Court of the House of Middlesex

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The House of Middlesex

History​

The modern history of the family starts with Æthelred of Buckingham, one of the earliest supporters of Æthelbald the Great and a close friend and adviser. He was an eccentric man who was fascinated with the Romans, and was perhaps one of the primary reasons Æthelbald would outright dismember the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms rather than simply accept their fealty: After being awarded Middlesex for his support he began to style himself as Count of the Middle Saxons — Count in the style of the more Romanized Franks and Middle Saxons to accentuate the Saxon nature of the kingdom.

Like many of the kingdom's founders, Æthelred was long lived and was ultimately succeeded by his grandsons in 768.

 

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Dynasty Members​

Earl Leofræd
The eldest grandson of Count Æthelred and his first successor, Leofræd has toned down the more Franco-Roman elements of his grandfather while still maintaining his family as the crown's greatest supporters. This support is less than genuine, however: His grandfather prospered by supporting a strong kingdom (albeit unwittingly), and it's hard not to see the weak-willed king-to-be as a powerful tool — but only if he remains at the head of a powerful kingdom.

Leofræd is a tall man with a dark beard and short hair, and his presence dominates whatever room he's in. It's a little known secret that he's been addled with severe clumsiness since he was a boy though, and his slow, methodical movements that seem so imposing are partially a necessity borne out of illness. This condition led him to spend his formative years learning how to hide his weakness and manipulate others: His deliberate movements are exaggerated to give an air of extreme confidence, his mannerisms are polite yet cold to make others feel childlike when interacting with him, and while he rarely speaks his powerful voice and thoughtful words ensure that he's always the center of attention when he requires it.


Actbrand
The brother of the earl, Actbrand willingly gave up his share of his grandfather's inheritance to better serve his family and the crown. While the earl's support of the crown is an act to further his own goals, Actbrand's loyalty is genuine and unconditional.

While Leofræd is merely tall, Acbrand is truly a giant of a man: A few inches shorter, but a broad, muscular man with wild brown hair and a full beard complimenting a strong jaw. Full of life and vigor, he's at the center of any feast during peacetime and at the front of the king's forces during wartime. While he's a simple man and lacks his brother's skill at diplomacy and manipulation, his loyalty and genuine friendliness have in many ways made him the more popular of the two. He knows he's a simple man though, and graciously trusts and supports his brother to tell him how best to support his king. So far, the two have yet to be at odds with one another.


Drithelm
A cousin to the earl, Drithelm had resolved to join the clergy at a young age. While he has inherited some of his grandfather's love for the crown, he sees the continuation of God's Church as far more important. To this end he's actually somewhat critical of Æthelbald the Great as he reduced the church's power, but he remains hopeful that the two will one day work in harmony.

 

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