Earl Roderick of Salisbury
| Sir Roderick Earl of Salisbury | |
|---|---|
 Earl Roderick Entertaining His Guests at the Castle of the Rock | |
| Born |
13 May 450 Salisbury, Logres |
| Died |
495 St Albans |
| Ethnicity | Cymric |
| Occupation | Earl |
| Years active | 471-495 |
| Known for |
Fair mindedness Loyalty to the crown Skill at battle |
| Religion | British Christian |
| Spouse(s) | Countess Ellen of Salisbury (m. 0476) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
Earl Robat Countess Eirlys |
Sir Roderick, Earl of Salisbury (450-495) was the Lord of County Salisbury. Earl Roderick was a very popular noble, and one of King Uther's most trusted and loyal vassals. Earl Roderick had been consistent in his military support of Logres, and had proven himself to be a capable general as well. Earl Roderick married Countess Ellen in 476 and the couple had two children together - Lady Jenna and Lord Robert of Salisbury, his successor.
Personality
Earl Roderick was a fair, just man who understood his place in the order of Logres and strove to care for his people as best he could. Roderick was well-loved by his subject and knights, and had a strong reputation. Roderick was also a very intelligent, deductive man who was skilled at the art of politics and always managed to consistently back the right horse right up until his death at St. Albans.
Important Deeds of Note
In 485, Earl Roderick knighted Sir Botheric, Sir Clegis, Sir Galam, Sir Archade, Sir Freydis, and Sir Ronan after they were recommended for the honor by Sir Elad of Vagon.
In 487, the Earl knighted Sir Typhon, who joined with the other young knights listed above to form the Ursine Brotherhood in 489. Also in 497, Roderick accompanied King Uther on progress to Lincoln, where they gained the pledge of Duke Lindsey of Lincoln, a formerly disloyal vassal who has since turned about face to support Uther.
In 488, Roderick accompanied Prince Madoc to fight in France, supporting the Praetor Syagrius. After taking one city back for Syagrius, Madoc decided to leave, breaking his father's word to the Praetor. Roderick left with the Prince, taking the Ursine Brotherhood with him, though morale was low due to the treachery of Prince Madoc.
In 490, Roderick was present to witness Uther brandish Excalibur to gain the allegiance of Duke Gorlois of Cornwall, and joined with his fellow lords to wage war against the Saxons in Malahaut.
In 491, once again accompanying Uther to war, Roderick was present at Terrabil when Prince Madoc was slain by Gorlois.
In 492, Earl Roderick came to the defense of the Ursine Brotherhood, defending them at their trial for treason by pledging his own honor to their innocence. This unprecedented gesture of loyalty to his vassal knights turned the tide of the trial and was instrumental in convincing King Uther of their innocence.
In 493, Roderick led the Ursine Order north to Malahaut in order to renegotiate the alliance with the Centurion King. While there, King Heraut was shown to be conspiring to attack Logres with the aid of King Octa and King Eosa, the hated Saxon rulers, who had recently escaped from the dungeons of Logres. The Ursine Order warned Roderick of this treachery and led him back to the safety of Salisbury, where they alerted King Uther to this turn of events.
In 495, Roderick was instrumental in helping Uther to win the battle of St. Albans against the Saxon hordes. Awash with the victory, a great feast was held. The Saxons, in their treachery, poisoned the wine at the feast and murdered nearly all the Cymric nobility, Earl Roderick among them. Earl Roderick was entombed at the chapel at Sarum, in the Castle on the Rock.
