Beren I

Beren I Leuvaarden (Valoise: Beren Holden ar Leuvaarden-Hergenfurt, born 3870, died 3932 TC) later Beren the Brave was the 13th King of Neuvalon from 3899 to his death in late 3932 TC, and the first monarch who was a member of the Leuvaarden-Hergenfurt dynasty. Nonetheless, he continued to style himself as "Beren Leuvaarden" in person. The son of Surion Leuvaarden, and a descendant of Lyra Longstride, the sister of Neuvalon's first king Ter-Beren I, Beren came to the throne after a brief period of civil war following the assassination of Han-Calimir in 3899. His diligence in prosecuting and punishing his predecessor's assassins personally, a feat which had occupied his attention during the first decade of his rule, as well as the uncovering of the Winterholm Conspiracy in 3901 was chronicled in the work of Willem Canderbrojt, called "The King's Hunt".

As the oldest son of Surion Leuvaarden, Stadtholder of Halstat, he was meant to succeed his father as the ruler of the city. However, on his 16th birthday, he relinquished his title in favour of his younger brother Castanir, opting to instead join Neuvalon's army. By 3895 he had risen to the rank of Regional Commandmarschal, which he had attained during the shortlived Beskar's War (3892-3894), waged against Concord, an Ealingan colony located in the south, and one of the few to sucessfully repel repeated invasion attempts by Neuvalon.

In 3899, Han Calimir is killed as part of the Hergenfurt Palace Plot -- as the king had no declared heirs since the death of his son, nor any other direct descendants, the rule passed to the Provisionary Council headed by the Steward of Neuvalon, until a new king could be found. Within a few days, the powerful noble family of the la Rinsbergens had submitted their bid to the throne, citing their Leuvaarden familial ties as their claim. The Council, with the tiebreaking vote being Surion himself, had rejected it. The la Rinsbergens rose up in revolt, supported by two other major Houses -- beginning the three-month long war for the throne, which ended in their defeat and the coronation of Beren, who had been chosen by the council as the most capable and worthy of heirs.

In 3918, after a five year period of preparation, Beren began his invasion of the fertile, wooded lands north of the Bay of Eris inhabited by nordlings. Initial forays into the En-Oglaedd are successful, with several clans surrendering their lands to Beren's armies. However, nordling raids of supply convoys and the colder weather began to wear down the Avaline war machine. With mounting pressures at home, as well as a threat of an increasingly powerful Serisia to the south, the invasion and the war itself is brought to an end by the end of the year.

In 3925, after being spurred on by influential nobles in Straud, Beren authorised an invasion of the resource-rich archipelago west of the Sea of Arachui, though this expedition ends in disaster when the majority of the ships sent to the islands are destroyed in a storm. The soldiers on what few ships that had survived attempted to land and secure an outpost, but disorganised and leaderless, they were driven back into the sea by the nordlings. Upon learning of the catastrophy, Beren was noted to have greatly despaired and closed himself in his quarters for a full fortnight.

For the remainder of his rule, Beren focused his efforts on internal affairs and resolving conflicts with his nobles. In 3927, Beren suffered another blow from the most unlikely of places -- his own children had risen in rebellion, supported by dissenters. This event sparked a two-year long civil war that left many dead, but ended with the rebels defeated, and his family decimated. Despite claiming victory, Beren would not recover mentally from the losses incurred. He died in his sleep in 3932 TC, succeeded by his youngest son, Jan.