Vordarian's Pretendership
Encyclopedia
Vordarian's Pretendership is a major event in Lois McMaster Bujold
's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga
.
had just died; his son Crown Prince Serg had died earlier in the Escobar War, leaving only Ezar's grandson Gregor Vorbarra
alive. Thus four-year-old Gregor became Emperor, but was still in his minority. Ezar appointed Admiral Lord Aral Vorkosigan
to be Gregor's Imperial Regent and guardian.
. After Aral's appointment, Vordarian amassed support and forces and staged a coup in the capital of Vorbarr Sultana. Imperial Security had learned of the plot, and was preparing to arrest Vordarian, but he learned of their plans, and kicked off his coup a month ahead of his original schedule.
Vordarian invaded the Imperial Residence and managed to capture Princess Kareen, Gregor's mother. Although mortally wounded, ImpSec chief Captain Negri got Gregor out of the capital and took him to Vorkosigan Surleau, the Vorkosigan summer home where the Lord Regent was recuperating from an earlier assassination attempt that had been orchestrated by Vordarian.
Eventually, Vordarian declared himself Prime Minister and Regent for Kareen, and then later Emperor. Claiming that Vorkosigan had killed Gregor in an effort to usurp the Imperium, Vordarian worked to appeal to the people that he was a rightful Emperor.
Meanwhile, Vorkosigan kept Gregor alive in the Dendarii Mountains by having his father, General Count Piotr Vorkosigan
and his wife, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan
hide the boy emperor.
, was still in a captured uterine replicator in Vordarian's control, Cordelia
launched an unsanctioned rescue mission to retrieve her son. The rescue of her son Miles, his cousin Ivan Vorpatril
, and Alys Vorpatril succeeds. During the rescue, Princess Kareen is killed and one wing of the Imperial Residence burns to the ground. Vordarian is executed (via decapitation) by Sergeant Bothari, using Lt. Koudelka's swordstick, on Cordelia's orders. Vordarian's head is brought covertly back to Tanery Base, where it is revealed to the loyalist forces as well as several leaders of Vordarian's forces who were present for negotiations.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Lois McMaster Bujold is an American author of science fiction and fantasy works. Bujold is one of the most acclaimed writers in her field, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, matching Robert A. Heinlein's record. Her novella The Mountains of Mourning won both the Hugo...
's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga
Vorkosigan Saga
The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. Most of these were published between 1986 and 2002, with the exceptions being “Winterfair Gifts” and Cryoburn...
.
Background
The War of Vordarian's Pretendership occurred in the novel Barrayar. Emperor EzarEzar Vorbarra
Ezar Vorbarra is a minor character in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga.Ezar Vorbarra was the Emperor of Barrayar during the time of the novel Shards of Honor. His son, Crown Prince Serg, was killed during the Escobar War , leaving five-year-old Prince Gregor as the only...
had just died; his son Crown Prince Serg had died earlier in the Escobar War, leaving only Ezar's grandson Gregor Vorbarra
Gregor Vorbarra
Gregor Vorbarra is the Emperor of the Barrayaran Imperium in the sci-fi series the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.As of CryoBurn, Gregor Vorbarra is the current Emperor of Barrayar...
alive. Thus four-year-old Gregor became Emperor, but was still in his minority. Ezar appointed Admiral Lord Aral Vorkosigan
Aral Vorkosigan
Aral Vorkosigan is a fictitious character from Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga series. Known throughout this science fiction universe as “The Butcher of Komarr,” he dominates the imagination of the two main point-of-view characters in the Vorkosigan Saga, Cordelia , who becomes his wife,...
to be Gregor's Imperial Regent and guardian.
Vordarian The Pretender
Count Vidal Vordarian, pretender to the throne of BarrayarBarrayar
Barrayar is a science fiction novel by Lois McMaster Bujold. It was first published as four installments in Analog in July–October 1991, and then published in book form by Baen Books in October 1991. Barrayar won both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel...
. After Aral's appointment, Vordarian amassed support and forces and staged a coup in the capital of Vorbarr Sultana. Imperial Security had learned of the plot, and was preparing to arrest Vordarian, but he learned of their plans, and kicked off his coup a month ahead of his original schedule.
Vordarian invaded the Imperial Residence and managed to capture Princess Kareen, Gregor's mother. Although mortally wounded, ImpSec chief Captain Negri got Gregor out of the capital and took him to Vorkosigan Surleau, the Vorkosigan summer home where the Lord Regent was recuperating from an earlier assassination attempt that had been orchestrated by Vordarian.
Eventually, Vordarian declared himself Prime Minister and Regent for Kareen, and then later Emperor. Claiming that Vorkosigan had killed Gregor in an effort to usurp the Imperium, Vordarian worked to appeal to the people that he was a rightful Emperor.
Meanwhile, Vorkosigan kept Gregor alive in the Dendarii Mountains by having his father, General Count Piotr Vorkosigan
Count Piotr Vorkosigan
Count Piotr Vorkosigan is the father of Aral Vorkosigan and the grandfather of Miles Vorkosigan in the fictitious universe of the Vorkosigan Saga....
and his wife, Lady Cordelia Vorkosigan
Cordelia Naismith
Cordelia Naismith is the name of two fictional characters by Lois McMaster Bujold. One is the titular character from a Victorian era Sherlock Holmes short story entitled "Adventures of the Lady on the Embankment" included in her anthology Dreamweaver's Dilemma...
hide the boy emperor.
Ending
Because her unborn son, Miles VorkosiganMiles Vorkosigan
Miles Naismith Vorkosigan is the hero of a series of science fiction novels and short stories by Lois McMaster Bujold known as the Vorkosigan Saga. In an article in The Vorkosigan Companion, Bujold acknowledged several real-life inspirations for the character: T. E...
, was still in a captured uterine replicator in Vordarian's control, Cordelia
Cordelia Naismith
Cordelia Naismith is the name of two fictional characters by Lois McMaster Bujold. One is the titular character from a Victorian era Sherlock Holmes short story entitled "Adventures of the Lady on the Embankment" included in her anthology Dreamweaver's Dilemma...
launched an unsanctioned rescue mission to retrieve her son. The rescue of her son Miles, his cousin Ivan Vorpatril
Ivan Vorpatril
Taken from its original location as a sidebar to Miles Vorkosigan-Ivan Vorpatril:Captain Lord Ivan Vorpatril, also known as "That Idiot Ivan" or "Ivan, You Idiot" , is a character in Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga...
, and Alys Vorpatril succeeds. During the rescue, Princess Kareen is killed and one wing of the Imperial Residence burns to the ground. Vordarian is executed (via decapitation) by Sergeant Bothari, using Lt. Koudelka's swordstick, on Cordelia's orders. Vordarian's head is brought covertly back to Tanery Base, where it is revealed to the loyalist forces as well as several leaders of Vordarian's forces who were present for negotiations.