The Dink Network

So based on the knights saying it was King Daniel that won the war.. does King Daniel become king during the latter years of the war (thus giving him credit for winning the war) or is he some sort of strategic general that wins the war and becomes king because of his great feat?

Edit:
It's probably easiest to presume that there were 2 goblin wars: an old one and a recent one. Or just pick which one you want to fit your story around.