Edward I of Falastur

King Edward I

Reign	19th of September, 1726 - 1st of February, 1755
Coronation	8 January, 1727
Predecessor	Matthew I
Successor	George I
Spouse	Charlotte
Issue	George I James Emilia Matthew
Royal House	Terila
Father	Matthew I
Mother	Mary Woderidge
Born	March 12, 1687 Havant House, Oxfordshire, England
Died	1st of February, 1755

King Edward I of Falastur (1687-1755), known as The Ambitious, ruled the Kingdom of Falastur from 1726, at the death of his father, until he was decided unfit to rule in 1735. His reign was most notable for his abortive attempt to subdue the natives of the entire Falastur Island group (the natives then numbering an estimated 70,000 men capable of resistance) with only 4,000 men and negligable artillery. However, although it cannot be doubted that his military enterprise was a complete disaster, historians to this day argue over whether his reign was largely a failure or a success. Those arguing for failure believe his reign to have been dire due to the military miscarriage and its subsequent national diminishment, while those believing Edward's reign to have been largely a success argue that the failed military campaign forced Edward I to focus his energies on the making of strong internal reforms and policies, many of which are still in effect today. It is certain, though, that those who lived in Falastur during his reign had a very dim view of him. Few, however, doubt that Edward I was a callous ruler, and though skilled in administration, a ruler who lived by the sword and dreamed of glorious conquest.

Early Life

He lived his first 17 years in England, learning his excellent administrative skill from his father Matthew Terila (later King Matthew I) until his departure for a life of freelance cartography, and his imperialistic and brash manner from his European upbringing. At the age of 17, he enlisted as an Ensign in the English army, although he did not expect to see action. However, he was proved wrong at the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, and he was part of the first English force sent to Spain. He returned from the War at their end in 1713, now standing at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Although his commissions were largely financed by his father and not by merit, he still had gained valuable military experience, and gained a better grasp of military strategy and organsation than most officers. Answering a summons by his father to come to the new colony of Falastur and to settle down to a future as next in line to the Governorship of the island, he thrived on the new life as a Prince that he came into when his father declared independence from English overlordship, and used his title to gain influence over internal affairs in Falastur, and to throw lavish parties for his friends - many of whom emigrated with him to Falastur. He took an active role in the new Army of Falastur at its creation, being gifted the rank of Lieutenant-General and 2nd in Command by his father. He also led the army at the Battle of Laffant Swamp, the natives' counterattack and last attempt to push the Falasturians off Lavros Island. After the campaign on Lavros Island, his father grew increasingly frail and ill, and in 1723 he was appointed Prince Regent, governing over Falastur in his father's stead. During his time as Regent of Falastur he made few great acts, but his regular appearances in public helped to reverse the public fears over his father's declining health and activity. When finally Matthew I did pass away on the 19th of September 1726, in his last act as Regent, Edward ordered a grandiose funeral for his father. It is estimated that around 23,000 of the roughly 30,000 citizens at the time lined the streets from the Palace to Christchuirch Chapel in a huge show of unity and public mourning, to the spot where Edward had his father buried on the 21st. 5 days later, Edward was crowned King Edward I of Falastur.

First Actions as King

While he had strong and unanimous support from his citizens, Edward percieved his new Kingdom as being weak and feeble following the death of its figurehead, his late father. To combat this, he proposed to strengthen his new Kingdom with defensive measures and military policy, hoping to create a state to be admired by other colonial citizens and to be at least spoken of in good light far back in Europe. Craving the kind of glory his father had won with the capture of Lavros Island, Edward ordered almost immediately the expansion of the Army of Falastur to 3,500 infantrymen and 500 cavalrymen, as well as artillerymen. Ordering the assembling of a great fleet, he took 100 of the best musketeers, giving them elite status as the "Royal Guard", and ordered the remaining soldiers en masse to the largest islands of the Falastur Island Group, to crush the natives with no mercy and capture the entire area, in the action known as the 2nd War of Expansion. However, although his soldiers shared a huge technological advantage over their native enemies, they were given a task far beyond them, and suffered humiliating defeat. With the ignominious defeat to his name, Edward briefly shrank from the political scene, withdrawing to his Palace and rarely leaving it for almost 2 years. Virtually his only contact with the outside world was a handful of legislations to critical issues. However, his period of isolation was not wasted but instead spent in contemplation and planning. When he returned from his absence he was a largely a new man. Whereas previously he had been dedicated to his dreams of glory through conquest, Edward I returned with no dreams to create a reputation for himself, but instead with an iron will to rule how he wanted, and to use the remnants of his army to enforce his will.

Post-war reign

Having failed to create a glorious legacy for himself, Edward confined himself to a much more serious and cold rule. Reappearing from isolation away from the citizens who he repeatedly claimed had "showed him up" during the campaign, Edward's public appearances became much less popularity trips and public announcements, and more around getting away from his Palace, and its responsibilities. Making numerous laws which improved the country healthily but paid little attention to the citizen's complaints, Edward swiftly became a recluse from society, rarely being seen, and growing a temper which exploded at the slightest incident. As his years trickled by, Falastur's reputation diminished, its links to the outside world faded, although for reasons long debated, immigration continued untarnished. For more than two decades, Falastur's coffers grew, everything else seemed to fall, and barely anything of note happened. Many saw this as Falastur's fall, barely 15 years after its rise.

Final years

As Edward I grew increasingly old, rumours of his depression, and of stress-induced illness, spread around Falastur like wild fire. Public discontent emerged from a society previously fanatical to their nation and their Monarch, and several riots against oppressive laws and the Monarch erupted in 1753. While most of these faded after little more than a day or two, it was only around 6 months before full rebellion emerged in a rural community around 50 miles away from Terila. Becoming increasingly erratic, the King ordered a force of 2,000 musketeers to the rebellion, to use any and all force against the rebels. The rebellion, consisting of only 500 rebels armed with farm tools, was slaughtered in under an hour. It was the final straw for the people, and for Edward's eldest son, George. Seeing Falastur on the point of civil collapse, George publicly declared his father incapable of rule, and officially appointed himself Regent. The action, coupled with a number of libertarian legislations, eased the growing concern in Falastur, saving it from civil collapse. In March 1755, Edward had himself sent to England for healthcare. As his ship approached Spain, on 4th April, Edward passed away. There are to this day many rumours that he committed suicide, or ordered a servant to strangle himself. But early June, his body had returned to Terila, and was buried the next day in an unsurprisingly low-key ceremony.