Maximilian Nassal

### Titles

His Imperial Majesty Maximilian III, Ruler of the European Empire, Protector of the Continent
 *King Consort of Sardinia (formerly)
 Crown Prince of the European Empire (formerly)*

## Personal Information

### Aliases

The Emperor
 Max
 Maxim

### Lovers

Raphael Depoites
 *Sigmund Lewor (formerly)
 Artemio Costellino (formerly)*

### Issue

Princess Augusta
 Princess Reina

Emperor Maximilian III is the incumbent ruler of the European Empire. Referred to as Max by his wife, Empress Katherine, and his concubines, and as Maxim by his family.

## Early Life

Born in 1897, Maximilian was the second child and eldest son of Crown Prince Franz-Ferdinand and Crown Princess Louisa. He was then raised on his father's Principal Train, with his three siblings. He was christened Maximilian, as a link to Emperor Maximilian II, given that he was the first of the new line of emperors to have been born after Crown Prince Leopold's death; Ferdinand, after his father; Leopold, as an homage to the Crown Prince and to the last emperor whom he was directly related to.

Maximilian was always very close with his sisters, Princesses Victoria and Josephine, but was more distant with his brother, Prince Wilhelm, even from an early age. It was noted by his governess that Maximilian preferred the quieter nature of Victoria's and Josephine's play than Wilhelm's more boisterous nature.

## Crown Prince

When Maximilian was seven years old, his grandfather, Emperor Ferdinand III, died. Maximilian's father then became Emperor Ferdinand IV, thereby making him Crown Prince Maximilian.

### First Love

At the age of eleven, Maximilian was sent to military boarding school in berlin until he was fifteen. There, he met his first paramour, Hans. He developed a significant crush on Hans from afar, and they later became lovers, where Maximilian developed very strong feelings towards him. However, upon their discovery together, the school staff followed their orders to report any affairs to the Emperor himself. Originally in case the Crown Prince accidentally fathered a bastard.

Upon learning of his son's sexuality, Emperor Ferdinand immediately recalled Maximilian to the Imperial Train, along with Hans. He brought the lovers before him, and offered Hans a huge bribe to leave Prussia and never see Maximilian again, which he accepted. Maximilian was heartbroken, and the Emperor then kept his son under very close scrutiny, having his meetings constantly monitored and forcing him to live on the Imperial Train and forgo some of his education.

### Marriage and King Consort

In the early 1910s, with the advance of the Kingdom of Naples, the Italian kingdom of Sardinia-Savoy chose to join the European Empire to retain its autonomy. In order to allow a smooth transition of the crowns, it was suggested that King Umberto IV of Sardinia-Savoy's eldest daughter, Princess Catarina, married Crown Prince Maximilian. Then, their children would inherit the claim to both thrones. Emperor Ferdinand made the arrangements with King Umberto, without either party being consulted, until Maximilian was ordered to visit the island of Sardinia and propose to the Princess.

Initially, both of them were weary of being expected to marry each other. However, upon revealing to one another that they were gay, with Maximilian being attracted to men and Catarina being attracted to women, they immediately agreed that, should they marry, neither of them would expect to sleep together, except for the purposes of having children. Hence, the marriage was enthusiastically entered into by both.

As a married Crown Prince, Maximilian was also able to claim his right to his own Principal Train, which he moved into with his wife, who began to be referred to as Katherine instead of Catarina. They divided their time between Sardinia and the rest of the Empire, spending two months on the island and four on the continent, travelling the Empire. During this time, Maximilian met his first concubine, Artemio Costellino, and Katherine met hers in Valentina Cartiness.

In early 1923 however, Emperor Ferdinand was diagnosed with heart disease, as a result his rich diet and lack of exercise. Around this time, rumours as to whether Maximilian was going to father any children began to abound. It was around this time that Maximilian and Katherine started trying to conceive, where Katherine finally fell pregnant with their first child, Princess Augusta, who was then born in 1924.

However, before the first of their daughter, Katherine's father passed away unexpectedly from a massive stroke. In January 1924, Katherine became Queen Regnant of Sardinia (as Savoy had formally become a state in the Empire by then). From then, Maximilian chose to use the consort title to his wife, being styled as King Consort of Sardinia, rather than being Crown Prince of Europe.

## Reign

In February 1926, Emperor Ferdinand IV died of heart failure, leading to Maximilian being crowned as Emperor Maximilian III, Ruler of the European Empire. Upon his ascension, the Kingdom of Sardinia was officially dissolved and became an imperial state, with Maximilian and Katherine ruling as Emperor and Empress.

## Public Perception

### Sexuality

As a gay man, Maximilian never attempted to hide his sexuality once he was married. He actively promoted the belief that he was bisexual, despite never confirming nor denying his sexuality.

Many sects of the Empire disliked Maximilian's sexuality, calling it indecent and a sin.

## Titles and Styling

* 1897 - 1905: *His Imperial Highness* The Prince Maximilian of Europe.
* 1905 - 1924: *His Imperial Highness* The Crown Prince Maximilian of Europe.
* 1924 - 1926: *His Royal Majesty* The King Consort of Sardinia.
* 1926 - : *His Imperial Majesty* The Emperor.

As Emperor, Maximilian full title is,

> *His Imperial Majesty Maximilian the Third, Ruler of the European Empire, Protector of the Continent.*
>
>