Franz I

Portrait of Emperor Franz, 2129

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> **"Franz thinks he is a saviour, a man more honourable and fairer than his father. Under his facade, however, he is just like any other Stuttgart - decadent, degenerate, and rotten to the core. I fail to see his popularity. If anything, this cult-like prominence is reason enough for the monarchy to end" -** Oscar Murphy
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**Franz Wolfgang von Stuttgart** was Emperor of Neo-Europe from 2188 until his death in 2141, ruling for a total of 53 years. Son of Wolfgang, in many ways he continued his father's legacy but in other ways he worked against it.

## Early Life

Franz was the first legitimate son of Emperor Wolfgang Von Stuttgart and his wife, Empress Consort Jutta eight months following their marriage. Being born in his father's reign, he was brought up in preparation of on day becoming Emperor himself.

Wolfgang was careful not to treat his son any differently - he made him go to a state school, for instance. Still, Franz was brought up with a great education, with fluency in languages deemed important across the world - English, German, Russian and Chinese.

Aged seventeen, Franz was formally introduced to Princess Hannah Windsor, great-granddaughter of Charles III (1948-2045), the final reigning monarch of the United Kingdom at a family event. While the two had attended formal events before, this meeting was orchestrated by their fathers, Emperor Wolfgang and George Windsor, with the eventual goal df their marriage. They began dating shortly after and, in 2061, Franz would propose to her, which she accepted.

## Heir Apparent; Prince of Brandenburg

Shortly after his eighteenth birthday, Franz was proclaimed the '**Prince of Branenburg**', a title which Wolfgang proclaimed would be used by all future heir apparents, and was groomed further into one day becoming Emperor. At this point, many feared that Emperor Wolfgang had developed an incurable illness due to this sudden change for Franz, but this was repeatedly disproven.

### Marriage to Hannah Windsor

In 2062, the twenty-one year old Franz married the eighteen-year old Hannah Windsor. The wedding was a very public affair, with many prominent Neo-European and foreign dignitaries attending. Much of the surviving Windsor dynasty joined the service, including the family's patriarch, William, Duke of Wales (1982-2080). Following the marriage, William would formally relinquish all claims to the British Throne (despite never having actually claimed them) in an act of loyalty with the Stuttgarts. While Franz and Hannah had certainly fallen in love with each other, it was clear that the marriage was a political one. Future Stuttgarts could now claim legitimacy on the basis of ancestry to the royals of old, plus it would in theory prevent any further Pretenders to the throne.

Their first child, Oliver, was born just under two years later, in 2064.

## Reign

### Death and Funeral of Wolfgang

In the early hours of 9 August 2088, Emperor Wolfgang was pronounced dead following a heart attack in his sleep. Franz, who was in Naples at the time, was informed at around 10.30 AM and a national statement was released nationally at 2 PM. Now-Emperor Franz would speak with Premier Fischer in a phone call, confirming plans of the coming weeks. Franz promised

Over the next twenty-four hours, foreign governments issued their own condolences to the late Emperor, notably those of Nordica and GUISS, which Franz greatly appreciated.

### Mourning Period and Funeral

Emperor Franz and Premier Fischer jointly annoounced the start of a two-week mourning period, which would culminate in Wolfgang's state funeral. During that time, much of Neo-Europe's economy ground to a halt and public entertainment was restricted.

Wolfgang received a state funeral on the 24 August 2088, in which over two-hundred foreign dignitaries attended. Among those attending included Josef Matsson, the first Commissioner of Nordica and a personal friend of Wolfgang's, then-current Commissioner Kaia Halverson, GUISS politician and future leader Myron Kuzmenko (on behalf of General Secretary Yakim Egrov) and Arab Sultan Mahmoud I. Most prominent current and former Neo-European politicians were in attendance, with the notable exception of former Premiers Frederich Gruber, who was imprisoned, and Lloyd Rothschild, whose invitation was snubbed by Emperor Franz. Franz led the procession throughout London, and a secular service was given from Westminster Abbey, where he was buried. Most Neo-Europeans watched the funeral, which was screened in town squares and other communal areas.

## Death and Funeral

Franz's death was announced on 7 June 2141, several months after his one-hundredth birthday.

In May he was admitted to hospital after abdominal pain and what was believed to be a stroke. Seemingly on the mend, his condition deteriorated in late May, upon when he was admitted to hospital. He continued to slip in and out of consciousness before eventually dying in the evening 7 June, leaving his son, Oliver Von Stuttgart, as Emperor.

Messages of condolence were quickly issued from around the world, including GUISS General Secretary Myron Kuzmenko, when tensions between the nations were at an all-time high.

Franz's funeral was not planned to be as ceremonius as his father's, and he had spoken of his desire for there not to be a mourning period. Controversially, however, Emperor Oliver, signed an executive order confirming a two-week mourning period, complete with the closure of schools and places of leisure.

No GUISS dignitary, apart from its Ambassador to Neo-Europe, **Anatoly Batyrshin**, attended the service, though Nordican politicians were numerous. Franz's funeral was overshadowed by statements released by Premier Murphy hours before the service, calling Oliver corrupt and unfit to rule. Murphy himself only attended the service itself, refusing to walk with the procession. Much of the ruling Republican Party outright did not attend, symbolising their unsteady relationship with the monarchy.

## Personal Life

In 2062, he married the Briton Hannah Windsor (2044-2139), who was a member of the former British Royal Family.

They had four children together:

* Oliver, 2064-2153
* Victoria, 2069-2167
* Wilhelm, 2071-2143
* Franz, 2073-2177

Additionsally, Hannah suffered a miscarriage of a boy in 2068.

## Legacy

### Membership of the Fellowship of the Radiants

Like his father, it is likely Franz was somewhat involved with the Radiants, but almost certainly not as much as Wolfang was. Many have theorised that Franz withdrew his membership due to wanting to change his image compared to his father, causing the Radiants to seek influence elsehwere: the Republican movement.