Maura I

Maura I
3rd Monarch of Sommerlund
Race	Sommlending
Birth date	MS 3445
Status	Dead
Death date	MS 3545
Nationality	Sommerlund
Dynasty	House Kian
Titles	Queen of Sommerlund (MS 3472–3545)
Predecessor	Braern I
Successor	Haigh I

Queen Maura I (MS 3445–3545) was the third Monarch of Sommerlund, and first Queen Regnant. Her reign was eventful, dominated by the Helghast Wars.

Biography

Maura was born in MS 3445 to King Braern I and Queen Imelda. She became Queen of Sommerlund, styled Maura I, upon her father's death in MS 3472, becoming Sommerlund's first Queen Regnant and third Monarch overall.

In MS 3481, Holmgard was attacked by raiders from the Wildlands, causing the capital to partly-burn down. Realising that the Darklands was not the only threat, she reorganised the Sommlending Army into the Army of the North and the Army of the South, with the delineation being the Southlund Marches. She also ordered the construction of the outpost Eastgate, whose road eventually extended towards Ragadorn. The Army of the South was later ordered by Maura I to attack Sabre Bay, who had raided Sommerlund by sea multiple times; the pirates, who were from the Lakuri Isles, were wiped out, some of which became Sommlending citizens.

In MS 3520, Archlord Vashna unleashed the Helghast Wars upon Sommerlund, causing wonton chaos as the Helghast impersonated many people in Sommlending society, with the ultimate goal of destroying the Sommerswerd. Maura I's political skill, enhanced by her latent Kai powers, helped ensure Sommerlund did not collapse entirely: Maura I tirelessly helped right the many wrongs that Helghast judges had dealt, and repaired trade relationships with merchants and foreign countries. She was eventually able to convince the people that Vashna was behind the attacks.

In MS 3528, the Guildhall of the Saddlers in Anskaven received its Royal Charter from Queen Maura I.

In response to his earlier defeat, Vashna sent a more powerful breed of Helghast that had the power of necromancy. This army was defeated by Crown Prince Haigh. Maura I died before the war ended, and Haigh succeeded her as Monarch of Sommerlund, crowned Haigh I.

At an unknown date in Maura I's reign, Moytura was constructed.

Legacy

Places named after Maura I

• Maura Church, Holmgard, constructed one year after her death, and is the first Sommlending church dedicated to Ishir
• The barbican atop the East Gate of Toran is named the "Queen Maura I Barbican"
• Queen Maura I Square, Anskaven

Monuments to Maura I

• A statue in Queen's Park, Holmgard
• A tall stone statue mounted on a granite column in Tyso
• A "magnificent" marble statue in Queen Maura I Square, Anskaven. It is customary for Anskaveners to bow respectfully to the statue upon entering the square.
• A marble statue in Guards Square, Moytura
• An ancient bronze shrine containing an effigy of Maura I, holding the emblems of the sun and moon, referring to Kai and Ishir