Theodosia Isabel of Haense

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Theodosia of Markev Princess Royal of Hanseti-Ruska Theodosia of Markev, commissioned in 1687. Born: 12th of the Deep Cold, 1669 Markev, Haense Death: 1st of Sun's Smile, 1733 Reza, Haense Spouse: Unwed House: Barbanov Father: Siguine I of Haense Mother: Sophia of Castor

Theodosiya Ysabel Barbanov (Common: Theodosia Isabel), also referred to as Theodosia of Markev was a princess royal of Hanseti-Ruska as the firstborn daughter of King Sigmar and Queen Sophia of Haense. She was a notable and public figure of the city of Markev under her father's reign, but disappeared in the late 1680s.

Biography

Early life

In the year of 1669, the first princess of Haense between the King Sigmar and his consort, Sophia of Castor, was born. She was the first of her name within the Barbanov royal family, as none of the young princess’s ancestors obtained the name Theodosia, or Theodosiya in New Marian. She was the fourth born of Sigmar’s new line of Barbanov-Bihar, the new lineage occurring as a result of the death of Francis II of Haense. Before her was her eldest brother Prince Otto, whom she would never know due to his death upon birth as a stillborn, then Prince Robert and Andrew. Following her birth was that of Petyr, Thomas, and Elizaveta. Theodosia adored her young sister, but she would pass away within the year- leaving Theodosia as the only daughter of the remaining five. As the eldest daughter, she inherited the title of Princess Royal of Haense.

Theodosia, often referred to by the royal family and their companions as Theo, was well-educated and had several tutors and mentors. Most of which, to the dismay of the royal’s parents, Theodosia would pay little attention to. She, according to former servants of the royal household, often ran off to play games in the kitchens of the palace or with the children outside. Upon returning to the Krepost palace, disgruntled governesses attended to the young princess by wiping off snow or any mud tracked carelessly upon her petticoats.

Her elder brother, Andrew, stayed within the palace walls while she and Robert were caught frequently wandering old and abandoned buildings. Such curiosities led to the near assassination of both the Haeseni heir and the princess, in which they were swiftly rescued with the assistance from the Lady Elizaveta Ruthern. The assailant fled the royal city before the unknown personage could be arrested and face punishment for the attempt on the lives of the royal children.

Theodosia remained more frequent hours within the walls of the Krepost palace after the ailing occurrence. However, with the company of her brother Robert and the Ruthern twins; Demetrius and Elizaveta, she was not alone to the royal servantry and courtiers. She was recorded to have been favored as the only daughter by her mother and father. The royal children were exceptionally close, especially with their mother Sophia. During this time, the palace overall was very lively and full of character from each and every person apart of it; from the palace staff, to the royal children’s individual personalities. There was said to be an Illatian royal chef that added to the brightness that was the Krepost palace. They were, also, often watched over by a Haeseni royal scribe who acted more as a mentor and caretaker of the royal children - Swithun.

Despite the happiness that was believed to be the royal family, several rumors claim that the Princess Theodosia was cursed and tormented by a mystical presence within the palace. One handmaiden recalled the state of the princess’s chambers, which were lined in gold dust, on the floors and windows. For several years of her life, according to the handmaiden and other servant accounts, the princess was found screaming in agony and sobbing until she was brought to her chambers where she was within the gold-lined rooms. The royal family allegedly came in contact with outside means of assistance, as no mundane doctors or nurses could learn the ailment of the Haeseni princess. The torment was said to have lasted into the middle of her adolescence.

Adolescence & Suitor Struggles

Theodosia assisted in the endeavors of education and the formation of the Theodosian Memorial Library, which had been founded by Elizaveta Ruthern. The two, as well as the mentor Swithun and her brother, Demetrius, often travelled to festivities across Atlas to promote the library or gain charity money for its growth. The quartet often donned similar and matching outfits. Most of Theodosia's days were spent in the library outside of the palace, or restocking and giving out free food for those in need of it. With her aunt's return to Markev, she befriended her as well as Emma Ludovar. Outside of Haense, Theodosia's travels consisted only of the imperial city of the time, Carolustadt.

Whilst in the palace walls, she was attending to her brother, Thomas, who was growingly worse by the day as he was consumed by illness. Thomas would pass, leaving the family in a broken and mourning state. She and her two elder brothers assisted her mother through her grieving, as their father frequented hunting parties and alcohol consumption. In 1682, her father was unable to recover from a wound he acquired while hunting, and in 1683 her brother Petyr died from seemingly the same sickness that killed Thomas in 1680.

In the mid 1680s, Theodosia met the Prince Alexander Horen at a ball hosted by Maria of Krajia within the imperial city. From courtiers in attendance, she and the Horen prince were said to have worked well in conversation with one another almost immediately. Terms of courtship were drafted up by the two as well as Maria arranging meetings for the pair to meet. During the brief time that Alexander and Theodosia were courting, Demetrius Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus proposed to her in the middle of the Krepost, to which she denied with hesitance and claimed that she had a duty to find the best marriage for the kingdom. However, the courtship with her and Alexander fell through when her aunt Analiese Bihar was informed of the courtship. She would go on to marry Alexander instead of Theodosia. Her mother had no intentions of planning a marriage and her brother, King Robert had nothing of sort in mind either. By unknown means, Theodosia and Prince Cassius Horen nearly came into courtship as well, although any plans of such fell through. Theodosia claimed that Cassius terrified her when he started having episodes of seeing things that weren't really there.

After the marriage between the Duke of Vidaus and Lady Amalie Caunter, Theodosia disappeared from the Krepost palace. Most of her items were still left remaining in her chambers, other than several essential pieces and articles of clothing. Any attempts to find the princess were unsuccessful as she had hidden herself from the world. Where she travelled to remains unknown and unspoken of by any who might've potentially known.

Marriage

With her hiatus from a life she previously knew, she came into acquaintance and later friendship with a man by the name of Nikatien Etienne, the Duke of Touron. The dates of their meeting remain unspecified. Nikatien and Theodosia, believed to have been only after several months of their meeting, were married. Theodosia spent the weeks of preparation for the wedding sewing together her own dress; a skill she had acquired from her mother's tutelage, and mentorship in courtly matters and etiquette. The year the two were married is assumed to be in or around the year of 1698.

Return to the Public

The first record of Theodosia's return to the public was in the Duchy of Adria, where her great niece Mariya of Haense was the Duchess, through her marriage to Adrian, Duke of Adria. However, she had spent many years attending to her mother, Sophia of Castor, until her death. Theodosia was quiet about her attendance to her mother, as was any of those living with the previous Queen of Haense. Theodosia stayed by Mariya's side as an advisor, moving with her to the imperial city of Helena when Mariya's husband became the Lord Protector of the Holy Orenian Empire. Only for a short amount of time did she reside with the imperials, until she finally returned to her hometown as soon as she was struck with an illness.

Death

Early in the year of 1733, Theodosia travelled to the new royal capital, Reza, and returned to the Kingdom of Haense for the first in numerous decades. She met with her old mentor, Swithun, and introduced her daughter to him. Swithun informed her of the death of her sister-in-law and friend, Elizaveta of Vidaus, as well as her brother Robert’s. He stated to her that both passed peacefully as an attempt to give her closure when, in fact, Elizaveta had been assassinated brutally. Nonetheless, she was at peace of mind knowing all she once knew were at peace, and Theodosia passed within the week as she succumbed to illness. In her last moments, she spoke of how she was ready to be, at last, reunited with her family.