom south into the southern peninsula. In 68 Fourth Era, he moved his palace to a newly conquered village he named Port Emerald. As he planned the defenses of his new capital while standing on a nearby hill during a clear day, a bolt of lighting struck and killed him. While some took it as a sign that he was not supposed to be king, his warriors took it as sign of his divinity, in that only the gods themselves could kill him. They massacred the nobles who tried to break apart from his kingdom, and crowned his infant son King Julius II.