Emperor Charles I of Great Oceanus

### Spouse

Empress Elizabeth of Great Oceanus (née Mademoiselle Élisabeth Raphëlle de Bourbon, m. 1721-1743; her death)
Empress Victoria of Great Oceanus (née Archduchess Viktoria of Habsburg-Lorraine, m. 1746-present)

### Children

By Empress Consort Elizabeth:
Louise Caroline, Queen of Sardinia

Catherine Amelia, Duchess of Amsterdam

Theresa Antoinetta, Dowager Princess of Wexford

By Empress Consort Victoria:

Victoria Elizabeth, Princess of Great Oceanus

Philip George Frederick, Crown Prince of Great Oceanus

Charles Philip, Duke of Boston

James Andrew, Duke of Codshire

Elizabeth Louise, Princess of Great Oceanus

### Romantic Interests

Empress Elizabeth (Former Spouse)

Empress Victoria (Spouse)

## Biography

### **Birth**

On a snowy February morning in the Imperial Palace, London, Crown Prince William and his wife, Anna Maria, had a son. The date was 5th February 1701. The baby was named Charles Philip, and he was styled as a Prince of Great Oceanus.

### **Christening**

On 7th July 1701, the prince was christened as Charles Philip. His godparents were the Prince of Sweden and the Duchess of Staffordshire.

### **Childhood**

From 1701 to 1712, Charles resided at the Imperial Palace in Oceanus' capital, London. His father sent him, along with his brother, Edward, to Paris. Paris was just near the border of France and Great Oceanus, so they were close enough to attend official ceremonies at the palace. While there, the boys were tutored by the best of the best.

Charles became fluent in French, Italian, German, and Latin. He was tutored in literature, arithmetic, history, and religious studies. He excelled in history, taking great interest in the history of his country and the world around him. He was also known to have interests in the military, hunting, and athletics.

His grandfather, Emperor William III, died of a heart attack on 8th August 1710. Charles became the Crown Prince of Great Oceanus. His father became emperor and reigned from 8th August 1710 to 14th March 1726.

In 1714, at age 13, he was sent to Austria to study under tutors and learn from the advisors of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. He advanced his historical studies and religious studies there. He was admired for his slender and tall stature, being 5'8 and slender. He had green-blue eyes and light brown hair, and many foreign princesses were pushed forward as potential brides for the following years.

### **Engagement**

In 1717, at the age of 16, he was engaged to Élisabeth Raphaëlle de Bourbon. She was brought to Oceanus court in August 1717, and Charles returned from Austria two weeks later. They were both quite impressed with the personalities and looks of each other. They got along like that of old friends, much to the Emperor's relief. The union with France was to keep tensions over land at a minimum. The two were to be engaged until they were both adults (age 18). They resided at the Imperial Palace.

### **Marriage**

On 17th April 1721, Charles and his fiancée, who now used the English variant of her name, Elizabeth, were wed in the Imperial Place Chapel at 1:00 PM. He arrived in a carriage with the Emperor and Empress Consort, and Elizabeth arrived with her father, Duke of Bourbon, and her family in a carriage behind the imperial one.

The ceremony took place in the chapel in Imperial Palace. It was a grand ceremony, with lots of foreign and noble guests in attendance. Elizabeth was wearing an emerald and diamond-studded dress with a 50-foot-train, and Charles was wearing his ceremonial crown prince regalia. The two exchanged vows and left the chapel. They then entered a gilded carriage and proceeded on a procession through the capital.

The procession went down the main streets of the city. Charles had and Elizabeth graciously waved to the crowds. Several times, the carriage stopped as well-wishers presented flowers and gifts to the new couple. They then arrived at the Imperial Palace for the reception and bedding ceremony.

### **Accession & Coronation**

In February of 1725, Emperor William grew ill. He is believed to have pneumonia. On 2nd March 1725, the emperor died in his bedroom. The time was 6:38 AM. He was surrounded by his wife and children. Charles was officially emperor.

Charles lamented the passing of his father in a touching eulogy. Deeply saddened, he tried to maintain composure for the sake of his family and the empire. He spoke with poise and eloquence and the funeral, showing little emotion.

"My father was a man of much importance. He was a wise and bold, never stepping down. And today we honor a man who shall forever rest in the hearts and souls of all those he encountered. His empire will never be the same without him as the head, but one thing shall remain true: his memory will live on forever."

On 14th March 1726, the coronation for Charles was held. He was crowned Emperor Charles I of Great Oceanus. His wife, Elizabeth, was crowned Empress Consort Elizabeth of Great Oceanus. The ceremony took place at Parliament Hall in Rochester. The emperor and empress-consort then paraded through the streets of the city, serfs crowding the carriage to greet the new rulers.

### **Issue by Empress Consort Elizabeth**

Charles and his wife began living at Plymouth House, a royal residence in the Grand Duchy of Plymouth before their ascension. They started a family there, however, in 1725, Charles became Emperor. They started their damy at the Inperial Palace. As Emperor, he had the following children:

* Louise Caroline, Queen of Sardinia (19th February 1727)
* Catherine Amelia, Duchess of Amsterdam (17th August 1729)
* Theresa Antoinetta, Princess of Wexford (4th November 1732 - 7th September 1751)

### **Death of the Empress Consort**

Empress Elizabeth passed away of tuberculosis on 17th May 1743, at the age of 41. She had been ill for several months, and was sent to Italy to recover. Unfortunately, she only grow sicker, and the emperor had to travel to Italy to be present for her final days of life.

The Empress' death was a tragedy all around the nation, and the world. She was beloved and praised for her poise, elegance, and culture. Her untimely death was mourned by many, especially the emperor and his children. Her room was off limits, having been decorated in black as a sign of mourning.

Her funeral took place on 28th May 1743, after preparations and after she lie in state for a week. The emperor delivered a eulogy that touched the hearts of all of the guests, but was extremely depressed. He arranged for her to be buried in the Monarch's Tomb at Worcester Abbey. After the funeral, he spent several weeks mourning at Oxford Manor, his country residence.

### **Remarriage**

In December of 1744, the emperor's advisors began suggesting potential brides. The emperor wasn't sure he'd ever wish to remarry, but he needed an heir. Devastated by Empress Elizabeth's passing, he was reluctant to decide on a wife. He was introduced to brides between the ages of 21 and 31. He was introduced to Archduchess Viktoria of Austria. She was the daughter of the Emperor of Austria. They were introduced at court in January of 1745. They took a liking to each other, and courted for several months.

In April of 1745, the emperor proposed to Archduchess Viktoria in the gardens of the imperial palace. Viktoria accepted, and they planed to wed on 18th June 1746. Viktoria then returned home to Austria to collect the last of her belongings and visit her family before returning in June of 1746. She began to use the English form of her name: Victoria.

The wedding was as spectacular as the emperor's first wedding. The Imperial Chapel was packed with foreign dignitaries and nobles. The two exchanged vows, and the ceremony concluded. The reception took place at Boston Hall, the emperor's private event venue. The reception lasted from 5 P.M. to well past 1 A.M. The emperor and his new consort consummated the marriage just after the reception, and she conceived a daughter.

### **Issue by Empress Consort Victoria**

* Victoria Elizabeth, Princess of Great Oceanus (7th April 1747)
* Philip George Frederick, Crown Prince of Great Oceanus (12th October 1748)
* Charles Philip, Duke of Boston (29th August 1751)
* James Andrew, Duke of Codshire (15th September 1755)
* Elizabeth Louise, Princess of Great Oceanus (15th September 1755)

### **The Wexford Tragedy**

In 1751, Prince John of Wexford traveled to Russia to investigate possible habitable lands to conquer. He left on 28th January 1751 with a crew of men and his imperial charter. However, he soon fell ill while in Russia and would die before the crew could get him out of Russia and home to Great Oceanus.

Upon the death of the Prince of Wexford, his widow, Theresa Antoinetta, Dowager Princess of Wexford, did not mourn while awaiting the return of her late husband’s body and the funeral. She chose to roam around the palace and gardens in bright, cheerful colors. When confronted by her father, she finally explained all of the horrible things her husband had done to her. Appalled, Charles granted her permission to leave after the funeral and hide away at a small estate in Prussia. She would not be forced to mourn, much to Charles’ hidden dismay at lack of protocol. The fight between them over it was not a pretty one, and things took a sour turn.

Fearing her father did not love her anymore, and never could love her again, Theresa Antoinetta took matters into her own hands. She paid off a maid the sum of $100,000 to fetch her the rope which she would use to end her own life. The note left behind apologized to her father, Charles, and her stepmother, Victoria. The note also apologized to her female lover, Princess Anna of Iceland, and the emperor's other children.

Devastated at the loss of his daughter, Charles allowed the two-month mourning period to linger as long as the nobles pleased due to the great shock and grievance surrounding Theresa Antoinetta's suicide. He and his consort mourned extensively alongside Princess Anna of Iceland.

## Titles, Styles, Honors, & Arms

### **Titles & Styles**

5th February 1701 - 27th July 1704: *His Imperial Highness* Prince Charles

27th July 1704 - 8th August 1710: *His Imperial Highness* The Grand Duke of Plymouth

8th August 1710 - 14th March 1726: *His Imperial Highness* The Crown Prince of Great Oceanus

14th March 1726 - Present: *His Imperial Majesty* The Emperor of Great Oceanus

### **Honors**

6th March 1710 - Present: Order of the Empire

8th August 1710 - Present: Order of St. Benedict

14th March 1726 - Present: Imperial Order of the Sovereign