Karl Franz
Emperor Karl Franz I Holswig-Schliestein, Elector Count and Grand Prince of Reikland, Prince of Altdorf, and Count of the West March[1] is the current Emperor of The Empire and Elector Count of Reikland. He is widely regarded as the greatest statesman and diplomat of the Old World. [5a][6e][8b][13a]
He was crowned in 2502 IC. [5b][6d][12b][13a][14a]
As Emperor, Karl Franz is a charismatic leader, brilliant statesman and the leader of the Imperial Army, having commanded them in numerous battles. [12a]
Family
He is the son of Emperor Luitpold and member of the Holswig-Schliestein dynasty, also known as the House of The Third Wilhelm, founded by Emperor Wilhelm III the Wise. [6b][6e][13a]
Karl Franz is unmarried but has two children by Lady at Court Maria-Luise von Walfen:
- his older son Luitpold (likely named after his Imperial grandfather) who is the heir of Altdorf,
- a younger daughter, Alia, who is a toddler in 2512.[6e]
He has a sister, who is also married[*] His named heir to Reikland is Prince Wolfgang Holswig-Abenauer, his sisters son. [4][6e]
Government
Emperor Karl Franz's formal titles include: Protector of the Empire, Defier of the Dark, Emperor Himself and the Son of Emperors, Elector Count of Reikland and Prince of Altdorf.[6e]
Emperor Karl Franz rules from Altdorf, like other of his dynasty. Although Karl Franz is hailed as a great statesman, his successes are based on teams of semi-loyal and mostly competent chancellors to whom the ruling of his Empire, his province and capital are delegated to. The three most critical regularly meeting councils at the Volkshalle are the:
- Council of State, who advice the Emperor on the state of the Nation. [6e]
- Reikland Council, who run the province of Reikland. [6e]
- Council of Altdorf, who run the capital Altdorf. [6e]
The emperor rarely attends the two latter ones.[6e]
History
Early Life
He was born in 2470 IC as the son of Emperor Luitpold. Later that year, he, his parents and older sister were traveling through the Drakwald Forest and had stopped for the night at the Black Boar Coaching Inn. There they were attacked by a large Beastmen host but were saved by Wood Elves. One Elf claimed that the baby boy was far too important to die, calling him Harathoi Koiran. [9][12b]
In 2502 IC, Emperor Luitpold died in his sleep. As the son of the late Emperor, Karl Franz was a logical candidate to succeed his father. However in the Empire the Imperial throne is not inherited, but chosen by a vote of the Imperial Electors. [6d][9][13a]
Although the exact circumstances and precise details are unknown, Karl Franz was considered by some far too young and inexperienced for the throne; he himself did not believe that he would be elected and Boris Todbringer, the count of Middenland, was the favoured other candidate. The first vote was 8 against and only 4 in Karl Franz's favour, the remaining 3 Electors - all of who were of the Cult of Sigmar - abstained. Maximillian von Königswald, who was an old friend and count of Ostland, aided Karl Franz in persuading the other electors; yet during that time, several attempts had been made on Karl Franz's life. In the end, Karl Franz managed to obtain all but one of the electors' votes, including both the support of the Church of Sigmar and the Cult of Ulric with 4 votes; the single vote against had been cast by the count of Ostland himself. And so Karl Franz won the election. [9]
Afterwards the electors moved from the Volkshalle to the Imperial throne room, where the Imperial coronation would take place. At the coronation, Karl Franz struck Maximilliam with the warhammer Ghal Maraz, and it was then revealed that he had been a shape-shifting servant of Tzeentch, who had orchestrated the assassination attempts.[9]
Rule
Shortly after his accession in 2502 IC, he led an army north to the aid of Nordland to repel a massive invasion of Norse barbarians with Elector Count of Nordland Theoderic Gausser. The Celestial College aided him in predicting where and when the northern marauders planned to attack and a well-executed ambush devastated the invaders. The Emperor personally lead the Reiksguard in the final charge against the Norse shield wall. [10b][12a][12b][14a]
Additionally in 2502 IC, a series of new taxes cause Window Tax Riots in Altdorf, the Reiksguard were forced to break the riots. [6d]
During his reign, the Empire prospered, his armies victorious, the Imperial Engineers School and Colleges of Magic both growing. [5a][12a] Early in his reign he increased the pay of state troops and increased recruitment with rousing speeches. Even the stubborn Knightly Orders were charmed by the diplomatic Karl Franz and the numbers of knights marching along the armies has greatly increased since.[12a]
In 2505 IC Emperor Karl Franz and his son attended the disastrous play by Detlef Sierck at the Castle Drachenfels. [13a] [6d]
In 2506 IC Riots broke again out across Altdorf after the so called Thumb Tax was imposed by Chancellor Mornan Tybalt. [6a][6c]
In 2507 IC at the Battle of Broken Pillars, Karl Franz led the Reiksguard into the Underway to aid the Dwarfs of Zhufbar against Skaven. [10b]
He led his army to victory against Bretonnia at the Battle of Norduin, his charge breaking the flank of the enemy army before crashing into its rear. [5a]
In 2510 IC whilst hunting he was attacked by Beastmen and saved by a Hochland forest patrol at the Battle of the Weeping Glen. Following this and in recognition, the Hochland provincial banner was allowed to bear the Imperial Cross. [8a] Later that year he was badly wounded at the Battle of Blood Keep. [10b]
A number of settlements and forts along the Grey Mountains collapsed into the ground or were razed to the ground in 2515 IC and Karl Franz, with much of the army went to Bretonnia to discuss the situation. Unfortunately while they were away, Ostland was invaded by Sigvald the Magnificent. A muster of various provinces was called and Sigvald was defeated at the Battle for the Temple of Skulls. [11]
The territorial ambitions of Theoderic Gausser of Nordland against the neighboring province of Hochland almost turned into civil war in 2516 IC. Karl Franz ordered the Supreme Patriarch Balthasar Gelt to intervene and he stopped Gausser by turning the complete amassed gold in the vaults of Gausser's castle at Salzenmund into lead. Gausser swore vengeance for Gelt for this transgression. [12d][14a]
The Battle of Bloodpine Woods in 2517 IC saw Karl Franz lead an army to eradicate the Spiderclaw Tribe of Forest Goblins. [10b][12b]
Around 2520 IC, the Emperor Karl Franz went to Talabheim to stop the violent quarrel between Talabecland and Stirland, old rivals since the Age of Three Emperors. The patience and diplomatic skills of the Emperor were significantly challenged, but Count Helmut Feuerbach of Talabecland and the Graf Alberich Haupt-Anderssen of Stirland heard the Emperor and renewed bloody civil war was avoided. [14a]
When in 2520 IC, Orcs and Goblins streamed through Black Fire Pass in vast numbers, Marius Leitdorf sent word to Karl Franz warning him that his provincial army would not be able to hold them back alone. The Emperor marched south with the army of Reikland and Altdorf behind him, including a trio of Steam Tanks against the horde of Vorgaz Ironjaw in a confrontation that would become known as the Third Battle of Black Fire Pass.[10b][12a][12b][14a]
End Times
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As event progressed at the end of 2524 IC he led his army to bolster the defences east of Talabecland and fought against the forces of Chaos at the Battle of Heffengen in 2525 IC. He dueled against Walach Harkon but was no match for him and the Emperor and his steed were sent plummeting to the earth, apparently to die.[3][15]
Hitting the ground, he was almost immediately by Chaos Warhounds but with a wounded Deathclaw, he managed to fight them off but this was only the first of many enemies that attacked them including Chaos Spawn, Chaos Warriors, mutants and Trolls. Finally the duo escaped into the woods and began the long journey west.[15]
Towards the end of the year he was found by Gregor Martak and with him they reached Altdorf in time for the battle against the horde of Nurgle.[15]
Weapons, Armour and Equipment
- 4th Edition: Ghal Maraz, Heavy Armour, Silver Seal, Sword, may ride a Barded Warhorse or a Monster - He usually rides his loyal Griffon Deathclaw. [5a]
- 7th Edition: Ghal Maraz or Runefang, Full Plate Armour, Silver Seal, may ride a Barded Warhorse, Pegasus, Griffon or the Imperial Dragon. [14b]
- 8th Edition: Ghal Maraz or Reikland Runefang, Full Plate Armour, Silver Seal, may ride a (Barded) Warhorse, Pegasus, Deathclaw or the Imperial Dragon. [12c]
- End Times: Karl Franz Ascendant: Deathclaw, Essence of Ghal Maraz, Full Plate Armour, Silver Seal.[15]
During the Storm of Chaos Karl Franz gave his magic hammer to Valten as a personal favour to the new Chosen of Sigmar. Eventually, Karl Franz entered in battle wielding his Runefang as Prince of Reikland.
- Armour: Forged by Dwarfs and including fragments from the suit worn by Magnus the Pious in Kislev. [5a]
- Ghal Maraz, the Hammer of Sigmar. [5a][10a]
- Silver Seal: a magical item which protects against harmful blows and even harmful magic; created by Frederick von Tarnus for Magnus the Pious after the Great War Against Chaos.[5a][10a]
- The Runefang of Reikland. [10a]
Gallery
Karl Franz in Total War Warhammer
Karl Franz on Deathclaw
Karl Franz
Karl Franz in Warhammer Online
Karl Franz and his family
Karl Franz hunting with his son and the Electors
Heraldry of Karl Franz[8b]
Karl Franz in the Storm of Chaos
Karl Franz in the End Times
Karl Franz reborn
Banner of Emperor Karl Franz as Elector Count of Reikland [8c]
Miniatures
Karl Franz with Runefang
Karl Franz with Ghal Maraz
Karl Franz (8th edition)
Karl Franz for Warmaster
Notes
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- *: Grey Seer Thanquol planned to manipulate Fritz von Halstadt, the chief of Nuln's secret police, into arresting Karl Franz's "brother-in-law".[2] The logical inference is that this noble was married to a sister of Karl.
- The existence of Wolfgang Holswig-Abenauer also proves the existence of the sister.
Conflicting Sources
- Drachenfels (novel) states he has a wife and Empress rather than a mistress. [7a][7b]
- How Karl Franz became an emperor has several versions:
- In Drachenfels Maximillian von Königswald, who was an old friend of Karl Franz and count of Ostland, managed to persuade all but one of the other electors to cast their vote for Karl Franz. The Church of Sigmar also supported him with 3 votes. In the end Karl Franz won the election.[7a] With Oswald von Konigswald, he had planned for his coronation to take place at Castle Drachenfels as all the Electors would be there to see the play by Detlef Sierck.[7a] Although the Empress declined to attend, he traveled with their twelve year old son, hunting along the way where Luitpold was first blooded. [7b] Karl Franz was injured by Oswald when he revealed himself as a traitor [7c] and could only speak in a whisper for several months. [7d]
- Prince of Altdorf (Short Story) details the period of the vote but adds that Karl Franz and his retinue were attacked by Orcs & Goblins whilst traveling to Altdorf. Also that he met with the Bretonnian King Louen Leoncoeur and that at the final vote it was Maximillian von Konigswald who voted against him and proved to be Daemon imposter.
Sources
- 1: Sigmar's Heirs, pg. 77
- 2: Skavenslayer (novel) by William King, Chapter One
- 3: The Fall of Altdorf (Novel), Chapter 4
- 4: The Enemy Within (Supplement), pg. 14
- 5: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition)
- 6: Altdorf: Crown of the Empire
- 7: Drachenfels (novel)
- 8: Uniforms & Heraldry of The Empire
- 9: Prince of Altdorf (Short Story)
- 10: White Dwarf
- 11: White Dwarf 354 (UK): The Drums of War, pgs. 50-75
- 12: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
- 13: WFRP Rulebook (4th Edition)
- 13a: Timeline of Reikland, pgs. 272-275
- 14: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)
- 15: Warhammer: Glottkin: Book II: Karl Franz Ascendant, pg. 45-47
Uncited
- Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), Needs Citation
- Warhammer: Storm of Chaos, Needs Citation