High Kings
of Karaz Ankor and Karaz-a-Karak - Past and Present
The Golden
age (-3000 to -2000)
1. Snorri
Whitebeard
reigned
–4420 to -2800
Undoubtedly
the first High Dwarf King after the departure of the Ancestor Gods. His reign
sees the Golden age of the Dwarf Empire, and the establishment friendly
relations and trade agreements with the Elves of Ulthuan. It was also under Snorri’s rule that the
Dwarfs built the seawall (now called Vloedmuur) around the Elf colony of Sith
Rionnasc’namishathir (Marienburg).
Sources:
WFB4 Armies Dwarfs p18, D:S&S p106
2. Thorik
Snorrisson
reigned
–2800 to -2572
3. Gorim
Ironhammer
reigned
–2572 to –2400
4. Vikram
Gorimsson
reigned
–2400 to -2286
5. Kallon
Vikramsson
reigned
-2286 to -2146
Lived during
the Golden age of the Dwarf Empire.
Sources:
WFB6 Dwarfs p20 and WD 139.
6. Gurni
Hammerfist
reigned
–2146 to -2050
The Age of
the War (-2000 to 0)
7. Gotrek
Starbreaker
Reigned
–2050 to –1502
The High
King during the War of Vengeance. His attempts to avert the war were rejected
by Phoenix King Caledor the Second’s pride. Gotrek’s longevity is due to the
desire to avenge the affront inflicted by the Elves. Gotrek killed Caledor the
Second and took the Phoenix Crown to Karaz-a-Karak. High King Gotrek died as the last Elf colony burned to the
ground, at the ripe old age of 655 years
Sources :
WFB4 Dwarfs p18 and D:S&S p 5-7, 13, 106.
Snorri
Halfhand
Son of
Gotrek Starbreaker, who would have succeed his father to the throne, but was
killed in single combat by Caledor the Second in –1974 I.C. His cousin Morgrim
became heir.
8. Morgrim
"Elgidum" Ironbeard
reigned
–1502 to -1460
Nephew of
Gotrek Starbreaker, Morgrim became High King after Gotrek Starbreaker died. He
distinguished himself during the War of Vengeance by killing Imladrik, brother
of Caledor the Second, in the battle of Oeragor, in –1968. Morgrim also entered Tor Alessi at the side
of Gotrek in -1502. He ascended to the throne at a very old age, which explains
the short duration of his reign. It was his misfortunate as High King that the
first of the Dwarfholds and mines fell to the Greenskins. The massive gates of Karaz-a-Karak were
erected during his watch.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p18, WFB6 Dwarfs p56.
9. Morgrim
Blackbeard
reigned
–1460 to -1220
He tried to
rectify the situation after the catastrophes of the preceding reign, but
without success. His attempts to retake Mount Gunbad and Silverspear in -1245
were celebrated, in spite of their failure. It was in the early years of his
reign, that the veteran regiment of Hammerers was created. In –1362, Morgrim denounced the Dwarfs who
settle in the Black Mountains and the Vaults and created a fissure in the
relations with these Dwarfholds.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p19, WFB6 Dwarfs p12, D:S&S, p 106.
10. Dwinbar
Morgrimson
reigned
–1220 to –1140
Kadrin
Redmane attempts to retake Karak Varn in –1185
Sources:
D:S&S p108
11. Zamnil
Irongrip
reigned
–1140 to –1052
Kadrin
Redmane slain by Orcs and Dwarfs forced out of Karak Varn in –1136
Sources:
D:S&S p108
12. Yorri
Stormcrow
reigned
–1052 to -975
13. Maldrek
Stoneanvil
reigned –975
to -843
14. Olin
Maldreksson
reigned –843
to -645
15. Enik
Olinsson
reigned –645
to –512
16. Kazgar
Eniksson
reigned –512
to -441
Offered the
Dwarfs of the Black and Grey Mountains and the Vaults forgiveness if they
return home.
Sources:
D:S&S p108
17. Logan
Proudbeard
reigned –441
to -376
Under his
reign, Greenskins renew their attacks against the Dwarf capital. Alchemists in
Karaz-a-Karak discover gunpowder in -420.
Logan is captured into -380 and released the following year. Cannons used at Karaz-a-Karak drive back the
Orcs.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p20., D:S&S p108
18. Gundrun
Blueaxe
reigned –376
to –252
19. Hagred
Gundrunson
reigned –252
to –168
Under his
reign, Dwarfs intensify trade with the Humans.
Sources:
D:S&S p108
20. Norgrim
Sharpedge
reigned –168
to -102
The Age of
the Heroes (0 to 1500)
21. Kurgan
Ironbeard
Reigned –102
to 215
Captured
fact by the Orcs, and then delivered by Sigmar. In gratitude, Kurgan bestows Ghal Maraz to Sigmar in gratitude
for his rescue. Thus began the long friendship and alliance between the
Dwarfs. Together, the Men and the
Dwarfs drove out the Orcs of the Empire and destroyed their armies at the Batle
of Black Fire Pass. A period of
relative peace ensued for the Dwarfholds of Karaz Ankor and a return of
prosperity. Kurgan Ironbeard was a still High King at the time of the
disappearance of Sigmar.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p20 and full others.
22. Grom
Kurgansson
reigned 215
to 290
23. Rorek
Scarface
reigned 290
to 402
24. Skag
Ironhelm
reigned 402
to 498
25. Duregar
Giftgiver
reigned 498
to 604
Sent envoys
with a gift of a runic hammer to Emperor Sigismund the Conqueror.
Sources:
D:S&S, page 59-60
26. Finn
Sourscowl
Reigned 604
to 755
Under his
reign, Dorin Heldour and Katalin Kandoom found a series of old artifacts lost
at the time of the bag of fortresses.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p21, D:S&S p108
27. Elmador
Finnson
Reigned 755
to 920
Son of Finn
Sourscowl, he was captured by the Orcs with his brother Oldor. Dorin Heldour and Katalin Kandoom freed him
from the keeps of Black Crag in 742.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p21.
28. Mordin
Axehelm
reigned 920
to 995
29. Snorri
Mordinson
reigned 995
to 1112
Dwarf
engineers invent steam engines in 1022 I.C.
High King died of the plague
Sources:
WFB6 Dwarfs p68, D:S&S p108
30. Gorim
Snorrison
reigned
1112-1252
31. Thungni
Oath-Holder
reigned
1252-1368
Remembering
their oath to Sigmar, the High King reiterated the Dwarf neutrality with respect
to the Imperial civil war.
Sources:
D:S&S p109
32. Haakon
Orcbane
reigned
1368-1440
33. Grundhar
Bronze Bandages
reigned 1440
to 1532
Under his
reign, Karaz-a-Karak was besieged once again.
The siege was relieved by the timely intervention of Bretonnian Errant
Knights. Grundhar gave a large Gromril Helm to their leader in gratitude
(around 1452).
Sources:
WFB6 Bretonnia p61.
1500 to
Recent
34. Hargrem
Greybeard
reigned 1532
to 1630
35. Gottri
Strongwill
reigned 1630
to 1707
Night of the
Restless Dead (1681) finds the Dwarfs putting their new flame cannons to good
use. New Orc invasion (1707) carries
into Empire through Black Fire Pass.
Sources:
D:S&S p109
36. Kendrak
Gottrison
reigned 1707
to 1810
37. Ulther
Kendrakson
reigned 1810
to 1870
38. Bardin
Ultherson
reigned 1870
to 1972
39. Grindol
Mardinson
reigned 1972
to 2010
Wizard’s War
breaks out throughout the Empire and beyond (1979) and the Wars against the
Vampire Counts begin (2010).
Sources:
D:S&S p109
40. Alrik
Deathdealer
reigned 2010
to 2205
He helped
the Empire in its fight against the Vampire Counts of Sylvania. Alrik died at
the time of the Battle of the Black Falls, having fallen in the Falls along
with his foe the Goblin Warlord Gorkil Eye Gouger.
Sources:
WFB4 Dwarfs p21, D:S&S p109.
41. Balun Alriksson
reigned 2205
to 2303
He died a
little after the incursion of the Chaos of 2302 begun. It is his son Thorgrim
Grudgebearer who ascended the throne of Karaz-a-Karak and brought assistance to
Kislev.
Sources:
WFB6 Hordes of Chaos p13 and mentioned without name in D:S&S p94.
42. Thorgrim
Grudgebearer
reigns 2303
to present
Son of the
previous king, Thorgrim led the defense of Karaz-a-Karak and destroyed the
besieging forces of the Chaos. He then
sent reinforcements to Kislev. Upon his ascension, Thorgrim swore to settle all
outrages against Dwarfs listed in the Book of Grudge.
Sources:
D:S&S p94
Note:
D:S&S refers to the WFRP sourcebook “Dwarfs: Stone and Steel”