Zoe Verrucosa
| Zoe | |||||
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| The Empress Mother (more) | |||||
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| Latin Empress consort; Queen consort of Belfras | |||||
| Tenure | 20 May 1997 – 12 August 1999 | ||||
| Coronation | 25 December 1997 | ||||
| Born | 11 March 1974 Villa d'Iulia Concordia, Utica, Latium | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
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| House | Verrucosa | ||||
| Father | Felix Verrucosus, 1st Lord of Istropolis | ||||
| Mother | Damiane Vitruvia | ||||
| Religion | Reformed Church | ||||
| Latin Imperial Family |
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Extended imperial family |
Empress Zoe, The Empress Mother (Appia Verrucosa Zoe Damiane Silvia Postuma; b. 11 March 1974) is a Latin billionaire, businesswoman and former Latin Empress consort. She was the second wife of Emperor Jason VI Augustus, and is the mother of Emperor Constantine XX.
Zoe is the youngest child of businessman and former Consul Felix Verrucosus, 1st Lord of Istropolis and Lady Damiane Vitruvia. Zoe was educated at some of the top schools in Latium, including Pescia Academy. Zoe first rose to prominence in 1993 after the announcement of her engagement to Jason, Prince of Youth – later Jason VI Augustus. She served as Empress consort during her marriage Jason, from 1997 until their divorce in 1999. Zoe is the first and only Latin consort to have divorced from a monarch. Zoe and Jason had three children over the course of their marriage, Constantine, who is now Emperor Constantine XX; Michael; and Selene.
Zoe re-enrolled in university following her divorce, later graduating with a degree in economics with honors. She has as served the Chairwoman for the Board of Directors for Verrucosus Holdings, of which her family owns a controlling ownership interest. She is also president or chair for a number of charities, including a seat on the board of regents of the University of Haenna.
Early Life and education
Zoe was born on 11 March 1974 to the late Felix Verrucosus, 1st Lord of Istropolis, former Consul of Latium, and his second wife Damiane Vitruvia in Colonia Augusta, a suburb of Castellum ab Alba. She has an older half-brother Pelagius, and two older full-brothers John and Florentine whom she is separated by 20, 17 and 15 years respectively. At her birth she was also given the cognomen Postuma as she was born six months after her father's death. Zoe was baptized into the Reformed Communion on 2 June 1974 at Sancta Sapientia in Castellum ab Alba. Her god parents were Diana Augusta (a friend of her mother); John Verrucosus (her elder brother) and Princess Zoe, Duchess of Haenna (a friend of her mother); and Alexander Vitruvius, 2nd Marchis of Antium (her mother's brother).
Zoe is able to trace descent to Dukes of Vindóbona and former Latin Royal Aemlii dynasty. While her father was born a commoner, he became nationally renowned for his service during the Social War in support of the Imperial cause. Zoe grew up in a life of privilege as the daughter of a former Consul and prominent noble and also as heiress to the growing Verrucosus Building and Infrastructure.
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 Michaelis, 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, only to return to St. Gabriel's for final term of secondary school. 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 Jason, Prince of Youth, the heir to the Latin throne at the time. Zoe would later re-enroll in 2003, graduating with a degree in 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 two friends from secondary school. Imperial Office records state that in summer 1992 Zoe first visited the Palace of Augustus 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 11 February 1993, with the official announcement occurring the following day. Zoe dropped out of school, having only attended classes for one month, and moved into Velia House in Castellum as the Prince's official residence. Zoe was nineteen years old when she married Jason on 27 May 1993, with the wedding taking place at Sancta Sapientia, in a ceremony led by Archbishop of Castellum 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 Questros Palace, in Thessalona, Belfras, while her husband served as Lord 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 faced 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 one of 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 from the very beginning with the rumors and declarations by Honoria Caprenia, 6th Marchioness of Espo that Jason was the father of her son George. While Jason never confirmed these rumors and Imperial Offices, along with Praetorian authorities, threatened to prosecute The Marchioness of Espo for violation of lex maiestas laws and sanction from the Imperial Committee on Peerages. These rumors of Jason's infidelity with not only Espo, but also other women continued to persist, eventually culminating in rumors that Ghantish ambassador Marsella Atmos had become involved in a secret relationship with Emperor Jason in 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 full 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 12 August 1999, stating the divorce had been dealt with in private and was effective immediately. Neither Zoe nor Jason ever publicly spoke 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, Alexandria Youth Symphony, Gelonian National Opera and Orchestra, National Cancer Association, National Hellenic 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 2017 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 Industries 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 | |
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| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
- 11 March 1974 – 27 May 1993: Lady Zoe Verrucosa
- 27 May 1993 – 20 May 1997: Her Imperial Highness The Princess of Youth
- 27 May 1993 – 20 May 1997: Her Imperial Highness The Duchess of Galata
- 20 May 1997 – 12 August 1999: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress
- 29 April 2001 – 13 March 2017: Lady Zoe Verrucosa
- 13 March 2017 – 2 January 2018: Her Highness The Countess of Aarhusium
- 2 January 2018 – present: Her Majesty Empress Zoe, The Empress Mother
While Zoe holds the title of Empress Mother, she remains a Latin peer by virtue of her March 2017 ennobling as Countess Aarhusium. Her full roll of titles is: Her Majesty Empress Zoe, The Empress Mother, Countess of Aarhusium, Viscountess of Florentia, and Lady of Messana.
National decorations
Latium: Knight of the Order of the Ram 
- Latium: Dame Commander of the Most Noble Order of St. Maria
- Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order
Arms
Ancestry
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See also
Zoe Verrucosa Born: 11 March 1974
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| Lao royalty | ||
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| Preceded by The Duke of Adrianople as Prince consort |
Latin Empress consort 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Marsella Atmos |
| Queen consort of Belfras 1997–1999 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
| Vacant 3rd creation extinct in 1775 Title last held by The Prince Michael
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Countess of Aarhusium 2017–present |
Incumbent Heir: Constantine XX |