King Boranel Ascends the Throne of Breland

Political event

Boranel ir'Wynarn became the king of Breland in 961 YK. A direct descendant of the independent Kingdom of Breland's first leader, Queen Wroann, the daughter of King Jarot, the last ruler of Galifar, Boranel carried on the high-minded traditions of both Galifar and the Brelish Crown. While ruled as a monarchy, Breland also had a partially-elected parliament that worked alongside the king and the royal court to govern the country, a tradition that had been formally begun by Queen Wroann and expanded by Boranel early in his reign. Under the unwritten Brelish constitution that developed soon after the start of the Last War, the Brelish Parliament made the laws in Breland and the Crown enforced them. The Crown also conducted all business related to foreign affairs and the security of the realm, sometimes informing Parliament, more often not. The people of Breland loved their king, his vassal lords respected and even revered him, and Parliament saw him as fair and just. It is said that the people of Breland will follow King Boranel anywhere, and this has been demonstrated many times in the course of his thirty-seven-year reign. As Boranel has gotten older, concerns revolving around the succession have begun to manifest. One plan, mostly discussed quietly and in secret among certain noble members of the Parliament, suggested that the nation abandon the monarchy after Boranel's death and turn over more power and authority to Parliament. Another plan hopes that one of Boranel's children will fill the vacuum and become a leader in the same vein as his or her father. So far, none of the heirs has demonstrated more than a passing ability at ruling the nation. To further spread the tenets of democracy, Breland regularly holds town meetings throughout the realm. At these meetings, the common folk are recognized and allowed to state their opinions for the Crown and Parliament to hear. The king ruled from the family's ancestral home in Breland's capital city of Wroat, the halls of the mighty Brokenblade Castle. Named after the events surrounding the legendary King Galifar I's conquest of the nation, when (as the story goes) his sword blade shattered in the battle but he managed to win the day anyway, Brokenblade Castle rises alongside the Howling River, near where it empties into and merges with the Dagger River. Parliament Hall, the meeting place and offices of the elected legislators of Breland, is located but a short walk from the battlements of Brokenblade Castle. Boranel also maintained working residences in Sharn and Starilaskur, and kept Castle Arakhain, in the western part of the country, as a retreat. The Brelish Parliament consisted of both elected legislators and hereditary lords. The citizens of Breland elected their commoner legislators every two years. These elected lawmakers, chosen by popular vote (one from each village or town, two from each city, and three each from the metropolises of Sharn and Wroat), were sent to the capital to participate in all parliamentary proceedings. The noble legislators gained their seats in Parliament based on the status of their families; each recognized Brelish noble family held one seat in Parliament. Each year, the recognized head of the family appointed a relative to parliamentary duty. In many cases, the yearly appointment was symbolic, and each family has one representative who serves year in and year out. Twenty-seven noble families serve the Crown of Breland as of 998 YK.