A Small Inquiry into the Foundation of the Duchy of Talabheim

By Dr. Albrecht von Kauhafen with Antonius Scholasticus and Alfred von Nuln

In the 2429th year of Sigmar's Empire, Emperor Dieter IV von Krieglitz of the House of Unfähiger had proven himself incapable of solving the Westerland problem.  The Church of Sigmar, lead by the Knights of the Holy Unity and backed by many nobles, were utterly disappointed with Dieter.  The House of Unfähiger had been loyal members of the Sigmarite Church for generations; a fact that proved crucial when Leopold von Krieglitz was elected as the successor of Magnus the Pious in favour of Magnus' younger brother, Grand Duke Gunthar von Bildhofen, who had converted to the Cult of Ulric.  Now, however, the Unfähiger emperor could not maintain the unity of Sigmar's Empire; a crucial point in the Sigmarite doctrines.

Dieter IV’s costly but futile military campaigns in the Border Princes had already caused some concern and unrest with the First Families, who were subject to ever higher taxes to cover the expenses. Eventually, when Dieter IV failed to maintain the unquestionable unity of Sigmar's Empire and thus fell out with the Church of Sigmar, it joined forces with the First Families in order to remove him from the Imperial throne.  With threats of excommunication and civil war Dieter IV was forced to effectively give up the throne and flee Nuln.  An emergency council was held at the Grand Cathedral of Sigmar in Altdorf, where Prince Wilhelm III of Altdorf, the Grand Prince of Reikland, was proclaimed Emperor Wilhelm II of Sigmar's Empire.

Meanwhile Dieter had fled to Talabheim.  From here, he refused to acknowledge his abdication and embraced the Cult of Ulric.  He engaged in frantic efforts to win the support of the Ulrican provinces (of which some had not been represented at the council in Altdorf).  However, the efforts were more or less futile; the only result seems to be a number of soldiers loyal to Dieter causing an uprising in Altdorf.  They tried to storm the Palace there in what is known as the War of Succession, but were quite easily defeated.  Shortly after, the nobles of Nuln and Stirland dethroned Dieter as Grand Count of Stirland, and Emperor Wilhelm II appointed the head of the Haupt-Anderssen dynasty in his place.  The Haupt-Anderssens had been allies of the von Bildhofens since before Magnus' rallying of the Empire and had been at the front of the Imperial Army when it repelled the forces of Chaos in Kislev.

As the Ulrican provinces refused to render military support Dieter’s claims, tensions built up between him and his Talabheim host, Grand Duke Frederik Untermensch of Talabecland.  Dieter lost patience and issued an Imperial Edict that discharged Frederik as ruler of Talabecland, claiming the province for himself.  Of course, he had little to support his claims, and surely, it would have had little effect, if not surprising events in Middenheim had taken place: Here, secret meetings took place between Grafin Solveig, Baron von Scholten (representing Dieter) and Ar-Ulric.  In Nachgeheim, 2429 IC, Ar-Ulric sent out what is now known as the Talabec Bull, stating:

It is the will of Ulric that his most pious and noble servant, Dieter von Krieglitz of the House of Unfähiger, is given the Grand Duchy of Talabecland to rule, answering only to the Emperor of Sigmar's Empire and Ulric himself.

Sigmarite and Verenan scholars, including Leopold of Steinbach, have argued that Grafin Solveig was the mastermind behind the bull; the Middenheim Grafs had supposedly never forgiven the Untermenschen of Talabecland their treacherous schemes in the year 1359 IC, when Grand Duchess Ottilia Untermensh convinced Ar-Ulric to move to Talabheim.  Now, Grafin Solveig was supported by the Cult and the still powerful head of the Unfähiger in removing the Untermenschen of Talabecland.  Arguably, the Cult of Ulric agreed since it stood to gain a new powerful member in its struggle with the Church of Sigmar.  Facing the combined strength of the Middenheim army, the Order of the White Wolf and the remaining troops of Dieter von Krieglitz the fate of Grand Duke Frederik seemed settled. However, one problem remained unsolved: The new Emperor and especially the new Grand Count of Stirland would probably not be pleased by the prospect of Dieter von Krieglitz as leader of Talabecland; it gave him a mighty power base to plan vendettas against the men who had dethroned him.

These problems were solved a week after the publication of the Talabec Bull.  Grand Duke Frederik of Talabecland allied himself with the merchants of Talabheim.  They had craved an independent Talabheim for centuries (one important factor being the potential reduction of taxes).  The Grand Duke and representatives of the merchants and guilds sent out their Proclamation of the Freistadt of Talabheim exactly one week after the Talabec Bull, stating:

•	We, rightful guild members representing the Citizens of Talabheim, chartered town of The Empire of Sigmar, wish that our beloved Grand Duke Frederik Untermensch rule us in these times of worry and turmoil
•	Therefore, I, Frederik Untermensch, to this day rightful Grand Duke of Talabecland, have decided to abdicate from the Grand Duchy in order to to put all my undivided efforts and skills into maintaining the wealth and prosperity of the city of Talabheim
•	 Hence, as of this day, the 22nd of Nachgeheim in the 2429th year of Sigmar's Empire, the city of Talabheim is no longer to be counted as part of the Grand Duchy of Talabecland; rather, it is an independent province under the rightful Emperor, Wilhelm II of Reikland

Emperor Wilhelm II and (just as importantly) the Church of Sigmar swiftly seized the opportunity to divide one of their traditional opponents, Talabecland, in two.  The Emperor called for a meeting in the Volkshalle in Altdorf.  The Cult of Ulric suffered from internal strife between the Middenheim leaders and the Talabheim faction who supported Frederik Untermensch.  Wisely, Ar-Ulric let the Grand Duke and the many devout followers in Talabheim have their way in order to avoid further losses by the Ulricans to the Cult of Sigmar.  The meeting was at an end, and Wilhelm II could send out the necessary decrees.  These included a charter for an independent city state of Talabheim and the transference of the Barony of Hochland to the newly founded Duchy of Talabheim; no great surprise as the Hochlanders had been an Untermensch stronghold for ages.

And so, as of Mittherbst 2429 IC, the dethroned Emperor Dieter IV had become Grand Duke Dieter I of Talabecland which remains in the hands of his dynasty to this very day.  Dieter’s second son would later marry the daughter of the Duke of Talabheim.  She was the only child and thus sole heir to the Duchy of Talabheim.  Thus was the Krieglitz-Untermensch dynasty of Talabheim founded, and peace settled in the divided Talabecland; much to the discomfort of the Stirland Grand Count.