Princess Ludovika of Brasland

Princess Ludovika of Brasland (1895-1960) was the daughter of Prince Carl Johan of Brasland.

She became a nurse at the age of sixteen, and worked for the Red Cross. Although she was very beautiful, she was not interested in marriage and rejected the suitors that her parents suggested she could marry. Her fortune attracted many, but her strong personality also dissuaded some, as she was considered problematic. Eventually, her parents surrendered and tried of adjust to the idea that she would be a spinster.

In 1922 she met the famous Braslander adventurer, Matthias von Marignan. He was known for his numerous expeditions across the world (Australia, Congo, Mongolia, South Pacific, Amazon and Japan) and the books he had written with his experiences. They fell in love and became engaged, but her mother refused to accept it, as Matthias had been previously married, though only civilly, to a foreign woman. They had divorced in Knootoss, but for the very Catholic society of Brasland it was obviously unacceptable for a princess to marry someone with Matthias' past. Ludovika threatened to give up her title and marry him anyway, but things were solved due to the intervention of Queen Maria Anna. She convinced Princess Helena to accept the match and persuaded her husband, King Frederick IV, to give the title of Count to Von Marignan. The couple married in 1924, and had four children: Adelaide (born 1925), Eugen (born 1927), Ysolde (born 1931) and Emma (born 1935; spinster).

The Marignans were very close to the royal couple, and because of this they were very prominent in Markund society.

Princess Ludovika died in 1960. She is remembered by her family as an authentic soul who never renounced to her true convictions and who was never afraid of being criticized for doing what she believed was right.