Steinbjørn the Great

Childhood
Steinbjørn was born in northern Welfania in 737, son to the admiral of the duchy. Growing up he was tought seamanship and warfare, as his father wanted a military career for him. In 754, when he was 17, the Duke of Welfania was assasinated by his pretender brother. Steinbjørn's father was falsy accused of the murder - by the pretender-, and executed. Steinbjørn fled the realm.

Early Aduthood
In his twentees he survived among the tribes of todays Dunklewood and northern Bergheim. Eventually he became chief in one of the bigger war-tribes. In 775 he founded Bergby, by planting a seed from the sacred Mothertree outside his hall. From here he started operating raids against Welfania, as he still plotted his revenge.

Conquest
In 781 he attacked and conquered Welfania, and killed the duke. He had already proclaimed himself duke of Bergheim, and as he now also held the title of Welfania he decided to proclaim himself king. He married the daughter of the assasinated duke, and his two sons thus held claims to the Welfanian throne.

Death
Without any testamente, he died of fever in 812, at the age of 75. He was burried in a crypt that supposedly is located in Welfania. His oldest son Torstein Steinbjørnson became king of Bergheim-Welfania and duke of Welfania. His youngest son Torbjørn became duke of Bergheim. A war broke out between them however, and although no borders where changed, the realm was devided, effectively giving them both duke titles.

Later the duke of Bergheim would conquer northern Welfania, call it duchy of Gråland and create the kingdom of Bergheim.

Legacy.
Today, Steinbjørn is concidered a nearly holy person in Welfania and Bergheim, and is referred to as the "Eternal Duke and Protecter" of them both.

A statue of Steinbjørn was erected at Welfanias southern coast in 1037, on the 300-year anniversary of his birth.