Antoni IV

**Antoni IV** (Antoni Ion Filip Cezar; born 12 August 1926) is the king of Karsylvania. Antoni assumed the throne as the king-in-exile in 1958, following the death of his father Ion V, and he properly assumed the throne as king upon the restoration of the monarchy in Karsylvania in 1986.

Antoni was born in Gortzman as the second child and only son of Ion and his wife Maria of Medland. The family had been residing in Frankenland since 1919, following the fascist revolution and foundation of the Fascist Republic of Karsylvania, which overthrew the monarchy. Antoni attended private primary schooling in Frankenland and boarding secondary schooling in the Ditrovian Kingdom, graduating with a secondary school diploma in 1944. He subsequently remained in the Ditrovian Kingdom, receiving a bachelor's degree in history from Moxland University in 1948, and afterwards returning to Frankenland.

Antoni married Elisabeth Gnöcker, a commoner, in 1950. Their marriage marked the first time that a commoner married into the Karsylvanian royal family. Together, they have two daughters: Elena (born 1952) and Alexandra (born 1955).

## Early life and family

Antoni was born on 12 August 1926 as Antoni Ion Filip Cezar von Würestmalscher in Gortzman. He was the second child of Ion V and Maria of Medland, the monarchs-in-exile of Karsylvania. 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 his birth, Antoni became first-in-line and heir apparent to the Karsylvanian throne.

Upon his birth, Antoni received the title Prince of Karsylvania and Count of Messarabia; while the Karsylvanian government no longer recognized the titles, the family's royal titles were recognized internationally. He had two sisters: Aurelia (1920–2007) and Catarina (1928–2017). Antoni was raised along with his sisters in a large, private estate in the village of Kasterhelm in Gortzman State. The estate was gifted to the royal family by the Franken government after granting them refuge in the country in 1919.

## Education

Antoni began his education in 1932, after he was enrolled by his parents in Wolkretsch School, a private, preparatory, all-boys school in Gortzman. At school, Antoni became fluent in Ditrovian and Maronan – he was already fluent in Karsylvanian, Lungarian, and Medish – and was a high academic achiever. He additionally developed a passion for sports, both running track and playing football. As a child, Antoni reportedly wished to become a professional track athlete and compete at tournaments internationally. In 1938, at age 12, Antoni transferred to Danridge School, a private, preparatory, all-boys boarding school in Moxlandshire in the Ditrovian Kingdom. While at the school, Antoni was both a gifted and popular student, and played football. He graduated with his secondary school diploma in 1944.

After completing secondary school, Antoni opted to remain in the Ditrovian Kingdom for his post-secondary education, enrolling in Allenville College at Moxland University to study history. While a university student, Antoni joined the Delta Zeta Nu (ΔΖΝ) fraternity and was active in athletics as both a track athlete and footballer. He ultimately graduated with his bachelor's degree in 1948. Despite initially considering either returning to the university for graduate studies or attempting to pursue a professional career in athletics, Antoni opted to instead return to Frankenland to focus on his royal duties along with his family.

## Adulthood

After returning to Gortzman following the completion of his education, Antoni assumed his duties as a full-time member of the royal family-in-exile and the heir apparent to the throne. As a representative of both the Karsylvanian throne and the anti-fascist movement in Karsylvania, Antoni spoke at international conferences on human rights and geopolitics in Eastern Eurea.

In his personal life, Antoni was a polyglot, who was fluent in Karsylvanian, Lungarian, Medish, Ditrovian, and Maronan, and an athlete, who both ran track and played football. He also pursued philanthropic efforts which funded athletics training for underprivileged children abroad, to allow them to succeed in their desired sports.

### Marriage and children

Antoni began a romantic relationship with Franken commoner Elisabeth Gnöcker in 1949. Elisabeth was a local girl and became introduced to Antoni after watching him and his friends playing football in a local park with her friends. Initially, Antoni's parents were unhappy with the relationship as they were in the process of arranging a marriage between him and a Eurean princess or noblewoman. However, after meeting Elisabeth, they approved.

Antoni and Elisabeth were married in a large ceremony in Gortzman on 26 August 1950, after one year of dating. The wedding was attended by both members of the bride and groom's families, and international royalty, nobility, and heads of state. After marrying, Elisabeth was granted the titles Princess of Karsylvania and Countess of Messarabia, although her titles were not recognized by the Karsylvanian government. Her name was additionally changed to Elisabeta in Karsylvanian sources. After their marriage, Antoni and Elisabeth initially resided together in his family's estate, but later purchased their own private home in Gortzman in 1954. Following the restoration of the Karsylvanian monarchy in 1986, the family moved into the Royal Palace of Caratina, the first time a member of the royal family returned to Karsylvania since 1919.

Antoni and Elisabeta have two children together:

* The Countess of Messarabia (*Elena* Aurelia Maria Olimpia; born 15 June 1952)
* Princess *Alexandra* Catarina Anne Gracia (born 13 January 1955)

## Reign

### King-in-exile

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.

Immediately following the death of his father, Antoni succeeded him as head of House of Würestmalscher and, in effect, the king-in-exile of Karsylvania. As the next king-in-exile, Antoni was invited to a multitude of international events as a representative of Karsylvania in defiance of the fascist government. In 1964, Antoni and his entire family were evacuated from Gortzman to the Ditrovian Kingdom for six months, after a suspected assassination plot was uncovered. The family subsequently returned to their home in Gortzman after the Franken and Ditrovian governments both determined it was safe to do so.

### 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. Antoni had long been a face of the anti-fascist movement in Karsylvania, and was the figurehead leader of a coalition of socialists, liberals, and monarchists who sought to end fascist rule. Karsylvania officially became a kingdom on 18 January 1986, the day that Antoni and the royal family returned to Karsylvania, the first time a Karsylvanian royal had stepped foot in the country since 1919.

### Constitutional role

After returning to Karsylvania, Antoni became a constitutional monarch. In line with the constitution, Antoni holds a number of ceremonial and *de jure* powers, with few *de facto* political power. He is the head of state of Karsylvania, and thus is a representative of the nation both at home and abroad. As the head of state, Antoni is responsible for signing passed legislation and treaties and formally appointing members of the government to office. He is constitutionally barred from registering with a political party or publicly expressing political opinion. While he is legally allowed to vote in elections, he chooses not to in an effort to remain apolitical.

Additionally, Antoni serves as the commander-in-chief of the Karsylvanian Royal Armed Forces. This is a *de jure* position, and the monarch does not actually exercise decision-making powers within the military. As the head of state, Antoni additionally opens new sessions of parliament and formally declares elections at the advice of the prime minister. Following the conclusion of an election, the prime minister-designate must submit their proposed government to the monarch for approval, after which the monarch appoints them to office. Most often this is the leader of the majority coalition, but if a majority coalition cannot be formed, the monarch may act as a mediator between parties to help facilitate discussions to achieve a majority coalition.

## Titles

* **12 August 1926 – 23 November 1958**: Prince Antoni of Karsylvania
* **12 August 1926 – 23 November 1958**: The Count of Messarabia
* **23 November 1958 – 18 January 1986**: The King-in-Exile of Karsylvania
* **18 January 1986 – *present***: *His Majesty* The King of Karsylvania