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Philip I (Felipe Murcia; 9 December 2602 - 1 August 2655), usually known as Philip the Great, was the first King of the Rock, reigning from the colony's independence from the New Spanish Empire in 2640 until his death in 2655. As a descendant of Sir Raul, he was Lord of New Murcia from 2635 and quickly began to enter conflict with the Spanish Imperium. In 2640, the Spanish Emperor Carlos XXI petitioned Philip for soldiers in order to contribute to the Reconquest of North Africa. Philip, having grown increasingly disillusioned with Carlos XXI, requested that New Murcia be exempt from the conscription. Upon Carlos XXI's refusal, Philip formally declared independence and was crowned Philip, King of the Rock.
Philip I's reign was heavily dominated by the Balancin war for independence, in which Philip led soldiers into three different battles: Belemadena, Coral Point, and the Binary Bridge. While the Spanish were victorious at both Belemadena and Coral Point, it was Philip's decisive victory at the Binary Bridge which halted the Spanish attempt to reconquer Rockfield. The war, which lasted a little over a year, was informally ended with the death of Carlos XXI. Carlos' son, Hadrian, was far less interested in fighting for a relatively small and remote colony. The Balancin and the Spanish wouldn't sign a formal peace for another 15 years, when they agreed a trade of ivory.
Philip's early life is a great mystery to historians as there is no official documentation of his education or military service before the age of 20. While little is known of his early life, his later life is well documented. Philip's establishment of many of the political and civic structures put extensive record-keeping as a high priority for his new regime.
Besides being prudent, Philip's post-war reign was spent primarily constructing political institutions for effective government. Philip signed the Order of the Garter, which established the King's Council, the King's Guard, and formalised the sittings of Parliament's elected chamber, the Cortes Generales. Later historians argued that Philip had been in favour of mass enfranchisement. However, he never successfully implemented such a policy. Much of Philip's economic politics were muddied by tension with Spain. However, the circumstances of Philip's ascension shaped foreign policy in Rockfield for centuries to come: placing the Doggerlands as a greater field for new ventures than the older, war torn continental Europe.
Having married Maria Navarre, Philip had three legitimate children: Laurel, Cecilia, and Alfonso. Philip's illness later in life, following the death of Queen Maria, led him to contribute significantly to an orderly succession. Philip made it clear that his only son, Alfonso, would succeed him as King and spent a number of years building the political infrastructure necessary to avoid a bloodied succession. Philip's death in 2655 after a successful 15-year reign in which many of the civil and political institutions in Rockfield were more firmly established. He was peacefully succeeded by his designated heir, Alfonso. Philip's successes earned him the longstanding nickname "Philip the Great".
Philip war buried in the San Malian Chapel in the grounds which would later become the Iberian Palace. Following the construction of the Palace in 2700, Philip's remains were moved to the Palace chapel where they remain to this day.
Titles and style
- 9 December 2602 - 3 January 2635: Philip Murcia
- 3 January 2635 - 30 March 2640: His Grace Lord Philip Murcia
- 30 March 2640 - 1 August 2655: His Grace King Philip
As King of the Rock, Philip went by the simple style:
His Grace King Philip, Lord of the Rock
It wasn't until 2648 that Philip formally styled himself as "King of the Rock", though this specific variation of the title is retrospectively applied by historians, beginning with his crowning in 2640.