Zoe Verrucosa
| Zoe Verrucosa | |
|---|---|
| The Empress Mother (more) | |
 | |
| Latin Empress consort | |
| Tenure | 29 July 1993 – 2 February 2000 |
| Coronation | 25 December 1997 |
| Born | Appia Verrucosa Zoe Damiane Silvia Selene 11 March 1975 Villa d'Iulia Concordia, Utica, Latium |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Verrucosa (by birth) Claudius (by marriage) |
| Father | Duke Josephus Verrucosus |
| Mother | Damiane Vitruvia |
| Religion | Reformed Church Fabrian Catholic (formerly) |
| Latin Imperial Family |
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Extended imperial family |
Zoe Verrucosa, The Empress Mother (Appia Verrucosa Zoe Damiane Silvia Selene; b. 11 March 1975) is a member of the Latin Imperial Family, and mother of Emperor Constantine XX.
Zoe is the youngest child of businessman and former Consul, Duke Josephus Verrucosus, and Lady Damiane Vitruvia. Zoe was educated at Pescia Academy, in Adrianople. Zoe first rose to prominence in 1992 after the announcement of her engagement to Jason, Prince of Youth – later Jason VI Augustus. Though she became Empress in 1993, upon her husband's elevation to junior emperor, she holds one of the shortest tenures as sole Empress consort, from 1997 until her divorce in 2000. Zoe and Jason had four children over the course of their marriage, Constantine, who is now Emperor Constantine XX; Michael; and Selene.
Zoe graduated from Galata College, Haenna with a degree in business and economics. She served the Chairwoman for the Board of Directors for Verrucosus Holdings, of which her family owns a controlling ownership interest from 2009 until 2017. She is also president or chair for a number of charities, including a seat on the board of regents of the University of Haenna, and the University of Ascanium. Since 2017, she has undertaken numerous imperial and state duties on her son's behalf.
Early Life and education
Zoe was born on 11 March 1975 to the Duke Josephus Verrucosus, former Consul of Latium, and his wife Damiane Vitruvia at Villa d'Iulia Concordia, in Utica, Latium. She has two older brothers John and Florentine, and an older sister Adula. Zoe was baptized into the Reformed Communion on 2 June 1975 at Sancta Sapientia in Castellum ab Alba. Her god parents were Diana Augusta (a friend of her mother); John Verrucosus (her elder brother) and Constantia of Ravenna (a friend of her mother); and Alexander Vitruvius (her mother's brother).
Education
Zoe's early education was primarily handled by private tutors and lessons from the provost of Empress Alexandra College, Castellum. She was eventually enrolled at Sanctus Gabrielius, a private primary school in Castellum. Zoe began her secondary education at St Gabriel's in Castellum, though attended Pescia Academy boarding school in Adrianople, where she finished her education. Following her graduation, she was admitted to St. Anna's College at the University of Haenna. After her gap year, she began taking entry classes at St. Anna, though dropped her classes one month into the semester before her engagement to then Jason, Prince of Youth. In 2002, Zoe re-enrolled at Galata College, graduating with a degree in business and economics.
Marriage
Zoe's personal life was relatively quiet before to her engagement to then Jason, Prince of Youth. Before to attending university, Zoe spent two months of her gap year in Lyncanestria and Lihnidos. The remaining time of her gap year, she resided in downtown Castellum at a penthouse owned by her brother John that she shared with four friends, including Brunhilda of Rahdenburg, Anna Julia, and Euphemia Tullia. Imperial Office records state that in summer 1992 Zoe first visited the Palatium Augusti for a royal mixer prior to the opening ceremony of the year's Ludi Circenses. Records demonstrate that her invitation was a personal one sent by Empress Diana Augusta. This event was the first meeting between Zoe and her future husband, Jason.
Engagement and wedding
Zoe became engaged to then Jason, Prince of Youth on 19 June 1993, with the official announcement occurring the following day. Prior to their engagement, there was no announcement of their courtship, and Zoe was widely rumored to be Jason's mistress. Zoe dropped out of school only a month into the semester, and moved into Velia House in Castellum as the Prince's official residence. Zoe was nineteen years old, and 4 months pregnant, when she married Jason on 27 September 1993. The wedding taking place at Sancta Sapientia, in a ceremony led by Patriarch of Alba Marcus Nasennius. The ceremony was attended by over 200 individuals including monarchs from all throughout Belisaria and guests from nearly all countries of the world.
Zoe was official given the rank of "princess" and became Princess of Youth immediately following the wedding after the issuance of letters patent by both Empress Diana Augusta.
Children and family
Zoe and Jason officially resided at Velia House from 1993 until his ascension in 1997; however, the couple relocated to Adrianople after their honeymoon. From 1995 until 1996, she resided at Lauseion, in Leonopolis, while her husband served as Count Palatine. Their first child, Constantine, was born on 15 March 1994 in Adrianople. Zoe would have two more children over the course of her marriage to Jason, Michael and Selene.
Before the sudden abdication of Diana Augusta in August 1997 and the reports of declining health of Leo, Prince Consort, Zoe returned to Castellum and Velia House with her husband and children in 1996. Both Zoe and her husband undertook numerous imperial duties during this time, including representing Latium along with her husband on any foreign visits he would undertake. She was present for the State Opening of the Senate in 1996, which was the first time in recorded history that a reigning monarch did not open the Senate themselves.
She and her husband were jointly coronated during the same ceremony on 25 December 1997.
As Empress
Zoe had mixed popularity as Empress, with many associating her with having a cold demeanor. Courtiers, both in Adrianople and later Castellum, note that Zoe was overly protective of her children and often tried to keep them isolated from others, as a result causing conflicts within the Imperial family. In June 1998, Empress Diana Augusta made her first public appearance of the year with Jason, Zoe and their children for a visit to the Castellum Zoo. The appearance was soon wrought with controversy as Zoe was photographed preventing her son, Constantine, from taking a photograph with his father and grandmother. Imperial Offices managed to end publication of the story through lex maiestas laws.
Divorce
Rumors of infidelity plagued Zoe's marriage to Emperor Jason early on, when it was alleged he fathered an illegitimate child with Latin noblewoman Honoria Valeria, in 1995. While Jason did not confirm these rumors until just before his death, Imperial Offices, along with Praetorian authorities, threatened to prosecute Valeria for violation of lex maiestas laws and sanction from the Sacred Assembly. These rumors of Jason's infidelity with not only Valeria, but also other women continued to persist throughout the marriage, eventually culminating in rumors that Ghantish noblewoman, and his sister's lady-in-waiting, Marsella Atmos had become involved in a secret relationship with Emperor Jason by 1999.
Before the divorce was announced, it became known to the public that Zoe had started spending her time at Villa d'Iulia Concordia in Utica, while Emperor Jason had often taken to retreats in either Adrianople or Ravenna. Church and state documents regarding Zoe's divorce have not yet been released under Transparent Information Act, resulting in a great deal of uncertainty as to which individual initiated the divorce. However, it is unlikely that any records pertaining to the divorce will ever be fully disclosed. While Zoe suffered from a lack of popularity as Empress, she saw a sharp increase in support and sympathy once the news was first announced by Imperial Offices. The announcement was made on 2 January 2000, stating the divorce was dealt with in private and was effective immediately. Neither Zoe nor Jason have spoken publicly about the divorce
Zoe holds one of the shortest tenure's as Empress consort, at just over two years long. She is also the only Latin consort to have a divorce with the monarch.
Post-divorce life
University re-enrollment
Following the divorce, Zoe re-enrolled in university, and began attending classes at St. Anna's College at the University of Haenna. While at St. Anna, Zoe focused her studies on business and entered into the business program during her second year. Zoe was notorious for skipping classes to spend time with her children, which was regularly documented by the press, causing her grades to slip. She avoided falling into academic issues or probation, and eventually graduated in 2003 with honors. Between her first and second years, and again between her second and third years, Zoe became more involved with her family's business, and had secured a position immediately following her graduation from St Anna's.
Business ventures
Ascension of Constantine XX
Public life
During her tenure as Empress, Zoe became the chief patron to over a hundred charities, most of which she continued to be a patron of after her divorce. Some of these charities include: Latin Youth Sports Association, Ascanium Youth Symphony, Utica National Opera and Orchestra, National Cancer Association, Imperial Orchestra, Foundation for the Blind, National Society, among others. Zoe also served as the president or honorary chair of a number of non-profits including the Women's Rights Organization, Saint Adeodatus Community, among others.
In 2005, Zoe was transferred ownership of Villa d'Iulia Concordia, the Verrucosus familial estate from her mother. Zoe has resided at the estate since 2005, though owns a number of properties throughout Latium and neighboring countries. In July 2016 purchased a penthouse in the City of Castellum.
Zoe has not been involved in any relationships following her divorce, instead saying that she "wishes to spend time focusing on [her] children." Zoe annually hosts the Verrucosus Holdings corporate retreat at her home, Villa d'Iulia Concordia in Utica, where her children were often present.
Titles, styles, honors and arms
| Styles of The Empress Mother | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | Her Imperial Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial Majesty |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
- 11 March 1975 – 29 July 1993: Lady Zoe Verrucosa
- 3 April 1993 – 29 July 1993: Her Imperial Highness The Princess of Youth
- 29 July 1993 – 2 February 2000: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress
- 2 February 2000 – 13 December 2016: Lady Zoe Verrucosa
- 13 December 2016 – present: Her Imperial Majesty Empress Zoe, The Empress Mother
Honors
Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order 
- Latium: Dame of the Order of the Golden Eagle
- Latium: Knight of the Order of the Ram
- Latium: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Noble Order of St. Maria
Foreign honors
House of Hazaraspid: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Hazaraspid 
Sydalon: Lady of the Honorable Order of St Philip 
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Issue
| Name | Date of birth | Date of death | Spouses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason VI Augustus, Latin Emperor: | |||
| Princess Leona of Latium | 31 October 1993 | 1st: Basil I of Aretias; had issue. 2nd: Prince Ardil Hazarasp. | |
| Constantine XX, Latin Emperor | 15 September 1994 | Alazne Dain; had issue. | |
| Prince Michael of Latium | 12 June 1995 | 3 November 2016 (aged 20) | Never married; had no issue. |
| Selene, Duchess of Saivres | 22 December 1996 | Audric, Duke of Saivres; had issue. | |
Ancestry
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See also
Zoe Verrucosa Born: 11 March 1975
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| Latin royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Duke of Adrianople as Prince consort |
Latin Empress consort 1993–2000 |
Succeeded by Marsella Atmos |