Maria of Onneria
| Marie of Onneria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Duchess of Onneria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Maria Karolina Vikturya Heligsburg 28 March 1994 Onneria, Onneria, Ottonia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Prince William of Sydalon (m. 2020) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| House | Heligsburg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Theodurik I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Caroline of Ghant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Honorian Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Professional Athlete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Duchess Marie of Onneria (born Maria Karolina Vikturya Heligsburg on March 28th, 1994) is an South Ottonian aristocrat, athlete, socialite, and model. She is a member of the princely House of Heligsburg, a cadet branch of the South Ottonian royal House of Sproek-Kristhulm. She is the eldest child of Theodurik, Prince of Onneria and his consort, Princess Caroline of Ghant. She is also a professional football forward, playing for Royal Onneria FC since 2013.
Early Life & Education
Maria Karolina Vikturya Heligsburg was born to Theodurik, Prince of Onneria and Caroline of Ghant at St. Theodur Hospital, in the city of Onneria on March 28th, 1994. She was the couple's first child. She became a sister the following year with the birth of twins Aetius and Grace, and again two years after with the birth of her sister Ophelia. Her youngest sibling, Tomus, was born some years later, after Marie was already an adult, in 2016.
Marie was sent to Academy of Colona in Colona, Onneria for primary school until the age of 13. In 2007, she matriculated to Vylfhuld Academy, a boarding school for the children of elite South Ottonians. While there, she proved to be a capable student, albeit one of varying levels of motivation. Where she excelled was on the football pitch, joining the Academy's varsity team in her first year, and holding her own even against older students. As she progressed in school, her athletic talents became increasingly obvious, and in 2011 she received an invitation to the Academy for Royal Onneria FC. Despite pressure from her family to set aside her burgeoning athletic career, Marie accepted the invitation and soon found herself scouted for Royal Onneria's women's B-league team.
To her credit, the Duchess also resolved to continue her studies to the extent possible with a professional athletic career. Taking courses through approved private instructors and the Royal University of Onneria, Marie graduated with a degree in Public Administration in 2017.
Professional Athletic Career
Initially, Marie found herself consigned to Royal Onneria's B-team, playing in the OAF Second Division. However, she quickly found her legs and became a key contributor, showing herself to be a skilled player against lesser competition. As a result, through 2011 through 2013, Marie would find herself intermittently called up and demoted from the first division side, as injuries made her presence as a key back-up necessary.
In 2013, Marie found herself finally, permanently on the first division side's roster. Although initially a rotating player, she had earned a starting role by the end of the season, and entered the 2014 season as one of the team's key pieces. She has been indispensible on the attack for a dominant run by Royal Onneria, and has gained significant popularity as one of the top players in the OAF's women's league.
At the beginning of the 2022-2023 OAF season, Marie announced that her age-30 season would be her final as an athlete, stating her intention to focus on her family and duties as the heir-apparent to the Principality of Onneria. In March of 2022, the South Ottonian Revolution would render this plan moot, as Marie was forced to flee the Ottonian mainland with her family.
With the proclamation of the Onneria Social Republic in March of 2022, the Principality of Onneria was effectively defunct, leaving Marie's future plans in question.
Personal Life
Despite the attention that being a member of the South Ottonian nobility brings with it, as well as the additional attention that tends to accompany being an famous athlete, as well as an attractive young woman, Marie has been rather successful in keeping her personal life clear of the public. She is only known to have had one relationship prior to her marriage, a year-and-a-half-long relationship with Ferdinand of Staalmark between 2010 and 2011. She is known to be close with her parents, as well as her eldest sibling Aetius, and her third cousin Vitus, who is a fellow association football fan.
Like the rest of her family, Marie is an adherent of the South Ottonian Honorian Rite of the Fabrian catholic Church. She is observant but is not known to be especially devout.
Courtships and Marriage
Although the details were kept from the public, it is believed that in 2018, Marie began courting William of Sydalon; the two's relationship was not publicly acknowledged by either family until the spring of 2019. The courtship apparently bloomed into an intimate relationship, and the two tied the knot in May of 2020.
Although neither Marie nor her husband have confirmed this fact, it is widely believed they are putting plans to start a family on hold until the conclusion of Marie's athletic career.