Berenike von Austhausen

**Berenike von Austhausen, Countess of Fleitzling** (born **Bérénice Marie-Joséphine Brugière**; 7 September 1916 – 6 June 1996) was a Maronan-born Lungarian noblewoman and the wife of Ludwig von Austhausen.

Austhausen was born a Maronan commoner in Pou-en-Lavence, and began a career in the entertainment industry after winning Miss Côte Turquoise 1934 and later Miss Marone 1935. As Miss Marone, Austhausen traveled the world as both an ambassador of her nation and promotional model.

Austhausen met Ludwig von Austhausen during her reign as Miss Marone 1935, while visiting West Lungary. Ludwig later began courting her after she completed her reign; they became engaged after six months of dating, and later married in a noble ceremony in 1937. Upon their marriage, Austhausen relocated to Austhausen Estate in Grünlein. They had two children together: Lucas (born 1940) and Christiane (born 1942), the latter going on to become the wife of Otto V and Queen consort of Lungary.

## Early life and education

Austhausen was born as Bérénice Marie-Joséphine Brugière on 7 September 1916 in Pou-en-Lavence, to parents Alexandre (1886–1960) and Joséphine Brugière (née *Chagnon*; 1890–1988). Her father worked as an attorney, while her mother was a homemaker. The family was said to have lived comfortably, and Austhausen was raised in a four-bedroom home as the eldest of three children; her siblings included Emmanuelle (1918–2007) and Amaury (1920–2004).

Austhausen began her education in 1921, attending private, all-girls, Eurean Catholic schooling in Pou-en-Lavence. As a child, Austhausen aspired to become an actress, although her parents forbade her from pursuing the profession, as they deemed actors to be "low-class." She later completed primary school in 1928, and graduated from *collège* in 1931. Austhausen afterwards began a *lycée professionnel* program at her school, studying cooking, and graduated in 1933. After completing her education, Austhausen began assisting her mother with caring for the home and her younger siblings.

## Miss Marone 1935

In the summer of 1934, Austhausen was scouted by Henri Pétresse while on a family vacation to Dax, and asked to compete in the upcoming Miss Côte Turquoise 1934 pageant, being held in Dax that weekend. Knowing that her parents would not allow her to compete, Austhausen participated without their knowledge, expecting that she would not win. However, she ultimately won the title, qualifying her to compete in the upcoming Miss Marone 1935 pageant that December. After informing her parents, they forbade her from competing in Miss Marone and asked her to renounce her regional title, but relented after receiving a phone call from Pétresse, convincing them to allow Austhausen to compete.

Austhausen later competed in Miss Marone 1935 in Delmas in December 1934. Despite initially opposing her participation, her parents both attended the event and supported her. Austhausen went on to advance into the Top 7, and was ultimately crowned by Pétresse as Miss Marone 1935, as her predecessor Pia Allegra did not attend the event. While she is considered to be the third Miss Marone titleholder, Austhausen was the first to use the title of Miss Marone during her reign, as the first two titleholders were referred to as *La plus belle femme de Marone*. During her reign, Austhausen traveled to more than 30 countries throughout the world as an ambassador of Marone, and additionally worked as a promotional model to promote the products of Pétresse and other sponsors. She completed her reign as Miss Marone the following year, after crowning her successor at Miss Marone 1936.

## Marriage and children

While reigning as Miss Marone 1935, Austhausen visited West Lungary for a week of events in June 1935. Her arrival in the country was reported on by the local West Lungarian media, which caught the attention of Ludwig von Austhausen, the Count of Fleitzling and head of the House of Austhausen. Ludwig requested to meet with Bérénice during her trip, and they later met for a dinner in Vecker, Southeast Veckerland. While Ludwig and Bérénice were smitten with each other, she was barred from beginning a romantic relationship due to her contract as Miss Marone, and asked to remain in contact with Ludwig before beginning a relationship after she completed her reign.

Following the conclusion of Miss Marone 1936 in December 1935, Bérénice took a train to West Lungary to see Ludwig, and they began a courtship. Their relationship was later confirmed by the House of Austhausen in January 1936, and the media reported that Bérénice had received the approval of Ludwig's mother Bertha von Austhausen. Ludwig and Bérénice became engaged in June 1936, and later married on 15 May 1937. The religious portion of the ceremony was held at Grünlein Cathedral, while the celebration was held at Austhausen Estate, both in Grünlein. Following their marriage, Bérénice became known as *Berenike von Austhausen*, taking her husband's surname and translating her given name to the Lungarian language, while she became a Lungarian citizen and began studying the Lungarian language. The family settled in Austhausen Estate, the ancestral home of Ludwig's family.

Berenike and Ludwig had two children together:

* The Count of Fleitzling (Lucas Alexandre Wilhelm Ludwig von Austhausen; born 8 January 1940)
* The Queen consort of Lungary (Christiane Hélène-Marie Bertha von Austhausen; born 17 May 1942)

## Personal life

Austhausen was considered to be a polyglot. Her native language was Maronan, while she learned Ditrovian, Regian, and Pescan in school, became fluent in Lungarian following her marriage, and was known to have studied Kashan throughout her life. Austhausen raised her children to be fully bilingual in both Lungarian and Maronan.

Austhausen had a large interest in film, stemming from a childhood interest in becoming an actress. In a 1968 interview, she stated that attending the 1935 Gilles Awards in Dax was one of the greatest memories of her life. Following her marriage, Austhausen attended the Lungarian Film Awards and the Vecker Film Festival almost yearly.

## Death

Austhausen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 1994, after complaining of stomach pains for several months. She underwent chemotherapy treatments, which proved successful at first, although her condition began to deteriorate as a result of the treatment. In June 1996, Austhausen chose to stop chemotherapy treatments and enter at-home hospice care at her home in Grünlein, where she died the following week on 6 June 1996, aged 79, surrounded by loved ones.

Austhausen's remains were buried in the Austhausen family plot on the grounds of Austhausen Estate.

## Titles

* **15 May 1937 – 6 June 1996**: Berenike von Austhausen, Countess of Fleitzling