Mariya Angelika of Reza

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Mariya Angelika Barbanov Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska "Duchess Mariya Blackwing", by Diane Tiber (c.1731). Duchess-Consort of Adria Tenure: 1729-1737 Predecessor: Klaudia of Vasiland Successor: Empress Anne Born: 15th of The Deep Cold, 1703, Reza, Haense Death: 6th of the Grand Harvest, 1738 Spouse: Adrian, Duke of Adria(m. 1729) House: Barbanov Father: Marius II of Haense Mother: Valera of Adria

Princess Mariya Angelika vas Marius Barbanov (Common: Mary Angelica), nicknamed Blackwing, was a Haeseni princess and member of House Barbanov, later marrying Duke Adrian of Adria and thus becoming the Duchess-Consort of Adria. She'd become the female face of the Holy Orenian Empire when her husband was elected to the position of Lord Protector in 1731 following the death and scandal of Alexander II. However, she would never rise to the coveted position of Empress-Consort of Oren, as her husband passed of sickness only a day before his planned coronation. She was however a posthumous Empress-Mother, with her son Joseph II ascending to the imperial throne.

As a daughter of King Marius II and his primary consort, the late Valera of Adria, she would be additionally bestowed the titular honor of Princess-Royal. Holding the title her entire life, and thus becoming the longest reigning Princess Royal.

Early life

Princess Mariya of Haense was born on the 15th of the Deep Cold, 1703, to the Crown-Prince King Marius II, and his consort, the Lady Valera of Adria. She was the firstborn child to the pair, and thus her birth marked the creation of the Crown Prince's future royal family. Though she was not the son and heir in which the Kingdom awaited, a child born of a union between Carrion and Barbanov provided much stability for the Hanseti monarchy, as well as securing hopes for the Princess-Consort’s fertility. As the first princess of the newly built city of Reza, she was additionally bestowed the honorific title of ‘Princess-Royal of Reza’, a tradition customary to the firstborn daughter of a new capital. A year later, Mariya’s only other full-blooded sister was born: Sofiya Theodosiya.

Overcome with stress at her lack of producing an heir, Mariya's mother Valera grew weaker, and would eventually succumb to ill-health during the birth of her third and only child, a son who would pass three days later. This left a three year old Mariya without any maternal influence throughout her childhood, further creating difficulties with the Princess' relationship with her Father. Valera’s parentage and death, as well as the death of her son, Mariya’s brother, would be shrouded in mystery and various theories, leading the young princess to make many assumptions for herself. She commonly asserted that

A portrait picturing young Mariya (Left) and Sofiya in vestal robes. c. 1713

her brother was smothered by her Father, rather than dying of ill-health, due to the scandal that posed Valera’s true parentage as one of an incestuous nature, and that she was in fact, not a Carrion at all.

Therefore, Mariya's care was entrusted to her distant relative Aleksandra Ruthern, aided by her husband Josef, Red Prince of Muldav. For extended periods of time the Princess lived within the Alimar Estate, allowing for her to become quick companions with the pair's two sons: Kazimar (who would later marry her sister Sofiya), and Vladrick.

With the ongoing War of Two Emperors, Mariya faced several more family tragedies. Her two pseudo-uncles Godfric and George Alimar were executed by Renatian forces, and her Father was later assassinated within the palace courtyard. When Mariya was twelve, Josef and Aleksandra returned her care to the palace, with Josef passing away of illness later that year. The Princess grew pensive and fear-ridden, believing herself to be cursed by way of her suspected incestuous grand-parentage.

Mariya would become acquainted with Milena of Adria upon her arrival in Reza from the shores of Aeldin. Milena, quick-witted, befriended the headstrong princess in order to win her support in her bid for her brother Andrik III’s queenship. As one of her first companions beyond the Alimars, Mariya’s friendship with Milena would continue throughout her life; to the Barbanov, it was a genuine friendship. Yet, in considering later events to transpire, the true nature of their companion from Milena’s point of view is disputed. Mariya’s sister Sofiya would also return from Aeldin soon after, and the three would later form the core of Milena’s royal court once she ascended to Queen-Consort.

Marriage Controversy

In her early teenage years, Princess Mariya shared a brief courtship with Renatian Knight Tiberius Tiber. However, her first formal betrothal would come in 1726 to her close childhood friend, Vladrick Alimar. Vladrick had traveled away from court for the years prior, and it was rumored that Mariya had in fact broken off relations with Tiberius upon hearing of the Alimar’s return, now titled the Prince of Rubern. The two were a happy pair, remaining betrothed for a number of years due to delays in the construction of Rubern.

The Duke of Adria

It was during this extended engagement in which the Duke of Adria, Adrian Sarkozic, contacted Sofiya via letter, asking her for advice in seeking a Hanseti bride. Quickly, Sofiya realized that herself or Mariya would be the Duke’s most preferable options. Adrian had only recently begun re-establishing the Duchy of Adria after his failed attempt at reaching for the Imperial throne, and therefore a marriage alliance with Haense would be essential in ensuring it’s stability and survival. Already in his late thirties, the Duke intended to seek a quick marriage to one of the two Barbanov Princesses. Having never been fond of Vladrick, Sofiya promptly suggested her sister via letter as a suitable match. She failed to mention Mariya’s engagement to the Duke, and arranged a meeting between the three of them to occur within 1727.

"The Red Duchess of Adria; Princess Mariya of Haense" Commissioned by Mariya's husband Adrian de Sarkozy following their marriage. c. 1730

In the month of The Amber Cold, 1727, the Duke of Adria arrived within Reza. He brought along with him a sizable retinue of soldiers, intending to boast the political strength of his re-emerging Duchy. Quickly, he met the two princesses, expressing his will for an alliance through a proposal to Mariya. Expecting only to host the Duke as typical of a Princess-Royal, Mariya was blindsided by her sister’s ulterior motives. Though she quickly refused the betrothal, citing her withstanding engagement, Sofiya and Adrian continued to pressure the Princess - mocking her faithfulness towards a man whom they described to be unpredictable and violent.

The true turning point within the meeting came with Adrian’s claims that Vladrick’s principality (who was independent to the crown of Haense at the time), would eventually turn against Mariya’s home Kingdom, and therefore her marriage to him would prove both politically and personally detrimental. It was to this note that Mariya began to relent; though she loved Vladrick, she could not deny that his actions were at times unpredictable. If anything, she was a woman wholly devoted to her Kingdom, and therefore she could not deny the clear advantage in which Haense would gain in an alliance with a fellow Carrion state. The Empire under Alexander III was unstable, requiring Haense to seek allies elsewhere.

After several hours of continued pressure, Mariya eventually relented. She agreed to the Duke’s proposed union on the grounds that he formally petitioned for her hand at the court of Andrik III.

Double-Engagement Scandal

However, before such a petition could be made officially, considerable scandal would be placed upon the betrothal. Presumably wracked with guilt over her actions, Mariya failed to immediately inform Vladrick of her intention to dissolve her engagement in favor of the Duke’s offer. The controversy came to a head at the festival held in honor of Alexander II’s sixteenth birthday. There, in the public setting attended by nobles and dignitaries from Haense, Oren, Adria and Curon, Mariya was made aware of Adrian’s second betrothal.

It came to light that the Duke of Adria was betrothed to two princesses at once, having not nullified his previous arrangements with the Princess Ester of Avalain prior to seeking Mariya’s hand. Ester’s brother, King Pierce I of Curonia, had grown suspicious of his sister’s engagement after hearing word that a Carriondom alliance was in the works. Pierce was a close friend of Mariya’s, a relationship in which some rumor to have extended to an affair, and allegedly the night before the Festival she expressed her fears in dissolving her engagement to Vladrick - unbeknownst to her that her husband-to-be was still promised to another.

Within the confined space of the Imperial Palace courtyard, Princess Ester confronted Mariya, who then in turn confronted Adrian about the double-engagement. The altercation exploded into an argument between the three, with both Mariya and Ester horrified at the insult delivered to their Kingdoms. Vladrick, also present, caught wind of the going-ons, alongside Mariya’s brother, King Andrik III, only further proving to complicate the matter. Cornered by three monarchs and their respective sisters, the Duke of Adria began to panic - worried that the predicament would cost him an already fragile engagement with Mariya.

In order to salvage the matter, Adrian approached Mariya privately afterward in order to elaborate upon what had occurred. He told her that the patriarch of House Sarkozic, Edgar of Sarkoz, had rejected the idea of a Devereux union for Adrian despite a betrothal already being in place. Threatening him with denouncing his heirship to the house, he had rushed to seek an alternative bride - hence his intense pushing for Mariya’s hand and his scheming with Sofiya. Adrian further expressed his apology for what had transpired, yet he reaffirmed the political necessity of their proposed union.

Wedding of Carriondom

Though distressed and insulted, Mariya had little choice but to continue with her engagement to the Duke. Despite thinking him a pompous, arrogant and foolish man (as she described in her letters to Queen Milena), he saw her entrapment within the arrangement. Vladrick was furious over her betrayal and refused to speak with her, leaving her with no other option. Therefore, despite being shrouded in scandal and controversy, Mariya reaffirmed her promise to Adrian.

The Duke then promptly summoned the entirety of his retinue, traveling swiftly to Reza in order to finally petition King Andrik for her hand. Apologies were exchanged for what Adrian dubbed a misunderstanding with the Curonian Princess, and Andrik offered his blessing for his sister’s marriage. Vladrick, who was present at the court, is said to have only laughed when their union was confirmed - remaining bitter over the matter but satisfied with what he deemed to be an embarrassing display for both individuals. In a strange twist of irony, Vladrick would go on to court and later marry Adrian’s former betrothed, Princess Ester Devereux.

After several months of exchanging cordial letters, alongside the occasional visit to Renzfeld, Mariya and Adrian were finally wed. The ceremony occurred on the 8th of the Sun’s Smile, 1729, cementing the Crow’s alliance between Adria and Haense. In attendance were hundreds of guests, amongst them members of Barbanov, Sarkozy, Imperials, and even select members of a Ruberni delegation; Vladrick himself included.

As Duchess of Adria

The new Duchess of Adria quickly relocated to Adria following the wedding, settling within the nation’s capital - the County of Renzfeld. Solemn over what had transpired, yet dutiful all the same, she thrust herself into the various roles of her position. Mariya found solace in the simplicity and straightforwardness of her work in Adria, and eventually came to enjoy being Duchess despite the unfortunate way in which she obtained it. Sofiya aided her immensely, choosing to spend extended periods in Adria in order to escape her own unhappy marriage to the Prince of Muldav.

Mariya aided Adrian in several ventures both internally and externally, including an entire restructure of the court, nobility rites and the planned duma. Though their marriage was ultimately cold and lackluster, the pair were propelled by a shared and devout patriotism to highlander beliefs, and therefore together they made a formidable ducal couple.

Motherhood and Family

Two years into their marriage the pair would welcome their first child, a healthy baby boy christened Joseph Clement. Struggling to connect emotionally with her child, who would never settle in the care of his Mother, Mariya resorted to leaving much of his care and upbringing to various Sarkozic family members and court tutors. Motherhood proved an inherently difficult role in Mariya’s life, as she’d lacked a caring maternal influence in her own youth.

Between the years of 1731-1737 Mariya would bear three more children; a second son, christened George Casimir, as well as two daughters; Phillipa Valeria and Anna Carolina. As with her first son, she never bonded well with any of her children - finding herself entirely unsuited for the familial aspects in which came adjacent to the position of a consort.

Imperial Tenure

In 1731, Emperor Alexander II passed away suddenly from smallpox. Only twenty and without any legitimate heir, this left a power void upon the Imperial throne - one in which Adrian saw as a perfect opportunity to take advantage of. He negotiated unanimous support for the reintroduction of an Imperial Protectorship under himself.

Proclaimed officially on the 10th of Sigismund’s End, Adrian Sarkozic became the highest figure of authority with the Orenian Empire at the time: the Lord Protector.

The Race to the Imperial Throne

House Sarkozic, now rebranded under the imperialised name of de Sarkozy, then took residence within the Imperial city of Helena. Adrian sought to repair the fractured pieces of the Empire, starting with a total demolition and reconstruction of the city in order to remove the remains of the late Pertinaxi Empire. Mariya aided in small parts of this design, consistently advocating for the inclusion of traditional Raevir architecture elements.

Slowly, Adrian’s lust for power began to grow. It became quickly apparent that Alexander II’s brothers were likely illegitimate, therefore causing them to flee the Orenian court. The Empire was left with no suitable heir, and many began to fear that a return of the Pertinaxi dynasty (as some household members had survived the War of Two Emperors’ aftermath), and thus the barbaric ways of the past would also return. Adrian seized this moment to declare himself the rightful Emperor, citing a claim through his very distant relation to the Carrion Emperors of old. To further cement matters, he arranged a betrothal between the daughter of Pertinaxi Prince Antony Helane and Princess Lorena of Cascadia. This betrothal would eventuate in Joseph Clement’s latter marriage to Anne Augusta.

With this in mind, Mariya and Adrian together began preparations for their Imperial tenure. So many years at the Duke of Adria’s side had instilled in Mariya a similar lust for power - culminating within their plot to assume the Imperial throne. Traditional royalists were satisfied with Joseph’s betrothal to the Pertinaxi heiress, Hanseti patriots found themselves rallying beneath the potential of a Barbanov Empress, and Mariya engaged in discussions about the potential of marrying either of her daughters to figures within Kaedrin or Curon in order to secure their support. It was a perfect storm of political intrigue, shared by two figures accustomed to the intricacies of court.

Following an altercation with the Duke of Vintas and the Rex of Krugmar, Oren engaged in several skirmishes against the Orcish nation during the period of the Protectorship. This put a delay upon Adrian’s plan to assume the Imperial crown, though he wrote to Mariya from the front lines of his intention to arrange a coronation ceremony within the year. Anticipating her rise to Empress of Oren, Mariya began drafting extensive Imperial courtly reforms- drawing influence from the Empires of old as well as the reforms made by her sister-in-law in Haense. She had the Empress’ suite of the palace custom tailored to her, despite not yet having the public authority to do so.

Allegedly, she also had coronation garments covertly tailored, as well as a number of crowns befitting the image of an Empress-Consort. Certain correspondence spoke of a dramatic golden gown, decorated with intricate embroidery symbols of both her Hanseni and Imperial heritage. To accompany, both a red sash and a historic headpiece- a crown inspired by the one in which her Mother Valera had worn in a single instance, her wedding to King Marius, and never again. The existence of said gown is contested, as no concrete proof was ever found.

Fall from Grace

In 1737, tragedy would strike the Empire with the Lord Protector, Mariya's husband, falling ill and passing away shortly after his victory in what would be the final Orcish skirmish. On his deathbed, Adrian declared the rightful Emperor as Antony Helane, forgoing his familial claim in favor of a return to the Pertinax dynasty. However, ever a schemer, this installment would much later allow for Adrian’s son, Joseph Clement, to ascend to the Imperial throne as Anne I’s co-ruler. Thus, the Sarkozic family did eventually sit upon the throne of Oren.

With Adrian’s death, however, Mariya’s plans were shattered. Now both widowed and without any title or means to gain power, she fell into an extremely depressive state - rarely venturing out of the guest suite she and her children shared within Helena. Not even the encouragement of Milena or Sofiya could draw Mariya out of her state, and for six months on end she wallowed in self-pity in what should have been her life; the crown of the Empress.

In an attempt to lift her sister-in-law’s spirits, Queen Milena covertly arranged a time in which Mariya could reconnect with her prior fiancee, Vladrick. She invited both individuals to reside in Reza at the same time, thus allowing for them to speak with each other once again. What was supposed to be a rejuvenation of Mariya’s spirits however quickly backfired, as the Dowager Duchess quickly came to realize that Vladrick was happily married to Ester, now with three children of his own. After such a meeting she descended into mental turmoil, as Sofiya had, plagued with hatred and spite over the unfortunate state of her life. She loathed the idea of living in an Empire to which she was not Empress too, and equally loathed the idea of living in her home Kingdom as a powerless widowed Princess, particularly given that her childhood city of Reza had been torn down in favor of a new capital. This caused her to travel frequently between both cities throughout 1738, unwilling to reside in one for a long period of time.

A portrait of Mariya, depicting her months before her death. Attributed to the Court Painter, Diane Tiber

Death

Only a single year after Adrian’s death, during a visit to the ruins of the old Palace of Reza, Mariya was murdered in cold blood by an unknown assailant. The Princess had left her residence within Haense for an evening walk, and due to her frequent-traveling tendencies there was no alarm raised when she did not return for several days.

However, the gruesome discovery of her body came on the 6th of the Grand Harvest, 1738, when a trio of young stableboys encountered the scene as they grazed their horses. At the foot of where once stood the Prikaz was Mariya’s body, struck crudely through the chest with a single blade. No real investigation was launched, as her murder was quickly drawn down to the reactionary forces of Sarkozic and/or Hanseni opposers. No funeral was held, nor was much attention paid to the Duchess-Dowager's passing apart from the sentiments of Queen Milena and the Alimars.

Legacy

Familial Legacy

Though she would pass long beforehand, Mariya’s lineage would eventually form the core of the Imperial Family for a century to come. Her son Joseph Clement would rise to Holy Orenian Emperor as the co-monarch to his wife Anne I in 1787, establishing the House of Novellen in which still rules to this day. Her second son, George Casimir, would continue the de Sarkozy name, eventually seeing the reunification of their two lineages through his granddaughter Amadea of Pompourelia’s marriage to a later imperial heir. Though Amadea was another woman who never ascended Empress position by way of an unfortunate death, her son Philip III was the eventual product of the unified Sarkozy and Novellen lines.

Mariya’s daughters Philippa and Anna would pass away in 1740 and 1742 respectively, only at meagher ages of 4 and 5 when they died. After the death of both Mariya and Adrian consecutively, the two young girls were arranged to be sent to distant Carrion relatives within Nova Horos, the luxurious capital of Aeldin. It was the same place in which Milena had grown up, and therefore she made suitable arrangements for her newly orphaned nieces. Unfortunately, the two girls would contract smallpox upon their long journey across the sea, resulting in their untimely deaths.

Posthumous Scandal

In the years following her death, details slowly emerged regarding the complex truth behind what had appeared to be a stalwart Ducal couple. Letters would be made public that detailed Queen Milena’s alleged extramarital affair with Adrian, going as far as to claim that King Andrew IV of Haense, who was born in 1729 (the year of Mariya and Adrian’s wedding), was no child of Andrik III but rather one of Adrian de Sarkozy. Such audacious claims have been denied throughout history, however it is generally assumed that there was some degree of affair between Mariya’s closest friend and her husband.

Hanseni Legacy

Following the discovery of her body, Mariya was found to have been in possession of a series of letters, each detailing her final words and goodbyes to several of her closest confidantes. It was assumed that she had written these letters in anticipation of her demise, yet strangely most were dated from before Adrian’s death; before she had spiraled into extreme depression. Among those receiving letters were Queen Milena, her niece Princess Karina, and Vladrick.

Months later, Queen Milena was officially coronated in a delayed ceremony as customary for a Queen-Consort. She wore a dress with stark similarities to words spoken of the Duchess' alleged coronation gown, sparking theories that in fact, it was passed on to the Hanseni Queen. The dress has since become a symbol of Hanseni culture- worn again by Milena’s immediate successor Maya of Muldav, as well as several other Queens of Haense after her.

Mariya’s uncovered writings detail every stage of her life, and therefore the public has since gained an intimate telling of the Princess’ rise and ultimate fall in power. Her name was later commemorated by Queen Maya in the form of the annual Marusvar Masquerade festival, and she continues to remain a commonly told Hanseni fable of tragedy. The National Geographic Society later coined her as one of only a handful of the most influential female political figures of human history.

"Yet if I’ve learnt anything from my time in the capital, it is that we must cherish the moments we can. I cherish that moment, even if I must return to a grimmer reality moments later. I advise you to do the same, Queen Milena. We cannot pour our hearts into each waking hour, for they will only fall subject to the pains of rulership." -Perhaps Mariyas most well-known quote, taken from her final letter to Queen Milena

Titles, styles, honours and arms

• 15th of The Deep Cold 1703 - 8th of the Sun’s Smile 1729: Her Royal Highness Princess Mariya Angelika, Princess Royal of Reza

• 8th of the Sun’s Smile, 1729 - 12 The Amber Cold, 1737: Her Royal Highness Princess Mariya Angelika, Duchess of Adria, Princess Royal of Reza

• 12 The Amber Cold, 1737 - 6th of the Grand Harvest, 1738 : Her Royal Highness Princess Mariya Angelika, Dowager Duchess of Adria, Princess Royal of Reza

Full title as Duchess of Adria

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, Princess Mariya, Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska, Duchess of Adria, the Crownlands, Lorraine and Roden, Baroness of Renzfeld

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Joseph II, Holy Orenian Emperor	1st of Malin's Welcome, 1731	1814	Anne I, Holy Orenian Empress	Firstborn child of Adrian and Maria. Sucessor of Adrian, Duke of Adria. Rose to the position of Holy Orenian Emperor following his marriage to Anne Augusta.
George Casimir, Count of Pompourelia	19th of the First Seed, 1735	1797	Henrietta, Princess of Alstion	Secondborn child of Adrian and Maria. Count of Pompourelia
Philippa Valeria de Sarkozy	7th of the Grand Harvest, 1736	1740	Unwed	Thirdborn child of Adrian and Maria. Died of smallpox en route to Nova Horos.
Anna Sophia de Sarkozy	12th of the Deep Cold, 1737	1742	Unwed	Fourthborn child of Adrian and Maria. Died of smallpox en route to Nova Horos.

Ancestors

Ancestors of Mariya Angelika of Reza

16. Robert-Sigismund, Prince of Bihar               8. Siguine I of Haense                       17. Caterina of Metterden               4. Robert I of Haense                             18. Atticus van Kastir               9. Sophia of Castor                       19. Marie de Morvelyn-Louvain               2. Marius II of Haense                                   20. Rhys var Ruthern               10. Alidred Ruthern                       21. Angelika Vanir               5. Elizaveta of Vidaus                             22. Ser Aldrik Baruch               11. Katherine Baruch                       23. Marjorie Pasquier               1. Mariya Angelika of Reza                                         24. Aurelius I, Emperor of Man               12. Prince Antonius of Renatus-Marna                       25. Theodosia Horen               6. Augustus I, Emperor of Man                             26. Arpad Ivanovich, Duke of Krajia               13. Maria Viktoria of Krajia                       27. Unknown               3. Valera of Adria                                   28. Aurelius I, Emperor of Man               14. Prince Antonius of Renatus-Marna                       29. Theodosia Horen               7. Alexandria of Man                             30. Arpad Ivanovich, Duke of Krajia               15. Maria Viktoria of Krajia                       31. Unknown