Frederick van Hal: Infamous necromancer who resided in Sylvania during the years of the Black Plague that was unleashed by the Skaven. Frederick became better known to latter generations and scholars as simply 'Vanhal'. He was the Empire's premier scholar on the subject of necromancy and the Undead, and was the author of the Liber Mortis. This was a mighty tome compiling knowledge from the Nine Books of Nagash on the summoning, creation and control of undead. Amongst it's dark knowledge was contained Vanhal's best known legacy to his necromantic colleagues: Vanhal's Danse Macabre.
When the Black Plague was at its height in 1111, Vanhal raised a great army from its victims and carved an empire from the wreckage, turning back the Skaven invasion in the process. For thirteen years, Vanhal conducted a war against both the Skaven and the remnants of the Empire. He constructed his mighty fortress, the Vanhaldenschlosse during this war, in 1112.
Despite his mighty magics, Vanhal was assassinated in 1124. The Vanhaldenschlosse was sacked and the Liber Mortis removed to be kept safe by the Cult of Sigmar.
Source: Warhammer Armies: Undead, 4th Edition by various
Submitter: Simguinus
Hive World Terra