"Don't lecture me about defence! We of the Grand County of Stirland are the ultimate defence. Who do you think keeps Sylvania in check? Who keeps the dead pinned against the World's Edge? Stirlanders, that's who!"
- —Alberich Haupt-Anderssen, Elector Count of Stirland[2]
Coat of arms of Alberich V Haupt-Anderssen, the Elector Count of Stirland
Alberich Haupt-Anderssen, who reigned as Alberich V,[6a] Grand Count of Stirland, Prince of Wurtbad and Overlord of Sylvania, is the graf and Elector Count of the Imperial Grand Province of Stirland.[1a]
History[]
Turmoil of 2512[]
By the time of the Turmoil of 2512, Alberich was 15 years old.[6a] He had no heirs at the time, as his younger brother Rudolph Haupt-Anderssen had been disinherited in 2511 IC by Stirmarshal Haygich, Alberich's regent.[6a]
During the civil unrest that plagued the Empire in the Turmoil of 2512, Alberich kept his province out of the fighting and was one of the first Elector Counts to side with Emperor Karl Franz. For this show of loyalty, he was granted the title of grand count.[7a] Alberich also supported the restoration of Nordland as a full Electoral Province of the Empire.[8a]
Conflict with Talabecland[]
When hostilities erupted between Graf Alberich Haupt-Anderssen of Stirland and Helmut Feuerbach of Talabecland, ancestral enemies since the Age of Three Emperors, the other Elector Counts waited expectantly to see which side the Emperor Karl Franz would back.
The emperor travelled to Talabheim in an attempt to negotiate peace between the two hostile provinces. The emperor's skill in debate was put to the ultimate test in resolving the dispute, as was his patience, but in the end both Elector Counts acceded to Karl Franz's wisdom and a potentially bitter civil war was ended before it began.[4a]
Election of Karl-Franz[]
In the timeline of Total War: Warhammer, during the first round of voting of the Imperial election of 2502 IC, Graf Alberich Haupt-Anderssen voted for Boris Todbringer of Middenland, who got most of the votes, but not enough to take the throne. When Karl Franz, son of Luitpold I, the previous emperor, and Todbringer's rival, met with the count of Stirland to secure his vote the count reacted angrily, ranting about how Luitpold had ignored his people's starving and the threat of the Undead of Sylvania.[2]
Nevertheless, Karl Franz managed to calm the count, promising that they would end the Undead threat together and offering to set a tax on the River Stir, forcing neighbouring Ostermark to send their mutton and beer trade south down to Stirland and the Mootland on their way to the River Aver, which would help Stirland's food shortages.[2]
These concessions were enough to secure Alberich's vote for Karl Franz's election, although unknown to him Karl Franz had already agreed to tax the River Stir while negotiating with the Halfling Elder of the Moot. Karl Franz was later crowned emperor by the votes of all the Elector Counts save one.[2]
End Times[]
After the fall of the Auric Bastion, Graf Alberich Haupt-Anderssen had sought refuge in Altdorf where, after Karl Franz's disappearance at the northern border, he demanded an audience with Reikmarshal Kurt Helborg and bickered every day with the Elector Counts Theoderic Gausser of Nordland and Emmanuelle von Liebwitz of Wissenland for the position of steward in the emperor's absence.[5a]
Wargear[]
As the Elector Count of Stirland, Alberich had the right to wield the Runefang known as Orc Hewer.[3a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Sigmar's Heirs (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 85
- 2: The Prince of Altdorf (Short Story) by Andy Hall
- 3: White Dwarf 325 (UK)
- 3a: pg. 73
- 4: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)
- 4a: pg. 23
- 5: The End Times Vol. II: Glottkin (8th Edition)
- 5a: pg. 39
- 6: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Enemy in Shadow Companion (RPG)
- 6a: pg. 14
- 7: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Empire in Ruins (RPG)
- 7a: pg. 199
- 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Empire in Ruins Companion (RPG)
- 8a: pg. 47