Erik X Gustaf of Emerstari

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Erik X Gustaf
King of Emerstari
Bianca Wallin - Porträtt av Prins Gustaf Adolf, 1939.JPG
Erik X Gustaf in 1946 by Karl Ingemjar Mjelken
King of Emerstari
Tenure31 August 1916 – 31 January 1972
Coronation25 December 1916
PredecessorElsa III Marie
SuccessorErik XI Deitrik
BornErik Hasse Eirikr
Osterflodplats
DiedBlommaskeflodborg
Burial
SpouseNathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud
Issue
Posthumous name
der Langtlivere
HouseEirikr
ReligionLutheranism

Erik X Gustaf (Erik Hasse Eirikr; 18 August 1900 – 17 February 2019) was King of Emerstari from 1916 until his abdication in 1972. He was a member of the House of Eirikr and was the longest-living King of Emerstari as well as the second longest-reigning, after Georg I Erik.

Erik was born in Osterflodplats, the first of two children of the reigning Queen Elsa III Marie of Emerstari and the King-regnant Hasse Johann Eirikr, third cousins once removed who were suggested for marriage to sustain the male-line of Eirikr Segersælla on the throne. He was educated until the age of thirteen privately at home; from thirteen to fifteen, he was educated by an older cousin at the Eirikrianlarninghus. At the age of sixteen, though, his mother abdicated on pressure from extended family and the Herrers Hus, and he was crowned King of Emerstari amidst the Ten Years' War. He married Nathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud, the daughter of the Duke of Whentii, in 1926, when she was twenty-two and he twenty-six, and they had three children: Erik XI Deitrik in 1933, Deitrik Frederik, Prince of Emerstari in 1936, and Inge Marie, Queen of Saexeland in 1937.

Early life

Erik with, from left to right, his grandfather, Deitrik Valter, his great-grandfather Georg Valter, and father Hasse Johann.

The future Erik X Gustaf was born on 18 August 1900, during the reign of his mother and father, Elsa III Marie and Hasse Johann Eirikr. His father was King-regnant during the reign of his mother as well as his mother's third cousin once removed; the couple had been married primarily for the purpose of preserving the male-line of Eirikr Segersælla on the Emerstarian throne. Despite this, his sister, born in 1903, Henriette Sofia later described their parents as loving and caring. An uncle of Erik, Georg Jakob, who served in the Royal Court as Master of the Arms, explained in his book Vår Slutlig Kuingers åg Drottningers Liverssaga (Our Recent Kings' and Queens' Biographies), "The marriage was a loveless union, even a mute one, created purely for the purposes of continuing a bloodline. That is, until their children were born, Erik Hasse (having succeeded his mother on 25 December 1916 as Erik X Gustaf) in 1900 and Henriette Sofia (having married Rudolf Frederik, the Duke of Ekkesburg upon his return from war), — they were a gift from God, surely, perhaps for the two's years of service to the Emerstarian nation." Erik was baptised by the Bishop of the Synod, Karl Olaf Munsing, at Rensulier Cathedral on on 1 November 1916.

Until the age of thirteen, he was educated privately, primarily by Oskar Harald Gormundssen, a prominent Emerstarian author of the day. Though, primarily known for his work in political satire novels, he was personally praised by Erik's father for his learnedness in mathematics and history as well as for his manliness, a sailor in the Royal Emerstarian Navy in his younger years. Future Bishop of Fjellborg, Ulrik Bjorn Strommann, was his tutor in religion, and retired Colonel-general Rudolf Alderik Frederikssen taught him of tactics and war. During this time he enjoyed time with his grandfather, the Duke of Koburg, fencing, riding horses, and camping.

At age fourteen, he began attending the Eirikrianlarninghus under the guiding hand of his older cousin, the twenty-five-year-old future Duke of Koburg, Håkon Valter. Their shared grandfather died the year after in 1915, meaning Håkon's father, Erik's uncle, Håkon Deitrik was the new Duke of Koburg. The heir presumptive had previously been taught Old Emerstarian, Marseilian, and Canarian, but in mid-1915, with a ceasefire being discussed, he went on a tour of the frontlines with his cousin, who taught him Rhenish during the trip. He would later have some understanding of Soumian and Dhouldiac.

Reign

Ascension to the throne

Erik X Gustaf at age twenty-two.

Erik and his cousin were present at the Unterschundt Agreement on 12 September 1915 when a sixteen month-long ceasefire was agreed to; when the two returned to Emerstari, talk in Herrers Hus of formally requesting the Queen's abdication some time after Erik's sixteenth birthday, so as to return a man to the throne. Loff Frederik Fjellborg, the Duke of Fjellborg at the time and a member of the Herrers Hus, submitted a letter to the Kronsmann i der Herrers Hus (Crown's Representative in the House of Lords) on 2 October 1915, stating, "Speaking for a considerably sized group of peers in this letter, I say that, with all respect to the King-regnant, we had ought to see a man sit on the throne when the war in Rhenland resumes...God save the Queen and long live the Crown Prince."

On 1 June 1916, Queen Elsa Marie III dictated the Drottningsfarvalskeakt, saying that she would formally abdicate on 31 August that year, thirteen days after her son's sixteenth birthday, and that a coronation was being scheduled for Christmas Day. As a result of this announcement, his sixteenth birthday was attended by many of the dukes of Emerstari, — in his autobiography, written with his son Erik XI Deitrik in 2002, he remembered that the Duke of Fjellborg, "earnestly sought [his] mother's forgiveness," — the Duke of Whentii, like several other dukes, bringing his children. This is believed to be Erik's first encounter with his future wife, Nathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud, who was twelve at the time; their marriage wasn't arranged, though, and there was no thoughts of a marriage between the two at this point.

Erik X Gustaf was crowned on 25 December 1916 in Rensulier Cathedral, the youngest Emerstarian King, two years younger than Karl IV Lorens who had been eighteen. His coronation was the first Emerstarian coronation to be broadcasted on radio; later, his son's coronation would be the first coronation to be televised. Out of the ordinary, though a neccesity due to the ceasefire's impending end in a month, his Royal Court appointments were published next day, having been prepared the weeks prior.

Ten Years' War

Erik X Gustaf in 1926.

On 12 January 1917, the war officially resumed, but in reality, the first battle to occur after the ceasefire was not until 2 March 1917. Some soldiers had gone home during the ceasefire, but many stayed on the front, some interacting with the enemy on a near-daily basis, learning each other's languages, names, and lifestories, so there was a general relunctancy to return to war. At home in several nations, anti-war politicians asked why continue. Erik, now King, wrote a private communication to the Kings of Marseile, Rhenland, and Saexeland, inquiring on their thoughts. A letter from the King of Rhenland was uncovered in the Kuingskearkiver in 1989, responding to Erik, reading, "Cousin," (cousin being used as a title of respect between the Kings; truly, they were more distant cousins) "I hope you do not speak of peace with the Meirians anymore, — you have been King for but months and in this war for even less than that...Frankly, Emerstari will not be subject to as great economic and political consequences as Rhenland will be if we deal with [the Meir League] at this moment."

In July 1917, the capital of Osteinland, one of the four members of the Meir League, fell and its government was suing for peace. Erik and Robert IV of Marseile personally attended the peace conference in Ulsch. Afterwards, he proceeded to go on a second tour of the frontlines, during which he notably played the fiddle and sang with a group of King's Foot Guards, one recording and several pictures of which still exist to this day.

The Battle of Olfenschlauste, a crippling blow to Meirian forces, occurred from 7–9 October 1920, effectively creating a informal ceasefire. Within the week, the Emperor of Polsnia stated that he would be willing to accept peace under reasonable terms. Erik attended the discussions in Ylle in January 1921, where he was said to have acted more as a mediator than as a member of his own Potois League; several newspapers foreign and domestic began to claim the King had Meirian sentiments. Marseilian reporter Jean-Pierre Boucher, known for his brashness, remarked that Erik "may have found himself a young mistress among the nobles or royals of Meirian nations, one that is surely his cousin." He was banned from travel to Emerstari for several weeks before the Marseilian King asked that he retract the statement on grounds of slander.

In 1922, Erik helped found the Venson Pact, later the Venson Union, with the Kings of Marseile and Roele.

Marriage

Erik X Gustaf and Nathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud at their wedding in 1926.

Upon the King's return to Emerstari after the peace dealings in Ylle on 30 January, a victory celebration was held in Rensulier Palace on 20 February. The Duke of Whentii, hereditary Lord Marshal, attended, bringing Nathalie Jakoba this time, indeed believing the now twenty-one-year-old King would take interest in his daughter, seventeen-years-old. Found in 1989 in the same place as the letter from the King of Rhenland, a letter from Erik to the Duke of Whentii was also discovered, dating from 2 March: "My most trusted Lord Marshal, Duke Whentii...At the party some days ago, I have a suspiscion your first daughter took a liking to me...I hope it would not be disagreeable with you that we see each other further, that one day, she may sit as Queen of Emerstari?" Throughout his reign, Erik X Gustaf became known with his vision of the monarchy as a dignified, regal, and pious institution; letters of the same topic were sent, after a positive response from the Duke of Whentii, to his father, his Privy Councillors, the President-citizen Anders Georg Treggessen, and the Bishop of the Synod Karl Olaf Munsing to gather their opinions on Nathalie Jakoba possibly becoming Queen-consort.

An engagement was announced on 24 April 1924, the King having proposed three days prior at Kuingsslott in eastern Flodland, and the couple were married in Rensulier Cathedral on 2 May 1926. The Duke of Whentii gave a dowry of 1,000,000 S in 1926's money, about 1,560,000 S in today's money or about 4,720,000 NSD.

Issue

Within the first several years of their marriage, rumors that either the King of the Queen was infertile as no children had been born. Their first child, declared Crown Prince of Emerstari at birth, was Erik Håkon, born in 1933. They had two children after him, Deitrik Frederik in 1936 and Inge Marie in 1937.

Agerland Affair

Erik X Gustaf at the 1931 Hastiludia games, hosted by Emerstari.
Erik X Gustaf with several Emerstarian generals during the Agerland Affair.

On 23 November 1933, two Emerstarian naval patrol vessels off the coast of the island of Olesky were fired upon by Imperial Renochesvian ships; Renochesvia claimed that in the weeks prior, Emerstarian naval patrols had been stopping and illegally tolling Renochesvian merchants. Erik quietly dismissed Varner Jakob Ulfsten and Ragnvald Olaf Månsstrom, the Royal Governor of Emerstarian Agerland and the commanding officer Emerstarian naval garrison there, fining them and stripping them both of several titles; in 1941, both were put on trial for tax evasion and given twelve years in prison each. Emerstarian documents later released in 1945 revealed that two had, indeed, been illegally stopping and tolling Renochesvian merchant vessels in Emerstarian waters for several years, keeping the money for themselves, and not paying taxes on it.

Publicly, the King sought a diplomatic resolution, believing the Renochesvian Emperor would not want war due to his own nation's present internal issues. In a private message dating from 7 January 1934, Erik explained to the Renochesvian Emperor, "Cousin, I have found that there was some corruption within the garrison on Brunsulfsø...I am sure that we will be able to come to a peaceful settlement on this matter." In reply, the Renochesvian Emperor, Alexander IV, requested a sum of 1,500,000 S to be handed over pubicly. In another message, this was agreed upon, that the money would be sent on 1 February; however, on 26 January Alexander IV was shot and killed by communist radical, Feodor Vladimirovich. His son, Peter III contacted Erik and stated that he would not take the money in exchange for Emerstarian support against the communists and potential asylum for his family. Erik responded, accepting the proffer of potential aslyum, but he refused to grant any military support.

The issue continued, unresolved, being swept aside by Renochesvia's internal issues, until 1936, by which time Renochesvia had split into two. Between 1934 and 1936, the communists, minorities, and anti-royalists of Renochesvia rose up in arms against the Emperor and split the country into east and west; the imperialists held the Renovian homeland in the east while the rebels held roughly the western two-thirds of the country. On 27 August 1936, Peter III sent a message to Erik, saying, "Cousin, you have surely seen enough evidence of the belligerence of these godless rebels, their leaders perverted in many ways...Considerable portions of my nation's land now lies in their grasp...I suspect Agerland will soon be taken as well, so I once again plead for support as I have been..." Erik offered to give Renochesvia naval support to an extent; the Polsnians followed suit, supporting Renochesvia on the ground.

Renochesvian rebels attacked the Agerland Isles first on 9 March 1937, finding both Imperialists and Emerstarians defending it. The rebels did initally have success in their Agerland campaign, taking three islands before the end of the summer of 1937. Emerstarians notably suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Chelm, where two companies, under the command of Ervin Jakob Skogsmann, future ambassador to Rolanes and a military adjutant during the Eisengardian Invasion of Blusten, were nearly completely destroyed. However, by 1938, the tide of war turned, and the rebels evacuated Agerland, mostly ending Emerstarian support to Imperialist Renochesvia.

Ulsdeg Referendum

A photograph portrait Erik X Gustaf from 1943.

Several years of talk of independence for New Retermi culminated in 1943, when Erik and the Emerstarian Forbundskongress allowed a referendum for independence to be held, name the Ulsdeg Referendum in honor of the Royal Governor of New Retermi at the time. On 18 August 1943, the King's forty-third birthday, the results of the referendum were released, with seventy-two percent of the population voting for independence. A second referendum, the King's Referendum as it came to be known, was held thereafter and determined that there would not be a split of the Crown when New Retermi became independent, with eighty-one percent of New Retermians wanting to create Erik the King of New Retermi. On 22 January 1945, New Retermi formally seceded from the Emerstarian Empire and became a founding member of the Emerstarian Commonwealth alongside Emerstari herself. Erik was crowned King of New Retermi on 1 November 1945. Soumeland became the third member of the Emerstarian Commonwealth months after, despite having broke the union of the Soumish and Emerstarian Crowns in 1905 under the rule of Erik's mother.

Assassination attempt

In 1950, Imperialist and Communist Renochesvia having been at peace with each other for several years, Erik visited Peter III at the imperial home in Giorgiopol. While outside the palace, a crowd had gathered to see the two monarchs and two shots rang out before the gunman, Boris Maliokov, was disarmed by several men within the crowd; both shots had been fired too high to hit either of the mmonarchs. Maliokov was associated with the same group that had killed Peter's father almost two decades prior; when interrogated in custody, he admitted to intoxication but still declared that he wanted to kill "those inbred, feudal slavemasters." On the eve of his execution, he received a letter from Erik stating that he forgave him, which the Bishop of the Synod had advised Erik to write. Maliokov supposedly kept it in his pocket for when he was hanged.

Support of Blusten

Erik X Gustaf and Queen Nathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud visiting the frontlines in Blusten.

Having invaded Blusten, Eisengardian forces proceeded to invade Rolanes, an Emerstarian ally, destroying the Emerstarian embassy there. The ambassador, Ervin Jakob Skogsmann, a veteran of the Agerland Affair, reported this to Erik, who was also informed that Eisengard was moving forces towards Emerstarian Eisenland. He ordered the Emerstarian garrison there to be prepared for war, and in late winter 1955, Eisengard invaded Emerstarian territory. The Forbundskongress declared war the following day. The Blusten Conflict, as it was termed, lasted until 1957 in a victory for Emerstari and her allies; it is not considered a very important war in Emerstarian history, but 11,291 Emerstarians died amidst it. In 1956, Erik and Nathalie toured the frontlines against the wishes of numerous royal family members and politicians, famously meeting the COFTR, a group of teenaged Blusten freedom fighters.

Later reign

In 1966, the King celebrated his Golden Jubilee, which all of the Emerstarian peerage attended, as did many members of the gentry. Erik had not put much attention into his Silver Jubilee, but his Golden Jubilee was marked by its extravagance. Many of the monarchs of Arda en' Estel attended, and it is reportedly where Erik XI Deitrik and Synnøva Margaret Leijonhuvud found interest in one another.

Dismissing of legislature

Member of the Folks Hus for Yoerk, Lars Mikael Grevemann, composed and proposed a bill in late-1966 to liberalize Emerstarian divorce law, which required proof of adultery or abuse. By 1967, the bill had gained a considerable amount of support and was set to be voted upon on 8 July, passing in the Folks Hus. The bill proceeded to pass in the Sammråd, by a smaller margin, and was set to move into the Herrers Hus. Bishop Harald Leff Frederikssen, a member of the Herrers Hus, advocated his support for the bill and hoped that his fellow peers and clergymen would "put ancient law aside" and vote yea. Erik requested the Bishop to retract this statement, and upon the Bishop's refusal to do so, he dismissed the legislature for the remainder of the Summer Session, and he stated, "I shall refuse, in my capacity, not only as King, but also as Patriarch of our Nation and Defender of our Church, to sign approval onto any bill that seeks to destroy the sacred union that is marriage and the honor of Emerstari, and I will not allow any congress of mine to do so either." He thereafter campaigned for the opposition of the bill and the Spring Session of 1967 saw the reversal of support for the bill in the Sammråd and by several members of the Folks Hus.

Slovyan Insurgency

Emerstarian soldiers in Slovya in 1969.

In the early- and mid-1960s, Slovyan monarchists in communist Renochesvia began to riot and talk of revolt, and in 1967, they openly rebelled, having the backing of the Venson Union, primarily of Emerstari and Rolech. Until mid-1968, the support was merely in supplies; however, on 23 August 1968, a joint-force of five hundred Emerstarians and Rolechians landed in rebel-controlled Slovya. By spring 1969, several thousand joint-Venson forces were in Slovya, but by the fall of that year, the communist government regained the upper hand. In early-1971, the Venson Union began to pull out of Slovya, believing the cause was lost for the moment, and by 26 June 1971, all Venson forces were out of Slovya. Erik ordered the Emerstarian soldiers there, originally a full regiment, to be flown to Rensulier, where he thanked them all for their service and issued them various medals.

Abdication

On 19 August 1972, a day after his seventy-second birthday, Erik summoned what peers, clergymen, and politicians could come and released and read his Letters of Abdication, which were broadcasted on television and radio and published in newspaper. The speech was as follows:

My dear Emerstarians, the first time I appeared in this great building was near seventy-two years ago; I was baptised here by one of our greatest Bishops of the Synod, now-passed. Sixteen years thereafter, I appeared in this building as your Sovereign on Christmas Day 1916. Today, I again appear in this most holy of buildings, in what will be my final appearance in this building as your Sovereign. Coming to the throne at the age of sixteen, barely a frimann myself, upon the abdication of my mother and father, which was, in fact, in this same month, I have served this nation, gifted to us through our great ancestor Hemar by God, in, I hope you view it as such, a dutiful and good way. I pass the throne now to my eldest son, who is not quite sixteen, if we are being honest. My reasons for abdication do not regard any scandal or failing of mine or any discontent of mine with this fine government: at this age, while I have thoroughly enjoyed serving this country as God invested me to do, I feel it would be the best for our nation if I were to step aside for my son. As my final act as King of Emerstari, I would like to thank you all, and now, as my first act as King Father of Emerstari, I would like to declare my allegience to my son, our beloved Erik XI Deitrik, and say, God save the King! and long live the King!

Not only did he abdicate the throne, but he also abdicated all of his other titles. He was, however, made a Baron by his son, Erik XI Deitrik, in February 1973.

Life after reign

Move to Blommaflodskeborg

After his son's coronation, he did retain some influence in the governance of Emerstari; he was among the people appointed to the Royal Privy Council in 1972. Regardless, he did not remain in Rensulier and he moved with his wife, the former Queen-consort and current King Mother, to a rural royal estate in northwestern Flodland, Blommaflodskeborg, meaning in Emerstarian, the flower river's castle. Every so often, horse races were held on the lawn, Erik a lover of horses, among other animals, including dogs, which he occasionally bred, penguins, which he had several in Kuingsdjurshjem, and deer, which he hunted every so often.

In the 1980s, Erik began patronizing various Emerstarian historical societies; among them the many, most notable was the Emerskemarinsaldingsgruppe, the Emerstarian Historical Marine Society, which focused on the history of naval exploration and naval warfare in Emerstarian history. He funded several restorations of old ships, most notably the Malmø, a vessel dating from 1764.

Erik saw another abdication in 1994, when his son, Erik XI Deitrik, abdicated, and his grandson, Erik XII Georg ascended to the throne. He attended the coronation and was again appointed the the Privy Council; however, at this point, he retired nearly completely from public life. Throughout the remainder of the 1990s and into the 2000s, he did several interviews, praising his grandson in his rule. A 2008 poll by the Kuingskesammhalle showed that alongside he was one of the favorite Kings of Emerstari alongside, Erik XII Georg, Karl IV Lorens, Eirikr Segersælla, Georg I Erik, and Erik VIII Olaf.

Death

A medal featuring Erik's profile issued to memorialize his death.

Erik was preceded in death by his wife of eighty-six years, the Queen Grandmother at the time of her death, Nathalie Jakoba Leijonhuvud, who died on 26 June 2012, who died in her sleep while at Påflodshus, aged one hundred eight herself. Erik attended her funeral in Rensulier Cathedral and returned to Blommaflodskeborg; his last public appearance was an interview that aired live on 26 December 2018. He died on 17 February 2019 in his sleep at Blommaflodskeborg, aged one hundred eighteen, being the oldest Emerstarian King to have ever lived. His body was found at 12:08 PM on 18 February 2019 by a servant at the estate, finding it unusual that the King Grandfather would be sleeping in this late. His cause of death was determined to be of natural causes and his funeral was held on 25 February 2019 at Rensulier Cathedral, aired on national television across Emerstari. His body was laid to rest next to his wife's in Rensulier Cathedral's Aldkuingskehalle and one hundred eighteen days of morning were declared by Erik XII Georg. The Bishop of the Synod, Mikael Ulf Bjornmann, who knew him for many years as the Bishop of Rensulier, said at his funeral that, "Our great and beloved King Erik X Gustaf was most certainly a blessed man, as his wife, our great and beloved Queen Nathalie Jakoba was a blessed woman."

Legacy

Erik was known publicly as a man engrained in tradition and Emerstarian values and a devout Lutheran, who believed in the divine right, dignity, and authority of the office of monarch. He was known in politics for his opposition to many liberal policies, especially during his reign, including, lifting burden of proof for divorce, allowing abortion and various contraceptives, and allowing more immigration into Emerstari. In religion, he was known as an advocate for intersect relations within Christianity and interfaith relations between, mostly, other Abrahamic religions.

Titles, styles, and arms

Titles

  • 18 August 1900 – 31 August 1916: His Right Wellborn, Erik Hasse, Crown Prince of Emerstari
  • 31 August 1916 – 19 August 1972: By the Grace of God, — of the Kingdom of Emerstari, and of His Colonies and Territories, and Other Lands within the Emerstarian Empire or otherwise, — the Defender of the Faith, the Patriarch of the House of Eirikr, and the Chieftain of the Hrudolfung Clan: His Majesty, Erik X Gustaf, King of Emerstari and New Retermi, Duke of Flodland and Kalamer, Grave of Midtenflod and Kalamer, Earl of Midtenflod, Køroeneskjen, Vastergren, Ostergren, Sydenfeld, Gårdholm, Ørnlind, Berghus, Felten, Upper Kalamer and Lower Kalamer, Kustenlangting, Gronneng, Aldstogen, and Underfyren, Baron of Rensulier and Coronet, Midtenborg, Sydenstad, Aldhus, Underlind, Kalamer, and Kustshus; moreover, the Grandmaster of the Order of the Seraphim, the Grandmaster of the Order of Georg, the Commandant Rider of the Order of Karl, the Master Rider of the Order of the Emerstarian Empire, Master Rider of the Most Chivalrous Order of the White Band, the Master Rider of the Order of the Northern Star, the Master Rider of the Order of the Sword, the High Protector of the Order of St. Nicolas, the Master of the Order of St. Jakob, a High Rider of the Royal Order of the White Falcon, a High Rider of the Royal Order of St. Johan, a High Rider of the Order of the Red Rose, a High Rider of the Order of Lodewijk, a Knight of the Imperial Order of Merit, and a Knight of the Order of the Three Stars.
  • 19 August 1972 – 17 February 2019: His Right Wellborn, Erik X Gustaf, King Father of Emerstari and Baron of Elgsdal

Styles

  • 18 August 1900 – 31 August 1916: His Right Wellborn, Erik Hasse, Crown Prince of Emerstari
  • 31 August 1916 – 19 August 1972: His Majesty, Erik X Gustaf of Emerstari
  • 19 August 1972 – 17 February 2019: His Right Wellborn, Erik X Gustaf, King Father of Emerstari

Arms

Eirikr Segersælla Coat of Arms.png
Middle Armorial Achievement of Erik X Gustaf

Ancestry