Duchy of Alba

Duchy of Alba Ducatu Alba State of the Empire of Aeldin 1530-present Coat of Arms Capital: Walden Languages: Common, High Imperial, Auvergnian Religion: Canonism Government: Hereditary Duchy Current Duke: Henrietta, Princess of Alstion Founder: George-Hinamir de Morvelyn Governor-General: Fernand Julien de Morvelyn

The Duchy of Alba, also frequently referred to as the Governorate of Alba after the ducal title was inherited by the Horenic house of Alstion, is a realm located on the fringes of the Aeldinic Heartlands. The state is notorious throughout the Aeldinic continent for its wildly culturally diverse populance, unorthodox government, and treacherous history.

Originally, the duchy was led by the crafty House de Morvelyn: a family of lowborn origins that somehow wiggled their way into the court of the Horosid emperors, and obtained the title of court favorites due to their superb aptitude for statecraft. For decades, the de Morvelyns served as mere advisors of various archchancellors until George-Hinamir de Morvelyn, then simply the Groom of the Stool for the Aeldinic monarch, was surprisingly gifted the lands that would become the Duchy of Alba after the former owners of the property were executed for treason.

In a strange turn of events, the founder of Alba’s very own son, Francis-Audemar, would inherit the duchy and commit treason by marrying Eleanore Theresa, a princess of the House of Horen, his liege-lords sworn enemies. The aforementioned Francis claimed his treasonous marriage was a love match and refused to repudiate his beautiful Orenian wife, which triggered a long and drawn out siege of Walden, the duchy’s capital. Eleanore was one of the daughters of the eccentric Emperor John II of Oren, and he poured an ample amount of resources and soldiers into the siege’s defense in order to effectively protect his daughter, and flex his martial greatness in the face of the Aeldinic emperor. Eventually, the aforesaid dreadful siege ended in a treaty that promised many things, chief among them being that regardless of anything, the Duchy of Alba would remain a vassal of the Empire of Aeldin.

Long after Siege of Walden, Francis and Eleanore’s descendant, Elizabeth-Christine de Morvelyn would inherit the duchy after the mysterious death of her only brother, and would go on to marry Emperor Peter II of Oren. After Duchess Elizabeth’s departure from the Aeldinic continent in order to marry the Orenian emperor, the long line of Governor-Generals of Alba would begin with Elizabeth’s very own grandmother, the infamous Eleanore Theresa Horen. To this day, the Horenic descendants of Emperor Peter and his Alban consort, Elizabeth-Christine, still appoint governor-generals to rule in their stead while they are away maneuvering in the imperial court of Oren.