How Long is Conan King?

[Supplement Four]

How many years does Conan reign?

My campaign begins before the story Drums Of Tombalku. It is estimated that this is about 5 years before Conan takes the throne of Aquilonia.

How long is it estimated that Conan will be King of Aquilonia? I see that Conan of the Isles takes place when Conan is 60, so it seems that's a couple of decades as king right there.

I plan on advancing my campaign through the years at certain points, and I was wondering, if I go past 20 years, will Conan still be king?

What's the speculation on this, Vincent?

 

[VincentDarlage]

Well, he was about 32 at the time of Drums, and took the throne during his 38/39th year. He is about 45 during "The Hour of the Dragon," so he has already been ruling for six or seven years (except for a brief stint when he was deposed during "The Scarlet Citadel").

From there, no one really knows. In "Conan of Aquilonia," I propose that he rules Aquilonia for approximately 20-22 years after the events of Hour of the Dragon (page 78).

According to L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, he is in his sixties when he abdicates for "Conan of the Isles."

Howard's words on the matter: "He was, I think, king of Aquilonia for many years, in a turbulent and unquiet reign, when the Hyborian civilization had reached its most magnificent high-tide, and every king had imperial ambitions. At first he fought on the defensive, but I am of the opinion that at last he was foced into wars of aggression as a matter of self-preservation. Whether he succeeded in conquering a world-wide empire, or perished in the attempt, I do not know."

 

[kintire]

Conan of the Isles is definitively not canon as the above Howard quote reveals. A final confrontation with Yezdigerd for mastery of the world is more likely than Conan abdicating (!) to fight Aztecs.

 

[rabindranath72]

I like Howard's take on the matter. It opens for many different developments. Aquilonia vs. Turan is an example. Or Aquilonia becoming an empire itself.

 

[VincentDarlage]

Same letter. "He travelled widely, not only before his kingship, but after he was king. He travelled to Khitai and Hyrkania and to the even less known regions north of the latter and south of the former. He even visited a nameless continent in the western hemisphere, and roamed among the islands adjacent to it. How much of this roaming will get into print, I cannot foretell with any accuracy."

Doesn't say if he visited them before or after his kingship.

 

[Supplement Four]

Well, he was about 32 at the time of Drums, and took the throne during his 38/39th year.

Which story is closest to Conan be 30 years old?

 

[VincentDarlage]

Which story is closest to Conan be 30 years old?

The People of the Black Circle