Vordarian's Pretendership
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Vordarian's Pretendership is a major event in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga.
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[edit] Background
The War of Vordarian's Pretendership occurred in the novel Barrayar. Emperor Ezar had just passed away; his son Crown Prince Serg had died earlier in the Escobar War, leaving only Ezar's grandson Gregor Vorbarra alive. Thus four-year-old Gregor became Emperor, but was still in his minority. Ezar appointed Admiral Lord Aral Vorkosigan to be Gregor's Imperial Regent and guardian.
[edit] The Pretender
Count Vidal Vordarian, pretender to the throne of Barrayar. After Aral's appointment, Vordarian amassed support and forces and staged a coup int he capital of Vorbarr Sultana. While Imperial Security was aware of the coup prior to it happening, Captain Negri was set to move on the Pretender preemptively a day late. Negri was set to arrest Vordarian on the morning after the coup occurred. Ultimately, Negri paid for the delay with his life.
Vordarian invaded the Imperial Residence and managed to capture Princess Kareen, Gregor's mother. Negri got Gregor out of the capital and took him to Vorkosigan Surleau, the Vorkosigan summer home where the Lord Regent was not quite vacationing.
Eventually, Vordarian declared himself Prime Minister and Regent for Kareen, and then later Emperor. Claiming that Vorkosigan had killed Gregor in an effort to usurp the Imperium, Vordarian worked to appeal to the people that he was a rightful Emperor.
Meanwhile, Vorkosigan kept Gregor alive in the Dendarii Mountains by having his father, General Count Piotr Vorkosigan and his wife, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan hide the boy emperor.
[edit] Ending
Because her unborn son, Miles Vorkosigan, was still in a captured uterine replicator in Vordarian's control, Cordelia launched an unsanctioned rescue mission to retrieve her son. The rescue of her son Miles, his cousin Ivan Vorpatril, and Alys Vorpatril succeeds. The rescue involves the death of Princess Kareen and the Imperial residence burns half to the ground. Additionally, Cordelia executed Vordarian by decapitation. She brought the head of the Pretender to her husband. Thus ended the War of Vordarian's Pretendership with the death of the Pretender.
[edit] Results
Gregor lived to become the reigning Emperor. Miles Vorkosigan survived. Nobody ever messed with Cordelia Vorkosigan, least of all her husband. Vordarian had died by beheading. Princess Kareen was dead. The Imperial residence was rebuilt.
