Erik VIII Olaf of Emerstari

Eric XII
King of Emerstari Full Title Ved der Graſk av God, av Kuingdomett Emerige, åg av Hans Kolonier, Territorier, åg Hans Andetlander, Förſvarerett av Renslegenett åg Huvud av Huſett Eirikr, Hans Majeſtet: der Kejſer Emerskvalde; Kuing Emerige, Sömland, Kanarien; Prins-Väljere Thöſsenland; Hertig Deischtien åg Schvauner; Markis Hüllin; Royalligtriddar av der Meſt Adelig Ordrett av Bandett, Ekstrariddar av der Meſt Gammel åg Meſt Adelig Ordrett av Heliget Peder, Ekstrariddar av der Ordre av Georg, Medlem av Ordrett av der Seraphim åg av der Svård, åg Meſtreriddar av der Meſt Hønnerfuld Ordrett av Emerskvaldett; åg Riddar av der Ordrer av Åstlegien, Kanarien, Cøland, Marsien, Renochien, Rolige, Venesien, Säksien, åg Sverigen; likſom, Ekstramedlem av der Royalſtjeneſtenordre, Royalchef av der Ordre av Lögaʒ, Ekstraordinærmedlem av der Ordre av Scanien, Ekstraordinærkommandør åg Overste av der Militærordre av Karl, åg Kommandør-i-Chef av der Royalligmilitær av Emerige.
1732 Portrait of Eric VIII Olaf by Claus von Lünder
Monarch of Emerstari and of the other Royal realms Soumland October 2, 1718 – July 9, 1744 Canaria October 2, 1718 – July 9, 1744 Hüller February 9, 1708 – July 9, 1744 Thössenland March 14, 1705 – July 9, 1744 Deischtien March 14, 1705 – July 9, 1744 Schvauner March 14, 1705 – July 9, 1744 Polcycznie April 2, 1752 – December 29, 1754
Reign	October 2, 1718 – July 9, 1744
Coronation	December 25, 1718
Predecessor	Annette I Maria
Successor	Eric IX Johann of Emerstari
Prime Minister	List Frederik Älstådt September 31, 1718 – September 31, 1726 Anders Olafsson September 31, 1726 – May 9, 1727 Georg Valderssen May 9, 1727 – September 31, 1731 Lorens Mynnburg September 31, 1731 – September 31, 1734 Thomes Deitrikssen September 31, 1734 – September 31, 1742 Donner Johannson September 31, 1742 – August 12, 1745
Born	Eric Lorens Eirikr (1679-02-21)21 February 1679 Uppsalle Palace, Uppsalle, Emerstari
Died	9 July 1744(1744-07-09) (aged 64) Vantaa, Soumland
Burial	Rensulier Cathedral
Consort	Elsa Leijonhuvud-Eirikr
Issue	Eric IX Johann of Emerstari Prince Georg Anders, Duke of Malmö Prince Hans Frederik, Duke of Niykopping Freja I of Saexeny Princess Annetta Maria of Emerstari Prince Kristien Adolf of Emerstari Princess Sofia Karina, Duchess of Sydensjo Prince Klaus Ludvig of Emerstari Prince Gustaf Hans of Emerstari Princess Aleksendra Katharina of Emerstari Prince Olaf Deitrik, Duke of Kragún
Full name Eric Lorens Eirikr Regnal name Eric VIII Olaf
House	House of Eric
Father	Hans Georg
Mother	Aleksendra Månsstrom
Religion	Lutheranism

Erik VIII Olaf of Emerstari
Allegiance	Emerstari
Service/branch	Royal Army
Years of service	1696-1716
Commands held	Colonel, 12th Regiment of Foot Brigadier, 17th (Karlinera) Guards Regiment of Foot Commander-in-Chief in Kodternse
Conflicts	War of Soumian Succession Revolution of Kodternse Six Years' War

Eric XII Olaf (Eric Lorens Eirikr; October 21, 1679 – July 9, 1744) was King of Emerstari and Emperor of the Emerstarian Empire from October 2, 1718, until his death in 1744. He was concurrently the King of Soumland and Canaria as well as prince-elector of Thössenland in the Holy Eurevien Empire, Duke of Deischtien and Schvauner, and the Marquess of Hüllen.

Eric Lorens was born in the Duchy of Uppsalle within Emerstari and inherited the lands of Thössenland, Deischtien, and Schvauner from his father and uncles. A succession of European wars expanded his Rhenish domains to Hüllen. At the age of 39, after the death of the wife of former King Karl IV Lorens, Queen Annette I Maria, Eric Lorens ascended the Emerstarian throne, restoring the House of Eric's rule.

During Eric Lorens's reign, the power of the monarchy began to diminish and Emerstari began a transition to the modern system of presidential government. He died of cardiac arrest en route to the Soumian capital, Helsingfors.

Early life

Eric Lorens was born on October 21, 1679 in the city of Uppsalle in the Duchy of Uppsalle in Emerstari. He was the eldest son of Hans Georg and his wife, Aleksendra Målsstrom.

For the first year of his life, Eric Lorens was the only heir to the Rhenish territories of his father and two childless uncles. His brother, Karl Simeon, was born in 1680, and the two boys were brought up together. In 1682, his sister, Anne Birgetta, was born; however, she died in infancy. The two boys' mother was absent for almost a year (1683-1684) during a long holiday in Marseile but corresponded regularly with her sons' governess and took a great interest in their upbringing, even more so upon her return. Aleksendra would bear Hans Georg another three sons and a daughter. In letters, Aleksendra described Eric as a responsible, conscientious child who set an example to his younger brothers and sisters.

By 1690, Eric Lorens's eldest uncle, Adolf von Schvauner had died without issue, but his remaining uncle had married, putting Eric's inheritance in jeopardy. His father took him hunting and riding, introducing him to military matters whilst his mother had him educated in history, language, philosophy, and religion. Hans Georg took the fifteen-year-old on campaign in the Thösser-Aalstish War with the deliberate purpose of testing and training his son in battle.

In 1695, his surviving uncle married his mistress in order to legitimize his only daughter, Sofia Johanna, but looked unlikely to have any further children. Under Schvaunish law, the inheritance of territory was restricted to the male line, and therefore, the succession of Eric Lorens and his brothers to the territories of their father and uncle now seemed secure. In 1697, the family agreed to adopt the principle of primogeniture, meaning Eric Lorens would inherit all the territory and not have to share it with his brothers.

Marriage

The same year, Eric Lorens married his third cousin, Elsa Annellie of Ljund, a member of the reigning House of Leijonhuvud in Emerstari.

In 1696, Eric Lorens and his brother, Karl Simeon, served in the War of the Müncken League at the Battles of Polje, Drésdjan, and Lübten, and Elsa Annelle bore Eric Lorens a son, Eric Georg. During the campaign, Karl Simeon was informed of the adoption of primogeniture, meaning he would no longer receive part of his father's territory as he had expected. It led to a breach between father and son, and between the brothers, that lasted until Karl Simeon's death in battle in 1697. With the expansion of Thössenland and the Thössers' continuing contributions to the Empire's wars, Hans George was made an Elector of the Holy Eurevian Empire. Eric Lorens's prospects were now better than ever as the sole heir to his Rhenish and Emerstarain territories as well to his uncle's duchy.

Due to a brief break from the campaign, Elsa Annelle had another child prior to Eric Lorens's return who died during birth. Despite the death of this unnamed daughter, the couple proceeded to have ten more children. Of their eleven children who survived childhood, four were female and seven were males.

War of Soumian Succession

In 1700, after three years of service as Colonel in the 12th Regiment of Foot, Eric Lorens was made a Brigadier in the Karlinera, a part of the Royal Lifeguard formed by Karl IV Lorens, and partook in the War of Soumian Succession soon after.

Eric Lorens's first campaign was against the Sverigians. For the war, Karl IV Lorens had secured the support of Coelans, Jermansk, Saexia, and Fårige.