The Theirins are the royal family of Ferelden. The Theirin bloodline stems from King Calenhad, meaning his descendants have almost always sat upon the throne of Ferelden, the exception being during the occupation by Orlais which began during the Blessed Age.
History[]
The first notable Theirin was undoubtedly Calenhad. He became teyrn of Denerim (when Denerim was still a teyrnir) in 5:33 Exalted. By some feat of skill or luck, he convinced the Circle of Magi to craft him an enchanted suit of silver-white armour (Calenhad to this day is referred to as "The Silver Knight"), which seemed to deflect both arrow and blade. He then became the first person to successfully lay siege to Redcliffe and conquer it. Following this feat, he presented himself to the Landsmeet flanked by Ash Warriors and Circle mages and declared himself king. Every lord and lady present bowed before him. He blazed through Ferelden, uniting the entire land behind him as king.
Following Calenhad's conquest, the Theirins ruled Ferelden for over three hundred years, until in 8:44 Blessed, the Orlesian Empire conquered Ferelden and deposed the ruling Theirin king, Brandel: son of King Vanedrin Theirin. An Orlesian puppet king was installed on the Fereldan throne, answering to the emperor in Val Royeaux. In the latter years of the occupation, that king was Meghren, first cousin and alleged spurned lover of Emperor Florian.
Involvement[]
Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne[]
The deposed King Brandel Theirin unsuccessfully continued fighting the Orlesians, until his death. During the Orlesian occupation, Moira Theirin, daughter of the overthrown King Brandel (commonly known as Brandel the Defeated) inspired and led the rebellion, along with several rebel lords. She was betrayed by a group of banns who had pretended to support the rebellion, and was murdered in 8:96 Blessed (a crime that was avenged three years later). Her head was mounted above the doors of the Royal Palace. Despite never being crowned, Moira was well-loved and well-respected among Fereldans, remembered fondly as "The Rebel Queen".
Moira's son, Maric Theirin, took up his mother's rebellion despite heavy losses suffered by the rebels. He waged war alongside a skilled farmer named Loghain Mac Tir who saved his life, and Rowan, the daughter of Arl Rendorn Guerrin and the woman to whom he was betrothed. Maric led the army to a victory at Gwaren, and again managed to defend the town from Orlesian forces despite the significantly reduced numbers of the rebel army. The turning point however, came when the rebels were rallied at the River Dane, and a major victory against Orlais was won at that battle.
The rebellion successfully pushed back the occupiers for three more years, before laying siege to Denerim, where the usurper King Meghren was personally slain by Maric atop Fort Drakon in 9:2 Dragon. Maric was dubbed "Maric the Savior", and was later crowned.
King Maric married his betrothed, Rowan, with whom he had one child, Cailan. Cailan ascended the throne after his father was lost at sea in 9:25 Dragon, and married Anora Mac Tir, daughter of Loghain (made Teyrn of Gwaren for his part in the rebellion) who had helped to raise Cailan.
Dragon Age: The Calling[]
Dragon Age: Origins[]
Though the land was peaceful, rumours surrounded the reign of King Cailan. Many speculated that it was Queen Anora who truly ruled, while others speculated that she was barren due to their marriage being childless after five years. Five years into Cailan's reign, in 9:30 Dragon, the Fifth Blight broke out in southern Ferelden. King Cailan rallied his armies and led them to the old Tevinter fortress of Ostagar, where he led the battle against the darkspawn. Cailan won several battles, and massed his armies for one final assault against the darkspawn which he hoped would end the Blight. The surprise infiltration of darkspawn into the beacon tower stopped the beacon from being lit in time to signal a successful attack, and Teyrn Loghain quit the field at the crucial battle, leading to the armies' defeat.
With the death of the childless Cailan, the Theirin line had seemingly become extinct. The throne passed to Queen Anora, who declared her father, Loghain, regent. Many speculated that Loghain would soon be declared king in his own right, though Ferelden was plunged into a civil war between Loghain and his enemies, while the Blight continued to rage across the country.
It emerged that King Maric had in fact sired a bastard, Alistair, who was put forward by Arl Eamon Guerrin, Cailan's uncle, as a viable Theirin candidate for the throne. A Landsmeet was called to decide on this, though Queen Anora put herself forward as a rival candidate.
It is possible for Alistair to father a child with Morrigan.
Alistair can die slaying the Archdemon, Urthemiel.
If Alistair is made king, rules alone, and was in a romance with a Warden other than a human noble prior to the Landsmeet, he will end their relationship citing the inability of two Grey Wardens to produce an heir. He also clearly states that, as king, he will need to marry and have a child, leaving open the possibility of Alistair continuing the Theirin bloodline as king.
Dragon Age: The Silent Grove[]
Dragon Age: Until We Sleep[]
Dragon Age: Inquisition[]
King Alistair Theirin was crowned the ruler of Ferelden after the end of the Fifth Blight; his people consider him a hero for fighting against the darkspawn as a Grey Warden. Few Wardens have ever left the secretive order, and he is the only of those who went on to rule a nation; Queen Anora, daughter of the legendary Teyrn Loghain, rules at his side. Although Ferelden has prospered under their reign, it was greatly weakened by the Blight. Tensions with neighboring Orlais have been high, and many believe a renewal of their long-standing conflict is inevitable.
King Alistair Theirin was crowned the ruler of Ferelden after the end of the Fifth Blight, and is considered a hero among his people for having fought against the darkspawn as a Grey Warden. He is one of the few known to have ever left the secretive order, never mind one who went on to rule a nation afterward. Some in Ferelden claim that the Theirin line ended with the death of King Cailan and that the existence of an unknown bastard was a lie imposed upon the people to overthrow Queen Anora. As such, Alistair's rule has been plagued with trouble... both within his own lands as well as with neighboring Orlais. The Blight greatly weakened Ferelden, and many believe that a renewal of the long-standing rivalry between the two nations is inevitable.
Rumored to be King Maric of Ferelden's bastard son, there was a moment during the recent fifth blight where Alistair could have ascended to the throne. Instead, the throne was given to Queen Anora, daughter of the traitorous Teyrn Loghain-the very man responsible for the death of almost every Grey Warden in Ferelden at the infamous Battle of Ostagar. Disgusted, Alistair abandoned the Grey Wardens, and for years lived in disgraced exile in the Free Marches. Several years ago, Alistair was retrieved from his exile, sobered up, and eventually re-admitted to the order...though he chose to do so in Orlais rather than his homeland.
A hero of the recent Fifth Blight, the Grey Warden Alistair is credited alongside the Hero of Ferelden with slaying the Archdemon and sparing Thedas the ravages of the darkspawn. Rumor has it that he is an heir to the Fereldan throne, but that he turned it down in deference to Queen Anora, daughter to the traitorous Teyrn Loghain.
After the Champion of Kirkwall's sacrifice in the Fade, giving him and the Inquisitor a chance to escape, Alistair left to report to the Grey Warden leadership at the fortress of Weisshaupt in the Anderfels.
Known members[]
- King Calenhad Theirin – better known as Calenhad the Great; first King of Ferelden; married to Queen Mairyn
- Weylan I – the son of Calenhad Theirin[5]
- Fionne Theirin – ascended to the throne in 6:18 Steel;[6] she was the lover of Caliban, a famous dragon hunter[7]
- King Arland Theirin
- King Vanedrin Theirin
- King Brandel Theirin
- Moira Theirin
- Maric Theirin – married to Rowan Guerrin; father of Cailan and Alistair
- King Cailan Theirin – married to Anora
- Alistair Theirin – a Grey Warden; Cailan Theirin's half brother; companion of the Warden; slayer of the Urthemiel (conditional); King of Ferelden (conditional); married to Anora (conditional); married to the Hero of Ferelden (conditional)
- The Human Noble – if the Warden is Lady Cousland and the Hero of Ferelden, she may become the wife and Queen Consort to King Alistair Theirin (conditional)
- Kieran – son of Alistair Theirin (conditional)
Family tree[]
Calenhad Theirin | Queen Mairyn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weylan Theirin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fionne Theirin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
? | ? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arland Theirin | Sophia Dryden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanedrin Theirin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brandel Theirin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moira Theirin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rowan Guerrin | Maric Theirin | Fiona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anora Mac Tir | Cailan Theirin | Alistair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codex entries[]
- Codex entry: Alistair
- Codex entry: Alistair
- Codex entry: Alistair
- Codex entry: Anora
- Codex entry: King Cailan Theirin
- Codex entry: Cailan's Documents - Page 1 of 3
- Codex entry: Cailan's Documents - Page 2 of 3
- Codex entry: Cailan's Documents - Page 3 of 3
- Codex entry: Grand Enchanter Fiona
- Codex entry: Hero of Ferelden
- Codex entry: Katriel's Grasp
- Codex entry: The Legend of Calenhad: Chapter 3
- Codex entry: Queen Anora Mac Tir
- Codex entry: Sophia Dryden
- Codex entry: Sophia Dryden's Journal
Trivia[]
- Some people believe that when the last Fereldan king dies, the Dragon's Peak, a mountain located near Denerim, is going to erupt, filling the sky with ash and fire.[8]
See also[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ http://www.princessstabbity.com/raptr-q-a-with-the-bioware-devs-july-8-2014 RAPTR Q&A with BioWare devs
- ↑ Mike Laidlaw. https://twitter.com/Mike_Laidlaw/status/486585267336142848 . Twitter.
- ↑ Codex entry: Alistair (Inquisition)
- ↑ Codex entry: Queen Anora Mac Tir
- ↑ Codex entry: The Legend of Calenhad: Chapter 3
- ↑ Codex entry: The Bannorn
- ↑ Per description of Caliban unique sword.
- ↑ Codex entry: Denerim