Bjarni IV

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Bjarni.

**Bjarni** (Bjarni Jósavin Eyleifur Ólafur Bjarnason; 28 March 1865 – 22 May 1950) was the Duke of the Velkanias from 1902 until his death in 1950.

Bjarni was born in Narísandur as the middle child and only son of Bjarni III and his wife Sædís Eylaugardattir. He became the heir apparent in 1882, after his father acceded to the throne upon the death of his grandfather Bjarni II. Bjarni attended private primary school in Naríisandur and boarding school in Framland, graduating in 1884, afterwards enrolling in the University of Velkania and receiving his bachelor's degree in Velkanian history in 1887. After graduating, Bjarni moved to Hersingborg to enroll in the Royal Framish Naval Academy, receiving officer's training and graduating as an officer in 1888. He subsequently enlisted in the Royal Framish Navy, before being honorably discharged in 1894. Following his father's death on 6 June 1902, he succeeded him as duke. He married noblewoman Úlfhildur Ljósálfardattir in 1904; they had three daughters together Ragnhildur I (1906–2003), Princess Dóró (1910–1969), and Princess Lydía (1912–2009).

On 14 May 1950, Bjarni was hospitalized due to extreme shortness of breath and other breathing issues. While in the hospital, he was diagnosed with pneumonia and later died of the illness on 22 May. Following his death, his daughter Ragnhildur was immediately proclaimed as duchess. With nearly 48 years on the throne, he was the longest-reigning monarch of the Velkanian Duchy. Since his death, he has been the recipient of controversy due to his close relations with Framland and reported anti-independence beliefs.

## Early life and education

Bjarni was born on 28 March 1865 at Árbæjarheimar Palace in Narísandur. He was the second child and only son of Crown Prince Bjarni and Crown Princess Sædís, and the third grandchild of Duke Bjarni II and Duchess consort Ragnhildur. His father was the elder son and second child of Bjarni II, while his mother came from the Velkanian nobility. With his birth, Bjarni became second-in-line to the throne, behind only his father; the Velkanian Duchy practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture, meaning that male children displaced their elder female siblings in the line of succession.

Bjarni had an elder sister and younger sister; his elder sister was Princess Eyhildur, who was born ten months before him, while his younger sister was Princess Kæja, who was born two years after. Bjarni was raised in Litsnes House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace, with his parents and sisters. When he was 17, the family moved into the palace's main residence.

Bjarni began his education in 1871, attending the all-boys, private primary school Dalvogur School. While in primary school, Bjarni was said to be shy and quiet, who enjoyed reading and writing. He left the school in 1879, afterwards enrolling in Alingstrand School, an all-boys, independent boarding school in Alingstrand, Framland. While in boarding school, Bjarni began to come out of his shell and make friends for the first time, and discovered a passion for ice hockey, playing in an amateur league. He ultimately graduated from the school in 1884, subsequently returning to Narísandur and enrolling in the Faculty of Eurean Studies at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in Velkanian history in 1887.

## Heir apparent

In October 1882, Bjarni's grandfather Bjarni II fell ill with a bad cough and a fever. His condition began to deteriorate, and he was hospitalized on 23 October. He later died in the hospital on 25 October, succumbing to tuberculosis. Following his death, his eldest son Bjarni III took the throne as duke, and Bjarni IV was elevated to the position of heir apparent and first-in-line to the throne. He additionally received the title Crown Prince of the Velkanias.

After graduating with his university degree in 1887, Bjarni desired to pursue military service. The Velkanian Duchy did not have a military of its own, and due to his pleasant memories of living in Forsland as a teenager, he opted to pursue a career in the Framish military, as all Velkanians were Framish subjects. He moved to Eskilland to enroll in the Royal Framish Naval Academy as a cadet, in order to begin training as an officer. He completed his training in 1888, and became a lieutenant in the Royal Framish Navy. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1892, and commander in 1894, until being honorably discharged later that year. Bjarni's decision to serve in the Framish military was considered controversial amongst Velkanians. After leaving the military, he returned to Narísandur to continue his royal duties.

## Reign

Bjarni III began struggling with breathing issues in June 1901. After numerous hospitalizations and a bout of pneumonia, he collapsed in Árbæjarheimar Palace on 6 June 1902. Upon the arrival of medics, he was declared dead on the scene, with the cause of death being a massive heart attack. Immediately after the announcement of his death, Bjarni IV was proclaimed as duke.

During the era of the Velkanian Duchy, the Velkanian monarch held a small role as the head of state for the autonomous territory. The monarch had frequent meetings with the Premier and the Framish monarch, in addition to formally appointing all Velkanian ministers and signing passed legislation of the Velkanian Duchy. However, since they were still subjects of the Framish monarchy, the Velkanian monarchy was always to be considered inferior.

### Death

Bjarni began having issues with his lungs in October 1947. A lifelong cigarette smoker, he developed frequent coughing fits and difficulties breathing around this time, although he refused medical intervention. In May 1950, his breathing issues worsened and he was later hospitalized on 14 May due to extreme shortness of breath. While in the hospital, Bjarni was diagnosed with pneumonia, and later died of the illness on 22 May.

Bjarni's state funeral was held on 25 May, where hundreds of mourners gathered outside of Árbæjarheimar Palace to pay their respects. He was subsequently laid to rest in the royal mausoleum beside his parents.

## Marriage and children

For many years, Bjarni was a bachelor who had no romantic ties to any women. There were many rumors regarding his love life, including that he had numerous sexual encounters and love affairs with wealthy women and celebrities, often Velkanian stage actresses; however, none of these were confirmed. In 1899, he was reported as saying "I have nothing against marriage. I just have not found the right woman to make my duchess. None of the women I know are worthy of that honor."

Bjarni became introduced to schoolgirl and noblewoman Úlfhildur Ljósálfardattir at a royal dinner in 1902, as she was attending as a guest of her father's when her mother had fallen ill and couldn't make it. Due to their large age gap, both Bjarni and Úlfhildur were initially put off from the idea of a relationship, but they ultimately became romantically involved anyways. After she returned to school one month later, Bjarni visited Úlfhildur at least twice a month, while Úlfhildur spent her school breaks at Árbæjarheimar Palace with him.

After she returned to Narísandur permanently in 1903, Bjarni and Úlfhildur became engaged in July 1903, just one year after beginning their relationship. They later married on 19 March 1904, and Úlfhildur subsequently became the Duchess consort of the Velkanias. With their marriage, Úlfhildur became the youngest Velkanian consort in three centuries, at only 19 years old. Following their marriage, they began residing together in Árbæjarheimar Palace. Breaking with social norms of the time, Úlfhildur opted to continue her university studies, which she received some criticism for. In a 1905 interview, Úlfhildur spoke about the criticism, stating "education is something quite important to me and there is no reason to believe the wife of a duke shouldn't be well-educated."

Bjarni and Úlfhildur had three children together:

* Ragnhildur I (*Ragnhildur* Elín María Ásrún Bjarnadattir; 4 July 1906 – 15 January 2003)
* Princess Dórótea *"Dóró"* Ingiríður Björghildur Ólöf Bjarnadattir (27 August 1910 – 20 July 1969)
* Princess *Lydía* Lísabet Dæja Dögg Bjarnadattir (2 March 1912 – 12 October 2009)

Princess Dóró became a tabloid darling during the 1930s, due to her frequent drunken and disorderly antics at Narísandur bars and nightclubs. This caused tension within the royal family, with both Úlfhildur and Princess Lydía coming into frequent conflict with Dóró. Tabloids reported that Bjarni was one of the few family members who had a strong relationship with Dóró, believing that she was "misunderstood;" however, he frequently sided with his wife during her disagreements with their daughter, which fractured their relationship.

In 1940, it was reported that Dóró was a member of the royal family "in name only," and that she had been "virtually estranged" from her parents and siblings for at least the past five years. The press also reported that Dóró had been the one to sever ties, after rejecting her family's attempts to have her return to the palace and seek drug and alcohol rehabilitation and therapy. In 1943, Úlfhildur was reported as calling Dóró "an embarrassment" to the family.

## Titles

* **28 March 1865 – 25 October 1882**: *His Highness* Prince Bjarni of the Velkanias
* **25 October 1882 – 6 June 1902**: *His Highness* The Crown Prince of the Velkanias
* **6 June 1902 – 22 May 1950**: *His Highness* The Duke of the Velkanias