The Noble Houses of Adrestia refer to the most powerful noble families in the Adrestian Empire on the continent of Fódlan. Each noble house is governed by a chosen head, who often inherited a Crest. Not much is known about certain Houses, as several were either lost in the Dagda and Brigid War of Imperial Year 1175 such as House Ochs, or were inherited by an adoptee, such as House Hrym.
List of Noble Houses[]
House Hresvelg[]
The most distinguished noble house of the Empire, tracing its roots all the way back to Great Emperor Wilhelm. It has been the governing house of the Empire for 1100 years. In addition to the first emperor, its lineage its also traced back to Saint Seiros herself, which is why generations of emperors are believed to bear the Crest of Seiros.
House Hresvelg resides in Enbarr, the Imperial Capital, claiming all of its surrounding territory as its domain. It boasts strong commerce and fishing industries, and the woodlands to the east of the capital provide both lumber and fishing opportunities. House Hresvelg had supreme authority both with the Empire and without until the Insurrection of the Seven in 1171, in which much of its power was stripped away by the nobility. In recent years a series of misfortunes have plagued this storied house, and some believe dark clouds hover over the future of the Hresvelg reign.
Members[]
- Wilhelm Paul Hresvelg I (Deceased) - Founder and First Emperor of the Adrestian Empire.
- Lycaon I (Deceased) - Son of Wilhelm and Second Emperor of Adrestia.
- Lycaon III (Deceased)
- Ionius von Hresvelg IX - The current Head of House Hresvelg and Emperor of the Empire.
- Edelgard von Hresvelg - The ninth child of Emperor Ionius and current Heir to the throne.
House Aegir[]
A house of dukes on the eastern seaboard possessing great power within the Empire, second only to House Hresvelg. Its capital, Boramas, is a fine port equal to Enbarr, as well as a bustling hub that trades with lands to the east, including Morfis. In addition to robust fishing and agriculture industries, Aegir is also known for abundant imported goods and crafts utilizing technology from the east.
The head of the house came to occupy the post of prime minister, rendering the title a hereditary one thereafter. After the Insurrection of the Seven it, in many ways, holds the true power governing the Empire.
Members[]
- Derick von Aegir (Deceased) - Head of House Aegir and Prime Minister of the Empire a century after its founding. He was known as the Warrior Prime Minister for leading soldiers in battle.
- Ludwig von Aegir - The current head of House Aegir and Prime Minister of the Empire.
- Ferdinand von Aegir - The accomplished son and heir of the current Duke Aegir who works hard to live nobly.
House Gerth[]
A duchy situated at the Empire's northernmost point. It's known for its relatively cool climate in the Empire. Having assimilated Nuvelle, which fell during the Dagda and Brigid War five years ago, it now also encompasses the Empire's westernmost point. The vast plateau in the east is covered in woodlands, and provides opportunities for further development.
House Gerth inherited rule over the Empire’s Ministry of the Exterior. Diplomacy, foreign relations, and relations between various provinces and the capital fall under its purview. It worked hard to secure the ceasefires that ended both the Brigid and Dagda campaigns. Though complicit in the Insurrection, it remains distant from other associated houses.
Members[]
- Duke Gerth - The current head of House Gerth and Minister of the Foreign Affair.
House Vestra[]
A house of marquises without domain, existing in the shadow of House Hresvelg. In addition to managing the darker tasks of the Empire, it is responsible for the emperor’s periphery affairs, including coordinating things such as ceremonies and rituals, Imperial consorts, and the Imperial Guard.
Members[]
- Marquis Vestra - Head of House Vestra and Minister of the Imperial House.
- Hubert von Vestra - The son and heir of the current Marquis Vestra who has sworn complete fealty to Edelgard.
House Bergliez[]
A house of counts spanning north to south from Fort Merceus to the Airmid River that has inherited rule over the Empire’s Ministry of Military Affairs. It commands all of the armies that do not directly belong to the emperor, and its robust stables provide an important pillar of Imperial warpower. During times of war, the head of the house becomes the Imperial army’s commander-in-chief. Their territory is known as the Empire's breadbasket, Gronder Field, the fertile soil allowing for the mass cultivation of a variety of grains.
Members[]
- Leopold von Bergliez - Count of Bergliez and Minister of Military Affairs.
- Randolph von Bergliez (Via adoption)- Step-brother of the current Count Bergliez, he serve as a Commander in the Imperial Army.
- Fleche von Bergliez (Via adoption) - Step-sister of the current Count Bergliez, she assist her brother in his duties.
- Caspar von Bergliez - Second son of the current Count Bergliez.
House Hevring[]
A house of counts that has inherited rule over the Empire’s domestic affairs, particularly those relating to administration, finance, and the judiciary. It frequently clashes with the Minister of Military Affairs over these matters. Much of its territory stretches from the Oghma Mountains to the Mach Coast in the west, and as such, it enjoys the fruits of a lucrative mining industry. It contains the Mach Way, which links the Empire east to west with Hevring's capital in the center, the stronghold city Mozghuz. Though it lacks fertile land compared to other regions, it boasts abundant natural resources and opportunities for trade.
Members[]
- Waldemar von Hevring - Count of Hevring and Minister of Domestic Affairs.
- Linhardt von Hevring - Son and heir of the current Count Hevring.
House Varley[]
A house of counts that has inherited rule over the Empire’s Ministry of Religion, whose main responsibility is to maintain amiable relations with the Church of Seiros. While it once had it's own independent region on the border with Hresvelg, Southern Church was assimilated into Varley. Due to the estrangement of the church from the Empire in recent years, House Varley is now more involved with the judiciary, causing political strife within the Ministry of the Interior.
The country is made up of Gronder Field in the east and the Oghma Mountains in the west, the latter of which is home to Varley's famous iron mines. Varley's mining industry has made its development the envy of other fiefdoms.
Members[]
- Grégoire von Varley - Count of Varley and Minister of Religious Affairs.
- Bernadetta von Varley - The anxious daughter and heir of the current Count Varley, who staunchly avoids social interaction.
House Essar[]
A viscounty that is notable for its expansive basin surrounded by mountains. The capital is the finest city for academics in the Empire, save for Enbarr. Magical studies have flourished there.
Members[]
- Viscount Essar - The current head of House Essar.
- Hanneman von Essar (Formerly) - He abandoned his noble peerage to pursue his research in Garreg Mach.
House Hrym[]
A house of Imperial viscounts. Resisting Emperor Ionius IX’s policy of power centralization, it set out to join the Alliance and secure independence from the Empire, but was unable to overcome the Imperial army’s intervention. In the aftermath, the house’s main genetic line was wiped out. Its current head is an adoptee.
While favorably situated between the Airmid River and Pearl Sea, the viscounty is limited in development by a preponderance of mountains and wetlands. In recent years a number of ruins have been uncovered in the mountains to the north and are actively being investigated.
Members[]
- Victoria von Hrym - The daughter of the Count Varley of her day, she married into House Hrym.
- Jeritza von Hrym (Via adoption) - The current Viscount Hrym, he has been adopted into the house.
House Fenja[]
A viscounty in the very south of Fódlan. Though it claims a number of islands to the east, it has no actual control over them. Fenja's warm and dry climate allows for the cultivation of a number of important crops, and it is a major producer of bacchus and cooking oils.
Members[]
- Viscount Fenja - The current head of House Fenja.
House Menja[]
A viscounty encompassing the west of the Mach Coast and its many inlets. Boasting a robust fishing industry, it is also one of the largest producers of sea vessels in the Empire.
Members[]
- Viscount Menja - The current head of House Menja.
House Lochin[]
A viscounty known for its wool and textile products, much like Hymir to its west.
Members[]
- Viscount Lochin - The current head of House Lochin.
House Hymir[]
A viscounty known for wool and textile products, much like Lochin to its east.
Members[]
- Viscount Hymir - The current head of House Hymir.
House Bartels[]
A house of Imperial barons. Highly ambitious, sought out and acquired several Crests for its bloodline. In 1176, many members, including the head of house, died under unexplained circumstances. The deed was attributed to the heir, Emile. As his whereabouts are unknown, leadership of the house fell to a distant relative.
Members[]
- Emile von Bartels (Formerly) - The child born from Baron Bartels and the widow of Baron Martritz. He left the Household after the massacre of the family whom he is the principal suspect.
- Mercedes von Bartels (Via adoption, Formerly) - The birth daughter of Baron Martritz, she came into the House after the fall of her family when her mother remarried with Baron Bartels.
House Arundel[]
Known for its famous Black Woods and abundant rivers and lakes, House Arundel was once a minor noble house of the Empire. It is now under direct Imperial control. As head of the house, when Volkhard’s younger sister became betrothed to Emperor Ionius IX, Volkhard was granted the title of Lord Arundel. Having worked closely with House Aegir, House Arundel is seen as one of the chief instigators of the Insurrection of the Seven.
Members[]
- Lord Volkhard von Arundel - The current head of House Arundel and Regent of the Empire.
- Anselma von Arundel - Volkhard's younger sister who became Emperor Ionius IX's consort and birthed his ninth child and eventual heir, Edelgard.
House Ochs[]
A house of Imperial barons located in the northern part of the peninsula known as Fódlan's Fangs. The north features plains and rivers, with mountains and ports in the south. The diversity of terrain means that no industry in particular stands out, and so the region has seen only modest developments. The head of the house was lost to the Dagda and Brigid War.
Members[]
- Baron Ochs - The current head of House Ochs, he inherited his position after the House lost its original head during the Dagda and Brigid War.
- Monica von Ochs - Daughter and heir of the last Baron Ochs. She joined the Officers Academy of Garreg Mach in Imperial Year 1179, but went missing shortly before her graduation.
House Barnabas[]
A barony located to the west of Garreg Mach Monastery and composed chiefly of rugged mountains and woodland terrain. Famous for its woodcrafts and orchards.
Members[]
- Baron Barnabas - The current head of House Barnabas.
House Gillingr[]
A cramped and rugged barony, its terrain boasts precious mineral resources.
Members[]
- Baron Gillingr - The current head of House Gillingr.
House Martyn[]
A newly established barony with few distinctions as yet.
Members[]
- Baron Martyn - The current head of House Martyn.
House Martritz[]
A former House of barons who was abolished when Baron Martritz died in the Imperial Year 1157.
Members[]
- Mercedes von Martritz (Formerly) - The daughter of the last Baron Matritz, she was born shortly before the House abolishment. This caused her mother to remarry in House Bartels to secure a dwelling for her and Mercedes.
House Nuvelle[]
A house of Imperial viscounts with territory on the western coast of the Empire, centered around its namesake harbor city Nuvelle. The house flourished thanks to commerce with Dagda, Albinea, Brigid, and other territories. However, it fell to ruin in 1175 after the combined invading forces of the Dagda and Brigid armies made landfall on Nuvelle territory, and were almost completely annihilated.
Members[]
- Constance von Nuvelle - The last surviving member of House Nuvelle after the Dagda and Brigid War, she relocated to Fhirdiad after her family fell, where she enrolled and graduated from the Royal School of Sorcery before joining the Officers Academy.
Families and Crests[]
House | Rank | Role | Territory | Crest |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hresvelg | Emperor | Rulling family | Enbarr and its surroundings | Seiros |
Aegir | Duke | Prime Minister | Dukedom of Aegir | Cichol |
Gerth | Duke | Minister of the Exterior | Dukedom of Gerth | |
Vestra | Marquis | Minister of the Imperial Household | None | |
Bergliez | Count | Minister of Military Affairs | County of Bergliez | Cichol |
Hevring | Count | Minister of the Interior | County of Hevring | Cethleann |
Varley | Count | Minister of Religion | County of Varley | Indech |
Essar | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Essar | Indech |
Hrym | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Hrym | |
Fenja | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Fenja | |
Menja | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Menja | |
Lochin | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Lochin | Cethleann |
Hymir | Viscount | Nobility | Viscounty of Hymir | |
Bartels | Baron | Nobility | Barony of Bartels | Lamine & others |
Arundel | Lord | Regent for the Empire | Arundel | |
Ochs | Baron | Nobility | Barony of Ochs | Macuil |
Barnabas | Baron | Nobility | Barony of Barnabas | |
Gillingr | Baron | Nobility | Barony of Gillingr | Cichol |
Martyn | Baron | Nobility | Barony of Martyn | |
Nuvelle | Viscount | Abolished House | Viscounty of Nuvelle | Macuil (Officially) & Noa (In Reality) |
Martritz | Baron | Abolished house | Barony of Martritz | Lamine |
Trivia[]
- The noble houses of Adrestia use the particle "von", commonly used in Germanic countries to designate belonging to the nobility.
- The noble houses of Adrestia are also closely linked to the imperial government, with six of them (Aegir, Gerth, Vestra, Bergliez, Hevring and Varley) holding hereditary ministerial posts.
- Unlike the noble houses of the other two countries of Fódlan, none of the noble houses of Adrestia has a crest inherited from one of the followers of Nemesis. All their crests come from one of the four Saints.
- The only exceptions is Nuvelle, whose crest comes from one of the Four Apostles, and Martritz whose crest comes from Lamine.
- In fact, unlike most of the noble houses in the Holy Kingdom and the Alliance, none of the noble houses in the Empire uses the name of its crest as a proper name.
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