Ragnhildur I

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Ragnhildur.

**Ragnhildur I** (Ragnhildur Elín María Ásrún Bjarnadattir; 4 July 1906 – 15 January 2003) was the Queen of the Velkanian Isles from the restoration of Velkanian independence in 1964 until her death in 2003. She was additionally the Duchess of the Velkanias from 1950 until 1964; Ragnhildur was the first monarch to rule over an independent and unified Velkanian Isles.

Ragnhildur was born in Narísandur as the eldest of three daughters to Bjarni IV and his wife Úlfhildur Ljósálfardattir. With her birth, Ragnhildur became the heir presumptive to the throne of the Velkanian Duchy, and as she had no male siblings, her position as heir presumptive was not overtaken. Ragnhildur attended private primary school in Narísandur and a private boarding school in Frankenland, later graduating from the University of Velkania with a degree in Laposcandian literature in 1927. Following her father's death on 22 May 1950, she succeeded him. Following the restoration of Velkanian independence in 1964, Ragnhildur was proclaimed the newly independent nation's queen, becoming the first monarch to rule over an independent Velkanian Isles in five centuries, and the first ever to rule over an independent and unified Velkanian Isles. She married Velkanian executive and nobleman Ingibergur Ólafarson in 1930; they had one daughter together: Hrafnhildur III (born 1940).

On 14 January 2003, Ragnhildur suffered a stroke and was hospitalized; she later died the following day. Following her death, her daughter Hrafnhildur was immediately proclaimed as queen. With nearly 53 years on the throne, Ragnhildur is the longest-reigning monarch in Velkanian history, and has continued to serve as a symbol of Velkanian pride and sovereignty due to her leadership during the Velkanian independence movement of the 1950s and early-1960s. In 2014, she was voted by the Velkanian public as the most admired Velkanian person of all-time.

## Early life and education

Ragnhildur was born on 4 July 1906 at Árbæjarheimar Palace in Narísandur. She was the first child and eldest daughter of Bjarni IV and Duchess consort Úlfhildur. Her father was the only son and middle child of Bjarni III, while her mother came from the Velkanian nobility. With her birth, Ragnhildur became the heir presumptive to the throne and was granted the title Crown Princess. As the Velkanian monarchy practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture, Ragnhildur would have been displaced in the line of succession by the birth of a younger male sibling.

When she was four years old, her younger sister Princess Dórótea was born in 1910. Her youngest sister Princess Lydía was later born in 1912, when she was five-and-a-half years old. Upon the birth of Lydía, it became apparent that Bjarni would produce no sons, and that Ragnhildur would hold her place in the line of succession. Ragnhildur was raised in Árbæjarheimar Palace with her parents and younger sisters.

Ragnhildur began her education in 1912, after enrolling in the Narísandur Primary School for Girls, a private, all-girls primary school. While in primary school, Ragnhildur was said to be kind and caring towards her classmates, and had spoken about wishing to become a teacher. In 1920, Ragnhildur transferred to Vasoule School, a private, all-girls boarding school in Vasoule, Frankenland. While at Vasoule School, Ragnhildur was academically gifted and was said to be a highly popular student. She graduated from the school in 1924, and subsequently returned to Narísandur in order to enroll in the Faculty of Eurean Studies at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in Laposcandian literature in 1927. While a university student, Ragnhildur was frequently the only woman in her courses, but was one of the best-performing students.

## Reign

Bjarni IV began having issues with his lungs in October 1947. A lifelong cigarette smoker, he developed frequent coughing fits and difficulties breathing around this time, although he refused medical intervention. In May 1950, his breathing issues worsened and he was later hospitalized on 14 May due to extreme shortness of breath. While in the hospital, Bjarni was diagnosed with pneumonia, and later died of the illness on 22 May. Immediately after the announcement of his death, Ragnhildur was proclaimed as duchess.

During the era of the Velkanian Duchy, the Velkanian monarch held a small role as the head of state for the autonomous territory. The monarch had frequent meetings with the Premier and the Framish monarch, in addition to formally appointing all Velkanian ministers and signing passed legislation of the Velkanian Duchy. However, since they were still subjects of the Framish monarchy, the Velkanian monarchy was always to be considered inferior. Throughout the 1950s, the independence movement in the Duchy began to strengthen; when asked about the movement, Ragnhildur refused to comment in order to avoid politicization of the monarchy, but numerous news outlets noted that she privately supported it. In the lead-up to the 1963 independence referendum, Ragnhildur urged Velkanians to "vote with [their] conscience[s]," although she stated she would not vote herself, emphasizing her duty to stay neutral in politicized debates.

After the success of the referendum, it was confirmed that Ragnhildur was to be proclaimed queen. Upon the formal confirmation of Velkanian independence on 1 January 1964, Ragnhildur was proclaimed Queen of the Velkanian Isles. This made her the first monarch to reign over an independent Velkanian nation in five centuries, and the first to ever reign over a unified and independent Velkanian Isles. As queen, Ragnhildur met with the Prime Minister weekly, and additionally had frequent meetings with other ministers regarding the direction of the nation. She signed all new pieces of passed legislation and royal decrees, allowing them to become law. As the head of state, Ragnhildur had the power to veto legislation, although this power is simply a formality and is not used in practice to avoid politicization of the monarchy. The queen also appoints, swears in, and dismisses all government ministers and ambassadors, although this is solely performed at the advice of the Prime Minister. As queen, Ragnhildur was the chair of the Council of State, although in practice the head of state seldom actually presides over meetings.

### Death

On 14 January 2003, Ragnhildur suffered a stroke and was hospitalized; she later died the following day. She had shown signs of declining cognitive health for the past several months, including early signs of dementia. Immediately after the announcement of her death, Ragnhildur's daughter Hrafnhildur III was proclaimed queen. This made Hrafnhildur the first Velkanian royal to not rule over the Velkanian Duchy since the 15th-century.

Ragnhildur's state funeral was held on 20 January, where thousands of mourners gathered outside of Árbæjarheimar Palace to pay their respects. The funeral was broadcast live on Velkanian National Television (VNT), where it was watched live in more than 500,000 households; the Orthing passed legislation closing public schools and all non-essential businesses on the day of the funeral in order to allow for Velkanians to pay their respects. She was subsequently laid to rest in the royal mausoleum beside her husband and parents.

## Marriage and children

Ragnhildur was introduced to Velkanian business executive and nobleman Ingibergur Ólafarson in 1927. While she initially was not interested in pursuing a relationship with him, he eventually won her over.

Ragnhildur and Ingibergur became engaged on 4 July 1929, Ragnhildur's twenty-third birthday. They later married on 6 September 1930 in Narísandur. Following the wedding, Ingibergur received the title Prince of the Velkanias. The wedding was originally supposed to be held in Hersingborg, after the Framish monarchy offered to sponsor the ceremony and celebration; Ragnhildur abruptly canceled the plan after discovering that the idea was a publicity stunt in order to quell the pro-independence movement and create the illusion of goodwill between both royal families. This was heavily reported on in the Velkanian media, resulting in widespread support of Ragnhildur and criticism of the Framish royal family.

Following their marriage, Ragnhildur and Ingibergur moved into Köllapúnk House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace, later moving into the main residence of Árbæjarheimar Palace in 1950. After marrying, the couple struggled immensely with infertility. By 1938, Ragnhildur had had nine miscarriages, getting pregnant and losing the baby almost yearly. After having one child, they decided not to have any others in order to not "press [their] luck." Ingibergur died following a four-year bout with bladder cancer in 1994.

Ragnhildur and Ingibergur had one child together:

* Hrafnhildur III (*Hrafnhildur* Elínheiður Ingiríður Sólbjört Ingibergardattir; born 22 April 1940)

## In popular culture

In 2014, Ragnhildur was voted by the Velkanian public as the most admired Velkanian person of all-time, in a poll meant to celebrate 50 years of Velkanian independence. Commentators stated that her selection was due to her symbolic association with the Velkanian independence movement of the 1950s and early-1960s, resulting in her widespread approval. In 2015, 92% of Velkanians had a positive opinion on Ragnhildur, making her the most popular person in the history of the Velkanian Isles.

In 2016, a six-part miniseries titled *Ragnhildur* aired on Velkanian National Television (VNT), meant to celebrate the life of Ragnhildur across several decades. The miniseries won three awards at the 2017 Velkanian Television Awards, where it was nominated for five in total.

## Titles

* **4 July 1906 – 22 May 1950**: *Her Highness* The Crown Princess of the Velkanias
* **22 May 1950 – 1 January 1964**: *Her Highness* The Duchess of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1964 – 15 January 2003**: *Her Majesty* The Queen of the Velkanian Isles