The Bretonic Coin-barons (sometimes called Coin-Lords)[1] were a coterie of powerful and opportunistic individuals from High Rock's First Era known for their disreputable reputation. They utilized their merchant fleet to move illicit goods, and they were also involved in the slavery, which was a fact of life of Breton culture of the time.[2][3] Some of the earliest references to them date back to the time of the All Flags Navy, with Coin-Baron Nemic Santerre and the Silver Lantern participating in the Thrassian War.[4] Under Duchess Martinne Guimard, they purchased the Systres Archipelago from Colovia during the time of the War of Righteousness in 1E 2327. With this acquisition, Coin-Baron Duchess Martinne Guimard became ruler over the archipelago, and in 1E 2328, named the largest island High Isle in honor of High Rock. The true value of this purchase was that the land was "an untouched cradle of Breton history", with Druidism alive and well, and Breton culture at the forefront thanks to the Breton laborers that stayed behind after the assault on Thras. To the delight of the Systreans, their archipelago remained untouched by the conflict of the War of Righteousness.[5] The Coin-barons at some point established a slaver fort on Amenos.[3] On High Isle, the Spire of the Crimson Coin stands as the best preserved example of their excesses, where many grim and debaucherous celebrations took place.[6][7]
When Mount Firesong erupted in 1E 2484, the archipelago was devastated and many of its inhabitants were killed. Starvation and illnesses among the lower classes led to political unrest. The Stonelore Circle managed to pull the city folk back from the brink of death by developing sprawling pastoral and agricultural operations, leading to a renaissance of Druidism and the loss of the influence of the noble class. This time period was referred to as the Green Years.[8] However, in 1E 2704, the Reman Empire reclaimed the archipelago and reinstalled Breton Coin-barons, which marked the end of the Green Years.[9] When the Akaviri Potentate came to power in 1E 2920, House Mornard quickly established a closer relationship with Cyrodiil. Mornard coin-barons helped settle Reman accounts in High Rock, which amounted to thousands of gold pieces in Imperial taxes. While it is said that many noble houses resented this, they also saw the utility of closer ties with the Empire. Wayrest, in particular, indulged the Mornards' schemes and leveraged the family's connections with Versidue-Shaie's regime to secure valuable trade deals all across western Tamriel. When the Akaviri Potentate began seizing errant states and territories in High Rock and beyond, the Mornard family assisted them.[10] By the time of the Three Banners War, the Coin-barons were long gone, and slavery was not allowed by the Daggerfall Covenant.[3]
NotesEdit
- The seahawk emblem used by the Systres Guardians is rumored to have originated from the Coin-barons.[11]
GalleryEdit
Systres Guardian armor
ReferencesEdit
- ^ Systres History Addendum: The Druids of Galen — Varona Vedralu, Senior Lecturer, University of Gwylim
- ^ ESO Live — High Isle Dev Discussion, timestamp 1:19:32–1:20:20
- ^ a b c High King Emeric's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
- ^ The All Flags Navy Started Here
- ^ Systres History: Volume 4 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
- ^ Spire of the Crimson Coin loading screen in ESO: High Isle
- ^ Squire Rayan's dialogue in ESO: High Isle
- ^ Systres History: Volume 5 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
- ^ Systres History: Volume 6 — Trilam Heladren, Associate Dean of Eltheric History, University of Gwylim
- ^ History of House Mornard — Dorothea Errard
- ^ Crafting Motif 114: Systres Guardian Style — Zoellene Ruqueville, Scholar and Former Guard