Leo of Ghant
| Leo | |||||
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| Duke of Arretium Prince of Ghant | |||||
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| Born | 31 August 1990 Empress Elena Hospital, Ghish, Ghant | ||||
| Spouse | Joanna of Keld (m. 2019) | ||||
| Issue Detail | |||||
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| House | Gentry | ||||
| Father | John IV of Ghant | ||||
| Mother | Isabella of Latium | ||||
| Religion | Church of Ghant | ||||
| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance |  Ghant | ||||
| Service/ | Ghantish Army | ||||
| Years of service | 2009–present | ||||
| Ghantish Imperial Family |
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Extended imperial family
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| Gelonian Royal Family |
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Extended royal family
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Prince Leo of Ghant (Leo John Robert Aurelius; b. 31 August 1990) commonly known as Prince Leo, is third child and second son of John IV of Ghant and Princess Isabella of Latium. At the time of his birth, Leo was third in line to the Obsidian Throne; he is currently fifth.
Born at Empress Elena Hospital, in Ghish, Leo was educated at Sanctus Michaelis, in Castellum, and later underwent officer training and university studies at Academia Militaris Olympia. While at Olympia, he studied international strategy and participated in the Leadership Development Program. Following his graduation he was commissioned as a Captain in the Ghantish Army, and served as a defense attaché at the Ghantish Embassy in Castellum. Later, Leo served alongside Latin Armed Forces, and the 4th legion before he took a leave of absence in 2017.
In spring 2018, he was appointed Imperial Justiciar of Ghant. His tenure as Justiciar saw an increase in investigations and prosecutions into corruption among Ghantish imperial courtiers and officials.
Early Life
Leo was born at Empress Elena Hospital, in Ghish, Ghant on 31 August 1990. He is the third child of John IV of Ghant and Princess Isabella of Latium. He was named Leo for his grandfather Leo X Claudius and John for his father. His birth was celebrated in Ghant and in Latium. Leo was baptized into the Church of Ghant, on 20 January 1991. His godparents are X, Y; then Jason, Prince of Youth (his mother's brother); and Stephania Pinaria (Jason's wife). He and his siblings were raised at the Imperial Palace, in Ghish during the reign of his grandfather. At court, Leo was known as an active, lively, and willful child.
From 2004 to 2018, Leo spent most of his time in Latium under the supervision of his uncle Emperor Jason VI Claudius. Due to his father’s medical conditions, Leo and his family often spent much of winter in the Periclean region, including Montgisard, Gran Aligonia and the Latin island of Mariana.
Education
Initially, Leo's father hired tutors from both Ghant and Latium, particularly Perateia, to educate Leo and his siblings. The most prominent of which was Pankratios Anemas. In 2004, Leo and his sister Theodora were sent to Latium for their education. While in Latium, Leo was under the care of his uncle, Emperor Jason VI Claudius, and resided at court.
Leo’s education in Latium began at Lyceum Sanctus Michaelis, where he was placed in the same class as his cousin Princess Maria of Latium. Due to his education, Leo is fluent in Latin, as well as his native Ghantish. He also received lessons on Arthuristan, Audonic, and Mysian.
He then attended Lyceum Sanctus Michaelis for secondary school, earning his bac in 2007. He chose to forgo a gap year, and joined the Ghantish Army, where he enrolled at Academia Militaris Olympia for officer training after being granted a foreign cadet exemption from his uncle. While at Olympia, he primarily studied international strategy and was a participant in the Leadership Development Science program. He graduated in 2010 with a commission as a Captain in the Ghantish Army.
Military Career
Leo received his military training at Academia Militaris Olympia, Latium’s main military service academy. He was first enrolled as a cadet in 2009, and during his first year participated in the Student Conference on Belisarian Affairs as his primary extracurricular activity. After undergoing training and schooling for three years at Olympia, Leo was commissioned on 1 June 2012 as a Decurion. Following his commission, Leo sought active service, but instead his brother assigned him to the Ghantish Embassy, in Castellum, as a defense attaché where he served as a liaison with Latin Imperial court. Serving in this role from 2010 to 2016, Leo was regularly at the Palace of Augustus, and worked in close cooperation with Latin officials on matters of Ghantish-Latin relations. In 2016, Leo was made a military tribune by his uncle – the first to either a foreign national or foreign-born prince in nearly 300 years.
From January 2015 until April 2015, Leo spent time with a cohort of the 7th legion along the Lyncanestrian-Skladafen border. Leo participated in numerous military exercises while stationed with the 4th Legion, including war games with Belisarian allies. In April 2015, Leo joined a detachment of 4th Legion, stationed in Kalymnos, outside of Leonopolis, in the Diocese of the East. While in Kalymnos, Leo assisted the 4h legion in providing aid and support to residents of Orestiada following an earthquake. Leo also served under Count Frederick, Duke of Rahdenburg as a temporary aide-de-camp. Leo was on hand for the unexpected arrival of his cousin Princess Leona - then Queen of Aretias - and, on 24 August, escorted her back to Castellum. He was put on leave in early January 2017, and remains a member of the army reserve.
Ghantish Privy Council
Imperial Justiciar
In spring 2018, Leo was appointed Imperial Justiciar of Ghant by his half-brother, Emperor Nathan IV. Prior to his appointment, he held a seat on the Ghantish Privy Council as an Adjunct since 2006. Since becoming Justiciar, Leo has removed many of his predecessor's appointments and installed his own subordinates. He has made an effort to target corruption in Ghantish imperial court, and has authorized the investigation and arrest of a number of court officials.
Despite prioritizing an anti-corruption agenda, he has numerous critics at court and in Ghant who have denounced his liberal use of Imperial Marshals to carry out arrests. The most notable of these critics is his cousin, Princess Cassandra, who has pardoned a number of those who have been arrested and prosecuted. These pardons are said to have caused an ever growing rift at court between the various factions. In 2019, reports circulated that Leo offered his resignation to his brother Emperor Nathan IV; however a spokesperson from the Justicar's office stated that the report was "unfounded."
Imperial Manus
Leo was appointed Imperial Manus, charged with the administration and the premier office of the Ghantish Imperial court, replacing his cousin Princess Cassandra.
Personal life
Little is known of Prince Leo's personal life. The most widely known fact of Leo's personal life is that he and Emperor Constantine XX are close friends; Leo was the best man at Constantine's wedding in December 2017. Leo is a known football fan, and is a fan of Liga Premier side FC Imperialis Ianiculum. Along with his military training, Leo is known to be trained at traditional arms, though his swordsmanship skills are largely unknown. He came into possession of the Arragaran steel sword Lokatz.
In February 2018, Leo came into ownership of Palatium Blachernae, in Blachernae, Latium. It is his primary residence in Latium, though he maintains an apartment at various Imperial residences, including the Palace of Augustus.
Courtships
Rumors of relationship between Leo and Anna Kinnamina, now a Latin Senator, extend as far back as secondary school. The first instance of this was when the pair attended end of the year formal together at Sanctus Michaelis in 2008 and 2009. Over the years, the two have been spotted together at numerous events, state functions, and even in the public sphere. In 2010, Leo briefly courted XXXX, and from 2014 to 2015 courted Antonia Antistia.
In summer 2014, Leo traveled to the Kingdom of Izotza, in Ghant, to court Queen Izolde I at the request of his brother. Leo knew little of Izolde at the time and according to those at Ghantish court, she was eager for Leo's arrival. Leo remained in Izotza for a week upon his first visit. Though he was still an active member of the Latin Army, Leo frequented Izotza between 2015 and 2016. In summer 2015, Izolde gave birth to a daughter, Edura, Crown Princess of Izotza. Izolde has thus far refused to speak on her daughter's paternity, though Leo is believed to be Edura's father.
Marriage
In 2018, Leo traveled to Keld to obtain approve to court with Princess Joanna of Keld. The courtship was confirmed in June 2018. They became engaged on 9 February 2016, which was the first such royal engagement in Gelonia announced on social media.
The couple resided together at the Imperial Palace, in Ghish, following their engagement, during which Leo was serving as Imperial Justiciar. They were married on 1 February 2019, at the Ghish Cathedral, upon which Leo was granted an estate in Low Ghant by his brother Emperor Nathan.
Children
Leo and Lena had their first child, Alara, on 18 October 2016. Their second child, Arthur, was born on 15 August 2019. Leo and Lena have two children:
- Princess Constantine Peter John Jason, born 18 October 2019 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
Titles, styles, honors and arms
Titles and styles
- 31 August 1990 – present: His Imperial Highness The Prince Leo
- 19 May 1997 – 8 November 2014: His Imperial Highness The Prince Imperial
- In Latium
- 31 January 2019 – present: His Imperial Highness The Duke of Arretium
Leo is a Prince of Ghant by birth, based on his status as the second son of John IV of Ghant and a male-line member of the House of Gentry. While entitled to the rank of "prince" in Ghant. Due to his royal birth, Leo does not use a surname for everyday purposes. According to classmates at Olympia, Leo's cadet uniform listed his surname as "Hyperboreae" (of Ghant).
He is a Knight of the Order of the Ram, and holds Knight Commander of the Ancient Equestrian Order and Grand Cross of the Sacred Order of Felix. He is also a recipient of the Medal for Valor and holds Membership in the Most Ancient Praetorian Order. He is a member of the Emperor's Council and a Personal aide-de-camp to the Emperor.
Honors
Gelonia: Royal Knight of the Illustrious Order of the Red Hand 
Medals
Latium: Recipient of the Medal for Valor 
Foreign honors
- Latium: Knight of the Order of the Winged Ram
- Latium: Knight of the Sacred Order of Golden Eagle
- Latium: Knight of the Ancient Equestrian Order
- Latium: Member of the Order of the Grass Crown
Lyncanestria: Officer of the Order of the Golden Sceptre <imgur w="50">qn7pDc5.png</imgur> 19 November 2017
Perateia: Knight of the Order of Christ the Defender 
Sydalon: Knight of the Order of the Holy Lance 
30 June 2017
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
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| By Joanna of Keld | |||
| Prince Constantine | 15 August 2019 | ||
Ancestry
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See also
Leo of Ghant Born: 31 August 1990
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| Lines of succession | ||
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| Preceded by Prince William of Ghant |
Succession to the Ghantish throne 5th in line |
Followed by The Duke of Oxonia |