Reville Valmont, also known as the "Mad Emperor", was an Emperor of Orlais.
Background
Reville was born in 7:99 Storm.[1] He ascended to the throne in 8:21 Blessed.[2] In 8:24 he ordered the second invasion of Ferelden, which was completed in 8:44 with the fall of Denerim and ultimately saw the nation occupied for 58 years, until it broke free during the reign of Emperor Florian.[3]
Due to his wildly successful invasion of Ferelden, Emperor Reville was initially celebrated as a military genius in Orlais. However, as his twin brother Grand Duke Gratien had predicted, Nevarra took advantage of the fact that most of the Orlesian army was still committed to a war in Ferelden to declare war on Orlais in 8:46 Blessed. The Pentaghasts had been biding their time since 7:97 Storm, when Emperor Etienne I, still childless, had set aside his wife, Princess Sotiria Pentaghast, and sent her to a cloister so that he might marry his mistress.[4]
The Orlesian chevaliers met spectacular defeat against the Nevarrans, and though they managed to drive the Nevarrans out of Ghislain and Arlesans, Perendale was lost and never recovered. Reville went from reveling in the approval of his court to being the butt of jokes and the target of whispers. He was surrounded by courtiers who said his brother was behind this criticism, and there was open talk of placing Gratien on the throne. By all historical accounts Grand Duke Gratien only had his brother's best interests at heart, and was vastly relieved not to be burdened with the throne.
After the death of Marquise Yvette, Reville's mother and a calming influence, Reville snapped and ordered the assassination of Gratien and his entire family at their estate of Sablissent on the Feast of Ascension. Gratien, his wife, their three grown children and eight grandhcildren - the youngest, Camille, being only eight months old - were all murdered and thrown into a mass grave, their bodies burned.[5]
Reville became increasingly paranoid, fearing retribution for the assassination. His health began to decline, but he refused to allow physicians of any kind into the palace. By 8:50 Blessed, Reville refused to leave his rooms at all. Only a single cook was allowed to prepare his food, and only under the supervision of ten chevaliers. He no longer ate anything but venison, and his health kept on declining. When he died in 8:51, his sons entered his rooms to find that he had boarded up the windows and surrounded his bed with rows upon rows of daggers.[6]
Trivia
- Reville is mistakenly referred to as Remille in Dragon Age: The Masked Empire. Remille was the Orlesian First Enchanter of Kinloch Hold in Dragon Age: The Calling.
- His brother Grand Duke Gratien was younger by a mere hour.
References
- ↑ Codex entry: The Mystery and Meaning of Eight Silks
- ↑ Portrait in the Winter Palace in Dragon Age: Inquisition
- ↑
Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, pp. 121–122
- ↑ Codex entry: The Perendale War
- ↑ Codex entry: Mad Emperor Reville
- ↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 127