Otto II de La Roche

## Otto II, Dux Atheniensium

Dux Atheniensium par. 1689 by Juan de Valdés Leal

**Otto II de La Roche,** (*French:* Otton II de La Roche, *Spanish:* Otón II de La Roche, *English:* Otto II of La Roche) was the current Dux Athenienisium from 1687 to the present day 1690. He was a Roman aristocrat and member of Philippus IX & VIII's court.

## Biography

### Birth

Otto II de La Roche was born at the Tatoiou Palatium in Athens. He was the eldest son of Otto Henricus de La Roche, Duke of Athens and Maria Beatricia de Demetrias. Compared to his younger siblings, he was born sickly, and was considered the weakest of the four.

### Early Life

The largest contributor to his general weakness was his pronounced stammer. Otto did not learn to speak until after his first birthday, and when he did speak he spoke with a severe stammer. As he aged, the stammer generally mellowed, although he would retain it in some forms all his life. Nevertheless, Otto had a close relationship with his siblings and his mother. His mother mollycoddled the young Otto, and the boy retained a lifelong affection for her. His siblings frequently took on protective roles for him as well, as the boy was an easy target for bullies. For most of his early life, he resided with his siblings at the Tatoiou Palatium with his mother and siblings. He was frequently ill in childhood, and nearly died shortly after his third birthday from fever.

### Education

He began his formal education shortly after his fourth birthday. Despite his physical weakness, he displayed a well-developed mind. He was deeply interested in several subjects, including history, geography, and the classics. While his education mostly focused on these subjects as well as courtly manners and military sciences, he developed a further passion for the natural sciences such as astronomy, chemistry, physics and mathematics. He developed a particular fascination for the Roman classics. He was fond of Pliny, Ovid, Virgil, as well as Roman history more generally.

Despite his enthusiasm and passion, he struggled somewhat educationally as a result of his stammer. He was unable to speak publicly without causing embarrassment to himself and others, and thus developed a deep shyness. Nevertheless, he was regarded as charming, well-meaning, moral and intuitive. His speech impediment equally did not prevent him from learning Italian, Spanish and French. He completed his education at age sixteen, but he retained an intense passion for learning for the rest of his life.

## Court of Philippus IX & VIII

### Introduction

In 1673, when Otto was 13, he joined the Court of Philippus IX & VIII. He was regarded as "Otto Pulcher" (English: Otto the Handsome) and has to be married very quickly. A few weeks after his arrival, he gained the Emperors favour after handling and killing a stag on a hunting trip. He recalled it as his first Grand Hunt.

### Marriage to Maria Joanna de Bas

On the 31st of December, 1673, Otto de La Roche was wed to the beautiful Maria Joanna de Bas, daughter of Hughes IX de Bas, Marquess of Squillace. After their marriage they went on a "European Vacation" and went to:

* France
* Spain
* Savoy
* Holy Roman Empire
* Sicily

And when they were in Chambéry, Savoy, they conceived their son Benedictus Felix.

#### Death of Maria Joanna de Bas

On the fourth of January, 1680, Maria Joanna de Bas succumbed to breast cancer. Otto was truly depressed and hadn't left Athens until a month after the funeral. He and his son returned to Constantinople, depressed and wishing for their beloved wife and mother returned but knew that wouldn't be the case. Otto still referred to his late wife as the "*Ducissa Athenarum,*"(English: Duchess of Athens).

### Abdication of Otto I de La Roche

In 1687, when the family visited Athens, they had an unexpected uprising cause the Duke of Athens at that time to abdicate. Following the abdication, Otto Henricus, hated his son, convinced he lead the revolt. Otto II was variably pleased as he thought it would be nice for his father to see that he could be a good Duke whilst he still lived. Over time Otto Henricus' hatred for his son soon vanished.

## Issue

With his first wife, Maria Joanna de Bas, Otto II de La Roche has one child:

* Benedictus Felix de La Roche, Comes Megara (1674-)

## Character Synopsis

### Personality

Much of Otto's personality developed from his childhood struggles with speech. As a child, he was incredibly shy, and was unable to speak to most individuals without struggling with speech. He was also incredibly fussy, and on one occasion ate the same meal for weeks. He was, however, a diligent, passionate, calculating and caring individual. He retained his passion for learning into adulthood, and was notably fond of the developing science of chemistry, as well as classical architecture and art. He was also interested in new industrial techniques and agriculture. His strongest passion was books, and he was notably fond of the Roman classical authors such as Cicero and Ovid, as well as the English playwright Shakespeare.

As an adult, he managed to overcome the biggest challenges to his speech, although his stammer was still present at times. He was proud, and his relationship with his father was particularly rocky due to his father's affair with Maria Angela, believing the woman to bring shame upon his mother and family. He was also known for having a severe temper, and he grew red and shouted when angry. He also found difficulty in expressing emotion, generally attempting to keep a "stiff upper lip," perhaps out of a pathological fear of being ridiculed for such emotional displays. He struggled with personal relationships and providing emotional comfort. He was most likely socially inept, and frequently unable to take hints. As a result, he was often quiet, and preferred to keep close to people he knew well, such as his wife and brother. Despite his close relationship with his wife, he still suffered from a lifelong and consistent loneliness into his adulthood.

### Appearance

Like the other members of his immediate family, Otto was relatively tall. As an adult, he stood just about six feet tall, and was only slightly taller than his father. He also inherited his mother's thick, light blonde hair, and her dark blue eyes. From his father he inherited the "La Roche jaw(very sexy jaw) ." Unlike his father and younger brother, however, he was relatively muscly, and he remained like this into adulthood. He was also quite tan. While not particularly smart, he was not an unattractive man.

## Titles, Styles and Honours

### Titles and Styles

* **24th of May, 1659 - 9th of December, 1687: Dominationis Suae, Comes Mégare**
* **9th of December, 1687 - Present: Sua Celsitudo, Dux Athenarum**