House Toras

House Toras is the current ruling family of Rizia and the most powerful of the country's three noble houses. It controls the throne as well as the province of Monqiz and the city of Iza. Its members are descended from Henricus Toras, a Valgish prince who married the Marquise of Monqiz in the early 1100s and established himself as ruler of the city-state. With the help of intermarriage with the Valgish Empire, his dynasty maintained a stronghold over Monqiz throughout the Markian era and, upon the foundation of the Kingdom of Rizia, assumed control of surrounding Valenqiris. The family managed to take the throne in 1810 following Duke Willem Toras' arranged marriage to Ariana Rubaz, daughter of the ruling Rubaz family, and the subsequent War of Rizian Succession. Since then, rulers from House Toras have also held the title of Duke (or Duchess) of Valenqiris. The family has kept control of Porte Drazon for four generations, and assumed governorship of Iza following the uprising of 1926. They are supported by the majority of Rizians, despite a dip in popularity during the reign of Valero "The Frail". Much of House Toras' wealth still comes from its control of shipping through the Port of Monqiz, as well as its abundant agricultural land and vineyards and its part-ownership of the Rizian Oil and Gas company.