Queen Elisabeta of Karsylvania

**Mother** | Anne-Frida Stüttfranker

**Elisabeta** (Elisabeta Maria; born **Elisabeth Maria Gnöcker**; 1 February 1932) is the wife of Antoni IV and queen consort of Karsylvania.

Born a commoner in Gortzman, Elisabeta was raised in a wealthy agricultural family that owned their own vineyard and produced wine. While a secondary school student in 1949, Elisabeta began a relationship with Antoni IV, whose family was residing in Frankenland in exile. She completed her secondary education the following year, with the couple marrying several months afterwards. Following their marriage, Elisabeta became the first commoner to marry into the Karsylvanian royal family, and received the royal titles of Princess of Karsylvania and Countess of Messarabia. Elisabeta and Antoni have two daughters together: Elena (born 1952) and Alexandra (born 1955).

In addition to her royal duties, Elisabeta is also a children's author and noted philanthropist on behalf of women and girls internationally.

## Early life and education

Elisabeta was born on 1 February 1932 as Elisabeth Maria Gnöcker in Gortzman, to parents Johann (1905–1999) and Anne-Frida Gnöcker (née *Stüttfranker*; 1909–2012). Her father came from a long line of winemakers, as the heir to the Gnöcker wine brand. The family owned a large vineyard in Gortzman State, where they grew their grapes to make wine. Her father was primarily involved with the corporate management of the company, while her uncles worked in physical production. Elisabeta's mother was a homemaker, and came from a wealthy family of bankers and lawyers. Elisabeta is the second of three children; her siblings include Erik-Karl (1930–2017) and Anne-Marie (born 1935).

Elisabeta was raised on her family vineyard in the village of Fräuenthal in Gortzman State. She began her education in 1938, attending a public primary school in Fräuenthal, where she was one of just thirteen students in her class. While in primary school, Elisabeta was a gifted student who excelled in reading and writing and aspired to become a primary school teacher. She graduated in 1946, and afterwards enrolled in a teacher's vocational secondary school in Gortzman, graduating with her diploma in 1950.

## Marriage and children

Elisabeta began a romantic relationship with Antoni IV in 1949. They became introduced after she watched 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 Elisabeta, they approved.

Elisabeta and Antoni 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, Elisabeta 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, from its original spelling Elisabeth. Following the wedding, Elisabeta began classes in the Karsylvanian language, and soon became fluent. After their marriage, Elisabeta and Antoni initially resided together in his family's estate in Kasterhelm, 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.

Elisabeta and Antoni 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)

## Queen consort

### Queen-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, and Elisabeta became his queen consort.

As the queen-in-exile, Elisabeta accompanied her husband to a multitude of international events as a representative of Karsylvania in defiance of the fascist government. In 1964, she and the 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. 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.

### Other ventures

In addition to her royal duties, Elisabeta has also established herself as both a children's author and philanthropist. Her first children's book, *Queen for a Day*, was released in 1988, and focused on teaching leadership skills to young girls. The book became an international best-seller and has been translated into more than 35 languages. She has gone on to release six other children's books, primarily targeted towards young girls.

As a philanthropist, Elisabeta advocates on behalf of girls and women internationally, and also raises money through her nonprofit organization The Queen Elisabeta Organization to donate to charitable causes.

## Titles

* **26 August 1950 – 23 November 1958**: Princess Elisabeta of Karsylvania
* **26 August 1950 – 23 November 1958**: The Countess of Messarabia
* **23 November 1958 – 18 January 1986**: The Queen consort-in-Exile of Karsylvania
* **18 January 1986 – *present***: *Her Majesty* The Queen consort of Karsylvania