Ava Elisabeth von Delanoringen

## Ava Elisabeth Marcella von Delanoringen

**Ava Elisabeth Marcella von Delanoringen** (b. 11 July 1898) is a young Austrian aristocrat, amateur socialite, heiress, and a member of the prominent Delanoringen family a noble, political, and banking dynasty with origin roots from the Tyrol region of Austria. She is the youngest child, (and only daughter) of Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen the incumbent Patriarch of the Delanoringen family and his wife Marie Josephine von Delanoringen a French socialite and former professional ballet dancer. Her older siblings are Roger, Hamilton, and finally Justin. Ava, as the youngest child in her immediate family is adored by her parents and her extended relatives as a "girl" in the family that is mostly dominated by males. She was especially adored by her paternal grandfather Boris von Delanoringen who died a few months later after her birth. Bright and charming, like her mother but also intelligent and ambitious like her father, she has attracted many suffocating suitors who want her hand in marriage despite her youthful age, from various countries ranging from the progressive industrialised England to the deeply conservative Russian Empire mainly for the Delanoringen family's extensive wealth.

Ava was born in the Delanoringen Palais, in the city of Vienna, in the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary on 11 July 1898 as the fourth child and only daughter of Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen a young Austrian businessman and financer and his wife Marie Josephine von Delanoringen a French socialite and former professional ballet dancer. Despite her birth being difficult for her mother, her birth was nevertheless jubilated by the entirety of the Delanoringen family. Her grandfather Boris von Delanoringen, and grandmother Marcella van der Bijlandt, respectively were especially overjoyed at the birth of a granddaughter and travelled all the way from Prague to see the newborn. As the fourth child and only daughter of Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen and his wife Marie Josephine von Delanoringen she was given an excellent education ranging from literature, mathematics, science, and languages, (especially French, English, alongside her native Austrian German). Frequent trips across Europe also helped her advance her fluency in languages and assisted her in developing a wider view on the world. Ava as a pupil was also talented in music, (a trait that she seemingly inherited from her father) where she learned how to play the piano, and violin by the age of nine which impressed her loving father and extended family. Additionally, she was adored by her parents, and paternal grandparents who treated her warmly and seemingly praised anything that she achieved and shared a close bond with her elder siblings, including Justin who was often treated harshly by the family for his erratic behaviour. However, she was not spoiled by her family with gifts and jewellery as Nicholas wanted none of his children to be spoiled or snobby which he viewed as awful traits of the aristocracy. She also developed a fascination for Hungarian culture especially the capital city of Budapest after a visit to the Kingdom of Hungary. By all contemporaries, Ava was praised for being bright and charming but also intelligent in her own right, traits that she respectively inherited from her mother and father. She has attracted many suitors ranging from England to the Russian Empire some of her suitors, with some being highly wealthy and influential. Her parents, however, remain caution and prudent concerning a future marriage to protect the dignity of their young daughter. Ava also owns a Pomeranian dog that she named Teacup that her parents purchased for her during a visit to England, whom Ava (and the family) promptly adores.

Ava shares a close relationship and a smitten bond with her younger siblings and her family (including her other brother Justin Henry von Delanoringen who is characterised by the family as the "black sheep" of the family due to his rather rebellious and erratic behaviour). Her tenure as the youngest daughter (and as an heiress) of the Delanoringen family has been praised by her family and contemporaries alike. Unlike her older brother Roger William von Delanoringen, she has not been forced or pressured to marry someone of her age or noble status and has instead been given attention and affection by her family. She often accompanies her father and mother on their various trips (both business and commercial) throughout Europe, North America, and the Western Hemisphere being known for her charming beauty and kind character.

## Biography

### **Early Life**

#### **Birth**

Ava Elisabeth Marcella von Delanoringen was born on 11 July 1898 (shortly after her mother's birthday a few days prior in the Delanoringen Palais, the ancestral and primary residential estate of the Delanoringen family, located on the outskirts of Vienna in the dual Austro-Hungarian Empire. She was the fourth born child and only daughter of Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen an Austrian businessman, nobleman, and member of the Delanoringen family and his wife Marie Josephine von Delanoringen a French socialite and former professional ballet dancer. Her birth while jubilated by the entire family, was long and difficult to complete and it took over fourteen hours for Ava to finally join the world. During the birth, her father Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen was so worried about the safety of his wife and unborn child it caused him to stay throughout the entire delivery holding his wife's hand in an attempt to sooth her. Nevertheless, Ava was safely delivered by the family's Austrian physician Benjamin Friedrich Schadler and his subordinate Samuel Watson from England, who had previously delivered the three Delanoringen sons prior to the birth of Ava. Marie, Ava's mother was particularly overjoyed at the birth of a daughter after such a difficult and long birth. Her father, meanwhile, was ecstatic upon realising that his wife was safe, and his child was delivered healthily bursted into tears of joy. Nicholas also stayed with his wife throughout the entirety of the bed resting process, visiting her throughout long periods of the day shortly after the birth of their fourth child. Ava's middle name "Elisabeth" comes from her late great grandaunt who passed away in the late 1880s and was a sister of Edward von Delanoringen, Nicholas's grandfather. She was also given the middle name "Marcella" in tribute to her paternal grandmother. Upon, hearing that the baby was a girl her paternal grandparents Boris von Delanoringen and Marcella van der Bijlandt cancelled their business trip to Prague and rushed as quickly as possible to the Delanoringen Palais in Vienna to visit their granddaughter where they were thrilled and especially overjoyed at the birth. Boris in particular was delighted on the prospect of having a granddaughter and bought several pieces of extremely expensive jewellery for the child. Her paternal grandparents weren't the only ones that were overjoyed at the birth of a granddaughter, and her maternal grandparents Henri Lucien Dubois and Juliette Elise Dubois also visited the Austro-Hungarian Empire in early August to see their first granddaughter. Edward von Delanoringen, her great-grandfather was also thrilled at the birth of a great-granddaughter and in late August invited the entirety of the extended family to celebrate the birth. She was called an "Angel" by her parents, and by her grandparents on both sides and was gifted many gifts ranging from inexpensive toys to extremely expensive pieces of jewellery and diamonds. Ava's physical appearance despite being an infant was described as having bright green eyes, and blonde hair which resembled an exact copy of her mother Marie's facial features, which she struck a resemblance towards.

#### **Baptism**

Several days after being born, Ava was baptised in the Catholic faith as an infant at St. Stephen's Cathedral in the city of Vienna in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The baptism was presided over by the incumbent Archbishop of Vienna Anton Josef Gruscha who previously presided over the other Delanoringen sons prior. The entire Delanoringen family (including the extended family) attended the baptism, including Ava's elderly great-grandfather Edward von Delanoringen who was delighted at having a great-granddaughter. Her maternal grandparents Henri Lucien Dubois and Juliette Elise Dubois, respectively along with her maternal aunts also attended the lavish occasion. She was baptised with the name "Ava" which her father and mother both agreed on and given the additional middle names of "Elisabeth" in respect for her great grandaunt (Edward's sister) who passed away in the late 1880s, and "Marcella" in respect for her living paternal grandmother Marcella van der Bijlandt.