Arnaud Durant (ME-1)

Early Life
"Always remember, a sword and title cannot make you a great man: true greatness comes from the mind, a mind self-cultivated for the service of others."

Acerbo Aqulia Bontagnoli
'"Arnaud, if you are reading this, I have failed to say goodbye as I wanted, but the time never seemed appropriate, as I had taken your criticisms to heart, and I wanted to be a father to you before I said goodbye. I leave this land and all of its resources to you. I trust you now know the order, now more than ever before, will be an instrumental insititution for the future of liberty in Europe, and perhaps the world. You are right: we should embody the values of liberty, equality, and brotherhood as you countrymen have eposused so strongly, and be a community to serve as an example of what this new world could become. But the larger and stronger it grows, the more fragile and difficult it becomes to progress these most esoteric of ideas. I hope your friends understand this truth. Your unwavering endurance and vritue have burdened you with responsibility far greater than any one man should bear. But you, if anyone, are capable. You have given an old man hope that all is not lost, and for that I thank you. I am grateful to have met you, knowing you will guide this the Order to a better future, and selfishly, that you are my son. I humbly hope that you will one day think of me as your father. Forever yours in brotherhood, Acerbo."'

Trivia

 * Arnaud is the French form of the Germanic Arnold, which means "eagle power," derived from the elements arn "eagle" and wald "power."
 * Clément is the French form of Clemens, which means "merciful, gentle."
 * Éloi is the French and Catalan form of Eligius, which is a Late Latin name derived from Latin eligere "to choose."
 * Durant is a French surname. It ultimately derives from the Latin omen name Durandus, meaning "enduring."
 * Despite its popularity amoung his idolized philosophes, Arno hated coffee.
 * He first identified as an atheist at the age of seventeen.
 * from the ages of eight to seventeen, he flipped back and forth from deism to pantheism and back.
 * Like many philosophes, he was not principly opposed to a Enlightened Despot.
 * In fact, he found democracies and republics equally problematic to monarchies.
 * However he frequently mentioned his admiration for the American constitution.