Princess Ísbjört

**Ísbjört** (Full name: *Ísbjört Dagbjörg María Hrafnhildur Magnthóra*; 12 December 1880 – 26 May 1973) was the youngest daughter of Bjárni I and Hansína Freyjdís, Duchess of the Velkanias, and a member of the Velkanian royal family. She was additionally the youngest sister of Bjárni II and aunt of Ragnhildur III.

Born into the House of Oskársdætr, the royal house that has ruled the Velkanian Isles since the 8th-century, Ísbjört was both a Princess of the Velkanias and Princess of the Velkanian Isles. In 1902, she married Hródólfur Víkingursson, a Velkanian business executive and member of the Velkanian nobility. With Hródólfur, she had two sons: Prince Októvíus and Prince Arnbjörn.

## Early life

Ísbjört was born on 12 December 1880 at Krúningárathjálla Palace in Naríthjábæk as the third and final child of Bjárni I and Hansína Freyjdís, Duchess of the Velkanias. Her father was the second son of Thórlaugur VI, while her mother was of the Velkanian nobility. At the time of her birth, the Velkanian Isles was a constituent country of Forsland, operating under the name of the Velkanian Duchy. Her father was reigning as the Duke of the Velkanias.

Ísbjört had an elder brother Bjárni, born ten years prior in 1870, and an elder sister Hjörfrídur, born eight years prior in 1880. Ísbjört spent her entire youth in the main residence of Krúningárathjálla Palace, where she was raised.

### Education

Ísbjört began her education in 1887, attending Naríthjábæk Primary School for Girls, a private primary school for girls. While in primary school, Ísbjört was both sociable and academically talented, with a specific passion for the natural sciences. She ultimately graduated from primary school in 1897.

After finishing primary school, Ísbjört enrolled in Naríthjábæk Junior College, where she studied a natural sciences and mathematics program. After graduating from high school in 1900, Ísbjört enrolled in Velkanian Women's University, and graduated with a degree in chemistry in 1903.

## Adulthood

In 1898, when Ísbjört was a 17-year-old student at Naríthjábæk Junior College, she began a romantic relationship with her classmate Hródólfur Víkingursson. Hródólfur was a member of the Velkanian nobility, who was two grades above Ísbjört in school. They soon began a romantic relationship. After breaking up for a short period of time in 1899, they reconnected later that year.

### Marriage and children

In June 1901, Ísbjört and Hródólfur became engaged after three years of dating. They later married on 19 April 1902 in Naríthjábæk. Following their marriage, Hródólfur received the royal title *His Highness* Prince of the Velkanias; this title later changed to *His Royal Highness* Prince of the Velkanian Isles following the Velkanian restoration of independence in 1966. After their marriage, Hródólfur attempted to influence Ísbjört to drop out from university, although she refused and later completed her degree in 1903.

Ísbjört gave birth to the couple's first child, Októvíus, on 13 May 1904. Their second and final child, Arnbjörn, was later born on 27 September 1906.

## Personal life

Ísbjört was raised in Krúningárathjálla Palace throughout her childhood and teenage years. She moved to Dalreykir House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace following her marriage in 1903. In addition to her native Velkanian, Ísbjört had studied and was fluent in both Forsish and English.

## Death

On 26 May 1973, Ísbjört suffered a fall in her home Dalreykir House. She was rushed to the hospital, where she later died. An autopsy confirmed that the fall was the result of a stroke, and should she have survived the stroke, she had broken her hip and both legs in the fall.

## Family

The Princess had two children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren at the time of her death in 1973.

* Prince Októvíus (born 13 May 1904). Októvíus married Velkanian noblewoman and socialite Hjálmveig Arnsteinnsdætr in 1932. They had one child together. Októvíus died of heart-related complications on 6 August 2000.
	+ Móna Októvíusdætr (born 7 June 1935). Móna married Velkanian nobleman and lawyer Dynthór Henrik Liljarsson in 1960. They have three children together.
* Prince Arnbjörn (born 27 September 1906). Arnbjörn married Velkanian noblewoman and socialite Ormheidur Konstantínusdætr in 1936. They had two children together. Arnbjörn died of prostate cancer on 5 October 1989.
	+ Jónheidur Arnbjörnsdætr (born 14 October 1938). Jónheidur married Velkanian commoner and marketing executive Kristmundur Gudmundursson in 1965. They have two children together.
	+ Jón Eiríkur Arnbjörnsson (born 2 January 1941). Jón Eiríkur married Forsish noblewoman and socialite Paulina Holmvik in 1970. They have four children together.

## Titles

* **12 December 1880 – 1 January 1966**: *Her Highness* Princess Ísbjört of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1966 – 26 May 1973**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Ísbjört of the Velkanian Isles