Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein

Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein (1 January 1824 – 27 October 1853) was a Ripuarian general previously serving as a commander in the Lindian army. He served in Lindenholt under King Maximilian II from 1842 until 1853, 11 years, until he deserted and form the Free Ripuarian Army. Born to the royal house van Stokfort-Lautherstein a Ripuaria branch of the Lindian royal family from young age he considered himself nationality a Ripuarian first and Lindian second. His upbringing in the royal family meant he was to serve in the army as an officer from the age of 18.

Early Life
Lauther was born to Mechtilde and Burkhard van Stokfort-Lautherstein on new year 1 January 1824. His father, Burkhard, was a former general in the Lindian army before retiring due to a sustained wound. He had a younger brother, Alexander, born 2 years after him, who eventually become the first grand duke of Ripuaria. Lauther never married in his life, nor had any children.

Lindian Army
In 1842, at the age of 18, Lauther joined the Lindian army by the request of his father and was accepted to the officers academy where after two years he became a junior officer in the Lindian army. He eventually achieved the rank of Brigadier and commanded the 37th Infantry Brigade of Lindenholt. In 1853 he was posted in the city of Gefell on border guard duty against the border with Umbrellia.

Ripuaria Revolution
While on duty in the city of Gefell, Lauther led the 37th Infantry Brigade of Lindenholt. He and his brigade had developed anti-Lindian sentiments a year prior by opposing the conservative views of the Lindian king. On 15 February 1853 when King Maximilian II refused to sign the Valentine's constitution, nationalist sentiments within the Ripuarians only grew, Lauther was no different. The final straw of Lauther's loyalty finally broke on the 24 February when riots broke out in Ripuaria City and Maximilian II sent the army to crackdown on the nationalists.

When news reached Gefell it didn't take long for the city to also break down in riots. Lauther took his men and famously proclaimed in the city center the establishment of the Free Ripuarian Army. He gathered many recruits from the crowd in Gefell and armed them with weapons. In the same proclamation he also met Gaultier Rühl, a member of the Ripuarian higher class who wished to realize the nationalist goals of Ripuaria and in cooperation the two created the Ripuarian National Congress.

Defense of Ripuaria
Over the next following days, Lauther took in on himself to defend the province of Ripuaria from the on-coming Lindian attack and the March Offensive. He commanded the Free Ripuarian Army in the battle of Grunfeld where he defeated the Lindian advance in the western front and stopped the on coming siege of Ripuaria City. He pioneered warfare tactics that put his small manpower to an advantage by utilizing civilian population to confuse the enemy and mobilized his forces where the enemy thought he was weak to defend against smaller attacking forces.