Yelena of Marsana

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Yelena of Marsana
The Queen consort of Balian
YelenaofMarsana2.jpg
Yelena C. 1910
Queen-Consort of Balian
Tenure: 1900 - 1921
Coronated: 1900
Predecessor: Gwyneth of Karosgrad
Successor: Andromeda of Ba'as
Born: 1863
Reutov, Holy Orenian Empire
Death: Unknown ~ 1924
Spouse: King Alexander I
(m. 1884)
House: Ruthern
Father: Ivan Ruthern, Duke of Reutov
Mother: Kathrina d'Arkent

Yelena Lorena (Common: Helena Lorena), regally known as Yelena of Marsana was the second Queen-Consort of Balian through her marriage to Alexander I, King of Balian, in 1884. She was one of five legitimate children between her father, Ivan, Duke of Reutov, and Kathrina d’Arkent, being born in 1863 as a member of the highly esteemed Ruthern house. Her tenure as Queen was much like the first Queen's, however only due to an illness she faced later in life.

Biography

Early Life

Yelena Lorena vas Ruthern was one of five legitimate children between her father, Ivan, Duke of Reutou, and Kathrina d’Arkent, and a twin to Ekaterina Maria, being born in 1863 as a member of the highly esteemed Ruthern house. She had three older siblings which resulted in little expectations placed upon her.

Her family was greatly affected by the Brothers’ War, but Yelena was young and unknown so when Prince John Casimir and his following appeared at the doors of the Duchy of Reutou, Yelena was one of the first to welcome them with open arms. Periodically, the adults would gather outside to defend against the armies of Prince Frederick, but they could do little and eventually lost the battles. Thus, all of the followers of Prince John would move south. Despite the move, Yelena was quick to adapt and during this time had constructed friendships with the children of the Prince. This eventually turned into a fondness and Yelena, along with her sister and Princess Constantia would establish the Honey Court. This early exposure to ruling, albeit pretend, along with her amiability with the heir to the Grand Duchy and direct bloodline connection to the Royal House of Barbanov made her the favored choice for consort at the mere age of ten.

Yelena diligently continued her work in the Honey Court, becoming a junior writer and publishing three editions of The Honey Tea newspaper while simultaneously commuting to other nations to build relations with future generations which later became important alliances for the Grand Duchy. These publications eventually landed the adolescent on the Vuiller Council in 1880 and allowed her to gain further exploration of diplomacy and the innermost mechanics of the government. In addition to this, she had grown closer to the Duke’s eldest son and the pair shortly fell in love as they reached their teenage years. Although only young adults, Alexander proposed to Yelena and they would be officially wed in 1882.

Governess of the Monterosa

She took little time adapting to the Ducal lifestyle since her childhood was spent as the daughter of a Duke and eventually, she would undertake the responsibilities of the Governess of the Monterosa Palace. During her tenure, she would host galas that reflected the political changes in Balian and ones that celebrated the separation of Balian from the Orenian Empire. Five years after her official appointment to the role of Governess, the Grand Duchy would be designated as a Kingdom. This was a small shock to the populace and especially to the newly entitled Princess-Consort, claiming multiple times to her council that she was not prepared to be a Queen.

With the sudden increase in pressure, the royal couple would struggle to produce an heir. For over fourteen years they would toil through marriage childless with most nobles ridiculing Yelena for the lack of one. The criticism began to wear on the Princess who had done almost everything she could, but ultimately it resulted in her disappearance from public life. In 1896, the Crown finally announced the birth of the heir to the kingdom, Hadrian Casimir, and a baptism to lift spirits was held a month after. Yelena, driven by sociable society, made one of her final appearances at this ceremony.

Queen-Consort of Balian

In 1900, King John finally succumbed to old age and Yelena’s husband, Alexander, would rise to the occasion of King. By then, she had given birth to a second son and was prepared to return to society during the coronation and take her place as Queen. Alexander was crowned following his father's funeral in the Basilica of la Sorella as Yelena stood by the side of both of their sons.

However, no such return occurred as she would develop an illness that kept her from fulfilling the full responsibilities of Queen. After the birth of her final two daughters, it would be decided that the roles the Queen would commonly do would be delighted to other members of the court and Yelena would be left to rest in hopes of her eventual recovery.

In her reign and later life, she functioned as a symbol of Balian royalty, creating a sanctuary for bees within the Monterosa palace and holding private gatherings with her husband whom she still loyally supported even if she could not do so publicly. Alexander would go on to rule for twenty-one years and when he passed in 1921, Yelena would flee the palace in grief.

Her own passing was never confirmed as a body was ever found before the Mori took over Almaris and turned the lands hostile to descendants' life. With the newly established Kingdom of Balian in Aveos, her daughters would rebuild her bee sanctuary to honor their lost mother. Yelena would continue to live on symbolically in the lives of the Balian people as a devoted and patriotic Queen, steadfast in the few achievements she managed to complete.

Titles, Styles, & Honors

Titles & Styles

  • 1863-1882: Her Ladyship, Yelena Lorena vas Ruthern
  • 1882-1900 Her Imperial Highness, Princess Yelena of Marsana, Governess of the Monterosa, Countess-Consort of Monteres
  • 1900-1921 Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of Balian
  • 1921-Unknown Her Imperial Highness, Queen Yelena of Balian

Style as Queen-Consort of Balian

HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Yelena of Marsana, Queen of the Bees, Queen-consort of Balian, Viscountess-consort of Eflen and Anatis, Baroness-consort of Brucca, Valens, Malenos and Ciavola. Lady of Atrus and Monterosa, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera

Issue

Name Birth Death Marriage
Adrian I, King of Balian 1885 Alive Andromeda of Ba'as Firstborn son of Alexander and Yelena, succeeding his father as King of Balian.
Prince Alexios Michael, Count of Pavano 1897 Alive Unwed Secondborn son of Alexander and Yelena.
Princess Elena Casimira, Princess Royal of Balian 1901 Alive Robyn de Lyons Firstborn daughter of Alexander and Yelena, titled Princess Royal after her aunt's disappearance. Also Countess of Rosemoor
Princess Lydia Antheia, Countess of Caluzzo 1902 Alive Unwed Secondborn daughter of Alexander and Yelena.