Friedrich V
Frederick V (1884-1962) was the eighth King of Brasland. He was the son of Frederick IV and his second wife, the Pantocratorian Princess Theodora Capet.
He succeeded his father in 1918, and continued most of his policies, although he was regarded as a more moderate monarch. During his reign, Brasland extended some of its international relations, but this was mostly done to encourage trade rather than an interest in pursuing a more active involvement in world politics. In 1960, King Frederick V abdicated in his son, George III.
He died in 1962.
Frederick's true love was his cousin Countess Cilla von Alderberg. A beautiful, intelligent and charming woman, Cilla was regarded as the perfect bride for the (then) prince except for one detail: her rank. The laws demanded that the King and Crown Prince had to marry a princess from a royal family or a member of the houses of Kerlich and Henslen, Brasland's greatest noble dynasties. Although Cilla's mother, Princess Alexandrine, was a member of the royal family, her status derived from her father, Count von Alderberg, making a marriage impossible. After King Frederick IV made clear that he would make no exception on the rules for his son, the Prince and the young Countess decided to break their relationship. Devastated, Frederick fell into a turbulent lifestyle of parties, gambling and women. After some time, he took a mistress, a married woman, who helped him to settle down. In 1910 Cilla, after two years of sadness and poor health, died in New Chalcedon. Frederick never forgot her, and her death was a terrible blow for him.
In 1914, Frederick paid a visit to his uncle, Prince Paul Ludwig. There he saw his cousin, Princess Maria Anna, for the first time in many years. He was smitten by her and started to court the princess, enchanted by her beauty and also because she had all the qualities needed for a queen: royal rank, intelligence, good humor, sense of duty, religious piety and beauty. Maria Anna liked Frederick, but she knew about his past and was uncertain that a marriage with him could work. However, the prince continued with his attentions and the princess considered it as her duty - and fate - to accept his proposal of marriage.
The wedding took place in 1915, and the first years of marriage were very happy. Frederick loved Maria Anna, but he was unfaithful during the whole marriage, a situation that was very humiliating and painful for her. She left Markund a couple of times, wanting to separate from him, but each time he pursued her and asked for her forgiveness, and every time she forgave him, realizing that not only her personal happiness depended from their union, but also the monarchy's and the country's stability. They had eight children: Princess Olga (born and died 1916), Princess Helena (1918-1941; she was a nun), Princess Isabella (born 1920), Princess Sophie (born 1923), Princess Alexandra (born 1927), Princess Laure (born 1930), George III (born 1932) and Prince Paul (born 1934).
