Paul I of Brasland
Paul I (1964-2013) was the fourth King of Brasland. He was the son of King George III and his second wife, Princess Charlotte of Magnus Valerius.
Reign
The young prince succeeded his father in 1969, after the royal family was kidnapped in the Royal Palace during a confusing incident which ended in George III's being seriously wounded and dying in a hospital a day later. Queen Charlotte assumed the regency for her son until 1986, when he finished a learning period that included military training and academic studies on various subjects.
Paul II's reign was marked by frequent tensions between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party (which had closed ties to the Socialist Party). The latter was led by Olav Palmerson, a former communist and later socialist that worked in secret to undermine the monarchy (as has been proved by later investigations). The political atmosphere became increasingly aggressive between both groups from 1990, making some Braslanders to fear the break of a civil war. It is also believed that the socialists had worked to infiltrate among the superior ranks of the Army, causing an internal division inside the Armed Forces that provoked serious worries within the government.
On May of 1994, after a private meeting with Olav Palmerson whose content was never revealed, King Paul II announced his sudden abdication to the throne. Although he intended to proclaim his son as the new sovereign, the Liberals and Socialists (who had the parliamentary majority through an informal alliance) blocked this. A few days later, the monarchy was abolished and a republic was proclaimed. Paul, still influential in politics, ensured that a loyal monarchist, Alan Weiller (who was also his stepfather), was appointed President of the new republic. By this time, many monarchists had formed groups and attempted to make a coup d'etat to reinstate the king. Knowing this, Olav Palmerson threatened to order a firm action from the Army to anyone that tried to oppose the new regime. Paul, realizing that his presence could cause the civil war that everyone feared, decided to leave the country with his family. They settled in New Chalcedon, where they received political asylum from Empress Eirena IV (his sister-in-law).
Exile
The former king's life in the empire was discreet, although he attended official events from time to time. He saw the events in his homeland with concern, seeing how Brasland's democracy was gradually destroyed and its economy collapsed after Alan Weiller resigned as president. He could not forgive himself for abdicating, an action that he always saw as a betrayal to his coronation oath. His life in New Chalcedon was comfortable, as his wife had a considerable fortune of her own, but he felt unfulfilled and depressed.
In 2008, fourteen years after its proclamation, the republic fell and the monarchy was restored with Paul II's son, Prince George, as the new king. Although he attended the coronation, his presence in Brasland arised controversy, and he returned to Constantinopolis Secundus quickly after the ceremony. He was very unpopular in his homeland, where people felt he had left them for a golden exile.
When war broke in 2012 between Brasland and Daytanistan, King Paul decided that the only way to redeem himself in the eyes of his country was to fight in it. With the help of Empress Eirena IV, he assumed a false name, Philippos Georgallis, Count of Dioclea, and passed as a member of a New Chalcedonian group of volunteers that fought with the Braslanders against the Daytans. He was seriously wounded after a courageous participation in battle. His actions were only made known until after the end of the war, and it helped to clean his reputation, at least in part. For the former king, this was enough, as he wanted to recover the honour he felt he had lost after the 1994 abdication.
After his return to Brasland, Paul's health declined and he was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. He and his family returned to Brasland so he could spend his last time in his country. During this time he lived at his old residence, Grünenberg Castle, and visited many of the places he loved, such as the island of Ostis and the Braslander Alps.
He died on April 2013, surrounded by his family.
Family
King Paul II married in 1989 to Princess Arabella of New Chalcedon, a cousin and close friend of Empress Eirena IV of New Chalcedon. Their marriage was quite stormy, but the couple genuinely loved each other and stood together during their most difficult times.
Arabella, better known as Queen Lia, was a modern woman whose opinions clashed with those of the very conservative Braslander society. In 1991, feeling isolated and lonely at the royal court, she took her son and escaped to New Chalcedon. Although the palace officially informed it was a private trip, within the high echelons of society it was known that Lia did not intend to return to Brasland, where she had not been well received by noble circles. However, Paul travelled to Constantinopolis Secundus and convinced her to return. Back in Markund, some accused her of kidnapping the heir to the throne, but the King now gave her his public support through different gestures, and her opponents had no other choice but to silence their disapproval.
Paul and Lia had six children: George IV (born 1990), Princess Sophia (born 1991), Prince Leopold (born 1992), Princess Irene (born 1994), Princess Helena (born 1997) and Princess Blanche (born 2001).
