Fernos

"Paving the road to Greatness"

- Motto of House Fernos

House Fernos is the youngest baronic house in Thaum, having been given the title of baron in 852 AF. They are credited for introducing and expanding the railway in and around Thaum, as well as sorrounding states, giving great wealth and prosperity to the cities involved. They rule the district of Jovi, named after the entrepreneur responsible and who received the first title of Baron.

As a young noble house, the Fernos family has been described as a "new nobility" with little in terms of experience and lineage, and is often looked down upon by the other houses. House Fernos takes this in stride, however, and continue to rule their district with care and attention, which has resulted in at least a modicum of respect in recent years.

Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms of House Fernos is a golden railway wheel with a golden wing turning towards the right, on a green background. The railway wheel represents the railroads that raised the house to prominence, the wings represents the speed of the railway. The gold colour represents wealth, whereas the green background represents the fields and forests that the railway crosses.

Former Barons (after 800)
Baron 852 - 869
 * Jovi Fernos (796 - 869)

Spouse: (WIP)

Issue: Hertol

Jovi was born in a village in Ampour to a middle class artisan family. Receiving his education in Thaum proper, Jovi would become an accomplished engineer and would travel the Empire for a few years. Here he learned of the new-fangled technology known as the railroad, a concept he believed could revolutionize transport. Returning to Thaum in 843, he managed to convince investors (including the baron Ossi of Lodriboerg and the count of Ampour) to finance the project, and the railway would soon stretch across the territory of the free city. Intrigued by this development, he would be commissioned by nearby imperial states to direct the expansion of their own railway networks.

In the late 840's, he was commissioned directly by the duke of Thaum to expand the network into the heart of the city, leading to some buildings being demolished to accommodate the railway. This angered some of the city barons, who received monetary compensation from the duchy's coffers. For his completion of the task, and the general service to the state, Jovi would receive the highest honour and title of Baron in 852, elevating Fernos to a noble house.

Jovi died in 869 due to complications from a lung disease. It is believed that his exposure to steam engines and metal work were the underlying causes.

Current Baron
Baron 869 - current (Evelinn Lisor Fernos as Baron-regent since 897)
 * Hertol Jovior Fernos (828 - )

Spouse: (WIP)

Issue: Lis, 1 other daughter.

Becoming Baron in 869, Hertol would continue to expand and maintain his fathers work, and would allow the construction of many residential buildings in its vicinity, giving House Fernos some direct tax income from its subjects "like a real noble house" (words by the Baron of Eurom). In 885 it was discovered that Hartol suffered from an unknown disease which made him increasingly weak and tired. As the years went by, he delegated some of his power to his eldest daughter and heir, Lis. When she died of cancer in 897, he named her daughter and his granddaughter Evelinn a true co-regent, as she had become his new heir.

Heir
Heir since 897
 * Evelinn Lisor Fernos (875 - )

Spouse: (WIP)

Issue: 1 son.

Evelinn is the only child of Lis Fernos, eldest daughter of Hertol. When Lis died of cancer in 897, Evelinn would become the new heir of the House, and would also take over a lot of the co-regent roles of her mother, a role which was made an official title the same year. While dutiful in her work, she has little interest to act like "proper nobility", much like her grandfather and great-grandfather.

Evelinn is a close friend of Duchess Cestine, having found a common bond as two female nobles with little interest in the lives of the noble elite.

Lands
Most of Fernos' lands is the city district of Jovi, named as such on Jovi Fernos' passing by the then duke. It is small in relation to the other districts and not very populous, but it contains vital railway infrastructure, including the central station and cargo yards.