Joliot Frankul
From Gineipaedia, the Legend of Galactic Heroes wiki
Joliot Frankul served as the Minister of Defense of Carle Palmgren's Sirian republic, and the military leader of the Black Fleet during the Earth–Sirius War. He was born in 2669 and died in 2706 at the age of 37 following a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Winslow Kennes Townshent.Contents |
Early Life
Joliot Frankul was born in 2669 CE on the colony world Rondolina, in the Sirius Starzone. When the United Earth Government invaded Sirius in 2689, starting the Earth–Sirius War, Frankul, then 20 years old, was a university student studying botany. He became a fugitive from the UEG occupation forces after he beat a Space Force soldier to death, after the soldier had raped his girlfriend. After escaping from the UEG military police, Frankul learned that, in despair, his girlfriend had committed suicide. (LOGH: 'To Earth')
Military Career
Distraut and angry, Frankul joined the Anti-Earth Movement. In 2691, he first met with Carle Palmgren, Winslow Kennes Townshent and Chao Yuiling on the colony of Prosperina, in the Proxima Starzone. Together, these four men would quickly become the leaders of the Anti-Earth Movement, and found the Black Fleet.
With a keen mind for fleet movement, Joliot Frankul became the military commander of the Black Fleet, and led the Anti-Earth forces to numerous victories against the wealthier and more numerous Earth forces, including the liberation of the Sirius Starzone. Frankul eventually managed to turn the tide of war in the Black Fleet's favor at the Second Battle of Vega, where he destroyed a Space Force fleet 20,000 strong with a Black Flag Fleet numbering only 6,000.
In 2704, Joliot Frankul led the Black Fleet in one final battle against the United Earth Government at the Battle of Sol. Quickly penetrating the outer Solar system, the remaining UEG forces massed at the asteroid belt. With the UEG cornered, Frankul waited for three months for the Space Force troops to weary themselves and use up the last of their foodstuffs and supplies. Then, he attacked: the UEG fleet was obliterated, and Frankul's Black Fleet pressed on to Earth, where they bombarded the planet from orbit. Civilian casualties were enormous. By the end of Frankul's attack, only 1 billion people survived. (LOGH: 'To Earth')
Political Career
After the ending the Earth–Sirius War at the Battle of Sol, Carle Palmgren transformed the revolutionary government into a legitimate galactic government, encompassing all of the colony worlds. Joliot Frankul was appointed the Minister of Defense of this new Sirian Republic.
The new age of peace did not last, however. Carle Palmgren died of a heart attack in 2706, leaving the reigns of government to Frankul and the prime minister, Winslow Kennes Townshent. Frankul and Townshent's views on how to best manage the republic soon poloraized. Only three months after Palmgren's death, Joliot Frankul began organizing a military coup d'etat to remove Townshent from power.
Unfortunately, Townshent learned of Frankul's plans moments before the coup was to occur, and was thus able to counter it. Joliot Frankul was killed in the attempt, and Townshent took advantage of the chaos caused by the failed coup to declare himself dictator. (LOGH: 'To Earth')
Appendices
Background information
- It is unknown what motivated Frankul's coup. It is possible that he was aware of Townshent's ambitions and sought to defend the republic; it's possible Frankul harbored those same ambitions for himself.