Augarin of Gwynedd
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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Augarin Haldane was the first King of Gwynedd. He ruled the land as Count of Haldane from 640 to 645, and later as King from 645 to 673. Known as the "Father of Gwynedd," he created a kingdom that his descendants still ruled over five centuries later.
Augarin Alexander Haldane was born on July 27, 611, the second son of Count Bearand II Haldane. His father died in 631 and was succeeded by Augarin's older brother, Count Aidan II. Augarin succeeded his brother nine years later, becoming Count Augarin II of Haldane on March 11, 640. His early reign was dominated by his continuing struggle to free the Holy Church from the foreign control of the Bremagni Patriarch Johannes III, and to establish a religious hierarchy in his own capital city of Valoret. The religious struggle resulted in constant military battles with neighboring realms, which finally ended when Augarin defeated the Count of Carthane and conquered his lands in April of 645. Shortly after this victory, on May 1, 645, Augarin proclaimed himself High King of Haldane. He quickly arranged for his younger brother Aurelius to be elected as the first independent Archbishop of Valoret, and Aurelius officially crowned Augarin as king by the end of the month. On January 1, 647, Augarin issued a royal proclamation officially changing the name of his realm to Gwynedd. Augarin spent the remainder of his years constantly struggling to maintain the kingdom he had created, including fighting off Bremagni invasions in 649 and 655, and Herkos raiders throughout the 660s. Additionally, Gwynedd was beset by raiding parties of the neighboring Kingdom of Torenth in 652, but the Torenthi forces quickly withdrew after Augarin slew King István Furstán of Torenth in personal combat on July 18. On February 28, 673, King Augarin Haldane died at the age of 61. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Prince Aidan Haldane.
[edit] Family
- Married Lady Rosemaryn MacLean on May 24, 626. (Died July 8, 632)
- Prince Aidan (later King of Gwynedd)
- Prince Cinhil (died at age 11)
- Prince Bearand (later Count of Haldane and Protector of the Throne of Gwynedd)
- Married Lady Caldora de la Marche on September 11, 646.
[edit] Sources
- Katherine Kurtz and Robert Reginald, Codex Derynianus, ISBN 0-89370-011-8
| Preceded by None |
King of Gwynedd 645-673 |
Succeeded by Aidan Haldane |
