Tullia Lepida

## the Lady Tullia, Ducissa de Julia

the Lady Tullia, circa 510 AER

(current)

* Vicomtiessa Consort de Julii

(former)

(For Lady Lenore)

* Procurator

(for Lady Lenore)

* Steward

(For Lady Lenore)

The Lady **Tullia Lepida** is a renowned aristocratic woman of the Fortuna state, she is the mother of Julia Major and Julia Minor and the wife of Julius Aemilianus; her daughter is an Arcane College student as well as a lady-in-waiting for First Prince Antonius. Tullia was a renowned courtier close to Lady Lenore.

### **Life at Court**

Born to Gnaeus Tullius Cicero and his consort, Aufidia Secunda she was titled 'Baronia de Tulii' upon her arrival at the royal court of the Fortuna Royal Villa, implying that she was a woman of high stature and a woman that was unmarried, it had implied that she was not only a Baroness but also the daughter of a count. The young Tullia Lepida, Baronisa de Tulii was the only younger daughter of her parents; she had an older sister named Tullia the Elder, who married into an aristocratic family and renounced her title to adopt her new one from her husbands family.

##### Court Status & Marriage Failures

Tullia Lepida came from the Lepidii-Cicerii branch of the Tullia dynasty and as a result wielded a lot of influence and power, her father Gnaeus Tullius Cicero's father; Gaius Tullius Lepidus Cicero had been a relative of Consort Lepidus. A great many of Tullian-Lepidii had been involved with the royal family and the harem for centuries; for reasons unspecified.

the Lady Tullia as everyone described her - was *"golden haired and youthful,"* and was courted by a great many noblemen in the duration of her time at court. Lady Tullia struggled to obtain a match at first, as the House of Tullia was a patriarchal dynasty which was strictly male-inheirtance it became difficult for Tullia Lepida to comprehend with the peer-pressures of her courtiers and her suitors as they attempted to also sway the favour of Tullia's *"overbearing and extremely judgemental,"* father (Gnaeus Tullius Cicero).

#### **As Lady-in-waiting**

When Tullia Lepida had aged 17, she was still unmarried and unwed; this was an absolute scandal as most betrothrals were made for very high-ranking noblewomen and noblemen when they were as young as 13 years old. In addition to this outrageous lack of attention, her mother Aufidia Secunda was embarassed in front of the Ladies Court session and was blamed for being a *"neglecting mother,"* many even branding the Ducissa de Julia as *"unworthy"* to sit at the Table of High Ladies during salon sessions.

**In 447 AER**, at the age of 17; Tullia Lepida, Baronia de Tulii was a lady in waiting during the reign of Sempronia the Lawgiver, she was given into the services of her daughter: Fortuna Metilia, Princess of the Second Rank. During her many visits to the capital however, Aufida Secunda met with some form of dislikes and heavy criticism; however through her royal service most noblewomen were married away by their mistresses at the ages of 22 or 25, although this seemed like a limit of marriageable age it was far from inappropriate, as a result Tullia Lepida's servitude to the Fortuna princess saved her mother's reputation as a attentive and preserving parent in the eyes of noblewomen.

## Marriage into the House of Julia

**in 450 AER**, Tullia Lepida aged 20 years old and the noblemen of the courts began proposing suitable marriages between their daughters and sons (from both matriarchal and patriarchal dynasties alike), during this season known as the 'Aristocratic Breeding' arrangements; Gnaeus Tullius Cicero was shamed for not bringing his younger daughter, Tullia Lepida to court to finally arrange her marriage and find a bridegroom who suited his needs. Sadly for Lady Tullia, she was mostly forgotten by her father, especially her older sister as well; Tullia the Elder who envied her younger sister due to the royal favours she recieved by Second Princess Fortuna Metilia.

### **Arranged Marriage**

Until one fateful day, when Gnaeus Tullius Cicero had met with a good friend of his from the Noble House of Julia, Gaius Julius Aemilius, the Dux de Julii.

The two met with one another and had finally arranged a suitable marriage between Tullia Lepida and his son, Julius Aemilianus who would later become a promagistrate and a renowned politician.

The House of Tullia was unique and unlike all others, most of the Tulii were renowned *"golden haired beauties,"* and even the men of Tullia were lusted over by the matriarchal dynasties of the Fortuna state.

At first, Tullia Lepida was upset having to marry away from her best friend; Second Princess Fortuna Metilia - however she was reassured that in spite of her being married the princess would continue befriending her and keeping in touch with her through letters sent from Metilia's province to the Residence of Julia in the capital city.

Much to the surprise or Fortuna Metilia however, Lady Tullia was seduced by Julius Aemilianus as he had secretly departed his family home to see Tullia, in which one of her friends assisted him in flirting and seducing Lady Tullia, this made her joyous on her wedding day and the couple hit it off together.

Upon her marriage, she was titled 'Vicomtiessa de Julii' (or Viscountess of Julia).

### *Issue*

with Julius Aemilianus, Tullia Lepida had two daughters:

* Julia Major
* Julia Minor.

Much to Lady Tullia's luck however, the House of Julia was equal in terms of gender and a male heir wasn't a necessity for the inheirtance line to continue.

## Death of Fortuna Metilia

in the *spring of 456 AER*, Second Princess Metilia passed away of an illness, as in accordance with what had been written it had been smallpox and the princess herself was only 17 when she died; however many people blamed Mamercian, the father of First Princess Fortuna Maecia. It had been widely known that this angered Tullia Lepida who believed in the prophecy and one day "swore to take revenge" for her best friend, the first princess.

### **Acts during the war of Septimia II**

Lady Tullia was truly a smart and skilled woman, it wasn't revealed until later on however Lady Tullia was actually one of the primary reasons as to why Fortuna Septimia II lost her throne to her relative, Fortuna Lenore. It's recorded that Lady Tullia sent cash - at least 100,000 yearly to Lady Lenore to fund her campaigns against the regiments of Marcia the Wonderful and even schemed with her brothers; Lucius and Gaius to enhance support for the Blessed Lady.

Lenore and Tullia became great friends, her entire family schemed against their royals and on many occassions were speculated of treason; however Septimia II dismissed the speculations of her loyalists and trusted Tullia Lepida anyway, in spite of the many accusations held against the Ducissa de Julii, to fund the expenses and send former servants in her care, Tullia Lepida had financial aid provided for by her aunts, Aufidia Prima and Aufidia Tertia (the sisters of her mother, Aufidia Secunda).

##### **During the dethronement of Septimia II**

Lady Tullia was of decent age in her prime during the revolution, and her daughters, Julia Major and Julia Minor were young children however who couldn't manage for themselves and still required their mother to take care of them. In accordance with this, the Lady Tullia (who was much cared for by Septimia II). The entire court was shocked when Lady Tullia had departed the Fortuna royal court and the troops of houses; Tullia and Julia resorted their actions and joined the rebellion, impacting a heavy loss during the rebellion.

In the duration, Septimia II was outraged and sent a handful of assassians to murder Tullia Lepida and her two daughters; however when Julius Aemilius found out in the skirmish he sent Tullia's brother, Gaius Tullius Aufidius Cicero to rescue his wife and daughters; he was successful and Tullia as well as her daughters were moved to a safehouse on the outskirts of the capital where not even the men of Septimia II could find them.

###### **The Success of the Revolution**

As the revolution came to light and the people of Fortuna were sick of nobles partying and having to cover for their economical expenses on the outside of things; more and more supporters were gained by Lady Lenore and as she moved further to the capital the garrisons of the Tullia and Julia dynasties forced everyone to resort to the side of Lady Lenore; especially as Tullia's husband, Julius Aemilius was not only a powerful Dux but also the elected Consul Civilis at the time and had the state under control.

It was Tullia's husband, Julius Aemilius who imprisoned the royal family in the tower of the captial and held the sisters; First Princess Fortuna Laeciana and her sisters, Fortuna Laenia at the tower and he was apparently one of the main men who delivered a warrant for their apparent *"execution,"* nobody knows exactly what part Tullia and Julius had in the revolution; however their support during the revolution and rebellion kept the capital under control long enough for Lady Lenore to march onwards and take her throne without competition.

###### **Compensation of Laecianus**

In the revoltuion, hundreds of aristocrats died, however aristocratic houses such as Aufidii, Claudii and Gratidii rose to power like never before and Tullia promoted the prominences of her birth clan, the Tulii and her marriage clan, the Julii. It is said that Lady Tullia was also the one who spared the life of Laeciana's son, First Prince Laecianus and even worked in arranging his marriage to Maria Evangeline, an aristocrat of royal descent. To compensate for the upsetting death of the young princess, Fortuna Laenia - Lady Tullia paid for the funeral of Maria Evangeline, princess consort of Laecianus.

### **Court of Lady Lenore**

In the court of Lady Lenore, Tullia held the positions of Procurator and Stewardship, it is also noted that she was responsible for arranging her younger daughter; Julia Minor to befriend First Prince Antonius. The Lady Tullia hoped that with time the prince would eventually marry Julia, however this wasn't the case. In exchange, Julia Minor accompanied First Prince Antonius to the Arcane College where her daughter became a student as well as Antonius' attendant.

##### **Return to Court & Government role**

After Lady Lenore's passing, Lady Tullia was exiled to the northern borders of the Fortuna state where she spent the remaning of her days during the another revolt in exile but promised the unnamed spouse of Lenore (the father of Callista I) that one day she would return; and so she did when the gods smited on Lenore's husband and the throne was shifted back to Lenore's rightful heir, Fortuna Callista the First.

After another revolution, the theocracy decided to bring back Lady Tullia from exile and she consented, to compensate for all the time she was in exile; one of her elder aunts, Aufidia Prima became a member of the theocratic government which held regency before the coronation of Callista I.