Francis, Duke of Schattenburg
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Franz Leopold Barbanov-Morovar KM (Common: Francis Leopold; New Marian: Franz Leyopold) was a Haeseni prince, statesman, and Knight, who served as the twenty-fourth Grand Maer of Haense. He would later be granted the Barony of Ghaestenwald, forming the cadet branch of Morovar. He was the sixth and youngest child of Sigismund II, whom he was born posthumously to.
Contents
Early Life
Franz Leopold Barbanov-Bihar was born on 12th of the First Seed, 1777, in New Reza. He was the sixth child of and youngest child of King Sigismund II of Haense and Queen Viktoria of Metterden, he was born some posthumously some months after his father’s suicide.
At the time of Franz’s birth, the focus of Haense was primarily on his older brother, King Josef, who had succeeded to the throne at the age of seven. Franz was therefore left to his own devices, only receiving the standard tutoring and education of a Haeseni Royal, albeit with the exception that he was tutored in philosophy by Albert von Gedankegarten, a Reinmaren philosopher.
As he grew older, rumours began to circle around the court of Franz possessing supernatural abilities. Courtiers witnessed him speaking to people that weren’t there, particularly conversations with his deceased father raised much concern within Ekaterinburg.
Military Career
Haeseni Royal Army
Franz enlisted in the Haeseni Royal Army once he reached the age of fourteen, and also became a squire of the Order of the Crow around the same time. Franz stated that he enlisted in the army and became a squire to “prove that he was more than just another useless Prince.” His time within the army was largely uneventful, with the only exception being the Haeseni expedition to Almaris, which he was tasked with leading. He retired from the Haeseni Royal Army, which was renamed to the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, in 1829.
Expedition to Almaris
Franz was tasked with leading the Haeseni expedition to Almaris, which was at the time dubbed “the Land of the Titans”. He set forth on the expedition with a small delegation, including his future wife, Lorena Barrow, as well as his close friend Konrad Lauritsen.
Throughout the journey, Haense established three camps on Almaris. The first was Camp Schattenburg, a small coastside camp settled on an island, cramped in among the other camps on the island. The second was Lorena’s Drvogg, a camp built within a large, hollow tree within a grand forest. The last was Nauildan, which was built in the frozen wastes of northern Almaris, though the camp notably contained a hot spring within a cave.
Knight of the Order of the Crow
Franz squired under then Knight Paramount, Boris var Ruthern, and spent twelve years as a squire, a remarkably long time, but common for the period in which he squired. Franz progressed slowly through his chivalry trials, unable to travel to other nations much due to diplomatic tensions in the world. However, as soon as they were over with, he would swiftly progress and be knighted as a Knight of the Order of the Crow, becoming known as Ser Franz ‘the Oracle’. The nickname is derived from claims that Franz would frequently dream ahead of battles, which would accurately predict the outcome of battles.
Political Career
Grand Maer of Karosgrad
While Franz enjoyed a long militar career, it is his political career that is primarily remembered. He attempted to become Lord Speaker at a young age, during an emergency election for Lord Speaker after Osvald Barclay had been fired. Franz would not be chosen for the position, but nevertheless pursued a political career later on, being elected as Grand Maer of Karosgrad in 1802.
He is one of the most successful Grand Maers in history, having held the position for five consecutive terms over twenty years, passing seventeen bills in the Royal Duma, and publishing another nine Maer Edicts. He was awarded a Knighthood in the Order of Queen Maya and the Lily for his efforts as Grand Maer, and it would also be the primary motivation between him later being granted the Barony of Ghaestenwald.
Barbanov & Baruch Consulting
Immediately after his retirement, Franz founded Barbanov & Baruch Consulting, a political consulting firm, with his long-time friend, Andrik Jan Baruch, then Aulic Envoy of Haense. The firm has seen immense success since it was founded, and the majority of candidates elected to the Royal Duma have used them to run their campaigns.
Some candidates run by Barbanov & Baruch Consulting include Aleksandr Ruthern, Tatiana Ruthern, Adalia de Astrea, Frederik Baruch, and Otto Morovar.
Baron of Ghaestenwald
During the noble audit of 1824, much information was gathered about current nobility and potential nobility, Franz and his immediate family being considered the latter. Once the audit was completed, it was decided that Franz was to be granted the Barony of Ghaestenwald, becoming a Peer of the Haeseni realm.
Ghaestenwald would be located in the Stenburk mountains in the far west of Haense, and construction of the Denlicthe Prikaz would begin in the later parts of 1825. Though, during his reign as Baron of Ghaestenwald, Franz's sanity is reported to have dwindled in a series of public annoucements sent from the Barony, which also announced his abdication in 1838. He went missing for a brief period thereafter, having wandered off into the eastern parts of the Kingdom.
The Oracle of Maenvestiyaeo
Having only been missing for about a year, Franz was discovered to be residing within the ruins of Krusev. When first discovered by King Sigismund III, Franz proclaimed himself to be the Oracle of Maenvestiyaeo, and that offered out prophecies to the King’s host, particularly the impending death of Duke Ruslan Baruch.
Franz continued to reside within Krusev, even after marrying Natalia Kovachev, who moved to join him there. The castle was, despite it’s partial destruction during the Troll War, surprisingly habitable, and much of the basement was still intact, allowing them to maintain a comfortable lifestyle there.
Marriage and Relationships
Franz is particularly rumoured to have been in his fair share of relationships during his life, though only few of them actually have some foundation to them, those three being his first marriage to Lorena Barrow, an affair with the then Duchess of Helena, Wilhelmina Beatrix, and lastly his second marriage and affair with Natalia Kovachev.
Lorena Barrow
Lorena Barrow was the first and only wife of Franz, the two having been friends since childhood, engaging in a romantic relationship since their early teens. They would later get permission from Franz’s brother, King Josef, to marry, despite Lorena’s status as a bastard of the Carrion-Tuvyic line.
The two married in 1802, shortly before Franz was elected as Grand Maer, though their relationship would grind to a halt thereafter, as Lorena began to struggle with coming to terms with motherhood and family life. Lorena thereafter disappeared for a long period of time, resulting in Franz pursuing a divorce, which he was granted in 1819, seventeen years after the two had married.
During their marriage, they would have five children, Fenika Lichte, Vasilia Kazimara, Otto August, Gustaf Sigismund, and Franz Fiske. Fenika went on to marry the Duke of Vidaus, Vasilia served as a Jovenaar, Otto served as Lord Treasurer and succeeded Franz to Ghaestenwald.
Wilhelmina Beatrix
Sometime after Lorena’s disappearance, Franz would become an acquaintance of Wilhelmina Beatrix, who was the then Duchess of Helena, married to the Imperial heir, John Charles. It is believed that her relationship with Franz was the primary factor in driving her and John to divorce, though others also speculate that John’s alleged homosexuality played it’s part. The two would have three children during the period between 1810 and 1818 in which their relationship lasted: The twins, Josefina Magdalena and Yasmina Franziska, and later on Adaline Sabine, who has been kidnapped and missing since 1819. Josefina and Yasmina moved with Wilhelmina when she emigrated from Almaris. Though their relations together were finite, they were known to be a kind and loving couple both outwardly and inwardly, with the pair sharing no ill will between them as she made her departure.
Natalia Kovachev
Franz engaged in a relationship with Natalia Kovachev around the year 1819, seven years after his divorce. They would go on to have one child out of wedlock, Nikoleta Barbara, who would be legitimised in 1837 by Heinrik II, and go on to marry the King's second son, Prince Andrik of Akovia. Franz and Natalia would get married twenty-two years later, in a small ceremony held by Father Klaus Barclay in 1848.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenika Lichte Morovar | 12th of the Grand Harvest, 1803 | 1st of the Deep Cold, 1832 | Ailred Joren Ruthern | Firstborn daughter of Franz and Lorena. |
| Vasilia Kazimara Morovar | 1st of the Deep Cold, 1805 | 1856 | Unwed | Secondborn daughter of Franz and Lorena. |
| Otto August Morovar | 24th of the First Seed, 1808 | Unknown | Anne Eleanore Pruvia | Firstborn son of Franz and Lorena. Twin to Gustaf. |
| Gustaf Sigismund Morovar | 24th of the First Seed, 1808 | Missing | Tavisha Markov Ruthern | Secondborn son of Franz and Lorena. Twin to Otto. |
| Franz Fiske Morovar | 6th of the Amber Cold, 1809 | Missing | Unwed | Thirdborn son of Franz and Lorena. |
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
| Josefina Magdalena Barrow | 9th of the Deep Cold, 1810 | Missing | Rainier Timothée FitzPeter | Firstborn daughter of Franz and Wilhelmina. Twin to Yasmina. |
| Yasmina Franziska Barrow | 9th of the Deep Cold, 1810 | Missing | Unwed | Secondborn daughter of Franz and Wilhelmina. Twin to Josefina. |
| Adalina Sabine Barrow | 11th of Sun’s Smile, 1818 | Missing | Unwed | Thirdborn daughter of Franz and Wilhelmina. |
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Notes |
| Nikoleta Barbara Morovar-Kovachev | 20th of Sigismund's End, 1826 | 1891 | Andrew Nicholas, Duke of Akovia | Firstborn daughter of Franz and Natalia |
| Franziska Elaine Morovar | 8th of the Amber Cold, 1905 | Alive | Stefan Edward, Duke of Akovia | Secondborn daughter of Franz and Natalia. |
| Nataliya Leopoldina Morovar | 14th of the Bitter Harvest, 1929 | Alive | Ivan VIII of Haense | Thirdborn daughter of Franz and Natalia. |
