Anna of Alstion
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Anna Lucilla Alstion (11th of Snow's Maiden, 1883 - 7th of Owyn's Light, 1954) of the House of Alstion, was the youngest child born to Prince Charles of Alstion, later King Charles of Aaun, and his wife Eleanor of Provins. She was a Royal princess by right of parentage, and upon marriage to her husband was additionally styled as Countess of Varoche, the first in nearly two centuries. After his execution amidst the Adrian Rebellion, Anna was tonsured into the Church of Canon, relinquishing all titles and stylings in favour of the cloth. Upon her oath, she was granted the Abbey of Saint Jude by High Pontiff Sixtus V, and thereafter was styled as the Abbess of Saint Jude until her death in 1954. Her later life was spent encouraging piety, particularly to young women, as well as educating secular canonesses and erecting monasteries throughout various parts of the Heartlands.
She gave birth to two legitimate children throughout her life, Isabella Fiorel, Marquis de Haute-Epine, and Emilio Sigismondo, Baron of Napoliza.
Contents
Early Life & Adolescence
Born amidst the bleak midwinter in the Southern city of Atrus, a younger Anna's most premature years were spent at the Courts of Monterosa, the bustling and exotic court of the Kingdom of Balian, with her mother Eleanor being positioned as the governess of said court at the time of her birth following the fall of Oren and subsequent dividing of the Almarisian Heartlands. Her father, Charles, Prince of Alstion, was not so much present for the beginning stages of her short-lasting childhood due to his brief estrangement from Eleanor, and thus Anna grew up with lack thereof a paternal figure for the arid days of her youth. As an introverted and young child, Anna remained largely isolated from a great deal of the other children at court, likely to be the result of a strained relationship in which her mother held with a majority of the other aristocratic Balianese noblewomen at the time. In retaliation to their hesitance, the young Johannian girl kept mostly to herself and was made to find solace in the company of her three siblings, and the variety of statesmen her mother had befriended.
At the unsuspecting age of just six years, those of the House Alstion embarked to Aeldin in exploration of the Southern colonies — namely Fausten and the surrounding areas. Whilst her elder siblings were fast in their approach to adolescence, Anna herself was still very much a small girl of little dialect throughout these travels and so her mother Eleanor sought out the opportunity to enrol Anna into the prestigious Banardian finishing school, Brillantmont, nestled in the surrounding countryside of Velling and famed amongst high nobility of yore for its boastful alumni, including that of several Queens. Despite early reluctance and juvenile pleas, Eleanor as a maternal figure was firm and expecting, allowing Anna little other option than to respect the wishes of her mother and remain on the continent wherein she stayed for ten years until her coming of age and subsequent return in 1901. Two years after their arrival on Aeldin, the House Alstion made their tactful departure back to Almaris, leaving the youngest of their kin behind to begin her studies in politics, philosophy, and Flexio, amongst a number of other subjects. These studies would later prove extremely fruitful in the development of Anna's good-natured character and witty intellect, having often been known to accredit her schooling years for providing a liberty, as well as a number of philosophical influences in her adolescence, later proving fruitful in equipping Anna with her sharp, and at times existential, charm.
Return to the Crownlands
Whilst Anna had remained in contact with her relatives overseas, it was oftentimes via Royal envoy, afflicting at times hefty delays due to travelling distance between the already uncertain seas. Because of this, Anna had been entirely uninformed on both the dissolution of the Harvest Confederation and thereafter establishment of the United Kingdom of Aaun [1], with her father instilled as King Charles I. It was not until four months into his tenure that Anna received word of the ascension of her father to the crown, and so she swiftly wrote back in her fervency. Within the days succeeding her eighteenth nameday, a ship baring the Alstion Coat of Arms was sent to retrieve Anna from an Aeldenic port, of which she then embarked on the lengthy journey back to the scenic plains of the Aaunic crownlands under the encouragement of her family. Anna arrived in the early hours of the day to a now united and peaceful heartlands, and as a subsequent Royal princess of Aaun.
The years to follow saw the freshly arrived princess come to be somewhat of a notable figure, and within the year of her arrival she had already been accredited to sparking a resurgence in Illatian hairstyling amongst Heartlander women of the time, of which were often adorned with decorative hairnets, coiffures, ribbon and gold wiring. She became known firstly for her typical Johannian beauty, though soon after for her charisma and wit, with courtiers at the time describing her as 'agreeable'. Befittingly, the princess's social circle was wide and varying, known to have been a close confidante to Princess Augustina of Balian, Edith of Reinmar, Duchess Austina of Adria and Marguerite of Lewes. During this time it was also recorded that Anna visited Valfleur for informal lunch with Renilde I, Archduchess of The Petra, though little else is known about the matter.
As the Countess of Varoche; 1910-1916
Anna's early adulthood was spent largely from place to place due to her newfound independence and search for likeminded philosophers across Almaris, and she was often attending foreign parties and balls across the realm. Sometime during this period, Anna was thought to have been briefly acquainted to Sigismond Varoche, a Royal Advisor to her father and ten years her senior, within Velec, though they grew close after exchanging many letters to one another over the course of three years. In one letter Anna writes; "Pressures from both my mother and the Lady Chamberlain on the subject of my marriage grow ever frequent, [...] I fear that soon I shall be bored quite to death." (c.1908).
Marriage
In the late Summer of 1909, Austina, Duchess of Adria, of whom was thought to have been the matchmaker of the pair, and Princess Anna announced the wedding of the latter and Sir Sigismond Varoche, patriarch of the House Varoche, titled 'The Varoche Affair' [2] in witty reference to the House's infamous scandal over a century prior. It was assumed that both the Duchess and Queen Eleanor were aware of Sigismond’s later ennoblement as the Count of Varoche in the succeeding month hence why the marriage went ahead under Eleanor’s regime as both an austere mother and ambitious queen. The ceremony itself occurred one year later within the Basilica of St. Alexander of Furnestock and was officiated by High Pontiff Pontian IV.
The bridal party, consisting of three flower girls; her niece Princess Adeline, her step-daughter Lorina Varoche, and Kzenia Adriata Sarkozic, as well as two bridesmaids, namely Amelia Varoche and Anna's then ward Philippa von Reuss, later Margravine of Velen, were all dressed in matching, locally tailored dresses in signature Johannian purple. Anna herself wore an archival pull, the wedding dress of her ancestor, Henrietta, Princess of Alstion, of which itself was an iteration of a dress worn by Emigliana of Napoliza, Anna's predecessor as Countess of Varoche. Moreover, the dress was stylized with a grand pearl tiara and a rose embroidered veil. She was seen up the aisle by her father in traditional manner, and the ceremony was attended by many of the noble families of Aaun and Adria alike, as well as members of the royal family of Balian.
Following the matrimony, guests rode with the bridegroom from the capital to the Adrian town of Velec as a symbolic hand off. Celebrations continued on arrival, where guests partied into the late evening around the bonfire of Adria, with food and drink aplenty provided by House Varoche. Notably, Anna received a wedding gift of a yellow Pygmy flint lizard from the Balianic County of Salia, said to be in the very image of the golden Aeldenic dragon pictured upon the House Alstion coat of arms.
Anna gave birth to her first child with Sigismond one year later, a daughter named Isabella, of whom was affectionately called the 'Bel fiore' by family. The birth was thought to have been physically excruciating for Anna and nearly cost her her life.
The Adrian Rebellion
With Sigismond as the Lord Chancellor of Adria, the Varoche family had been brought to the near forefront of the Adrian political sphere, and many had expected him to be a strong candidate for the next Duke of Adria. This could have very well been the case, though in the year 1916 the Chancellor released a public statement titled 'Heinrik's Folly' [3] in which the Duke Heinrik Sarkozic was accused of a vast number of crimes against humanity and the church; consorting with Azdrazi, adultery, kinslaying, as well as fraternizing with heretics, to name just a few. This letter was signed by a majority of Adrian council members, as well as the King himself. In the days after the missive was made public, Anna garnered support for her husband's claim, and was additionally placed upon his council as an advisor. Following this, the Adrian Rebellion was sparked, and following Heinrik's denouncement he used the opportunity to proclaim Adrian independence with the backing of the Neo-Renatians, of whom had since began to flood into the city of Velec. Perhaps ironically, these same Neo-Renatians were those named in the original denouncement as heretical due to their burning of the Golden City of Ves centuries prior.
In the following year, with the war still very much raging on, Sigismond Varoche was captured by the Adrian marshal, Joseph Vasile, along with an unnamed backing force, within the Commonwealth of the Petra. He was then taken to Veletzia alongside a son, Charles Varoche, from his previous marriage. The two were publicly executed within the city, leaving Anna widowed at thirty four and with child.
Days after this event, of which had devastated Anna entirely, and upon also hearing word of the recent capture of Duchess Henriette of Minitz, she wrote to the royal family of Balian seeking refuge for herself and her daughter. The letter was said to have detailed the growing danger amidst the heartlands, and upon acceptance of King Alexander I, Anna left the March of Velen where she was being temporarily housed and made the journey South to Atrus in an unmarked carriage. Once settled, Anna entered an official period of mourning, and she was described by Balianese courtiers alike a 'passing shadow', clad only in full black garb and a veil to conceal her deep grievance. It was during this period of mourning that Anna gave birth to her second child with Sigismond, Emilio. Despite this, her mourning continued on for many years and Anna was said to have taken ill on multiple occasions as a result of this immense grief. A poem published in 1918 by Sigismond's daughter, Amelia Paulina, and signed 'For Anna of Alstion', goes into detail of the mourning princess' bereavement:“The grass bites at her feet, a cruel, rainy cloud covering the sky, she’s clad in a black gown - the dowagers song. Fallen from grace, her under eyes are painted with dulled beige streaks. The desolate mind of this woman shrieks immortally, tired oak-brown hair flies in the wind. She turns her back to the make-shift grave of my father, wobbling back into the city.” — Epitaph by A.P. Varoche [4]
Throughout the duration of the war Anna was consistent in her attendance of mass nation-wide and was known to have made considerable donations to the cause. In 1932, after a strenuous sixteen years of heightened tensions between Adria and the Canonist League, the war at last came to an end with a treaty entitled 'Pax Canonis' [5] or 'The Peace of Whitespire'.
Later Life
As the Abbess of Saint Jude; 1927-1954
At the age of forty two, now a gaunt and wistful woman, Anna took a holy vow and was tonsured into the Church of Canon. Upon her abdication to the cloth she was granted the newly constructed Abbey of Saint Jude by High Pontiff Sixtus V, of which Anna herself commissioned via Royal patronage during initial construction plans for the Ivory City of Whitespire, and a small Priory within Vaska by the late Duke of Stran, Jan Arpad Ivanovich. Historians dispute the prompt that led Princess Anna to take the holy vow and abdicate her titles in favor of the cloth — while some speculate that it was the destruction of the relationship between Adria, wherein she lived with her late husband before his execution, and the Crown following the Holy war and the emotional turmoil that it put upon her, while others claim that Anna was influenced instead by her personal research and interest of her house ancestry, in particular the archive of Imperial princess Adela Pieta of whom would go on to become the Abbess of Saint Jude, with Anna her successor nearly two centuries later.
Her life from thereout was indubitably devoted to the Canonist church and fostering community for the good and pious people of the new metropolis, Whitespire. She served primarily under the Archbishop of Albarosa, Father Arnaud Constanz of the Petra, and fostered an especially close friendship with the Bishop of Buron, Father Mikhael. The latter and herself would often hold mass within the city chapel for the citizens, to which she would provide bread and other foodstuffs for those in need of it. In 1936, Anna published an official announcement [6] detailing of the reestablishment of the Abbey, calling for any women of the continent who may be interested in dedicating their lives to God to join the rule. This proved moderately successful, and at the turn of 1940, the Judite Sisterhood and the Abbey were populated with a number of sworn sisters. Anna, now known commonly as Mother Anna, was also recognized for her wardships and education of young girls, mostly nobles, within the Abbey — usually in religion, philosophy and etiquette. Figures she had mentored include Ottavia of Pompourelia, who would become the Princess of Stassion, and Adelheid of Velen, who would go on to marry Anna's own son, Emilio, and become the Baroness of Napoliza at his side.
Sometime around 1937, the Judite sisterhood were entrusted by the Aaunic court as 'Keepers of the Flame', tasked with stewardship and diligent responsibility for the preservation, upkeep, and employment of Owyn’s Flame — the blazing fire burning at the very top of the renowned towering palace that looked down onto the city. Because of this, the various sisters were oftentimes involved heavily in public services and proceedings, managing the flame during the 1938 funeral of James I, Anna's brother, and the 1941 coronation of Edmund II, her grand nephew. Around this time, too, the Judite sisterhood was also involved in a scandal involving a band of misfit nuns of the occult, thought then to be living and operating within The Petra. Sororal tomes penned by Anna during her tenure as Mother Superior detail her reaching out to the nuns in hopes of forming good relations, to which she was told to visit their priory on the hillside. She did just that, so she wrote, though was soon informed reluctantly by a Petran guard that a 'group of nuns' were ravaging the heartlands as of late. Anna, having unwavering faith in her own sisters, could only assume it to be those very sisters of the Petra she had rode to meet with. Startled, she returned to Whitespire with panicked haste, writing hastily to her dear friend, the Bishop of Buron. In the following days, news broke to those within the midlands and the witch-hunt became public knowledge. With no confirmation that they were not indeed the nuns in question, one Sister Gisele of Merryweather published a swift response on behalf of the sisterhood titled 'Ersatz Sanctity' [7] which cleared their name.
Death
Unfortunately age had began to take it's toll on Anna, of whom was growing visibly weary and weak in these years. In the early hours of 7th of Owyn's Light, 1954, in the midst of a particularly cold Winter, Anna passed away from natural causes at the age of 71 years old. The following day, her final will [8] was made public and her various properties, titles, and fineries distributed to members of her family.
Titles and Styles
- 1883 - 1893 Her Serenity, The Hereditary Princess Anna of Alstion
- 1894 - 1927 Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anna of Aaun
- 1909 - 1927 Her Royal Highness, The Princess Anna of Aaun, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra
- 1910 - 1916 Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Varoche, Dame of the Order of the Petrine Laurel, Hero of The Petra
- 1927 - 1954 The Reverend Mother, The Abbess of Saint Jude
Full title as Abbess of Saint Jude
The Reverend Mother Anna, Abbess of Saint Jude, Prioress of Andregrad, Head Keeper of the Flame
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabella Fiorel Varoche | 17th of The Grand Harvest, 1912 | Living | Louis III, Margrave of Haute-Epine | Firstborn child to Anna and Sigismond. Thought to be an exceptionally complicated birth. |
| Emilio Sigismondo, Baron of Napoliza | 9th of The Amber Cold, 1916 | Living | Adelheid of Velen | Secondborn child to Anna and Sigismond. Born during the Adrian rebellion after Sigismond's death and thus named in his honour. High Chancellor of Aaun. |
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Anna of Alstion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
