Elena, Countess of Messarabia

**Elena** (Elena Aurelia Maria Olimpia; born 15 June 1952) is the elder child of Antoni IV and first-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne. If she accedes to the throne as expected, she will become Karsylvania's first queen regnant.

Born to Antoni and his wife Elisabeth Gnöcker in Gortzman, upon her birth Elena became the second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne-in-exile, behind her father. The royal family had resided in Frankenland ever since the fascist revolution which overthrew the monarchy and established the Fascist Republic of Karsylvania in 1919. Elena was educated privately in both Frankenland and abroad in the Ditrovian Kingdom, and later received a bachelor's degree in Ditrovian literature from Moxland University in 1974. Upon the adoption of absolute primogeniture in Karsylvania in 2000, Elena was formally appointed as the heir apparent and granted the title Countess of Messarabia; she previously had been solely the heir presumptive, as a younger male sibling would have nullified her claims to the throne.

Elena married Ditrovian nobleman William Alverton in 1976. They have three children together: Catarina (born 1978), Ion (born 1980), and Elisabeta (born 1983).

## Early life and family

Elena was born on 15 June 1952 as Elena Aurelia Maria Olimpia von Würestmalscher at University Hospital of Gortzman in Gortzman. She was the elder child of the count and countess of Messarabia, later known as Antoni IV and Queen Elisabeta. The family had been residing in Frankenland since 1919, after fleeing Karsylvania amidst the fascist revolution which overthrew the monarchy and established the Fascist Republic of Karsylvania. Following her birth, Elena was second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne, behind only her father. However, due to male-preference primogeniture, she would have been displaced in the line of succession should a younger brother have been born, and did not possess the right to rule.

Upon her birth, Elena was styled as a Princess of Karsylvania; while the Karsylvanian government no longer recognized the title, the family's royal titles were recognized internationally. She has one sister: Alexandra (born 1955). Elena was raised bilingually in both Karsylvanian and Lungarian, residing in a five-bedroom estate in Gortzman with her parents and younger sister.

## Education

Elena began her education in 1958, enrolling in Catharina Arnolff Day School, a private, preparatory, all-girls school in Gortzman. While in school, Elena used the name "Helena," the Lungarian equivalent of her birth name. At school, Elena learned to speak both Ditrovian and Maronan fluently, and became interested in literature. She was both a gifted and popular student, and was elected class president at age 11. In 1964, at age 12, Elena transferred to Magdalen School, a private, preparatory, all-girls boarding school in Sheffieldshire in the Ditrovian Kingdom. Elena was both a gifted and popular student in secondary school, graduating with her diploma in 1970.

After completing secondary school, Elena enrolled in Smit College at Moxland University, studying Ditrovian literature, and joined the Chi Kappa Omega (ΧΚΩ) sorority. As a university student, Elena became interested in international politics and current affairs, and organized anti-fascist protests and demonstrations amongst the student body. She later graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1974.

## Adulthood

After completing her education in 1974, Elena opted to remain in the Ditrovian Kingdom and relocated to Danchester, residing in an apartment rented by the royal family along with one friend from university. While in the Ditrovian Kingdom, Elena took an active role in the promotion of anti-fascism in Karsylvania, frequently appearing on Ditrovian television and news media in order to discuss Karsylvanian geopolitics. She additionally became an invited guest at various international conferences and galas.

### Marriage and children

Elena began a relationship with Ditrovian nobleman William Alverton in 1973, after meeting in a university course. William was a member of the House of Alverton, a Ditrovian family belonging to the untitled nobility. The couple became engaged in 1975, and later married in a large ceremony in Danchester on 12 June 1976. Following the wedding, William received the title Prince of Karsylvania, although his title was not recognized by the Karsylvanian government. Additionally, Elena is able to be styled as *Lady* Elena Alverton in the Ditrovian Kingdom.

Following the marriage, tensions arose regarding the house in which their children will belong to. Elena's family wished to preserve the line of the House of Würestmalscher, while William's wished for the House of Alverton to become the newly ruling royal house of Karsylvania with the birth of their eldest child. As a compromise, Elena and William opted to merge their houses into the House of Würestmalscher-Alverton with the birth of their children. After marrying, Elena and William purchased a home in Morwickshire, the ancestral county of the House of Alverton. Following the restoration of the Karsylvanian monarchy in 1986, the family moved into Emporia House on the grounds of the Royal Palace of Caratina.

Elena and William have three children together:

* Princess *Catarina* Alexandra Elisabeta Sofia (born 20 December 1978)
* Prince *Ion* Sebastian Antoni William (born 12 March 1980)
* Princess *Elisabeta* Aurelia Louise Carmela (born 15 July 1983)

## Heir apparent

### Heir presumptive

On 23 November 1958, while attending a family dinner, Ion V suddenly fell unconscious, and was rushed to University Hospital of Gortzman. He was soon pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital, with doctors determining that he had died of cardiac arrest caused by an untreated heart condition.

Following the death of her grandfather, Elena became the heir presumptive to the Karsylvanian throne at age six. However, due to male-preference primogeniture, she would have been displaced in the line of succession should a younger brother have been born, as women did not possess the right to rule. Ultimately, no male heir was ever born, and Elena maintained her status as the heir presumptive.

### Return to Karsylvania

Anti-fascist rhetoric and protests began to emerge in Karsylvania in the late-1970s, later expanding throughout the early and mid-1980s. In 1985, the Ruby Revolution began, which saw more than five million Karsylvanians protesting in the streets against the fascist government. On the morning of 8 October 1985, members of the fascist government escaped to the Kashan Union following the defection of the military, resulting in a victory of the anti-fascist movement.

Following the conclusion of the Ruby Revolution, a new constitution was drafted reestablishing Karsylvania as a constitutional parliamentary kingdom. Karsylvania officially became a kingdom on 18 January 1986, the day that the royal family returned to Karsylvania, the first time a Karsylvanian royal had stepped foot in the country since 1919.

### Countess of Messarabia

In May 2000, the House of Representatives passed the Succession Act of 2000, enacting absolute primogeniture within Karsylvania. This allowed for the eldest child to inherit the throne regardless of their gender, giving women the right to rule ahead of their younger male siblings. The bill had a massive effect on the Karsylvanian royal family, formally establishing Elena as the heir apparent to the throne and granting her the royal title Countess of Messarabia, granted only to the heir apparent. The succession rule change also established that her eldest daughter should inherit the throne one day, placing her ahead of her younger brother who had displaced her in the line of succession after his birth.

As the heir apparent, Elena is expected to one day succeed her father as the monarch of Karsylvania. After acceding to the throne, Elena will become the first queen regnant to ever rule over the Kingdom of Karsylvania in history.

## Titles

* **15 June 1952 – 18 January 1986**: Princess Elena of Karsylvania
* **12 June 1976 – *present***: *Lady* Elena Alverton
* **18 January 1986 – *present***: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Elena of Karsylvania
* **1 July 2000 – *present***: *Her Royal Highness* The Countess of Messarabia