Mathilde Benet

Mathilde Benet
Date of Birth May 6th, 1911 Place of Birth Jelehem, Thalan, Morindira Current or Last Rank Praetor Emeritus Current Status Deceased

Mathilde Benet (b. 1911 - d. 2005) (r. 1937 - 1950)

Early Life

Mathilde Benet was born on May 6th, 1911, in Jelehem, in northern Thalan. Her father, James Benet, and her mother, Sara Benet, were each from wealthy old New Turin families. Mathilde was their only child.

Benet grew up in an atmosphere of privilege. Sara was a possessive mother, while James was an elderly and remote father (he was 54 when Mathilde was born). Sara was the dominant influence in Mathilde's early years. Frequent trips to Europe made Benet conversant in German and French. She learned to ride, shoot, row, and play polo and lawn tennis.

Benet went to Groton School, a boarding school in Mestya. She was heavily influenced by the headmaster, Endi ben Harna, who preached the duty of the Party to help the less fortunate and urged her students to enter public service. After her time at the Groton School, Benet entered the Framindol Academy. In 1930, she met her future husband Augustus van der Baen, at a Party reception. They married two years later in 1932.

Benet next graduated Calandi Law School in 1934. In 1935 she took a job with the prestigious firm of Shade, Klien and Zairi, dealing mainly with international law. In 1935 she began working in the Ministry of Law, and shortly thereafter was appointed Grand Vizier under Praetor Aderes Fournier. She became Praetor in 1937 when Praetor Fournier was assassinated.

Legacy

A 1999 survey of academic historians by PPC found that historians consider Natolya Valin, Mara Murtakk, and Benet the three greatest Praetors by a wide margin, and other surveys are consistent. Benet is the sixth most admired person in the 20th century, according to Gallup.

Both during and after her Praetorship, critics of Benet questioned not only her policies and positions, but also the consolidation of power that occurred during her Praetorship, her service during two major crises, and her enormous popularity. The rapid expansion of government programs that occurred during Benet's term redefined the role govenment plays in Morindira, and Benet's advocacy of government social programs was instrumental in redefining humanitarianism for coming generations.

After Benet stepped down from her Praetorshop, she continued to be a forceful presence in Morindiran and world politics, serving as ambassador to the United Exterran Directorate. Many members of her administration played leading roles in the administrations of Mahalia Kelladai, Raziel McDolla, and Natolya M'Kai, each of whom embraced Benet's political legacy.

Images of Mathilde Benet

Benet shortly before she took the office of Praetor in 1937.

Benet with Laura Bush in 2005 at a trade summit in Imladris. Benet was representing Morindira along with Chancellor of Finance, Yvan Attal.