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Jonathan IV of Conté

Revision as of 22:26, 19 December 2009 by Mhairimcevoy (Message Wall | contribs)
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Jonathan "Jon" of Conté is King of Tortall from 439 HE[1] onwards. He is the only child of Roald I of Conté and Lianne of Naxen. When training for knighthood he becomes friends with Alanna of Trebond, who will later also be his lover for some time and eventually his King's Champion. Jonathan succeeds Ali Mukhtab as Voice of the Tribes. He is married to Thayet jian Wilima and they have six children. His reign is not only affect by a range of wars and conflicts, but also by open-mindedness towards new things and reforms, although he constantly has to walk a tightrope not to offend the conservative powers in his realm.

Biography

Jonathan is born in 416 HE[1] as the only child of King Roald and Queen Lianne, thus being their heir.

Training for knighthood

As is customary for the heir to the Tortallan throne Jon enters page training to become a knight of the realm. Some of his closest friends in that time are Raoul of Goldenlake, Gary of Naxen and Alexander of Tirragen. In 430 HE Alanna of Trebond arrives at the palace, disguised as the boy "Alan", to enter page training. She befriends the group around Jon and soon they are seen studying together. The following year the Sweating Sickness, magically sent by Roger of Conté, reaches Tortall. Jon, too, falls fatally ill. He is saved by Alanna, who uses her magical Gift to keep him from dying. Later that year the prince meets the King of the Thieves, George Cooper. They become friends and Jon buys his new horse, Darkness, from him.

It is never mentioned who became Jonathan's knight-master, but it was most probably his father, Roald of Conté, as it is custom for the prince to be the squire of the king[2]. In 433 HE the squires, by now Jon is a squire, are to accompany Lord Martin to Persopolis. Jon convinces his uncle, Sir Gareth, that Alanna may accompany them, too, as she spends a lot of time with the squires, although she is only a page. In Persopolis they meet Ali Mukhtab, who tells them of the Black City to which the young ones of the Bazhir are drawn. No one going there has ever returned. The squires have been warned before by Roger not to go to the Black City as it is a dangerous place. Jon goes there, all the same, to rid the country of this evil. Alanna accompanies him. There, they encounter the Ysandir and Jonathan learns that "Alan" is in truth Alanna, a girl. After having destroyed the Ysandir, Jon promises Alanna that he will take her on as a squire once he has his shield. He receives his shield on Midwinter in 433 HE[1] after his seventeenth birthday, as is customary for the prince.

Knighthood

Once knighted, Jonathan takes Alanna of Trebond as his squire, as promised. During his tenure as her knight-master, Jonathan and Alanna have a romantic relationship that becomes sexual on Alanna's seventeenth birthday. Prior to their involvement, Jonathan has a relationship with young noblewoman Delia of Eldorne, who is rumored to have been the mistress of his cousin, Duke Roger.

Jonathan has to face his first war shortly after he gains his shield as the Tusaine War breaks out in 435 HE[1]. He openly defies his father's orders, which were that none of his men were to cross the Drell River, in an attempt to rescue Alanna, who had been taken prisoner. He succeeds in saving Alanna without anyone realising that "Alan" is in truth a girl. He can also take a prisoner of his own: the brother of the King of Tusaine. The war ends shortly after that because this was one of the requirements for the release of the brother of the King of Tusaine.

Voice of the Tribes

Alanna: "Jon? Why d'you want to be the Voice? You're already restless."
Jon: "I need to be the Voice. If I can do this thing, become the leader of the Bazhir, there should be few secrets of the human soul I won't understand. [...] If I know them, how they think, I'll know how most people think. With that knowledge I can become the greatest--the best--ruler who ever lived."
Alanna: "It's so important to you?"
Jon: "It's what I was born to do. It's what I will do. In spite of being restless. In spite of everything."
— Alanna and Jon the night before he became the Voice[src]

In 438 HE[1] Jon arrives at the Bazhir-tribe of the Bloody Hawk, where he becomes a Man of the Tribe, proving his worth in combat. Ali Mukhtab, who is fatally ill, mentores Jon to become the new Voice of the Tribes, which he eventually does in a ceremony which gives Jon all the wisdom of the previous Voices. Mukhtab dies in this ceremony, but he lives on in Jonathan. Jon is the first northerner to become the Voice and this step ensures a lasting peace with the different Bazhir-tribes as Jon continues to perform his duties throughout his reign.

When he stays at the tribe of the Bloody Hawk Jon also proposes to Alanna. However she rejects his proposal and they fight and part in anger. During their separation Jonathan carries on a brief courtship with Josiane Rittevon, princess of the Copper Isles, at his mother's behest, and to spite Alanna.

Kingship

Following the deaths of his parents in 439 HE[1], Jonathan passes the Ordeal of Kings and ascends to the throne. His coronation is marked by a battle against the resurrected Duke Roger and his attempt to destroy Tortall. Jonathan uses the Dominion Jewel, brought to him by Alanna, to counteract Roger's spells, which results in a famine the following year. He subsequently marries the exiled Saren princess Thayet jian Wilima and they have six children, Roald, Kalasin, Liam, Lianne, Jasson and Vania[3].

In 442 HE[1] Jonathan and his queen pass a law allowing noble girls to train for knighthood. However Jon even talks his oldest daughter out of it, when she wants to become a page. Thus the first girl after Alanna to actually beginn page training is Keladry of Mindelan, who is put under a probation, which she finds terribly unfair. The King had argued with the training master, Wyldon of Cavall, before, not wanting the probation but Lord Wyldon got his way. When she discovers this, Kel becomes angry with King Jonathan over what she perceives as unfairness and hypocrisy, and her attitude towards him remains negative throughout most of the quartet, despite her sharing his politically progressive ideals.

Physical description

Jonathan has short blue black hair and sapphire blue eyes.[4] He later also grows a beard.[5] Jon is described by several people, among them Alanna of Pirates' Swoop (or Alanna the Lioness),Keladry of Mindelan and Veralidaine Sarrasri, as very handsome. He is also very tall.

Personality and traits

Jon is normally very responsible and takes his duties serious, caring very much for his people and always trying to do what is right for them. Jonathan also has a very strong will. He goes knowingly into danger when riding into the Black City - although it can be argued if he really goes there on his free will, as he claims, or if it was actually Roger's magic compelling him to do it - to save the Bazhir from further suffering. Jon also keeps a cool head and order when Duke Gareth is hurt after his horse bolts when the army for the Tusaine War is assembled. He then even keeps Gary from forgetting his duty over worry for his father. Jon also undergoes the tutoring by Ali Mukhtab and the ritual for becoming the Voice of the Tribes because this is the best step to take for his people. Later he even pushes his grief for his dead parents enough aside to be able to reign.

But Jon has also less dutiful sides, which were most pronounced in his early knighthood, when visiting the Bazhir tribe of the Bloody Hawk before he became the Voice of the Tribes and later King. On one occasion he refuses to see Ali Mukhtab for his lessons, because he doesn't want the obligation. Alanna accuses him of being spoiled, which probably fits for this situation.

Relationships

Family tree

Thom of Pirate's Swoop's Versions

From 795 AE to 367 HE

Collapsible family tree showing the family line prior to 367 HE.

Conté family per Thom of Pirate's Swoop's timeline[6][7]from 795 AE[8] to 367 HE.
Unnamed ancestors[9]
Newlin I of Conté[10]Unnamed woman
Conté manUnnamed woman
Unnamed womanNewlin II of Conté
Roald I of Conté[11]Annable of ?
Unnamed womanEnnalt of ? AKA Newlin III of Conté[12]
Roald II of Conté[13]Unnamed woman
Doras of Great MinchGareth I of ContéWoman x2[14]
Unnamed womanConté manContés[15].Contés[15]
Conté manUnnamed woman
Conté man x2[16]Baird II of Conté[17][18][19]Unnamed woman
Unnamed womanRoger I of Conté
Unnamed womanJonathan II of Conté[20]
Baird III of Conté[21]Unnamed woman
Roger II of Conté[22]Unnamed woman
See QueenscoveJasson I of Conté[23]
See BarzunHenrim of Queenscove AKA Gareth II of Conté[24]Unnamed woman
Jessamine of BarzunRoger III of Conté[22][25]Unnamed womanBaird of Conté[26]See Trebond
Gareth III of Conté[27]Unnamed womanContés[28]Contés[26]
Conté woman[26]Lionel of Trebond[29]
Wylles of Conté[30]Unnamed womanSee Trebond
Jasson II of Conté[31]Unnamed woman
Roald III of ContéUnnamed womanSee Legann
Roger IV of ContéConté woman[32]Legann man
Unnamed womanRoald of Legann AKA Roald IV of Conté[32]See Dunlath[33]
Baird IV of ContéUnnamed womanSee JesslawConté womanDunlath man[33]
After 367 HE

Collapsible family tree showing the family line starting in 367 HE.

Conté family per Thom of Pirate's Swoop's timeline[6][34] after 367 HE.
See NaxenJasson III of Conté[31][35]Daneline of Jesslaw[35]See Dunlath[33]
Lianne of NaxenRoald V of Conté[36]See WilimaConté manUnnamed woman
See YamanJonathan IV of Conté[37]Thayet jian WilimaRoger of ContéSee Iliniat
ShinkokamiRoald VI of Conté[38]Kalasin of ContéKaddar Iliniat
Liam of ContéJasson of Conté
Lianne of ContéVania of Conté
Lianokami of Conté[39]See Iliniat

Alternate Version

Collapsible family tree not based on Thom's tree, but based on other book sources.

Conté family per other sources[40]
Contés
Jonathan I of Conté[41]Unnamed woman
? generations of Contés
Unnamed womanBaird III of Conté[21]
See Barzun[42]? generations of Contés
Jessamine of Barzun[42]Roger II of Conté[22][25]Baird of Conté[26]Unnamed womanSee Trebond
Gareth of Conté[42][27]Unnamed womanContés[28]Contés[26]
Conté woman[26]Lionel of Trebond[29]
? generations of ContésSee TrebondSee Dunlath[33]
Conté manUnnamed womanSee NaxenConté womanDunlath man[33]
See NaxenJasson II of Conté[31][35]Unnamed Naxen woman[35]See Dunlath[33]
Lianne of Naxen[43]King Roald[36][43]See Wilima[44]Conté manUnnamed woman
See YamanJonathan IV of Conté[43]Thayet jian Wilima[45]Roger of Conté[46]See Iliniat
Shinkokami[47]Crown Prince Roald[38][48]Kalasin of Conté[48]Kaddar Iliniat[49]
Liam of Conté[50]Jasson of Conté[50]
Lianne of Conté[50]Vania of Conté[51]
Lianokami of Conté[39]See Iliniat

Roald and Lianne of Conté

Jon has quite a close relationship to his parents. Not only do they visit Jon as their only heir when he falls ill with the Sweating Sickness, but Jon himself also visits his mother Lianne when she falls ill. He is even relieved from his duties as a squire to be with her. Jonathan is grieving when his parents die.

All the same Jon doesn't always approve of his father's decisions. His disapproval is most obvious in the Tusaine War, when Roald gives the order not to cross the Drell River. Jon thinks that Roald is too intent on not losing his reputation as "The Peace-Keeper". When Alanna is taken prisoner Jon openly defies his father's order and crosses the river to rescue his friend.

Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau

Jon and Alanna meet when she first comes to the Royal Palace for her training for knighthood, disguised as the boy "Alan". They quickly become friends and learn together. Jon is one of the first to learn the truth about Alanna's sex, although not on Alanna's decision, and he doesn't even disapprove of it but takes her on as his squire.

They become lovers the year before Alanna's ordeal for knighthood. After some time however they realise that they don't really fit together. When Jon proposes to Alanna they get into a big argument and part in anger. She has too much of a temper for the prince and doesn't like the idea of having the duties of a future queen. They don't see each other for quite a time after that as Alanna goes after the Dominion Jewel. On her return however Jon holds true to his word and tells her that his proposal still stands, even though he his already attracted to Thayet. Alanna tells him that she wouldn't make a good queen, which closes the subject once and for all.

Jon and Alanna remain friends afterwards, with Alanna even becoming the King's Champion and thus being a close adviser of the king. She also became Jon's 'sword arm'.

Thayet of Conté

Thayet accompanies Alanna when she returns from her journey to attain the Dominion Jewel. Jon first meets her in the house of Myles of Olau and seems to be instantly attracted to her. In the days preceding his coronation they often go riding together. They get engaged some time after Jon is made King of Tortall and eventually have six children. There doesn't seem to be much disagreement in their marriage, on the contrary.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Tortallan timeline
  2. ↑ Page, Cp. 6 (p. 101; Random House paperback)
  3. ↑ Vania and Jasson have rarely been mentioned, because Pierce's publisher "(doesn't) like me to bring them in". SheroesCentral, "The Royal Family."
  4. ↑ Alanna: The First Adventure, Cp. 2
  5. ↑ Wild Magic, Cp. 5 (p. 132)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tortall: A Spy's Guide (electronic edition), Cooper Family Papers, Timeline of the Realm of Tortall.
  7. ↑ Unfortunately, the timeline conflicted with Ms. Pierce's commentary prior to the publication of the Spy's Guide. See the "other sources" family tree and footnotes for Newlin I, Roger the Liberator, and Jasson II-or-III, among others. Additionally, there may have been additional members of the family not mentioned in the timeline, as it was concerned exclusively with the reigning kings. Some people have been added from other sources, specified in footnotes.
  8. ↑ 900 Asaron's Era was 1 Human Era, so this would be about 104 years pre-HE, or 471 years before this chart ends.
  9. ↑ It wasn't clear whether Newlin I was the first Conté or only the first royal Conté.
  10. ↑ Per the timeline, Newlin I opened the Book of Gold, founded Tortall, and was its first king. But prior to the publication of the Spy's Guide, Ms. Pierce said in online statements that Jonathan I was the first Conté king, that another family held the Tortallan throne before him, and that the Contés were ennobled in the Book of Silver. Archived at Words of Tamora Pierce "The Book of Silver, Reign of the Contés, and Old Ones" August 28, 2007. Archived at the Wayback Machine December 28, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2022. See also the Succession of Tortallan Monarchs.
  11. ↑ Not to be confused with Roald V, Jonathan IV's father.
  12. ↑ Newlin III was Annable's nephew by birth and was adopted by the childless royal couple.
  13. ↑ Not to be confused with Roald VI, Jonathan IV and Thayet's son.
  14. ↑ Gareth I's other two wives were Merice of Queenscove and Andrette of Tameran.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 In total, between all three wives, Gareth I sired nine children (five women and four men) who gave him eighteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
  16. ↑ It was also possible that the elder great-grandsons were sired by other Contés rather than being Baird II's older brothers (for example, if a sister or younger brother of Doras and Gareth I's firstborn son reproduced before their brother).
  17. ↑ Baird I was omitted.
  18. ↑ Baird II was Gareth I and Doras's "third great-grandson", which could in theory mean three-times-great-grandson rather than third-eldest great-grandson, but the former was temporally implausible.
  19. ↑ It was likely that Baird II's royal parent and grandparent were men, though it wasn't stated explicitly, as Ms. Pierce has stated that prior to Jonathan IV's reign the royal succession was secured to the male line. Sheroes thread as archived at Words of Tamora Pierce, "Lianokami and Succession to the Throne" August 28, 2007. Archived at the Wayback Machine November 5,2022. Accessed November 23, 2022.
  20. ↑ Jonathan I was omitted.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Baird III founded the Provost's Guard in 127 HE (two years after his death, according to the Spy's Guide timeline). Terrier (electronic edition) "The Provost's Guard".
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 The notes on the timeline made it clear that the character referred to as Roger II in the Terrier (electronic edition) "Cast of Characters" was called Roger III in the Spy's Guide. See also Roger III of Conté.
  23. ↑ Jasson I was co-regnant with Sidea of Naxen, but wasn't married to her and didn't sire children at all but adopted his cousin instead.
  24. ↑ Gareth II was a cousin of Jasson I by birth, but the degree was not specified.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Roger III of Conté was married to Alysy of Galla until her death, but the marriage produced no issue. Terrier "Cast of Characters" and Mastiff.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Per Bloodhound (electronic edition) "September 13, 247", Prince Baird's oldest daughter was married to Lionel of Trebond, which implied he had other daughters. Per Mastiff, he was childless.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Roger III of Conté and Jessamine's son Gareth's regnal number may have only appeared in the Spy's Guide.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Roger III of Conté and Jessamine had more children after Gareth III per this Random Buzz thread "Fall 2011 Chat with Tamora Pierce!" as archived at the Wayback Machine October 17, 2012. Accessed November 15, 2022.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Bloodhound "Thursday, September 14th, 247".
  30. ↑ Wylles became king, but as there was no second King Wylles, no regnal number was used.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Prior to the publication of the Spy's Guide, Ms. Pierce said in online statements that Jonathan IV's grandfather Jasson III of Conté was Jasson II, not Jasson III. Archived at Words of Tamora Pierce "The Book of Silver, Reign of the Contés, and Old Ones" August 28, 2007. Archived at the Wayback Machine December 28, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2022.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Roald IV was Roger IV's nephew by birth. It was inferred that his birth Conté parent was a woman. It was not known whether there was further issue from match.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 Per Wolf-Speaker (electronic edition), Ch. 3, Maura of Dunlath and Yolane of Dunlath were Jonathan IV's "third cousins or something like that" (This meant they shared at least one great-great-grandparent. In the Spy's Guide version, this would have to be Roald IV.) It's inferred that the half-sisters' Conté ancestor was a woman.
  34. ↑ Unfortunately, the timeline conflicted with Ms. Pierce's commentary prior to the publication of the Spy's Guide. See the "other sources" family tree and footnote for Jasson II-or-III, among others. Additionally, there may have been additional members of the family not mentioned in the timeline, as it was concerned exclusively with the reigning kings. Some people have been added from other sources, specified in footnotes.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Prior to the publication of the Spy's Guide, Ms. Pierce said in online statements that "the Old King" (which generally meant Jonathan IV's grandfather, Jasson II-or-III) married a Naxen third cousin. Random Buzz thread from 2009 "Random Tortall Questions..." as archived at the Wayback Machine March 30, 2012. Accessed November 15, 2022. (Perhaps Jesslaw had a connection to Naxen, or Jasson II-or-III was married twice.)
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 In noncanonical sources created before the reveal of Jonathan IV's father Roald the Peacemaker's canonical regnal number (and newer sources that preferred to stick with what they knew), he was often known as Roald I, but the timeline indicated he was Roald V.
  37. ↑ Jonathan III was omitted.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 In noncanonical sources created before the reveal of Jonathan IV and Thayet's son Crown Prince Roald's canonical regnal number (and newer sources that preferred to stick with what they knew), he was often known as Roald II, but the timeline indicated he was Roald VI.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Shinkokami's first pregnancy was referenced in Ch. 6 of Trickster's Queen, but Lianokami's name appeared only in the "Official Chronology of Tortallan Events" in the Spy's Guide and Ms. Pierce's online commentary. Sheroes thread as archived at Words of Tamora Pierce, "Lianokami and Succession to the Throne" August 28, 2007. Archived at the Wayback Machine November 5,2022. Accessed November 23, 2022.
  40. ↑ Specifically, canon sources (other than Thom of Pirate's Swoop's timeline in the Spy's Guide) and Tamora Pierce's extracanonical commentary. Unfortunately, both canon and comments conflict with the information given in the Spy's Guide. See footnotes for Newlin I, Roger II-or-III, and Jasson II-or-III. Additionally, there may have been members of the family not mentioned, as Ms. Pierce was not giving a complete accounting. Sources specified in footnotes.
  41. ↑ Archived at Words of Tamora Pierce "The Book of Silver, Reign of the Contés, and Old Ones" August 28, 2007. Archived at the Wayback Machine December 28, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2022.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Mastiff.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Alanna: The First Adventure (electronic edition), Ch. 4.
  44. ↑ Lioness Rampant (electronic edition), Ch. 2.
  45. ↑ Lioness Rampant (electronic edition), Epilogue.
  46. ↑ Alanna: The First Adventure (electronic edition), Ch. 5.
  47. ↑ Squire (electronic edition), Ch. 1.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Wild Magic (electronic edition), Ch. 8.
  49. ↑ Sheroes thread as archived at Words of Tamora Pierce, "Kaddar and Kally". August 26, 2007. At the Wayback Machine November 15th, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2023.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 First Test (electronic edition) Ch. 2
  51. ↑ Sheroes thread as archived at Words of Tamora Pierce: "Vania, Ilane, and Thayet". August 28, 2007. At the Wayback Machine November 15, 2022. Accessed April 27, 2023.

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