Vethara Shakhovskaya
| Archduchess Vethara Shakhovskaya | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
|
Vethara, Archduchess of Tarasovka (Vethara Mikhailovna Shakhovskaya)(born 12 July 1107 AS) is the third child and second daughter to the late Grand Duke Mikhail I and Grand Duchess Ekaterina. She is also heiress presumptive to the Taraskovyan Sword of Rulers, currently held by her brother, Grand Duke Mikhail II.
As all Shakhovskoy, she is a symbol of unity between the two main ethnic groups that shape the destiny of Tarasovka – the Russians and the Taraskath. Just as her mother, the Archduchess became an Orthodox faithful.
Contents
Early Years
Her Highness Vethara, Archduchess of Tarasovka, was born in the Vigvar Winter Palace, on the 12th of July 1107 After Strife. However, both the fact of her birth and her very existence were hidden from the Taraskovyan people, the Leib-doctors having been instructed to remain silent.
It is not known what reasons pushed the Grand Duke and his wife to act so. The early life of Vethara is, thus, clouded in mystery and gave birth to many a rumour, all of them dismissed by the Ruling family.
Revelation to the Public and Subsequent Years
When the Archduchess was 22 years old, her existence was finally revealed by the Grand Duke to his subjects, but no exact reason for the previous secrecy was given. No scandals erupted, however, and Taraskovyans were quick to celebrate the appearance of a whole new child of their beloved ruler.
The near absence of negative reaction is sometimes explained by a thorough preparation of the event by the Grand Duke and the Taraskovyan National Security Department.
Higher Education and Life as a Doctor
She then was engaged by the Vigvar Grand Ducal Leib-hospital as a general practitioner. At the same time, she entered the Pediatrics Department of the Faculty of Medicine, striving to become a pediatrician, which she did at the age of 30.
Public Life
Due to her clouded past, Vethara quickly became the focus point of Taraskovyan media and, as such, was very quickly integrated into the social life of the Grand Duchy. Due to her kindness and generousity, she quickly became popular with the people, who often favoured her more than her father.
The Archduchess became active in the so-called “Bread for Sword” program, taking on the handling of finances and touring of the country to foresee to the needs of those benefiting from the program. In the “Bread for Sword” the Grand Duke of all Taraskovya offered financial assistance to the poorest Taraskovyans in exchange for armed service should war come to Taraskovyan soil and the Taraskovyan army be in dire need of men and women. In practice, none of those assisted in the “Bread for Sword” ever served a single day and, as such, that program was often referred to as charity. However, it helped many start a new self-sufficient life.
Vethara was also actively involved in supporting the Taraskovyan Church and even earned the honourary title of Benefactress of the Church.
Romances
The only public known romance of Her Highness was with the Poruchik Nekshas Tenathir of the Leib-guards, Count of Terth, with whom Vethara was first sighted in public in 1138 AS at the Vigvar Opera House. In May 1141, Poruchik Tenathir was baptized in the Orthodox faith and in June the couple announced their engagement. However, their union never came to be as the Plague erupted in September of the same year and the Count fell on the battlefield.
The Plague and the Exile
The Plague came as a shock to the Archduchess and the death of her fiancé and father in the first weeks of warfare literally cut the young woman down. By the end of December 1142, her brother also presumably fell in battle. Her mother’s heart could not endure such a pain and Ekaterina also departed for a better world in the days following the end of the Plague.
Vethara, thus, became the only remnant of the Ruling family and, in absence of any other heir, the Grand Duchess by Right of all Taraskovya. However, the Sword of Rulers was taken by the Church of the Seven Deities back to the Sacred Citadel of Zynthris and Vethara never had the time to give the Oath of Faith (or, in other words, be enthroned), nor was she given with the Sword of Rulers.
A triumvirate of high ranked army officers seized the opportunity to assert their power over the nation in order to prevent the country from slipping into further chaos. Even if at first the three Ruling Councillors were keen to use Vethara as a symbolic leader above them, the young woman soon came to be seen as a threat.
She was, however, smuggled out by a group of loyalist officers to Menelmacar before the Ruling Council had the time to “dispose” of her. The military junta proclaimed a republic in Tarasovka and renamed the country into the Taraskovyan Federation.
The Federal period of Taraskovyan history was characterized by constant instability and urban warfare between various nationalist and terrorist organizations and the Federal government. During the spectacular Vigvar attacks perpetrated by the White Legion, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, including Admiral Konstantin Puchinov, one of the Ruling Councillors.
Return of the Grand Duke
In spring of the year 1148 AS, just as the nation was still recovering from the latest White Legion uprising, the presumably dead and buried Mikhail II of all Taraskovya made an unexpected return and joined the Ruling Council, replacing Admiral Puchinov. Mere months later, the Taraskovyan people were called to vote on a new Constitution, which would restore monarchy in Tarasovka, even if the Grand Duchy was drastically reformed.
Vethara at first refused to recognize “Mikhail” as her real brother. Yet, as the People and Fiefdoms approved the Constitution and Mikhail II became Grand Duke again, she had to eventually abandon her claims to the Sword of Rulers. The final reconciliation between the two happened during the coronation of High King Owain of the Resurgent Dream.
Other Titles
Benefactress of the Church
The title of Benefactress of the Church was bestowed upon Vethara by the Patriarch Nikon II of Vigvar and all Taraskovya in reward for her support of the Church and of the Orthodox faith. At the time, the only other Benefactress of the Church was Vethara's mother, the Grand Duchess Ekaterina. As of today, Vethara shares the honour with Duke Anatoly Orlov, who was granted the title of Benefactor in reward for his support of the Church during the turmoiled Federal era.
As all Benefactors of the Church, Vethara was awarded with the Order of Saint Apostle Andrew the First-Called by the Patriarch of Vigvar and all Taraskovya. The Order's star is made of silver and diamonds, and features the inscription "For Faith and Loyalty". The badge represents a Byzantine double-headed eagle bearing a blue cross St. Andrew's Cross with St. Andrew crucified upon it. The use of the double-headed eagle is proper to the Taraskovyan Church and is not found on any State regalia.
Duchess of Zoria
Vethara, Archduchess of Tarasovka, is also the Duchess of Zoria. Zoria is a Taraskovyan possession on the planet of Venus, which was bought by the Grand Duke from Menelmacar as a gift to his sister in honour of their reconcilliation. Vethara, after first attempting to get something more modest from her brother, accepted the Duchy and the responsibilities that came with it. She exercises full authority over the Duchy, with her brother reserving the right to use it whenever military needs arise.
Duchess of Khamesti
The title of Duchess of Kheper-kekui-kha-mesti, a city located in the Duat province of Aterat, was bestowed upon Vethara by the Emperor of the C'tan. The position is largely ceremonial and the Taraskovyan Archduchess holds no power over the city, even if Khamesti (as the city is referred to casually for the sake of efficiency) does generate a generous income for her.
