Sophia of Castor

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Sophia of Castor Queen-Consort of Haense Sophia Chivay, c. 1675. Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska Tenure: 14th of Sun's Smile, 1670 - 6th of The Deep Cold, 1682 Predecessor: Tatiana of Metterden Successor: Elizaveta of Vidaus Born: 13th of the Sun's Smile, 1640 Death: 9th of the Amber Cold, 1693 Markev, Haense Spouse: (1.) Siguine I of Haense (m. 1665-1682) (2.) Ser Avery of Oren (m. 1687-1693) House: Chivay Father: Atticus van Kastir Mother: Marie de Morvelyn-Louvain

Sofiya Katherina (Common: Sophia Catherine) (13th of the Sun's Smile, 1640 - 9th of the Amber Cold, 1693), regally Sophia of Castor and monikered The Fair, the Common-born, was the 8th Queen-Consort of Hanseti-Ruska, known for her love of the Haeseni people, despite being a foreigner in the lands. She ascended the position of Queen-Consort upon her marriage to King Sigmar I. Through her parentage, she was descended from the House of Chivay.

Biography

Early life

Sophia 'Sophie' Sparrow, born to Atticus van Kastir and Marie de Morvelyn-Louvain, was a Chivay bastard whose origins begin within the land of Aeldin. At an early age, she was smuggled out of Aeldin which led to many hardships and difficulties in her young age. It is unknown how long it took her to escape Aeldin, but it is assumed to have been quite some time and over the course of a multitude of years. She managed to leave the land and start anew in her late adolescent to early adulthood. Despite speculation over her childhood, she was well-educated enough to where she could read and write properly.

Although she suffered many grievances to escape the grasp of Aeldin, she was overly delighted to see the royal city of Markev, under the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Even from her first moments in Markev, she struggled with the cold of the city and its surrounding land. Sophia managed nonetheless and endured the cold for she loved the culture and customs of the people from the start. In her first few days within Markev, she ran into a man by the name of Sigmar Lothar which she would later learn to be of the House Barbanov and King of Haense. Along with Sigmar, Sophia made quick friends with varying notable figures of Markev including a commoner by the name of Swithun, and the steward Brog Dhoon.

Sophia and Sigmar grew closer by the day, and her feelings were unwavering towards him. However, it is allegedly said that she was afraid she was not enough as only a bastard. She eventually would be legitimized and gain the surname of Chivay, though whether she was a bastard or not didn't seem to matter to Sigmar. The two were married in the year of 1665, and thus, Sophia became Sophia of Castor as the Grand Princess-Consort of Kusoraev, and later the Queen of Haense.

Marriage

The wedding of Sophia and Prince Sigmar Lothar was held at an unknown location. Unlike many other consorts of the Haeseni King, Sophia's wedding was a humble one and of little to no grandeur. It was a simple ceremony, with the attendance of a few surviving members of the royal family of Barbanov and others who followed Sigmar to exile. Sophia was dressed in all white, with a veil that was draped over her countenance until she reached the altar.

As Queen-Consort of Haense

According to many, Sophia differed from most - if not all - of the Haeseni Queens. With her position, she did not spend it on time with the court, hosting events, or internal affairs; but rather, she focused on the people and their day-to-day lives. She, on occasion, would attend governmental meetings and was always in attendance when her husband held court. Her focus remained on the people of Haense and her family. Sophia was a simple and kind woman, thus garnerning the trust and love of many.

Hardship soon came to the kind Queen as her first child and son was not bestowed upon her at all, but instead a stillborn. Pain overwhelmed Sophia, but she was able to work through the troubles with her husband. Over the next few months, she and Sigmar struggled with arguments in their marriage but were able to overcome. Her excitement to be a mother overwhelmed her once more as she finally had her first child and the heir to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, Prince Robert Lothar. She was lively as ever and overjoyed, parading the royal child about and presenting him to any and all within the city of Markev. The kingdom celebrated the birth of the heir with her.

She was never one for diplomacy but followed her husband about, unless it meant leaving Haense. Although she had struggled with the freezing temperatures of the land, she loved it there and wished not to leave it frequently. Sophia was tied down to the royal city even more in the coming years as she had another boy, Prince Andrew, and then her first girl, the Princess Theodosia. She was constantly attending to her growing family and children, while Sigmar focused on the kingdom.

From accounts of varying servants and courtiers of the Krepost Palace, Sophia made a home for everyone and, despite the regality, the palace was warm and welcoming. Servants were joyed to attend to the royal family. And even as a foreigner Queen, she learned of her predecessor's job to pass on the Barbanov secret hot chocolate recipe to Theodosia - as all Barbanov princesses are said to know the recipe when they are old enough to remember it. The palace was alive and the royal family full of laughter and memorable moments. Prince Petyr and Thomas were soon born into the family as well, and the youngest of them all - Princess Elizaveta. Events were frequently held as Emma Ludovar and Analiese Bihar, sister to Sigmar, worked together to ensure festivities that the royal family always attended.

Sophia struggled when she lost Thomas to an illness, and Petyr passing away at the age of twelve from a similar sickness to his brother. Elizaveta died only after a year of her birth. She clung to Theodosia and Robert, who were in constant support of their mother. Records from the royal governesses state that the two were her pride and joy, and Theodosia was the light in the room when all else was dark for the Queen Sophia. It wasn't until Sigmar, and later Andrew, passed away that she was hardly able to leave the royal chambers of the King and Queen as she mourned her late husband.

As Queen-Mother

A state of mourning was set over the Krepost Palace and the remaining royal family, Prince Robert and Princess Theodosia, all grieved the death of their father. Sophia attended to him constantly in his final days after he returned home from his hunt - his wounds impossible to recover from. When she became Queen Mother, it was months before she was seen in public again. Her first public appearance and return to courtly life was at the coronation of her son, King Robert I. There were hundreds to thousands in attendance, and believed to be one of the largest coronations in Haeseni history. She was still donning colors of black as she approached the dais of the courtroom with Theodosia in tow, and attendees recount the utter strength and composure on the Queen's face for those who managed to catch a glimpse of the mourning woman.

Robert married soon after his coronation to Elizaveta Ruthern. The relationship between Elizaveta and Sophia is mainly unknown, other than it being distant. Theodosia remained unwed, but it wasn't in Sophia's interest to see her daughter married off. Her daughter found her way into the imperial court and way of life, trailing after her aunt Analiese Bihar. Her travels gave reason to Sophia's own outside of Markev, often seeing her daughters whereabouts with a sense of maternal protection.

Sophia - after many years - was able to feel a sense of starting over again as she met Ser Avery, a knight of the empire - in an incident on the road where she was nearly attacked by a bandit. He rescued her from an oncoming attacker and little else is known of their introduction. The rest of her life soon following her meeting of Ser Avery became unknown. She was said to have remarried again many years after losing Sigmar and thus losing the title of Queen-Mother.

Death

There is little known about the death of Sophia, as her life was not as intensely followed as it was in her earlier years. She was said to have died from an illness that came in the cold of winter. Sophia was never made for the cold, and thus it would later on consume her. Her last words were the names of her children, all of which she had loved dearly. Sophia died in the year 1693, with the company of her youngest child, John Chivay, and her husband Ser Avery.

Titles, Styles, and Honors

• 1640-1665 Miss, Sofiya Katherina van Kastir
• 1665-1670: Her Highness, the Grand Princess of Kusoraev
• 1670-1682: Her Majesty, the Queen of Hanseti-Ruska
• 1682-1687: Her Majesty, Queen Sophia of Hanseti-Ruska

Style as Queen Consort

Her Royal Majesty, Sophia of Castor, Queen-Consort of Hanseti and Ruska

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Otto Sigmar Barbanov, Prince of Haense	1665	1665	Unwed	Firstborn son of Siguine I and Sophia. Stillborn.
Robert I, King of Hanseti-Ruska	9th of Snow's Maiden, 1666	10th of Sun's Smile, 1707	Elizaveta of Vidaus	Secondborn son of Siguine I and Sophia. Successor of Siguine I.
Prince Andrew Stephen Barbanov, Duke of Alban	1668	1690	Mariya of Adria	Thirdborn son of Siguine I and Sophia. Duke of Alban.
Theodosiya Isabel Barbanov, Princess Royal	12th of the Deep Cold, 1669	1st of Sun's Smile, 1733	Nikatien, Duke of Touron	Firstborn daughter of Siguine I and Sophia. Duchess-Consort of Touron. Went missing during the late 1670s and early 1680s.
Petyr Josef Barbanov, Prince of Haense	1671	1683	Unwed	Fourthborn son of Siguine I and Sophia.
Thomas Odrin Barbanov, Prince of Haense	1672	1680	Unwed	Fifthborn son of Siguine I and Sophia. Died of an illness as a child.
Elizaveta Tatiana Barbanov, Princess of Haense	1674	1675	Unwed	Secondborn daughter of Siguine I and Sophia. Died of consumption.
John Chivay	1690	Unknown	Unwed	Firstborn son of Ser Avery and Sophia. Believed to be missing, or dead, and whereabouts unknown.