Maria of Latium

Princess Maria
Princess of Latium
Princess Maria in 2018
Basileia consort of Aretias
Tenure	9 July 2013 – 14 January 2016
Coronation	9 July 2013
Born	(1990-07-03) 3 July 1990 Palatium Supranio, Adrianople, Latium
Spouse	Basil II of Aretias (m. 2013; annulled 2016)
Issue	Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia Illegitimate Andreas Claudius
Full name Maria Claudia Christina Sophia Constantia
House	Claudia
Father	Jason VI Augustus of Latium
Mother	Stephania Pinaria
Religion	Fabrian Catholic
Sports career
Discipline	Eventing
Medal record Representing Latium Equestrian BEA Continental Circuit 2016 Jugny Team Eventing Ludi Circenses 2010 Individual Eventing 2016 Individual Eventing

Princess Maria of Latium (Maria Claudia Christina Sophia Constantia; b. 3 July 1990) is the oldest child and daughter of Latin Emperor Jason VI Augustus and his first wife, Stephania Pinaria. She was Basileia of Aretias, from 2013 to 2016, by virtue of her marriage to Basil II.

Maria is a graduate of the Empress Alexandra College at University of Castellum Iohannes XIII, obtaining degrees in Sociology and Religious Studies. Maria has undertaken more Imperial duties since 2005, becoming the head of a number of charitable organizations based in Latium, and throughout Belisaria, including the National Imperial Foundation for Children. Maria is an accomplished equestrian and has participated numerous domestic and international equestrian events and tournaments, including a second place finish at the 2010 Ludi Circenses.

Maria was married to Basil II of Aretias in 2013; they separated in 2015 and their marriage was annulled in 2016. They have one child together, Zenobia. Maria is currently fifth in line to the Latin throne.

Early Life

Princess Maria was born on 3 July 1990 at Palatium Supranio, in Adrianople, Latium as the eldest child of then Jason, Prince of Youth and his wife Stephania Pinaria. Maria was baptized 12 August 1990 at Sancta Sapientia, in Castellum, by Patriarch Flavius Hostillius of Alba. At her christening, her godparents were Prince Theodosius (her paternal uncle) and Theodosia Pinaria (her maternal aunt). As the daughter of the Latin heir apparent, Maria was styled as ''Princess of Youth'' from her birth until her father's ascension to the throne in 1997. She was named Maria after her great-grandmother Marie Christine of Épernon. She was primarily raised in Adrianople at Palatium Supranio for the first seven years of her life.

Barely two weeks after her first birthday, Maria's mother, Stephanie, was killed in a car accident while visiting the city Heraclea on an official Imperial Family visit.

Education

Maria began her education in Adrianople, first enrolling at St. Silvester Academy for her primary education in 1995. She would continue her education at St. Silvester until the death of her grandfather in 1997, when her family moved to Castellum. Maria would complete the remainder of her primary schooling at St. Michael's in suburban Castellum, and would to attend for the remainder of her pre-tertiary education. Maria has stated that she enjoyed science courses during secondary school.

During secondary school, Maria expressed interest in attending a number of universities, most notably University of Castellum Iohannes XIII, Arminium College, Imperial University of Lyncanestria, University of Haenna and University of Utica. She never explicitly stated which was her school of preference, but later enrolled at Empress Alexandra College, Castellum for fall 2009. During her first year at Castellum, Maria resided in student housing, a first for any member of the Imperial family, and would even live with her cousin, Princess Melisende of Petra, during her final year of schooling. She focused her studies on sociology and religious studies. In 2008 and before attending Castellum, Maria took a gap year and traveled to Belfras, Lyncanestria, Lihnidos, and Sydalon.

Maria participated in a number of student activities throughout her time at Castellum, mostly relating to community service and outreach, though was the president of the university's equestrian club during her final school year. Following an incident involving paparazzi, which resulted in two arrests for an invasion of Maria's privacy, the Emperor's Counsel announced that they would not press charges against the two reporters. It was later announced that Imperial Offices had reached a deal to provide regular updates to the press on Princess Maria in exchange for no further invasions of her privacy - there would be no further incidents with the press.

Imperial Duties

Princess Maria during 2013 Ludi Circenses.

Princess Maria first began undertaking Imperial duties after finishing secondary school. However, her first official duty was in 2000 when she traveled to Sarepta, Sydalon with her father for two millennia anniversary of the birth of Jesus. A month after her eighteenth birthday, Maria was appointed as a Counsellor of State, allowing her to attend regularly international functions on behalf of her father. Maria has been involved in a number of charitable organizations since undertaking Imperial duties, serving as the president of no fewer than ten since 2012.

Maria has also served as a chairperson for numerous athletic events, including several marathons and even a brief stint as a chairperson for the Latin Football Federation.

Equestrian career

Maria has participated in equestrian tournaments since she was 6 years old, and most notably in the equitation and eventing events during Ludi Circenses from 2009 through 2016. She qualified for the AEF World Championship in 2008, 2009, and 2013, though never finished above sixth in any given year. She often attends prominent equestrian events throughout the world, both to spectate and participate. Her highest placement at Ludi Circenses came in 2010, where she finished second in the eventing event. Her next highest finish was 2014 when she placed third in eventing and fifth in show jumping. She participates in a charity polo match put on by the Prince of Youth Foundation every year.

Maria has qualified for Ludi Circenses from 2007 through 2016. She did not participate in 2017, but qualified again in 2018 when she finished 21st in women's individual eventing.

Maria is also a football fan, and a supporter of her family's club, FC Imperialis Ianiculum.

Courtships

Like many members of her family, Maria's personal life has often been subject to considerable media coverage. Following a personal visit by her parents and other members of the Imperial family to Ghant in 1990, speculation was growing that talks had taken place to see a match between Maria with then Prince Imperial, now Emperor Nathan IV of Ghant. These initial rumors ultimately amounted to nothing, with the vacation only culminating in the controversial relationship between her aunt, Princess Isabella of Latium, and John, Crown Prince of Ghant.

Throughout her childhood, rumors persisted that a match between Maria and Nathan was being pursued, with Latin betting firms even placing odds on if a betrothal would occur. Many royal commentators and insiders claimed that a match was "extremely unlikely" due to the chilly relations between the Latin Imperial household, particularly Leo, Prince Consort, and Ghantish Imperials Emperor Albert I and his wife Empress Grace. Relations would grow even worse during the reign of Maria's father, Jason VI, and Prince-Regent Albert in Ghant. Maria and Nathan were rumored to have briefly courted in 2007. While this relationship was confirmed by Nathan in off the cuff remarks to the press, Maria has consistently rebuked those claims. Despite this, Maria and Nathan remain close friends.

In 2008, Latin media outlets began to follow Maria's personal life intensely during her first term at University of Castellum. This would eventually culminate in January 2009, when photographs of Maria at parties and on dates with Martin of Dakmoor were released on Cotidie Tabella's website. Imperial Offices quickly responded, saying that the reports were a result of repeated invasions of Maria's privacy by local paparazzi. The controversy eventually garnered a response from Maria's father, Emperor Jason VI Augustus, who promptly attacked Cotidie Tabella and that the Imperial Family would "would seek any and all response at [its] disposal" to ensure Maria's privacy now and in the future. On 12 January 2009, Imperial Offices revoked a number of privileges from Cotidie Tabella, including access to Imperial and Senatorial press conferences. The incident also resulted in the arrests of two paparazzo, who were later charged, fined and later fired. A court order ultimately forced these photographs be taken down.

Maria is believed to have been involved with her second cousin, Charles, Crown Prince of Burgoy, for a brief time in 2010 after the two were seen together in Jugny, Burgoy following a Lyncanestrian equestrian tournament. According to royal insiders in Burgoy and Latium, the two split amicably sometime in late 2010.

In 2011, Maria courted Prince Michael of Dakmoor.

Marriage to Basil II

In early 2012, Imperial Offices announced that Maria began courting King Basil II of Aretias. The pair continued courting throughout the year, and announced their engagement in September 2012. During their engagement, Maria continued to reside in Latium, though began to spend more time in Aretias as the wedding neared. Maria reportedly had cold feet days before the wedding, as news that Basil had fathered an illegitimate child in 2011 were first being reported. She and Basil were married, on 9 July 2013, at Sacred Heart Basilica, in Evros, Aretias, in a ceremony officiated by Patriarch George IV of Teos. Maria was crowned Basileia of Aretias in the same ceremony. The couple honeymooned in Sydalon, and Ashkelon, Yisrael.

On 20 October 2013, it was announced that Maria was pregnant. On 9 April 2014, the couple's first and only child, Zenobia, was born.

Separation and annulment

Maria's marriage to Basil was widely considered rocky by royal observers and those in both Latin and Aretian courts. The couple reportedly struggled due to Basil's paternity of an illegitimate child born in 2011, and a second child in 2012. Rumors of a rift between the royal couple grew with reports of Maria taking unscheduled visits to Leonopolis, in the neighboring Latin Diocese of the East. In March 2015, newspapers in Latium began reporting that Basil was engaged in an affair with Princess Delal Hazarasp; however, the story was quickly struck down by Latin lex maiestatis laws.

Maria unexpectedly appeared in Adrianople, on 22 August 2015, with her daughter Zenobia. During this time, Basil fathered an illegitimate child with Princess Delal Hazarasp, confirming the previously reported affair. On 15 September 2015, the Latin Imperial Household announced a formal separation of Maria and Basil; plans to seek an annulment of the marriage were announced in December. Maria and Zenobia made no public apperances until October, when they were present at the opening game of the 2015-2016 LMH season, in Castellum. An annulment was granted on 14 January 2016, upon which Maria ceased to be Basileia of Aretias, however, an agreement was reached and announced that Zenobia would be named heir presumptive of Aretias, only to be displaced by the future birth of a legitimate son. Zenobia was granted the title of "Despoina of Mysia", typically reserved for the Aretian heir apparent, a title she continues to hold.

Engagement to Thomas of Ossonoba

By March 2017, Maria left court in Castellum, for Utica. She made few public appearances until returning to Castellum in October. In October 2017, rumors began to circulate that Maria was courting Prince Thomas of Ossonoba. It is believed the two became a couple during her time away from court. This was later confirmed by Maria's spokesman in November 2017. It was believed Maria and Thomas were living together prior to their marriage, though did not make their first public appearance until her brother's wedding on 8 December 2017.

Princess Maria's private villa in Hagia Sophia, southern Latium.

Their engagement was announced in January 2018. In May 2019, she gave birth to a son, Andreas. However, her engagement to Ossonoba came to an end a month earlier in November 2018, where she announced Andreas would utilize "Claudius" as his surname.

Titles, styles, honors and arms

• 3 July 1990 – 20 May 1997: Her Highness Princess Maria of Youth
• 20 May 1997 – 9 July 2013: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Maria
• 9 July 2013 – 14 January 2016: Her Majesty The Basileia
• 14 January 2016 – present: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Maria

As a Latin princess and daughter of a Sovereign, Maria does not utilize a surname. If Maria were to utilize a surname, it is likely that she would take on the Claudia name; however, it is also possible that the surname for all children of the Sovereign to simply be "of Latium". For ceremonial and formal purposes, all children of the Monarch - with exception to the heir apparent - are entitled to the rank of "prince" or "princess" after their Christian name followed by the territorial designation "of Latium." As such, Maria is styled as "Princess Maria of Latium". Any territorial designations are normally discarded by females upon their marriage.

Honors

• Latium: Knight of the Order of the Winged Ram
• Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order
• Latium: Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of St. Maria

Foreign Honors

• House of Hazarasp: Dame of the Order of the Senmurv
• Petra: Lady of the Order of the Holy Lance
• Sydalon: Lady of the Honorable Order of St Philip

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Basil II of Aretias
Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia	(2014-03-09) 9 March 2014
By Prince Thomas of Ossonoba
Andreas Claudius	(2019-05-25) 25 May 2019		Illegitimate

Ancestry

Ancestors of Maria of Latium

16. Theodosius Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 8. Jason Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 17. Princess Isobel of Gaemar 4. Leo Claudius, Duke of Adrianople 18. Leon I, Duke of Thapse 9. Princess Isabella of Thapse 19. Sophie of Melfi 2. Jason VI Augustus of Latium 20. John Anicius, Duke of Beroea 10. Constantine XIX of Latium 21. Joanna I of Latium 5. Diana Augusta of Latium 22. Prince Henri, Duke of Épernon 11. Princess Marie Christine of Épernon 23. Adalinda of Nyrundy 1. Princess Maria of Latium 24. Duke Michael Pinarius 12. Duke George Pinarius 25. Stephania Porsena 6. Duke Michael Pinarius 26. Constantine V, King of Keld 13. Princess Maria of Keld 27. Evantia Anicia 3. Stephania Pinaria 28. Duke Florentine Junius 14. Duke Stephan Junius 29. Alexia Flaminia 7. Christina, Despoina of Mysia 30. David, Despot of Mysia 15. Andrea, Despoina of Mysia 31. Alvart Pokayuni

See also

• Latin Imperial Family

Maria of Latium House of Claudius Born: 3 July 1990
Lines of succession
Preceded by Prince Philip of Latium	Succession to the Latin throne 5th in line	Followed by The Princess Selene
Aretian royalty
Preceded by Sibylle of Silingia-Marlburg	Basileia consort of Aretias 2013–2016	Succeeded by Cassandra of Ghant