House Aylesbury

The Royal House of Aylesbury is the currently reigning house of Halicourt providing the kingdom with monarchs since the founding of the realm by King Richard the Conquerer. The royal line of succession is unbroken, although there have been numerous wars where royal brothers have fought each other for the throne. The house maintains a policy of only marrying princes to women from the realm.

Before the Rise of Aylesbury
When the Ascanthan Empire fractured into what is now 5 independent realms, Halicourt was in turmoil. Petty lords around the region established their own baronies, kingdoms, and arldoms. Some ruled in the name of failed Ascanthan Empire, others claiming to hold land belonging to the Terratheans who were ejected during the Great War, and there were those who ruled because they were simply the most powerful.

Founding the Kingdom
King William of Aylesbury, the future King Richard's father, began a war that would unite the feuding Halicourt into one realm. Initially, he turned west to subdue the Mountfords. In a fierce battle, King William was killed in combat and his host scattered on the field. Months later, the newly crowned King Richard returned to finish what his father started. He smashed the Mountfords on the same field where he father was slain, and the city of Bredon opened it's gates for the conquerers. The surviving members of House Mountford bent the knee. A year later the Aylesburys turned their sights north, into the Midlands. The Arldom of Whitehold resisted the invasion fiercely. However, they were quickly overwhelmed. King Richard ordered the House of Whitehold's destruction. Over the next 10 years, King Richard subdued the Arldom of Coniston, and marched east to bring the marcher lords into his realm. When he reached the Mosel runoff, River Dunham, he split his army in two. Sending his eldest son, Prince James, to bring all of east Halicourt into the crownlands. Richard himself marched south to subdue the Barony of Durham. After 13 years of warfare, the House of Aylesbury reigned supreme over the whole of Halicourt. This, however, was not enough for them. King Richard began making preparations to march south and conquer Aturia. Sadly, his plans would not reach fruition in his lifetime. King Richard suffered a fall from his horse while inspecting his troops and passed that day.

Expedition to Aturia
The newly crowned King James declared that he would lead the invasion force assembled by his late father. South they marched, and after passing through the Pass of Vespia the royal army came upon the Aturian host. The Halians stood no chance against the mages that the Aturians fielded. Entire companies of men were destroyed in flashes of fire. King James himself perished when bolts of ice blocked out the sun, as if the invasion had awoken a terrible and vengeful god.