Aldhard the Great

Aldhard the Great was a great leader and the founder of the Stahlheimian Empire, widely revered as its greatest hero for his role in unifying the individual kingdoms that now encompass the Empire. He was born Aldhard of House Stahlberg, spending most of his life in relative importance as his father's heir to the Kingdom of Stahlheim. His father was not considered a strong leader, and though Stahlheim was a strong kingdom it was losing territory to contenders that threatened to overtake them. Aldhard took up his father's throne after his sudden death in the year 764 4E, leading many at the time to believe that he killed him for political gain. Though only 16 at the time, he immediately went about restoring Stahlheim to greatness, retaking lost territories before calling for all true men to join under his banner with the goal of unification. Despite his conviction, most laughed at the young leader who hoped to command scores of minor Kingdoms.

Aldhard did all in his power to prove them fools. He proved to be a brilliant military strategist and one of the greatest diplomatic minds of the century, political machinations and the threat of steel both bringing about more and more kingdoms under his rule. Even his most dire foes respected him, and war weary peasantry from all lands gathered under his banners, clamoring for unification. Aldhard officially proclaimed himself the Emperor of the Stahlheimian Empire in the year 768 4E, his political enemies also attempting unification to combat him by way of the now defunct Hapsbringer Alliance. Through excellent strategy Aldhard saw the Alliance brought down as well, taking it apart piece by piece until those few who still stood against him were forced to admit defeat. Over the next few years he would finish unifying all of the modern Empire, reforming the legal system and establishing the Imperial Body to legislate over his holdings.

Though his works were many and his deeds great, throughout all of his 64 year reign Aldhard was unable to conquer Highreach. His armies were halted by impassable terrain and the damnable luck of poor luck, his attempts at diplomacy cut short by the brutish mannerisms of those he hoped to bring into the Empire's fold. This failure haunted him despite his countless other achievements, and he made it clear that he would not consider whoever succeeded him a true Emperor unless they finished his works. Though he continued to build the Empire into the world's premier power and an industrial giant, his singular failure caused him great agony. He died in the year 832 4E at the venerable age of 84, leaving behind one of the world's greatest legacies and the Imperial Body to choose who would follow him. His death was mourned officially for a year, for such a man's importance could not be overstated.