House of Aldersberg
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The House of Aldersberg is a cadet house of Novellen, having been granted as a comital title to Prince Joseph Leopold Novellen in the year 1887 until the year 1809 when it was made hereditary by Imperial addendum, creating the official cadet branch of House Novellen-Aldersberg. In 1888, the Austina of Aldersberg would strip the house of its Novellen interests, thus christening the House of Novellen-Aldersberg to the House of Aldersberg. Though in 1919 because Austina had not named her heir, Cressida of Aldersberg returned the house back to its former Novellen ancestory due to the family not wishing to be tied to Adria.
Contents
History of Aldersberg
Origins
The beginnings of Aldersberg would be that of a City created by Hadrien de Sarkozy, commonly known as Saint Adrian of Leuvaarden, in his County of Norfolk in the northern reaches of the realm of Anthos. This land was granted to him in connection to his long service to the White Rose as chancellor who defined the culture of Kaedrin and would lay the groundwork for the ideas of Lucienism. It would quickly become the industrial capital of the empire with many of the best goods originating from it. Notably this culture of industry and prosperity was perpetuated by Toveah Goldman, later declared Saint Tobias of Sarkoz, who was the treasurer of Aldersberg. Hadrien de Sarkozy would later take on the name Tuv Goldman in respect to the man who industrialized his city.
The city of Aldersberg would be destroyed in a strange meteor shower leaving little remnant save some survivors. This was declared a miracle of Saint Tobias, so that Aldersberg would not remain a dead city and hindrance to the Empire. Hadrien would die here, leaving this title to his firstborn, Helaine de Sarkozy, who married Siegmund Carrion. Siegmund was the Marquese of Raev, adapting the consort titles that came with his marriage. At this time, it was unheard of to hold a woman as patriarch, so Siegmund also adopted the title of patriarch of House de Sarkozy and took the name Siegmund Sarkozic Carrion.
Lucien's grandson Olivier de Savoie would go on to renew the title of Aldersberg as it was a prominent city tied to the shared legacy of Lucien and the White Rose. He constructed a town north of Petrus which would become the seat of his house. With the help of Sylvester Halcourt and Augustus Fornier, the city and its citizens would flourish. After Olivier inherited the Duchy of Savoy, it would become the capital for some time. Through trials and tribulations in the Empire of Oren, it would default to an elected monarchy following the Schism War. Olivier set his eyes on becoming the King of Oren and used Aldersberg as a launching point. In 1499, he would find success and the titles of Aldersberg would be absolved to the crown. The city itself was burned to the ground under the Horen Restoration.
The Petrine Era
The House Novellen-Aldersberg finds its origins with Joseph Leopold Novellen, the sixth issue of Empress Anne I and Emperor Joseph II, and thus was not expected to inherit. Yet as an Imperial Prince, he was granted a title, that being the County of Aldersberg. The land would be used by Joseph as a retreat from the imperial palace. The county is a territory not much more than an estate and a small plot for farming. Joseph would have five children with his wife, Henrietta Maria of Osterland, for whom the Osterland Tiara would be named, which is traditionally worn by the Countess of Aldersberg, and the collection of Alderberian Tiaras began.
Succeeding Joseph was George Alexander. His reign was mostly unremarkable, his wife Juliya of Susa and children, mainly that of Georgiana Maria, taking up the responsibilities of day-to-day management. Hosting court events, which Aldersberg has become known for. George would die of an abrupt illness that ended his life in 1862.
Succeeding him was his son, Edward Clement, Who would boast a large collection of antiques and tiaras, began the Aldersbergian Vault. Edward is best known for his work in the Court, serving as the Lord Chamberlain under the reign of Philip III and Anastasia I. Edward married Anne of Sunholdt in the Aster Hall and the two had three children, in order, Alexander Leopold, Arthur Marie, and Austina Prudence, each of them boasting blonde locks inherited by both mother and father.
The Novellen Kingdom
During the [1875 Royal Audit], the family was demoted from a County to a Barony after a period of inactivity after the Brothers war and during the reign of Frederick I. Soon thereafter, Edward mysteriously disappears and is presumed dead, leaving his eldest and heir inherited. 12 years came and went with monumental change to the landscape of Oren, then in 1888 Alexander Leopold died in a bandit attack which left his younger sister, Austina Prudence, the Baroness. Austina would go on to detach the family from its Novellen roots, classifying herself and her kin as simply Aldersberg.
The Duchy of Adria
Austina would marry the Count of Veletzia and soon be named Duchess-consort of Adria, furthering the collection of [Aldersbergian relics] during her tenure as Baroness and having four children of the Sarkozic last name. She would honorably hold the title for a number of years under the Duchy of Adria, and eventually, restore the House to its former station as the County of Aldersberg.
Austina would pass in 1914 with no will written or inheritance marked out, which left the Duchy of Adria to offer the title to Austina's niece, Cressida of Aldersberg. Cressida would go on to rebel against Austina's tyrannical husband, Heinrik, Duke of Adria, and claim the County for the United Kingdom of Aaun. In 1919, after the Adrian Rebellion seemed to subside, the Duchy would proclaim that Austina's heir would be her son, Markus Marie Sarkozic. However, this was disputed considering that Austina herself left no instructions nor was Markus of the Aldersberg name.
Markus had little guidance on how to honor the Sarkozic and Aldersberg legacies he had inherited, but quickly set to work researching the history of both. As he entered public service, he would fashion every action and festivity he was involved with in honor of the County of Aldersberg's history and Saints. This method would begin a trend of Markus' political strategies and would lead to the steady growth of the County's retinue and connections, notably Markus' meeting with Oksana Ivanovich. After a series of hunts finished with a grand tournament dubbed the Trophies of Aldersberg, Markus would swear the champion Renata von Bluecrest into his service. A sergeant of the Greycloaks with notable virtue and valor, for his loyalty and aid Markus would in turn tutor him in the Scrolls of Canon and the history of Adria.
The Kingdom of Aaun
TBD
The House Novellen-Aldersberg
| Name |
Portrait | Birth Parentage |
Marriage(s) Issue |
Death | Coat of Arms | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph I HIH, Joseph Leopold 1787 - 1849 (62 yrs) |
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1765~ The Novellen Palace, Helena, Oren Son of Anne I, Holy Orenian Empress and Joseph II, Holy Orenian Emperor |
Henrietta Maria of Osterland 5 Children |
Died of natural causes, 1849 | 
|
Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg The Count of Aldersberg |
| George I HIH, George Alexander 1849 - 1862 (13 yrs) |
|
1802~ The Augustine Palace, Providence, Oren Son of HIH Joseph Leopold and Henrietta Maria of Osterland |
Juliya of Susa 5 Children |
Died of an illness, 1862 |
|
Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Count of Aldersberg |
| Edward I TRH, Edward Clement 1862 - 1880 (18 yrs) |
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1834 Johannian Hall, The County of Aldersberg, Oren Son of HIH George Alexander and Juliya of Susa |
Anne of Sunholdt 3 Children |
Went missing in 1880 |
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Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Count of Aldersberg (Formerly) Baron of Aldersberg |
| Alexander I TRH, Alexander Leopold 1880 - 1888 (8 yrs) |
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1867 Johannian Hall, The Barony of Aldersberg, Oren Son of TRH Edward Clement and Anne of Sunholdt |
No Issue | Died in Bandit Attack, 1888 | 
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Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Baron of Aldersberg |
The House Aldersberg
| Name |
Portrait | Birth Parentage |
Marriage(s) Issue |
Death | Coat of Arms | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austina I TRH, Austina Prudence 1888 - 1914 (26 yrs) |
|
1867 Johannian Hall, The Barony of Aldersberg, Oren Daughter of TRH Edward Clement and Anne of Sunholdt |
Heinrik, Duke of Adria 4 Children |
Died from Leukemia, 1914, Velec, Adria |
|
Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Duchess of Adria, Countess of Aldersberg, Countess of Veletzia, Dame of the Circle of Saint Emma |
| Cressida I TRH, Cressida Marie 1914 - 1932 |
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1892 Valwyck, Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska Daughter of Arthur Marie Aldersberg and Nastasya Reza Ruthern |
Jan, Count of Vaška 7 Children |
Died in Childbirth, 1932, Andregrad, Stran |
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Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Duchess of Stran, Marquess of Aldersberg , Countess-Consort of Vaska |
| George II TRH, George Arthur 1932 - Present |
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1894 Valwyck, Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska Son of Arthur Marie Aldersberg and Nastasya Reza Ruthern |
Lucia Marie Ashford de Lewes 1 Child |
Alive |
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Head of House Novellen-Aldersberg Marquis of Aldersberg |
The Sarkozic Claim
In the year 1917, Cressida of Aldersberg released a missive stating the House of Aldersberg's departure from the Duchy of Adria during the Adrian Civil War[1], which would garner popular support. Two years later in the aftermath of peace talks between Aaun and Adria, the Duchy would recognize the son of late Countess Austina, Markus Marie Sarkozic, as the Count of Aldersberg[2]. Due to no written record from Austina herself of her heir, the dispute would not see resolution until 1928 when Cressida Marie's County in Aaun became a March and two separate titles were created.
| Name |
Portrait | Birth Parentage |
Marriage(s) Issue |
Death | Coat of Arms | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markus I TRH, Markus Marie 1919 - Present |
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1904 Castle St. Emalyne, Velec, Aaun Son of His Grace, Heinrik, Duke of Adria and Her Grace, Austina of Aldersberg |
Oksana of Verskaya No Issue |
Alive | 
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Head of House Sarkozic (of Adria) Count of Aldersberg |
Notable Figures
St. Richard of Aldersberg - The fourth Grand Master of the Order of St. Amyas, sainted the Patron saint of Bastards, Transmutation, Bravery, and the Desert. Canonized by High Pontiff Bl. Daniel II, in 1523.
St. Tobias of Aldersberg - The Treasurer of Aldersberg, sainted the Patron saint of merchants, wealth, and benefactors. Known now as St. Tobias of Sarkoz for his service to Hadrien de Sarkozy. Canonized by High Ecclesiarch Radomir I, in 1444.
St. Adrian of Leuvaarden - First Baron of Aldersberg, Count of Norfolk, sainted the Patron saint of Statesmen, Lawyers, and Politics. Canonized by High Ecclesiarch Radomir I, in 1444.
Charlotte of Aldersberg - The Duchess of Adria, married to the Duke of Adria and Heir Apparent to the Holy Orenian Empire, Philip Aurelian, making her empress-to-be before his assassination.
Austina of Aldersberg - The Duchess of Adria, married to the Duke of Adria, Heinrik Otto, and brought the title of Aldersberg back to its former glory after being lost to her older brothers' ineptness. Her sudden death would go on to lead to a succession dispute.
Cressida of Aldersberg - The Duchess of Stran, married to the Duke of Stran, Jan Ivanovich, brought the title of Aldersberg up from a county after her Aunts son attempted to seize the houses title from her.
