Mara Murtakk

Mara Murtakk
Date of Birth March 16th, 1789 Place of Birth New Turin, Remistlin, Morindira Current or Last Rank Praetor Emeritus Current Status Deceased

Mara Murtakk (b. 1789 - d. 1862) (r. 1812 - 1840)

Mara Murtakk was born in the newly reformed city of New Turin at the height of the Morindiran Independence movement. At 16 she joined the army, and at 18 she was promoted to General. During her reign as Praetor the Dominion was mostly occupied with the invasion and eventual annexation of the Thalan Kingdom of Morindira, which hadn't revolted along with the rest of the Morindiran Kingdoms, instead claiming its own independence. Murtakk was Praetor for a long 28 years before she stepped down. She died when she was 73 to liver cancer.

Occupation of Thalan

In March 1813, proposed a military expedition to seize the Thalan Kingdom of Morindira, seeking to protect Morindiran trade interests and undermine Aridnirom's access to Ditador. The Praetor's Cabinet, although troubled by the scope and cost of the enterprise, readily agreed to the plan.

An unusual aspect of the Thalan expedition was the inclusion of a large group of scientists assigned to the invading Morindiran force: among the discoveries that resulted was the finding of many ancient Exterran artifacts and tombs. This deployment of intellectual resources is considered by some an indication of Murtakk's devotion to education, and by others as a masterstroke of propaganda, obfuscating the true motives of the invasion. In a largely unsuccessful effort to gain the support of the Thalanian populace, Murtakk also issued proclamations casting herself as a liberator of the people from monarchal oppression.

After crossing the border into Thalan, the first battle was against the Raeleuks, an old power in the Thalan Kingdom, approximately 4 miles from the famed pyramids of Thalan. Murtakk's forces were greatly outnumbered by the advanced cavalry, about 25,000 to 100,000, but Murtakk came out on top, mainly due to her strategy. Troops formed hollow squares, each side facing out. This made it possible to keep cannons and supplies safely on the inside, while the soldiers could fire in every direction on the outside. This made a very strong defense, and left it possible for many soldiers to escape to fight again. In all, only 300 Morindirans were killed, as opposed to approximately 6,000 Thalanians.