House of Orlov-Nikomedis

House of Orlov-Bithynia
Noble Family, Dynasty
Parent family	House Orlov House of Bithynia
Country	Velikoslavia Mesogeia
Current region	XX, Velikoslavia
Place of origin	Velikoslavia, Mesogeia
Founded	June 16, 1503
Titles	Duke of Nolinsk Count of Rontov
Motto	Glory, Splendor, Power
Properties	Valmacher Castle, Ustengrav, Velikoslavia
Cadet branches	House of Bithnya-Repnin
Website	www.orbith.vl

History

Early History

The present House of Orlov-Bithynia originated from the union of Prince Phraates Bithyniadis of the Mesogeian regional royal House of Bithynia and Irene of the Velikoslavian noble House of Orlov in early 1501. Being the youngest son of then reigning King Prusias V of Bithynia, Prince Phraates could only hope to inherit very little of his father's vast estates and possessions as the bulk of which would instead pass to his older brother Prince Nikomedes. It was agreed upon by the two families that the newly wedded couple would live amongst Prince Phraates's wife's relations in the Velikoslavian empire.

In the summer of 1503 the couple produced their first child, a son who would carry on the heritage of both his paternal and maternal ancestors, but this joy was soon overshadowed when Prince Phraates' father died suddenly at the end of 1503, which resulted in his arrogant son Prince Nikomedes ascending to the Bithynian throne as King Nikomedes XIX. The young family journeyed to Nikaia, the Bithynian capital were they witnessed Nikomedes XIX's investiture as King in 1504.

Almost a decade after the death of Prince Phraates' father, the parent House of Bithynia was dispossessed of all their lands, properties, and possessions within Mesogeia when the head of the family, King Nikomedes XIX of Bithynia, was charged with treason and the attempted usurpation of imperial sovereignty by the Mesogeian emperor Manuel V Megabagiaridas in 1512. Nikomedes XIX was placed in the Akropolis of Alexandropolis along with all the male members of house of Bithynia, with the exception of Prince Phraates, who was living in Velikoslavia at the time in the Orlov ancestral seat of Nolinsk. The Bithynian royal family were imprisoned in the Akropolis for two years until they were finally executed for treason on the grounds of the Akropolis on September 9th, 1514.

Phraates' eldest son, Heraclonas, had become as the heir to Orlov family after the death of Irene's elder brother Gundak and his only son at the Battle of XX. With the execution of Heraclonas' relatives in 1514, Vladimir II the Conquerer conferred upon Herclonas the surname of Orlov-Bithynia after the wishes of his grandfather Victor, the Grand Duke of Nolinsk, to make him heir were expressed. Victor was advanced in age and knew he likely did not have long to live and was known to dote on his grandson. Upon his death in 1524, Herclonas inherited the March of Orlov and the house was renamed to the House of Orlov-Bithynia.

List of Orlov-Bithynia rulers

• Aristophan I the Builder
• Mariya I
• Alexis I the Preeminent
• Danil IV the Decent
• Aristophan II the Weak