Matthew I of Falastur

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King Matthew I
matthewi4tp.jpg
Reign 8 November, 1715 - 19th of September, 1726
Coronation 8 November, 1715
Predecessor None
Successor Edward I
Consort Mary Woderidge
Issue Edward I
Margaret
Hannah
Full Name Matthew James Terila
Titles His Excellency The Governor of the Falastur Islands
HRH The King of the Falasturian Islands
Royal House Terila
Father Charles Terila
Mother The Lady Beatrice
Born January 5, 1653
Oxford, England

King Matthew I of Falastur (1653-1726), known as The Founder and The Great was Governor of the Falasturian Islands between the years of 1706 and 1715, and after declaring independence from England, was King between the years 1715 and 1726. Born the eldest son of the daughter of the Duke of Bedford, Matthew I was born into a life of wealth, but knew his inferior bloodline meant he would never be granted a title of any importance, a thought which drove him to greater things.

Early life

Always an ambitious and adventurous man, Matthew entered the English Navy in 1671 as an Officer, but he resigned his commission only 5 years later after developing a distaste for the rigid life of the English miitary. Instead investing much of his money in the purchase a ship and crew of his own, he set about a trader's life, establishing a great business, and making a name for himself through most of Europe and the Americas. Soon with a fleet of ships, but having relegated himself to running his company from behind a desk, he once again found himself yearning for the open seas.

Purchasing 3 ships and crewing them, in 1694 he set off with his fleet not for profit or for military purposes but for exploration and adventure. Recieving a commission as a cartographer of the African coast, which raised enough income to feed his men, he set off to on a journey to straits unknown. He settled into his life of exploration until in 1698, he found himself in port alongside two ships of the English Navy. After brief discussion with the Officers of the ships, he heard the tale of an Island named Falastur which had been abandoned by the English after many years of colonial fighting there. Finally seeing the opportunity to take a real position of power, and to make a life for himself as he had always dreamed, Matthew instantly resigned his commission, returning to England. Purchasing several more ships, and stocking them with all manner of supplies as well as all his remaining, and plentiful, money, he set out for the coordinates gifted him to find the island exactly as described, complete with its two abandoned English forts and several deserted settlements.

Rise to power

Taking up residence in a deserted city which he then named after himself, (now the capital of Falastur), Terila was furnished and expanded to accomodate all the citizens and sailors he brought with him. Returning only once more to England, he gained an audience with King William III of England, officially declaring Falastur Island an English colony, however he managed to avoid disclosing the location of Falastur. Instead, he would send messengers any time he wished contact with Europe and the childhood so far in his past. Returning from England, he would never again leave the Falasturian Islands. Instead, he ordered several ships set sail to spread rumours of the land where any may come and live in freedom, ordering the sailors to return with any who wished to start a new life with him and his new citizens.

By 1706, he felt confident enough to grant himself the title Governor of the Colony which he named after his capital - Terila - without a Royal commission to the title. However, there was no word of complaint brought back by the ships which regularly went out for supplies or recruitment to the Old World. Emboldened by this move, 9 years later Governer Terila declared the Colony of the Falasturian Islands independent from English (now technically British) rule. Making some immediate but pathetic moves to protect himself from English retribution, he found his efforts pointless, as no word came from England protesting the matter. Emboldened by the event, he proclaimed himself King of the Falasturian Islands, commissioning a crown be made, and he settled down to live a Royal life in a Palace constructed for him, which now forms a small part of the Palace Complex in Terila still inhabited by the Emperors of Falastur. He was crowned King Matthew I of the Falasturian Islands on the 8th of November, 1715, now celebrated as First Coronation Day, when Falastur truly became a sovereign nation.

Government

Immediately stepping into his role as King, although by now an old man, Matthew I nevertheless proved himself an adept administrator and leader. With his population a little over 20,000 by the time of independence, Matthew I set about in his internal and foreign policies, moving to do what he believed would give his new peoples their own sense of identity, and giving them pride for their nation. In this his succeeded almost completely. In his first move, he set about structuring his nation, giving it the stability and strength it would need to survive its first few years without foreign backing. Giving valued and trusted members of the community key roles in such tasks as the establishing (and perpetuating) of the "Church of England in Falastur" (the base of what is now by far the largest religious group in Falastur), and overseeing the influx of new citizens in Falastur's port, Matthew I gave Falastur invaluable leadership, made the citizenry loyal to his word with positions of influence, and established many of the current administrative groups running the internal affairs of Falastur. Realising also that his country and his citizens lacked and craved security, he also entrusted his cousin, an experienced veteran of the Wars of Spanish Succession and a skilled commander in the English army, the position of General of the Army of Falastur, ordering him to create a new army of his citizens, lest Falastur ever be attacked. Formed from a core of retired soldiers, General Terila created two Battalions of Musketeers, numbering a total of around 1,000 men, as well as a Cavalry Brigade of 200 men - the first faltering steps towards the present Falasturian Army. Finally, Matthew I made an act which is still heralded as the greatest event in the birth of Falastur (with the exception of the Declaration of Independence), designing a flag of Falastur. Creating a flag which merged his family crest, the crest of his native England, and the crown (his new symbol of independence, sovereignity and freedom) and the sword (his new symbol of strength, unity and power), he made a symbol upheld to this day as the symbol of everything which Falastur stands for, and a rallying point for Falasturians in need of support, wherever they are. To this day, the symbolic act of the raising of the flag over all Government buildings (as well as the houses and buildings of many patriotic Falasturians) at sunrise of New Years' Day is seen regarded as being as important a part of Falasturian culture even as the celebration of First Coronation Day itself.

However, Matthew I felt he needed one last move in order to secure his place as a truly great Monarch over his country. Calling many of the sailors who sailed to Falastur Island on the first voyage, he ordered his cousin to send all of his new soldiers by sea to an island known from English colonial accounts as Lavros Island - the second largest island in the Falastur Island Group, to claim it through fair means or foul in the name of the King. What resulted was an almost wholly successful military campaign of brutal effect. Casualties were mininmal, with the exception of the Battle of Laffant, a last stand for the natives, which killed 400 Falasturians - about 1/3 of the army. The whole conflict has in later years come to be known as the 1st War of Expansion. The campaign, lasting only three months, was one of Matthew I's last actions as King as his age got the better of him.

Last years

Watching his fledgling nation grow from strength to strength, he also was forced to watch his health deteriorate before his eyes. Old for men of his period, coming into his 70s, King Matthew I was a skilled ruler, but as his life continued, he found himself less and less capable of leaving his Palace, and he unwillingly distanced himself from his citizens. Nevertheless, the Falasturian Monarchy was strong and socially popular, and with the Regency of his eldest son, Edward, the Monarchy became more effective once more. However, by 1726 Matthew was in a poor state of health, and catching influenza later that year, he was given only weeks to live. He died on the 19th of September 1726, and was buried two days later in Christchurch Chapel (now Chirstchurch Cathedral). His son was crowned King Edward I, two weeks later.



Preceded by:
New Creation
Governor of the Falasturian Islands
1706-1715
Followed by:
Extinct
Preceded by:
New Creation
King of the Falasturian Islands
1715-1726
Followed by:
Edward I