Reinhardt II, Duke of Oschtauch

Reinhardt von Leischmeir II (1602-1677) was one of the many Dukes of Oschtauch, in the northern regions of Apfeldonia. He is best remembered for being a leader during the Apfeldonian Civil War.

Early Life
Reinhardt was born July 2, 1602, to Helver von Leischmeir, Duke of Oschtauch, and his wife Celiana. He was schooled in the military, and warfare at an early age. He married at age 21, and later that year, took over Oschtauch after his father died from alcohol poisioning. He had 3 sons, Halbert, Patrick, and Jaulzek, and 2 daughters, Yvonna, and Uliana. He was brought up a devout Christian.

Pre Civil War
Reinhardt matured into a noble, and respected ruler, and was loved by his people. He brought up Oschtauch both economically, and militarilly, reaching new highs within the Apfeldonian lands. He made frequent trips to the towns around Oschtauch to visit his citizens, and made trips to lands with poor armies, and trained them up.

Civil War Years
When King Richard I of Apfeldonia decided to build up the city of Lipton, he called on the northern provinces for raw materials, and added a heavy tax. When Gorivad der Schwartz declared independence from the Kingdom, Reinhardt von Leischmeir of Oschtauch did the same.

Reinhardt rallied all regiments around Oschtauch, and the Oschtauchian armies greatfully followed their Duke. The first major battle of the war was at Uget, in Southern Oschtauch. Duke Reinhardt personally led the Oschtauchian Army at that battle, and with his esteemed skill, and his many years as a miltiary man, he was able to rout the army from Lahn that outnumbered him 3-1. Several battles continued along Oschtauch's southern border, and the army of Lahn was formally routed from the border of Oschtauch.

Later in 1654, Reinhardt met the Queen and her Royalist Army at the Battle of Sweet Water. Early in the morning, the Queen charged her cavalry against the pikemen of the 2nd Regiment of Pike, which allowed for the Cavalry of the Queen to be destroyed instantly. Reinhardt was curious of why the queen would do this, and massed more of his forces toward's the Royal Army's center. Reinhardt saw a large gap in the center of the Royal Infantry Line, and personally led a Cavalry charge that broke the line. Reinhardt, however, was wounded in the neck, and fell from his horse, only to be taken to the Field Hospital. His Second in Command, his trusted General Reinz Hallup was killed in the battle, and the fate of Oschtauch's Army rested in Reinhardt's son, Jaulzek. Jaulzek had been trained thouroughly by his father in military tactics and strategy, but was to incompetent to lead. He allowed the Army of Oschtauch to be routed by the Queen of Apfeldonia. Jaulzek was taken prisoner after being shot in the back, and later died of his wounds.

After the defeat at the Battle of Sweet Water, and the death of his son, Reinhardt was in deep trouble, as a result he took up binge drinking. Prior to this, he had been sober for twenty three years. Later, he finally 'threw the bottle against the wall', and realized that he needed to regroup his men. He drilled his soldiers well, and was able to form up an army near to the size of his former army. A few months later, it payed off, in August of 1655, Reinhardt defeated the Royal Army at Fisherburg.

The espirit-de-corps rekindled in his Army, Reinhardt pushed forward and defeated the Royal Armies in multiple battles before grouping with Gorivard in Lahn. On January 2nd 1658, that would all change, Reinhardt and Gorivard faced the Queen at Barnstown. At Barnstown they outnumbered the Queen two-to-one and the odds were stacked against her. In a massive turn of the table, Reinhardt and Gorivard were seperated and the Queen was able to rout the armies. Reinhardt von Leischmeir took his Army back north and stayed in Oschtauch.

Reinhardt held down the border of Oschtauch, but lost a battle at White Lake. In 1662, the Army of Oschtauch's morale had decreased, despite Reinhardt's popularity as a "soldiers' General" among the troops. At Petersburg, Reinhardt's lines broke when Konrad came through, and Reinhardt retreated to his capital, Hohn. Reinhardt faced the Royal Army one last time, and was captured at the Battle of Bartram's Hollow. With his Army was destroyed, and his province in ruins, the Duke of Oschtauch and his Duchy were no more.

Post War Life and Death
Reinhardt was released from captivity in 1664, at age 62, returned to what home he had left, and tried to live out his life the best he could. By decree of King Richard I, Reinhardt was reinstated as Duke of Oschtauch, and he was able to increase farming and logging in his land to about half of the capacity it had before the war. He was driven back to alcohol, but still served as Oschtauch's respected Duke until he had a heart attack in 1676; he was bedridden for the last days of his life, and turned Oschtauch over to his eldest son, Halbert, in 1677, a day before his death.