Succession

Full name
	Basileios Stephanos Ioannes Konstantinos

Basil I
Basil I
Basileus of Mysia (more...)
Reign	7 October 2014 – present
Coronation	9 January 2015
Predecessor	Irene II
Heir presumptive	Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia
Born	16 July 1988 (age 36); Rovan, Nyrundy, Garima
Spouse	Margarita Pinaria; (m. 2013; ann. 2017); Cassandra of Ghant (m. 2020);
Issue; Among others	Zenobia, Despoina of Aretias; Princess Basilia; Princess Constantia;
Full name
Full name
	Basileios Stephanos Ioannes Konstantinos
House	Byzennos
Father	Prince Cyril Byzennos
Mother	Irene II of Aretias
Religion	Apostolic Christianity

First six in line from 1 January 2020
1. The Despoina of Mysia
2. The Princess Andrea
3. Princess Constantia
4. The Prince Robert
5. Prince David
6. Princess Anna

Aretias utilizes male-preference primogeniture, with additional mechanisms allowing the reigning Sovereign to appoint his or her heir apparent under traditional Mysian law. Under the Kingdom of Mysia, local Aretian succession laws were strictly male-only, however the reign of Basilissa Irene I due to her claim to Mysia. Upon the ascension of Basileus Stephen I, Mysia entered a personal union with the Electorate of Nyrundy in Garima. This union was dissolved upon the death of Basileus George III, per an arrangement disclaiming the line of George's only son Archduke William and allowing his Mysian titles to pass to George's eldest daughter, Irene. Additionally, the Sovereign may appoint his successor in certain instances, such as a lack of children from his primary marriage. As Vardanan customary law permits a man to have multiple wives, a Sovereign may appoint a son from a secondary wife as heir apparent if he lacks male issue from his primary wife; however, this eventuallity has yet to occur. Generally, succession laws include the minimum requirements of adhering to Apostolic Christianity, legitimate birth, and Sovereign consent to marriages. At the two instances of the ascension of a female sovereign, her husband has become Basileus jure uxoris, however this is largely based in custom and not constitutionality. Per a 2017 declaration from Basileus Basil II, his eldest daughter, Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia, is heir to the Mysian throne unless the birth of a legitimate son displaces her.

Basileus George III (1937–2010)
- Basilissa Irene II (b. 1964)
  - Basileus Basil I (b. 1988)
    - (1) Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia (b. 2014)
    - (2) Princess Andrea (b. 2016)
    - (3) Princess Constantia (b. 2017)
  - (4) Prince Robert (b. 1990)
    - (5) Prince David (b. 2018)
    - (6) Princess Anna (b. 2016)
  - (7) Stefani, Duchess of Suedia (b. 1986)
  - (8) Princess Gregoria (b. 1992)
  - (9) Princess Xene (b. 1995)

Basil I

Basil I (Basileios Stephanos Ioannes Konstantinos; born 16 July 1988) has been Basileus of Mysia since 20 September 2014. He became Basileus following the abdication of his mother Basileia Irene II.

Basil is the second child and eldest son of Basileia Irene II and Prince Cyril Byzennos, later Cyril I. Basil was not expected to be in line to the Mysian throne, but became heir to the kingdom in 2007 following the Nyrundy Disclaimer. He became heir apparent in 2010, and was invested as Despot of Mysia.

Basil was educated in Aretias and Garima, earning a degree and military officer training at [school].

Early life and education

Despot of Aretias

Reign

Relationships and marriages

Marriage to Margarita Pinaria

In early 2012, the Mysian royal household first contacted the Pinaria family to discuss a courtship and possible marriage negotiation between Basil and Margarita Pinaria. Margarita reportedly outright refused to entertain the possibility as her mourning period hadn't ended and concerns about her two young sons. However, those close to Margarita felt that she instead wished to marry the recently ascended Nathan IV of Ghant, whom Margarita courted some time before her marriage to David Philes.

By late summer, Basil and his parents visited Margarita in hometown of Cularo. A courtship was eventually announced on 19 October 2012. Margarita visited Aretias on three occasions during the courtship, which prompted complaints from the local Mysian nobility. However, Basil primarily resided in Latium throughout the courtship and visited court with relatively frequency.

Basil's engagement to Margarita was announced on 18 February 2013 with plans for the wedding to take place in the summer. The marriage contract stipulated a prominent place at court for Margarita's two sons from her previous marriage, and allowed for them to live with her in Perivolia. Margarita continued to reside in Latium with her sons until late May before she relocated to Aretias. The Pinaria family arranged for the wedding to take place at Hagia Anthemia, which historically was the site of many Vardanan royal weddings and coronations prior to 1834.

Basil and Margarita married on 2 June 2013, at Hagia Anthemia, in Leonopolis. It was the first royal Vardanan wedding ceremony to take place at Hagia Anthemia since the 18th century, and was presided over by Apostolic Patriarch Leon X.

They had three children over the course of their short marriage. Their first child, Zenobia, was born on 7 February 2014. Zenobia was born alongside a twin brother who did not survive. On 12 January 2016, the couple had their second child, Basilia. And their third and final child, Constantia, was born on 30 July 2017.

Separation and annulment

Rumors of a breakdown in Basil and Margarita's relationship first arose following the birth of Zenobia. According to first hand accounts, Basil was displeased at the death of their son during childbirth and blamed both Margarita and Zenobia. Later that year, as Basil became King, Margarita later accused him of purposefully selecting the coronation date on her oldest son's birthday out of spite. At the coronation ball later that night, Basil was prominently seen accompanied by a number of other women and left the ball without Margarita.

The relationship continued to deteriorate into 2015 when Latin media outlets first reported on a number of affairs. Issues also arose following the birth of their daughter Basilia, as Basil wasn't present for the birth. In early 2016, Basil ordered Margarita's sons away from court and forced them to Latium immediately. Instead, the boys relocated to Leonopolis with their maternal uncle Robert Pinarius, and at the court of Emperor Constantine XX Claudius. Margarita regularly visited her sons in Leonopolis until August 2016, causing greater issues in the relationship.

In early 2016, yet another affair involving Basil was reported on by Perateian media, as were reports that an illegitimate child was born to Basil by an unnamed mistress, later revealed to be Margarita's lady-in-waiting, XXXX. Margarita subsequently disappeared from public life in August 2016. On 8 October 2016, Margarita was seen entering Heraion, in Leonopolis, after midnight. Basil issued a missive to Emperor Constantine, where Basil implicitly accused Constantine of abduction, and demanded the return of Margarita and their children.

Margarita retained legal counsel and submitted a petition for annulment to Apostolic Patriarch Georgios X, as the marriage was performed by the Apostolic Patriarch. Basil formally objected to Georgios X and argued that the Apostolic Patriarch could not grant an annulment for this marriage. However, the process was expedited at the apparent request of Emperor Constantine, who had recently overseen the Patriarch Georgios's installation a year prior. Basil subsequently accused Constantine of attempting to force an annulment so he could marry Margarita himself; however, Constantine's imperial office retorted that the "Emperor [] is simply ensuring the safety and well-being of a Latin citizen in need, as is the duty of God's chosen Christian Emperor."

Despite the public battle surrounding an annulment, a number of other monarchies issued their displeasure at Margarita's treatment and offered their support, most notably West Merovia. Fearing the potential backlash, Basil was convinced to enter into negotiations with Margarita and her family regarding the annulment. The petition was later amended and accused Basil of one nullity, that of breach of future condition in which Basil agreed to allow Margarita the ability to keep her two sons from a prior marriage with her at court without interference. There was no nullity submitted on the basis of infidelity. The annulment was granted on 2 September 2017, and was followed by a royal decree that recognized Basil and Margarita's eldest daughter Zenobia as the continued heir to the Mysian throne, and granted her the style of Apostolic Highness and the traditional title of the heir apparent, Desponia of Aretias.

Marriage to Cassandra of Ghant

Styles, titles, honors, and arms

Titles and styles

16 July 1988 – 9 September 2007: STYLE Prince Basil Byzennos
9 September 2007 – 17 July 2010: His Royal Highness Prince Basil of Aretias
17 July 2010 – 7 October 2014: His Apostolic and Royal Highness The Despot of Aretias
7 October 2014 – present: His Majesty The Basileus

Honors

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Margarita Pinaria (married Hagia Anthemia 2 June 2013); annulled 2 September 2017
Zenobia, Desponia of Aretias	(2014-02-07) 7 February 2014 (age 10)
Unnamed son	(2014-02-07)7 February 2014
Princess Basilia of Mysia	(2016-01-12) 12 January 2016 (age 8)
Princess Constantia of Mysia	(2017-07-30) 30 July 2017 (age 7)
By TBD (mistress)
TBD	(2016-05-20) 20 May 2016 (age 8)