Dame Primrose Kortrevich
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Ven. Dame Primrose Kortrevich (Common: Primrose Kortrevich), dubbed The Forbearing and later The Sacrificial, or referred to simply as Dame Primrose. She was one of the first female knights in modern Haeseni history, being knighted at age twenty-one. A talented swordswoman and jouster in the Kingdom of Haense. She is remembered for both her sacrifice in the Athera Expedition, saving King Sigismund II and as a champion for female representation within the Haeseni military and government.
Contents
Early Life and Young Adulthood
Dame Primrose Kortrevich (1703-1758) was born to Nikolaus and Lotte (Rosendale) Kortrevich, alongside one sister within the Royal City of Reza, Haense. Growing up, her father was the Knight Paramount of Haense and her mother was the Surgeon General of Haense. Primrose grew up during a time where humanity was on the brink of war; with the War of Two Emperors breaking out in 1715. Despite this, she grew up enamored by military service and was eager to follow in her father’s footsteps towards Knighthood. During her adolescence, Primrose lacked the presence of her mother, as she worked as a physician in Curon. Due to this, she and her sister were raised primarily by their father. Throughout her youth, she relied heavily on the guidance of Duncan and Sarah Kortrevich. As a young child (10), Primrose was captured for ransom by slave traders; fortunately, her cousins Ser Rodrik Kortrevich and Duncan Kortrevich killed her captors and ensured her safety. As she breached into adulthood, she embarked on her journey to becoming one of the first female Knights of Haense.
Marriage
While studying at the Royal Academy of Saint Catherine, Primrose Kortrevich was introduced to Ulric Vyronov by Royal Curator Princess Nataya Barbanov. After classes, the pair bonded over their shared love for Haeseni Chess. Starting in 1718, the pair began a courtship that would last two years. Weeks following Primrose’s eighteenth nameday, the pair married in the Royal City of Reza by Archbishop Caius. Their marriage was seen as favorable in the eyes of the public, as they would go on to have two sons. Their marriage strengthened the bond between the houses of Vyronov and Kortrevich. Unfortunately, their marriage was short-lived as in 1723, Ser Ulric died due to an accidental injury sustained to the head. Primrose would remain a widow for several years till she rekindled a relationship with her childhood friend, Ser Roderick Daine. The pair, having grown up together, grew apart after Primrose’s first marriage. By 1725, the pair rekindled their friendship and began a courtship that would last a single year. Eventually in 1726, the pair married matrilineally in the Royal City of Reza by High Pontiff Daniel VI. Their marriage was amicable as they would go on to have four children, two daughters and two sons.
Marian Knight of Haense
Beginning at 18, Primrose enlisted into the Haeseni Royal Army and began to squire underneath a variety of Knights. Although, she faced difficulty in finding someone willing to squire her as she was the only woman aspiring to become a Knight. Oftentimes, she faced ridicule and mockery from some of the most respected Knights in Haense. Through her perseverance, Primrose would travel across the realm of Arcas, where she would establish her reputation as a talented swordswoman hailing from Haense. After an arduous completion of trials under the guidance of several Knights, Primrose (21) was knighted by King Andrew III in 1724. She was dubbed 'the Forbearing' for her remarkable restraint on her exhausting path to Knighthood. As the first female Knight of the Marian Retinue, she represented what she had always dreamt of; equality amongst the ranks of Haeseni knighthood. Early on, Dame Primrose was assigned to the protection of Queen Milena of Adria. The pair were naturally bonded by their children’s friendship with one another. Not much is known of their personal relationship, though it is known that Queen Milena regarded Primrose as, "an exceptionally professional and diligent woman." In 1742, Milena was killed by Ruberni assailants. Afterwards, it is known that Primrose placed blame on herself for her death.
In 1739, Dame Primrose began to mentor the daughter of King Adrian I, Princess Arianne of Helvets (10). The pair developed a mother-daughter-esque relationship over the period of twenty years. Before the death of Arianne in 1768, Arianne shared her thoughts on her mentor, "she was the most inspiring woman I’ve ever met." Having been a Knight, Primrose guided a number of squires to become Knights. Notably, she instructed Ser Aedan Capulei during his squireship; coincidently, she was the first Knight knighted by Andrew III and he was the last. In 1741, her firstborn son Ser Isaak Vyronov was captured by Ruberni forces. She, alongside her father, urged Lord Marshal Wilheim Barclay to arrange a rescue raid. Unfortunately, too much time had gone by and Issak was executed anyway; his severed remains infamously being returned to Haense one by one. During the onslaught of the Rubern War, Primrose faced equal backlash and praise during one of her most memorable speeches held at the Northern Geographical Society; where she passionately spoke about her dream for women’s equality within Haense. She was notoriously called ignorant as the Kingdom was focused on more important issues, notably the ongoing Rubern War. Contrarily, this sparked lively debate in the Royal Duma for meaningful change with respect to female representation across all avenues in Haense.
By 1750, the "kill or be killed" duel known as the Kortrevichbowl took place, marking the death of her father, Knight Paramount Ser Nikolaus Kortrevich and her uncle, turncoat Ser Rodrik Kortrevich. Prior to this, Primrose was suspected to succeed her father as Knight Paramount following his anticipated resignation. He made his wishes known to King Andrew IV prior to his death. Despite this, Ser Tiberius Barrow succeeded him instead; making it so Primrose would not become the first female Knight Paramount of Haense. During the early reign of King Sigismund II, a small host of Haeseni patriots traveled to the continent of Athera, in search of the ancient Haeseni capital of Siegrad. Having been designated to the protection of the youthful King, Dame Primrose accompanied the host in what is now referred to as the Athera Expedition. Throughout the expedition, the host of explorers found themselves in combat with Scyfling skirmishers, led by Bralt the Boar. Fortunately, the Haeseni evaded further attempts at conflict through the help of the Volik Clan. In the second year of the expedition, the group made their way to the ruins of Siegrad, and into the lair of a sleeping Wyrm to retrieve relics of Saint Karl. Through no fault of their own, Bralt once again ambushed the party from above by throwing down pots and pans to make noise to wake the Wyrm. In order to distract the Wyrm to afford the King and the others a window to escape, Dame Primrose sacrificed herself by clanging together pots and pans that shifted the Wyrm’s attention towards her. Many argue that her sacrifice alone changed the trajectory of the Kingdom, this is because the heir to Haense had yet to be born by this point.
Later Life, Death and Legacy
After her heroic death in the Athera Expedition, she was dubbed 'the Sacrificial' for saving the lives of Sigismund II and countless Haeseni lords. Shortly after her death, the Haeseni host returned to Haense, with only her helmet being recovered. Within weeks, Dame Primrose was given full state funeral honors in Haense and is remembered as one of the most influential female Knights in modern Haeseni history. As part of her legacy, four out of six of her children went on to become Knights. In life, she was a pioneer for female representation within the Kingdom. Within just eight years of her death, the first Lady Speaker of Haense, Marya Kortrevich was appointed, ironically hailing from House Kortrevich. Twenty years after her death (1778), she was venerated by the Church of the Canon.
Titles, Styles and Honors
Titles and Styles
- 1724-1758: The Honorable, Marian Knight of Haense
Formal Title
The formal title of Primrose was: Ven. Dame Primrose Kortrevich, Marian Knight of Haense.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ser Isaak Vyronov | 1721 | 1741 | Unwed | Firstborn son of Primrose Kortrevich and Ulric Vyronov. |
| Ser Lukas Vyronov | 1721 | 1786 | Unwed | Secondborn son of Primrose Kortrevich and Ulric Vyronov. |
| Sarah Kortrevich | 1733 | 1798 | Siegmund Wick | Firstborn daughter of Primrose Kortrevich and Roderick Daine. |
| Ser Ivan Kortrevich | 1738 | 1798 | Angelika of Vasiland | Thirdborn(firstborn) son of Primrose Kortrevich; and Roderick Daine. |
| Dame Franziska Kortrevich | 1744 | Unknown | Octavian Vimmark-Roussard | Secondborn daughter of Primrose Kortrevich and Roderick Daine. |
| Leopold Kortrevich | 1744 | 1790 | Unwed | Fourthborn(secondborn) son of Primrose Kortrevich; and Roderick Daine. |
