Ferdinand IV of Asvarre
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| Ferdinand IV | |
|---|---|
 Ferdinand c. 1945 | |
| King of Asvarre | |
| Tenure | 3 October 1907 – 17 February 1951 |
| Coronation | 16 April 1908 |
| Predecessor | Ferdinand III |
| Successor | Maximillian V |
| Minister President(s) | See list |
| Born | Ferdinand Filips Karel Albert Maria Clemens 30 March 1879 Montsch, Department of Castasengen, Kingdom of Asvarre |
| Died | 17 February 1951 (age 71) Kasteel Irishof, Department of Westerlo, Kingdom of Asvarre |
| Burial | Ferdinand IV Mausoleum, Selsaete Castle, Selsaete, Kingdom of Asvarre |
| Spouse | Countess Maria-Teresa van Montgelas |
| Issue | Maximillian V Frans-Ferdinand Princess Franziska Princess Katherina Princess Teresa |
| House | Bourbon-Parma |
| Father | Prince Filips, Count of Florennes |
| Mother | Princess Marie of Ysenburg and Zwartenberg |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Ferdinand IV (Frans Ferdinand Karel Albert Maria Clemens; 30 March 1879 – 17 February 1951), also known as the Knight-King (Dutch: De Koning-Ridder) was King of Asvarre from 3 October 1907 till his death in 17 February 1951.
Born during the reign of his grandfather King Ferdinand II, Ferdinand was third in line of succession behind his father Prince Filips, Count of Florennes, and his uncle Maximillian, Crown Prince, until the unexpected death of his father in 1903 put in direct line for the throne and subsquentially given the title of Count of Florennes. From 1897 to 1907, Ferdinand had served in the Atmoran Army achieving the rank of Luitenant-kolonel and command of the 3e Bataljon, 2e Garderegiment Dragonders. He became King of Asvarre upon the death of his uncle in 1907.
His reign saw the Second and the Third Voshan Wars, as well as leading Asvarre in the Atmoran Civil War on the side of High Queen Katherine I of Atmora in the Castaliense Confederation. Upon the defeat of Atmora in the Second Voshan War Chancellor Reinout E. Bolkesteijn sought to increase the effiency of the Atmoran Army with the passage of the National Defence Amendments Act of 1917 the Royal Asvarrese Army was dissolved along with other state armies and placed under the command of the Monarch of Atmora. Following the 1931 September Crisis, there was an attempt made by the Young Voshans to assassinate King Ferdindand IV for his alleged compliance in the Vozhsk ethnic genocides during the Voshan Wars.
Ferdinand IV was married to Countess Maria-Teresa van Montgelas together they had 5 children; King Maximillian V, King Frans-Ferdinand, Princess Franziska, Princess Katherina, and Princess Teresa. His granddaughter Princess Alexandra of Asvarre from his son King Frans-Ferdinand would go on to marry High Queen Katherine I's son High King William. Making Ferdinand IV the great-grandfather of the current High Queen Katherine II.
Ferdinand IV is widely considered as the greatest King of Asvarre, where he is affectionally known as the Knight-King or as the Soldier-King (Dutch: De Koning-Soldaat) for his role in leading Asvarre in the Atmoran Civil War. While in Atmora as a whole he is often called the Liberator (Dutch: De Bevrijder) for his instrumental role in the liberation of Atmora.
Early year
Affectionally known by his family as Ferdi, Ferdinand IV was born as the only child of the Count and Countess of Florennes. His father Prince Filips, Count of Florennes was the younger brother to King Ferdinand III, following the death of his father the Count of Florennes in 1903 he was named his uncle's heir presumptive and given the title as Count of Florennes in 7 December 1903. In 30 September 1907 King Ferdinand III while visiting the spa town of Biarritz in Southern Asvarre, King Ferdinand III had a severe heart attack and later would die at 07:03 A.M. 3 October 1907. Upon his uncle's death Prince Frans Ferdinand was proclaimed as King Ferdinand IV of Asvarre.
Marriage and children
King of Asvarre
Third Voshan War
Following the Atmoran invasion of Vozh in 1941, Ferdinand IV had expressed his concerns to the High Queen believing that Chancellor Geuzendam was a fool who would lead to the destruction of Atmora. Tensions boiled over with Ferdinand IV following Chancellor Geuzendam's War Measures Act of 1942, that further devolved the powers of the states. Expressing his concern to the High Queen, that the states are sovereign and equal to eachother. For further intrusion upon the states rights and what he felt was the vassalisation of the states to Alexandria would lead to Asvarre's succession from the Confederation. In 1 November 1943, following the appointment of Michiel Seinen as Rijkstadhouder of Asvarre was the final straw for Ferdinand IV resulting in him and the Prince of Lippe and the Princess of Alsatia raising arms against the Chancellor in the Revolt of the Princes. Units within the Kingdom of Asvarre, Principalities of Lippe, and Alsatia along with armed civilian Landstorms were ultimately successful in overthrowing the fascist Rijkstadhouders in the three rebelling States.
Seeing the success of King Ferdinand IV's rebellion in the south, the High Queen along with units loyal to her attempted to overthrow the Chancellor during the Queen's Putsch of 1943. However within Central Atmora the Chancellor held enough control over the local garrisons that ultimately the High Queen's Putsch was a failure. Ferdinand IV seeing High Queen Katherine I as a valuble asset in the Atmoran Civil War offered her and other Federal Princes refuge within his Kingdom. Dispatching battleships HMS Hildebrand and HMS Verthandy along with several escorts to evacuate the High Queen's forces safely to Straasburg.
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Final years
Titles, styles and honours
| Styles of King Ferdinand IV of Asvarre | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | His Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Sire |
Titles and styles
- 17 February 1951 – 7 December 1903: His Royal Highness Prince Frans-Ferdidnand of Asvarre
- 7 December 1903 – 3 October 1907: His Royal Highness Prince Frans-Ferdidnand, Count of Florennes
- 3 October 1907 – 17 February 1951: His Majesty the King of Asvarre
Honours
Military ranks
Military ranks of the Atmoran Armed Forces
Atmoran Army
|
First Lieutenant, 19 August 1897 |
|
Ritmeester, 1 October 1899 |
|
Major, 1 September 1904 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel, 1 July 1906 |
|
General, 5 December 1943 |
|
Field Marshal, 17 July 1945 |