Selene of Latium

Full name
	Selene Claudia Zoe Damiane Celeste

Princess Selene
Princess Selene
Princess of Latium
	Selene in 2020
Born	22 November 1996 (age 28); Lauseion, Leonopolis, Diocese of the East
Spouse	Prince Ardil Hazarasp (m. 2018)
Issue	Princess Celeste Hazarasp;
Full name
Full name
	Selene Claudia Zoe Damiane Celeste
House	Claudia
Father	Jason VI Augustus of Latium
Mother	Zoe Verrucosa
Religion	Fabrian Catholic

Princess Selene of Latium (Selene Claudia Zoe Damiane Celeste; b. 22 November 1996) is a Latin princess and the only daughter of Latin Emperor Jason VI Augustus by his second wife Zoe Verrucosa.

Selene was born at Lauseion, in Leonopolis, as the fourth child of Emperor Jason VI Augustus (then Prince of Youth). She was educated at St Maria's School for Ladies and later Lyceum Photii, in Leonopolis. Selene studied at Vigueria College, Haenna, graduating in 2018. At the time of her birth, she was fourth in line of the Latin throne; currently she is sixth. Since her marriage, Selene has undertaken numerous charitable endeavors, including the Perateia Youth Symphony and the St Andreas Charitable Foundation.

Early Life

Selene was born at the Lauseion, in Leonopolis, Diocese of the East, on 22 November 1996 at 9:13 pm, the third child of Jason VI Augustus with his wife Zoe Verrucosa. Selene was the first of Jason VI Augustus's children born during his reign, affording Selene the right to bear the title purpurogenita, along with her Latin Imperial title. As a newborn, she did not attend her father's coronation ceremony in December 1997.

She was baptized at Sancta Sapientia by Patriarch of Alba Marcus Nasennius, on 19 October 1996. Her godparents are Florentine Verrucosus (her mother's older brother) and Princess Joanna of Latium (her father's younger sister). In an interview, Selene's mother stated that she went into labor without knowing Selene's gender. Rumors from the Palace of Augustus reported name choices to be Leo or Alexander if she were a boy, with Alexandra or Sophia if a girl. The announcement of her name as Selene came as a large surprise to most; however, usage of the name spiked in popularity after her birth.

Selene made her first public appearance in 1998 during a visit to the Castellum Zoo. Her first overseas visit came in 2001 when she accompanied her father on a state visit to Lyncanestria. From 1999 until 2002, Selene primarily resided under the care of her mother. After her parent's divorce in 2000, Selene, along with her brothers Constantine and Michael split time between Castellum and Utica; however, in 2007 their mother Zoe began living in Castellum full time after purchasing a townhouse.

Education

Selene began her primary education at Saint Sophia's School, in Utica. In this stage of her education, she was also attended to by a governess. She eventually finished her primary education at St Maria's Ladies School, in Castellum. Like her older siblings, she began secondary school at Lyceum Sanctus Michaelis but left after one year. In 2012, she enrolled at Lyceum Photii, in Leonopolis, becoming the first member of the Imperial family to attend school in the Diocese of the East. While at Photii, she participated in student council. She earned her bac in 2014.

Selene did not take a gap year and immediately enrolled at Vigueria College at the University of Haenna. She reportedly also applied to Galata and Transtiberim Colleges at the University of Haenna, as well as Castellum College and [FOREIGN UNI]. However, Selene made a public statement of her desires to attended Castellum College making her eventual enrollment at Vigueria College a surprise. Throughout her education was a member of Imperial Society for Leadership and Scholarship, poetry club, and club water polo. In summer 2015, she participated in a foreign exchange program at [FOREIGN UNI], in XXXX. Selene graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Policy in 2018. She is fluent in Latin, Arthuristan, Hellenic, and Audonian; she has also studied Vardanan.

2016 succession crisis

Selene's father, Emperor Jason VI Augustus, was found dead in his personal office at the Palace of Augustus in Castellum. Selene was present at the palace for a gathering of the Imperial family at her father's request on November 3. Her whereabouts were unknown following the Scholarian entrance to the palace that night and she did not make a public appearance until the following day after the announcement of her brother, Michael's, death.

Public records compiled during the Imperial and Senatorial investigations into the causes and events of the succession crisis have been largely redacted around mentions of Selene. She has since refused to speak publicly.

Activities

Selene at the 2019 Ludi Circenses.

Selene undertakes various public duties and engagements on behalf of her brother, and before that on behalf of her father. Many of these engagements related to her charitable pursuits. She is the main Imperial patron of Perateia Youth Symphony, St Andreas Charitable Foundation, Alban Relief, as well as the founder of Alba Society. She is also the founder of St Caterina's Council, an organization that supports women in the arts. Along with her mother and brother, Selene is a co-patron of the Verrucosus Foundation.

She has traveled abroad as part of these engagements. While she traveled abroad extensively prior to her first official visit, Selene's first official overseas engagement was to accompany her father and brother to Arthurista, in 2012. She has since taken part in official visits to nearly all Belisarian nations, as well as Belfras. In 2017, Selene took part in more official engagements than all members of the Imperial family, including serving as the presiding officer for the 2017 Ludi Circenses. She was charged with many of the functional duties typically handled by the Empress consort before her brother's December 2017 marriage to Ghantish noblewoman Alazne Dain. However, since that time she has limited her engagements in Latium, primarily focusing on duties in the Diocese of the East.

During university, Selene became a member of the Imperial Society for Leadership and Scholarship. Following her graduation, she remained a Fellow of the Imperial Society.

In June 2018, she was appointed to the Vardanan Privy Council.

Marriage

Selene first met her husband Prince Ardil Hazarasp in 2010 at the wedding of Anastasius Claudius and Juturna of Gauekoizarra – the latter of whom is an older-half sister to both Selene and Ardil. They did not begin courting until December 2016, though Ardil reportedly attempted to court Selene as early as 2014 when Selene began studying at the University of Haenna after Ardil met Selene when he accompanied his sister Delal. Their first public appearance together came in early 2017, with reports from within the Empress Mother's household claiming Selene and Ardil intended to announce their engagement in February, but any plans were eventually postponed due to the announcement of her brother's engagement in January. The engagement was later announced in June.

Selene was married on 1 June 2018, at Hagia Anthemia, in Leonopolis. The ceremony was presided by Apostolic Patriarch Photios IX. A seperate Fabrian ceremony was held a week later in the private chapel at Palatium Supranio, in Adrianople. Before their wedding, Ardil was recognized as the Duke of Hrazdan and Despot of Bayazet, titles held by Ardil in pretence as heir apparent to the vacant thrones of Vardana and Bayazet, by Latin Emperor Constantine XX, and made a member of the Ancient Equestrian Order.

Initially, it was planned for Selene and Ardil to move into Velia House following their marriage. However, Selene continued to maintain an apartment at Palatium Augusti, in Castellum, as her primary residence. Their first child was born in February 2019, a daughter Celeste. She and Ardil were granted their own imperial household in December 2018. In June 2019, the Imperial Family renovated Palatium Aurea for $12 million, and Selene has since used it as her primary office. She and her husband spend a week every month at Lauseion, in Leonopolis, Diocese of the East.

Public perception

Titles, styles, honors and arms

Titles and styles

22 November 1996 – present: Her Imperial Highness Princess Selene of Latium

In pretence

1 June 2018 – present: Her Apostolic Highness The Despotissa of Bayazet
- 1 June 2018 – present: Her Apostolic Highness The Duchess of Hrazdan

Honors

Latium: Knight of the Order of the Winged Ram
Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order
Latium: Dame of the Illustrious Order of the Purple Ribbon
House of Hazaraspid: Dame of the Golden Rose
House of Hazaraspid: Dame Grand Cordon of the Hazarasp Order
Sydalon: Lady of the Honorable Order of St Philip

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Prince Ardil Hazarasp
Princess Celeste Hazarasp	(2019-02-26) 26 February 2019 (age 5)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Selene 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. Elissa of Rabiliana

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 Silingia

1. Princess Selene of Latium

24. Pelagius Verrucosus

12. Felix Verrucosus

25. Flora Bubulca

6. Duke Josephus Verrucosus

26. Maurianus Sarafyan

13. Arine Sarafyan

27. Sergia Balba

3. Zoe Verrucosa

28. Duke George Vitruvius

14. Duke Damianus Vitruvius

29. Christina Mocilla

7. Damiane Vitruvia

30. Duke Marcian Tolumnius

15. Zoe Tolumnia

31. Adeodata Voconia

Lines of succession
Selene of Latium House of Claudius Born: 22 July 1996
Preceded by The Princess Maria	Succession to the Latin throne 6th in line	Followed by Princess Celeste Hazarasp