Julia of Gylfin

**Julia of Gylfin**, also known as **Julia of Dolen** or **Julia Velius**, was the queen consort of the Kingdom of Torlan through her marriage to King Elzear VIII.

From 3E 298, she was also the *suo jure* Countess of Dolen.

## **Biography**

Julia was born in the city of Gylfin on 25th Morning Star 3E 273, under the sign of the Atronach. Her grandfather, King Regulus I, was the ruler of the city and its eponymous kingdom. Julia was the daughter of Prince Regulus, the king's eldest son and heir apparent. Engelard of Morfa supposed that Julia was named in honour of Julianos, the God of Wisdom, although she was in truth named for her great-grandmother, Julia Paterculus.

The House of Velius was an Imperial family originating from Cyrodiil, before Julia's grandfather inherited the Kingdom of Gylfin in 3E 251. Julia belonged to the first generation of her dynasty to be born in High Rock; she was nevertheless Imperial by race.

Julia was titled *Princess* from birth. Her life before becoming queen was largely unremarkable, although it was said that she was the favourite grandchild of King Regulus. In Mid Year 3E 298, the king negotiated a peace treaty with Gylfin's neighbour and episodic rival, the Kingdom of Torlan. Conflict between the two realms had been sporadic since the beginning of King Regulus's long reign, when Torlan seized the marcher County of Dolen. Control of the county had alternated, often as the result of bloodshed, between Gylfin and Torlan in the ensuing decades. No peace could be achieved unless the matter of Dolen was resolved.

Engelard of Morfa, the chief minister of Torlan, proposed a solution which both kingdoms could accept without injury to their honour. Princess Julia was to be invested as *suo jure* Countess of Dolen in vassalage to her grandfather, following which she would be married to King Elzear VII of Torlan. Julia would become Queen Consort of Torlan, whilst her husband could style himself Count of Dolen. Part of the new queen's dowry would include {Castle}, one of Dolen's castles, control of which was ceded to King Elzear for the duration of his marriage to Julia. It was intended that the County of Dolen would eventually be inherited, along with the Kingdom of Torlan, by the offspring of Julia and Elzear. In this event, it was stipulated that Dolen would remain a fief of Gylfin (and would not be absorbed into the royal domain of Torlan).

These terms were agreed to by King Regulus, and were confirmed in the Second Treaty of Torlan in Sun's Height 2E 298. At the end of the month, the new Countess of Dolen crossed into her new domain and awaited the arrival of her fiancé at the castle of {Castle}. On the 27th, the Torlanese entourage arrived. At their first meeting, Julia ceremoniously yielded the castle to King Elzear. The two were married in the castle chapel the same day. Two days later, the royal couple departed for the city of Torlan where Julia was crowned queen at the cathedral.

The new Queen of Torlan was not immediately popular among her subjects. During her coronation procession, Julia neglected to distribute alms to the poor (although she had not been advised that this was customary, nor had she been furnished with coins to dispense). Her family's close association with the Empire also did little to endear her to the Torlanese. Despite being born in High Rock, and never setting foot in Cyrodiil, she was regarded by many as a foreigner.

*Unfinished*