Gwyneth Angus-Moonoak
 |
|
Emperor of the Natopians: Nathan I, Nathaniel, Naian, Asara, Zakyyr, Nathan II, Nathan III, Vadoma Founder: Nathan Waffel-Paine Current Avatar: Nathan II |
Gwyneth Angus-Moonoak of Waffel-Paine is a former Vicereine of the Natopian Nation (1638-1648) as well as former Crown Duchess of Klaasiya (1634-1645). She is the wife of Ivo Angus-Moonoak of Waffel-Paine, the Natopian Chief Justice and mother of Natopian Emperor Zakyyr Angus-Moonoak. Throughout her life, Gwyneth has also represented the demesne of Klaasiya in the Frenzy until her resignation, presumably due to disagreements with her son the Emperor, in 1649.
Gwnyeth is a Graft-Avatar in the House of Waffel-Paine serving as matriarch over the Klaasiyan branch of the House. She is the Vicereine of Natopia and Empress Asara's Great Aunt.
Early years, Marquise of Klaasiya and coronation
As Gwyneth's schedule became less and less busy, especially since her son started courting an Alexandrian Princess, the Emperor's aunt moved to Klaasisitya, back then capital of Klaasiya, where she soon met her future husband - Ivo Angus-Moonoak. The two gradually fell in love with one another and were engaged in late 1631, making the then Klaasiyan residence of the Chief Justice their, and later on their Angus-Moonoak's branch's, personal property - the famous Hartington Hold. A few months after the engagement, Ivo and Gwyneth received the blessing of Emperor Naian and were married in St. Branflake Cathedral in the presence of the Emperor Naian, Pentheros Neoptolemus, the Alexandrian Emperor Edgard II, the Grand Chancellor of the Imperial Overseas Territory of Saint John (where Ivo served as Governor), and many others. The young couple quickly and easily won over the love of the Klaasiyans, the Egalians and the Draconians, who soon came to adore Ivo and Gwyneth for the passion, respect and care they showed to those people and their land. In the meantime, the two had been granted the titles Marquis and Marquise of Klaasiya by the Faro of Flaventia in recognition of their role in the demesne. After an extensive tour throughout the then Klaasiyan demesne in 1631, the then Marquis and Marquise had what was perhaps the happiest and grandest experience in their lifetime - their coronation as Crown Duke and Duchess of Klaasiya (following an invitation by the people themselves) and the christening of their son - future Emperor Zakyyr Angus-Moonoak Ayreon-Kalirion of Waffel-Paine. The couple, crowned by Emperor Naian, had almost identical crowns designed - with the only notable difference being the Duke's crown incarnating the Blood of the Safir, and the Duchess' one holding the Heart of Hope - together representing the full authority of the ruling dynasty of Klaasiya. It was an immensely symbolic and exceptional experience in the history of Klaasiya, and of the House of Waffel-Paine, that will be remembered for one thing above all others - that the joint love of the two rulers will be stronger than anything and everything else, and that this love for Klaasiya is what drives all future joint rulers of the land.
Public life
Establishing the government of Klaasiya
Very soon after the coronation, Ivo and Gwyneth began the lengthy and difficult work of establishing the structure of government of their demesne. In the year following the coronation, the Crown Duke and Duchess decreed for the Klaasiyan Hymn and granted their marquisette title to Zakyyr, so that the demesne's government would continue long after the tenure of the couple ended. In the middle of 1634, the last part of the lengthy and healthy establishment of the Klaasiyan government took place when the Crown Duke and Duchess ceremonially signed the Fundamental Ducal Decree, which became the basic law of the demesne. The Fundamental Ducal Decree, later to become Fundamental Royal Decree, was the sole piece of law that asserted the passing down of the Crowns to Ivo and Gwyneth's successors, establishing the relative autonomy of Egale and New Dracoheim, and also regulating the way in which law is created in the demesne - through decree.
Tenure as Crown Duchess
Her tenure as Crown Duchess lasted 11 years, from 1634 to 1645. It started as the perfect love story turning into a life-long responsibility for Ivo and Gwyneth's people. Gwyneth faced numerous challenges during her joint reign with Ivo and later on during her own time at the Palace of the Bay. The threat of conflict with the Jings, as well as the troubles in Egale. On a personal note, the Crown Duchess had to deal with the complex situation regarding her son's marriage to Lady Li Naomai, which was decreed without her knowledge in the Kingdom of Goldshire. Despite all difficulties, Gwyneth is to this day the most loved and highly respected of all the rulers of Klaasiya.
Tenure as Vicereine of the Natopian Nation
Gwyneth was the first and only Vicereine of the Natopian Nation, an office which existed following the abolishment of the Natopian regencies and until their re-enactment. Appointed in 1938 by Emperor Naian, Gwyneth served 3 emperors until her resignation in 1948, shortly after her son's ascension to the Caprine Throne. As Vicereine, she started the National Welfare Programme, which helped establish and run many charities, workshops and libraries across the Empire. The most difficult moment she had to face as Vicereine was the assassination of Empress Asara - the untimely death of a close family member and a great Empress devastated Gwyneth, but also meant she had to remain calm and composed in a time when entire Empire was looking at her with hope that the deceased Empress' aunt will provide the people with the leadership they needed.
Later life
After her resignation as Vicereine, Gwyneth represented the realm which she once ruled - Klaasiya - in the Frenzy for a short time, but was forced to resign in 1649, supposedly as she disagreed with the line her son and Emperor was taking on numerous issues. It was clear from her resignation speech in the Frenzy that the decision was taken reluctantly and with a great sense of loss.
In her later years, Gwyneth became less visible publicly. In the words of the elderly lady herself, "I have had my share of crunch times, it's long been due to call it a day". She wrote two books after her retirement, titled "My life: the good, the bad, and the times"; and "Women role models: our duty to do good".
After retrieving from public life, Gwyneth spent most of her time in Hartington hold, taking part in local endeavours, charities and cultural activities.
