A Small Inquiry into the Foundation of the Duchy of Talabheim

By Dr. Albrecht von Kauhafen with Antonius Scholasticus and Alfred von Nuln
In the 2429th year of Sigmar's Empire, Emperor Dieter IV von Krieglitz of the House of
Unfhiger had proven himself incapable of solving the Westerland problem. The Church of
Sigmar, lead by the Knights of the Holy Unity and backed by many nobles, were utterly
disappointed with Dieter. The House of Unfhiger had been loyal members of the Sigmarite
Church for generations; a fact that proved crucial when Leopold von Krieglitz was elected as the
successor of Magnus the Pious in favour of Magnus' younger brother, Grand Duke Gunthar von
Bildhofen, who had converted to the Cult of Ulric. Now, however, the Unfhiger emperor could
not maintain the unity of Sigmar's Empire; a crucial point in the Sigmarite doctrines.
Dieter IVs costly but futile military campaigns in the Border Princes had already caused some
concern and unrest with the First Families, who were subject to ever higher taxes to cover the
expenses. Eventually, when Dieter IV failed to maintain the unquestionable unity of Sigmar's
Empire and thus fell out with the Church of Sigmar, it joined forces with the First Families in
order to remove him from the Imperial throne. With threats of excommunication and civil war
Dieter IV was forced to effectively give up the throne and flee Nuln. An emergency council was
held at the Grand Cathedral of Sigmar in Altdorf, where Prince Wilhelm III of Altdorf, the Grand
Prince of Reikland, was proclaimed Emperor Wilhelm II of Sigmar's Empire.
Meanwhile Dieter had fled to Talabheim. From here, he refused to acknowledge his abdication
and embraced the Cult of Ulric. He engaged in frantic efforts to win the support of the Ulrican
provinces (of which some had not been represented at the council in Altdorf). However, the
efforts were more or less futile; the only result seems to be a number of soldiers loyal to Dieter
causing an uprising in Altdorf. They tried to storm the Palace there in what is known as the War
of Succession, but were quite easily defeated. Shortly after, the nobles of Nuln and Stirland
dethroned Dieter as Grand Count of Stirland, and Emperor Wilhelm II appointed the head of the
Haupt-Anderssen dynasty in his place. The Haupt-Anderssens had been allies of the von
Bildhofens since before Magnus' rallying of the Empire and had been at the front of the Imperial
Army when it repelled the forces of Chaos in Kislev.

As the Ulrican provinces refused to render military support Dieters claims, tensions built up
between him and his Talabheim host, Grand Duke Frederik Untermensch of Talabecland. Dieter
lost patience and issued an Imperial Edict that discharged Frederik as ruler of Talabecland,
claiming the province for himself. Of course, he had little to support his claims, and surely, it
would have had little effect, if not surprising events in Middenheim had taken place: Here, secret
meetings took place between Grafin Solveig, Baron von Scholten (representing Dieter) and ArUlric. In Nachgeheim, 2429 IC, Ar-Ulric sent out what is now known as the Talabec Bull,
stating:

It is the will of Ulric that his most pious and noble servant, Dieter von Krieglitz of
the House of Unfhiger, is given the Grand Duchy of Talabecland to rule,
answering only to the Emperor of Sigmar's Empire and Ulric himself.
Sigmarite and Verenan scholars, including Leopold of Steinbach, have argued that Grafin
Solveig was the mastermind behind the bull; the Middenheim Grafs had supposedly never
forgiven the Untermenschen of Talabecland their treacherous schemes in the year 1359 IC, when
Grand Duchess Ottilia Untermensh convinced Ar-Ulric to move to Talabheim. Now, Grafin
Solveig was supported by the Cult and the still powerful head of the Unfhiger in removing the
Untermenschen of Talabecland. Arguably, the Cult of Ulric agreed since it stood to gain a new
powerful member in its struggle with the Church of Sigmar. Facing the combined strength of the
Middenheim army, the Order of the White Wolf and the remaining troops of Dieter von Krieglitz
the fate of Grand Duke Frederik seemed settled. However, one problem remained unsolved: The
new Emperor and especially the new Grand Count of Stirland would probably not be pleased by
the prospect of Dieter von Krieglitz as leader of Talabecland; it gave him a mighty power base to
plan vendettas against the men who had dethroned him.
These problems were solved a week after the publication of the Talabec Bull. Grand Duke
Frederik of Talabecland allied himself with the merchants of Talabheim. They had craved an
independent Talabheim for centuries (one important factor being the potential reduction of
taxes). The Grand Duke and representatives of the merchants and guilds sent out their
Proclamation of the Freistadt of Talabheim exactly one week after the Talabec Bull, stating:
We, rightful guild members representing the Citizens of Talabheim,
chartered town of The Empire of Sigmar, wish that our beloved Grand
Duke Frederik Untermensch rule us in these times of worry and turmoil
Therefore, I, Frederik Untermensch, to this day rightful Grand Duke of
Talabecland, have decided to abdicate from the Grand Duchy in order to to
put all my undivided efforts and skills into maintaining the wealth and
prosperity of the city of Talabheim
nd
th
Hence, as of this day, the 22 of Nachgeheim in the 2429 year of
Sigmar's Empire, the city of Talabheim is no longer to be counted as part
of the Grand Duchy of Talabecland; rather, it is an independent province
under the rightful Emperor, Wilhelm II of Reikland
Emperor Wilhelm II and (just as importantly) the Church of Sigmar swiftly seized the
opportunity to divide one of their traditional opponents, Talabecland, in two. The Emperor
called for a meeting in the Volkshalle in Altdorf. The Cult of Ulric suffered from internal strife
between the Middenheim leaders and the Talabheim faction who supported Frederik
Untermensch. Wisely, Ar-Ulric let the Grand Duke and the many devout followers in Talabheim
have their way in order to avoid further losses by the Ulricans to the Cult of Sigmar. The
meeting was at an end, and Wilhelm II could send out the necessary decrees. These included a

charter for an independent city state of Talabheim and the transference of the Barony of
Hochland to the newly founded Duchy of Talabheim; no great surprise as the Hochlanders had
been an Untermensch stronghold for ages.
And so, as of Mittherbst 2429 IC, the dethroned Emperor Dieter IV had become Grand Duke
Dieter I of Talabecland which remains in the hands of his dynasty to this very day. Dieters
second son would later marry the daughter of the Duke of Talabheim. She was the only child
and thus sole heir to the Duchy of Talabheim. Thus was the Krieglitz-Untermensch dynasty of
Talabheim founded, and peace settled in the divided Talabecland; much to the discomfort of the
Stirland Grand Count.