Queen Mary of Vionna-Frankenlisch
| Mary | |
|---|---|
| Queen of Vionna-Frankenlisch | |
 | |
| Reign | 15th August 1863 - 14th March 1864 |
| Coronation | 19th August 1863 |
| Predecessor | Edward II |
| Successor | Alexander I |
| Born | Mary Wolsted Saint-Marie Turrell 6 July 1824 Grythshead, Kingdom of Vionna |
| Died | 14 March 1864 (aged 39) |
| Burial | Duchy Cathedral, Grythshead |
| Spouse | Frederick of Saxondale (m. 1841–1851); his death |
| Issue | Alexander I |
| Dynasty | Turrell |
| Father | Edward II |
| Religion | Frankenlischian Andyism |
Mary was Queen of Vionna-Frankenlisch and Frankenlischian Empress from 15th August 1863 to her assassination on 14th March 1864. Her reign of 212 days makes her one of three Vionna-Frankenlischian monarchs to have lasted less than a year, outlasting only Richard I, who was deposed in the War of Vionna-Frankenlischian Succession, and Richard II who died of illness after 85 days.
The third child of Edward II and his only daughter, Mary was never expected to take the throne of Vionna-Frankenlisch. However, circumstances forced her into the role after the untimely battle deaths of her two elder brothers, James and Harold at the Battle of Penstle and the Battle of Barfleur Bay respectively. Mary's younger brother William became Prince Imperial but in 1863 he also died, this time of a sudden illness which also claimed the life of the King. With no other alternative, Mary was made Queen and coronated on 19th August 1863.
Queen Mary's short reign was not remarkable in any particular way. It followed a period of heavy warfare under Edward II and saw the begining of a period of peace and prosperity which came to a head under Alexander I, Mary's successor. Considered naive and flighty, Mary had married young to the Duke of Saxondale with whom she mothered three children: Alexander, Caroline, and Richard. The Duke of Saxondale died after ten years of marriage, during which time he had been forced to abdicate his throne due to the marriage. Mary did not marry again, steadily gaining a (possibly undeserved) reputation for promiscuity amongst the Court of Saint Romulus. She hosted many parties and revelled in tournaments and public festivals. Though this made her popular with the common people of her kingdom, Mary was decidedly naive and inept at politics, she did not involve herself in court intrigue and refused to work closely with her government. After seven months a plot by her opposition at court succeeded in assassinating the young Queen, exploiting a lack of security to murder her at a country festival. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Alexander.
Childhood
Mary was born at Grythshead on the 7th of June 1824, during the reign of her grandfather, Edward I. She was the third of the four children of Edward, Duke of Grythshead (later Edward II) and his wife Sarah. She was a healthy baby and was initiated into the Church by High Archbishop Calis IV three months after her birth.
Described as a lively and active child, Mary was not gifted intellectually and little attention was given to her education. Though the Imperial Family adhered to the aristocratic traditions of relative gender equality, Mary was never taken seriously as a candidate for civil or military office partly because she had two elder brothers. She was granted a title, as was usual of the period, on her twelth birthday. Though often old or defunct lordships were presented to royal children, Mary was granted a new title, the Viscouncy of Emmeretton in the Duchy of Gestoria.
From age six until fourteen, Mary was educated by tutors at court and did not exceed at her studies. She left education at fourteen years of age with a strong grip on basic mathematic and literary skills but only a rudimentary knowledge of anything further. She was presented at court on her fifteenth birthday and immediately caught the eye of the young Duke of Saxondale, Frederick. The pair courted for two years and were swiftly married in 1841 when it was discovered that Mary was with child. A son, Alexander was born on 1st June 1841, five months after the wedding of Mary and Frederick.
Viscountess of Emmeretton
Marriage to Frederick of Saxondale
Frederick of Saxe-Wettin-Einhalt was the son of George I of Saxondale and the first of three brothers. He succeeded to the throne of Saxondale at seventeen after his father's death in 1838 and spent much of his time at court in Frankenlisch while a regency council handled many affairs of state back in Saxondale. He was present at many debutante balls and witnessed the presentation of the young Princess Mary, Viscountess of Emmeretton to the Court of Saint Romulus. The pair were introduced after the event and swiftly became inseperable, sharing a love of romantic culture (particularly the poetry and stories of Lord Elleric) and a disdain for the military, both having warlike, militaristic fathers. When Frederick reached eighteen, he began to gain more power in his homeland as more powers were granted him by his council, keeping him distracted from his two true loves, Mary, and the culture of Frankenlisch.
Despite the responsibilities that seperated them, Mary and Frederick still managed to meet often and, in 1841, it was discovered that Mary was pregnant. The pair were swiftly married in the Grand Cathedral in Frankenlisch. Though the marriage ceremony and celebrations were enjoyed by the common people of both countries, the conservative, germanic Saxondale did not dismiss the scandalous circumstances of the marriage as Frankenlisch had. In July 1841, not long after the birth of the pair's first child Alexander, Frederick was forced to abdicate as Duke of Saxondale. His younger brother, George, took the throne and ten years later would led his country into war with Vionna-Frankenlisch during the War of the Vionnan Coalition.
The Viscouncy of Emmeretton did not carry land with it, it was tied only to a small estate and was liege to the baronies of Heatherford and Bandrey. Though her administration skills were lacklustre, Mary became popular with her vassal barons, Harold of Bandrey and Gerald of Heatherford, mostly due to her financial support of their fiefs. She was also popular amongst the common people of the lands beneath her who enjoyed her patronage of festivals and found her naive and kind nature endearing during the Princess' common visits. Though he was distrusted for his Saxoner roots, Frederick was generally liked. The pair resided in relative peace at the estate of Emmeretton Hill for several years and Mary would give birth to her two other children there: Caroline in 1842, and Richard in 1843.