In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Llarik Haldane was the third King of Gwynedd, reigning from 698 to 719.

Llarik Broccan Haldane was born on March 9, 651. He was the fifth son of King Augarin Haldane, but the second son of the king's second wife, Queen Caldora de la Marche. Upon reaching his legal majority in 665, his father created Llarik Count of Rhemuth. Eight years later, in 673, a legal battle erupted over the rightful succession following King Augarin's death. Prince Aidan, Augarin's eldest son by his first wife, claimed the throne, but was challenged by Llarik's elder brother, Prince Donal. Donal claimed that there were several legal irregularities that invalidated Augarin's first marriage, thus removing Aidan from the succession and leaving Donal as the rightful heir. However, an ecclesiastical court convened by Aidan upheld the legality of Augarin's first marriage and Aidan was acknowledged as the rightful heir to the throne. Several days later, Prince Donal was found murdered in the forest, thus leaving Llarik as the eldest surviving son of King Augarin's second marriage. Llarik openly accused his half-brother of the [...], but Prince Aidan was crowned king a few weeks later and Llarik was left with nothing but his anger.

Llarik retained the title of Count of Rhemuth for the next quarter-century, until the death of King Aidan at the Battle of Ebor in 698. Aidan's only surviving son, Prince Ifor, had been severely wounded in the same battle and was not expected to survive, leaving the succession in question. Aidan's younger brother, Prince Bearand, named himself Protector of the Throne and convened the High Council on August 1 to determine the succession. Surprisingly, Prince Ifor continued to live, refusing to abdicate his right to the throne. Additionally, the council hotly debated whether or not Prince Bearand had the right to name himself Protector. On August 2, Llarik once again raised the issue of the legality of King Augarin's first marriage, enraging Bearand so greatly that he collapsed before the council. With Ifor and Bearand both incapacitated, Llarik named himself Protector of the Throne the next day. However, the council was still unable to reach a decision on the succession while Ifor still lived. The stalemate continued for the next month, until both Ifor and Bearand died. While some claimed that they each died from their injuries, others claimed that Llarik used more forceful (and lethal) methods to ensure that both of his rivals would be removed from the equation. Bearand's son even left the city, believed to have been fleeing for his life. Whatever the truth, Llarik emerged as the only survivor in the struggle for the crown, and he was proclaimed King of Gwynedd on September 2, 698.

Once secure upon the throne, King Llarik arrested half of the council, charged them with treason, and replaced them with his own friends. This event was the beginning of a recurring pattern in Llarik's reign, one of extreme paranoia and lethal suppression of anyone whom the king deemed as disloyal. In 699, Llarik arrested his sons Dolon and Jestyn, charged both with high treason, and summarily executed them. Llarik grew increasingly distrustful of his courtiers throughout his reign, and many nobles and officials were arrested and executed over the following years. A series of barbarian raids plagued Gwynedd's borders during this time, but Llarik's own lack of military experience, combined with his refusal to completely trust his generals, resulted in a lack of a coherent national defense that left many cities sacked and destroyed. As the years passed, he refused to be seen in public, and he descended deeper into a paranoia-laced madness, eventually becoming known as "Llarik the Cruel."

Scandals, secrecy, and betrayal were a central fact of life in Llarik's court, and the circumstances surrounding his death were no exception. Rumors at the time claimed that Llarik had written orders to have his son and heir, Prince Ryons, arrested and executed, but Ryons was informed of the plot. The king's body was discovered shortly thereafter beneath a broken window High Above the courtyard. It is not known if the king fell, jumped, or was pushed. King Llarik Haldane died on January 11, 719, at the age of 67. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Prince Ryons Haldane.

Family

  • Married Countess Riona Haldane of Carthane on June 30, 674. (Died November 16, 697)
    • Prince Donol Kensell (executed by his father at age 24)
    • Princess Bertrana
    • Prince Jestyn (executed by his father at age 19)
    • Prince Augarin (died at age 10)
    • Princess Maryrose
    • Prince Caldor (died while an infant)
    • Princess Llarica
    • Princess Marlys
  • Married Princess Sidonie of Meara on August 2, 699.
    • Prince Ryons
    • Princess Laheen
    • Prince Llywarch
    • Prince Aural (later Prince-Bishop of Dhassa)
    • Princess Fideilme

Sources

  • Katherine Kurtz and Robert Reginald, Codex Derynianus, ISBN 0-89370-011-8