New Post
Search
HelpRe: A Kingdom Congrats Round 3 ATTN Flute and Bea
in reply to a message by britto08
UN: La Reina
Duke: Romolo Iacopo Giovanni (30)
Consort: Lucrezia Maria Maddalena (21)
-DDuchess: Vanozza Lucrezia Isabella (4)
-DDuke: Piero Lorenzo Giovanni "Perotto" (2)
-DDuchess: Claudia Livia Pacifica (nb)
Of the House of Medici, of the duchy of Urbino.
1523. Things have gone nowhere for Urbino. A recent bout of severe drought, followed by sudden overflowings of rain have put the harvests in a twist. Food became scarce, and most of the lower classes were literally starving, some even resorting to become beggars while the upper classes shut the windows of their palazzi and feasted as if nothing had happened. This behaviour distressed many, most notably Lucrezia, the Duchess consort. She was very anxious about the recent happenings and pressured her husband to stop the indulgent parties from proceeding, but Romolo explained to her that it would have been useless, almost impossible.
In the midst of the hardships, more were to come. Claudio da Firenze, an old friend of Romolo's (and Lorenzino, and Piero before them) arrived in Urbino to "check things". As hearty a welcome as can be provided was given, but it was apparent that something was bothering Claudio. Still, he refused to speak of what was bothering him, instead fixating on his old friend and his family, the government of the duchy, and the alchemical matters, which he was also fond of. After almost two months of his visit, Claudio finally revealed to Romolo and Lucrezia the reason for his visit: he was dying of an illness, and wanted to see his friends before he expired. Claudio meant to go to Romagna next; he never managed to accomplish that goal. Claudio died in Urbino, in his final moments giving Romolo a book which was dedicated to their late friend Lorenzino - Il Principe.
The stress of a chaotic duchy and the loss of an old friend sent Romolo into a downward spiral. He locked himself in his bedroom for the first three days, only ever admitting Lucrezia inside and refusing to eat or even to see his children. In her later letters to her sister Livia, Lucrezia reminisced that her husband looked emaciated and almost confused, as if he could not think properly. When Romolo finally did leave his chamber, he only ever went into his study, burying himself with papers and alchemical ingredients, which some took to be a misguided attempt to find the elixir of life. But surprisingly, the experiments did him no good, only further worsening his condition and putting him on a moody, irritable, and withdrawn mode. At last, though, Lucrezia managed to snap him out of it, bringing Vanozza and Perotto to see him when both were obviously scared about their father. Romolo was genuinely shocked to see the effects of his behaviour and apologised profusely, slowly returning to his former self.
Soon after, the Pope died, and a new Pope was elected: Lorenzino's uncle, Giulio de' Medici, the Pope Clement VII. With a family member on the papal throne, Romolo immediately sent an appeal for help, which was heeded. Soon, Urbino was restored, slowly replenishing the supplies, and while it was not instantly what it once was, things were obviously heading towards the better. And after their reconciliation, Romolo and Lucrezia found themselves expecting another child! The daughter was named Claudia, after the lost Claudio da Firenze, Livia, after Lucrezia's youngest sister, and Pacifica, after Romolo's mother.
Trivia: Il Principe, Lorenzino's book, is now known as The Prince, by Niccolò Macchiavelli. Romolo's particular dementia showed hints of mercury poisoning, most likely from his alchemical hobby.
Duke: Romolo Iacopo Giovanni (30)
Consort: Lucrezia Maria Maddalena (21)
-DDuchess: Vanozza Lucrezia Isabella (4)
-DDuke: Piero Lorenzo Giovanni "Perotto" (2)
-DDuchess: Claudia Livia Pacifica (nb)
Of the House of Medici, of the duchy of Urbino.
1523. Things have gone nowhere for Urbino. A recent bout of severe drought, followed by sudden overflowings of rain have put the harvests in a twist. Food became scarce, and most of the lower classes were literally starving, some even resorting to become beggars while the upper classes shut the windows of their palazzi and feasted as if nothing had happened. This behaviour distressed many, most notably Lucrezia, the Duchess consort. She was very anxious about the recent happenings and pressured her husband to stop the indulgent parties from proceeding, but Romolo explained to her that it would have been useless, almost impossible.
In the midst of the hardships, more were to come. Claudio da Firenze, an old friend of Romolo's (and Lorenzino, and Piero before them) arrived in Urbino to "check things". As hearty a welcome as can be provided was given, but it was apparent that something was bothering Claudio. Still, he refused to speak of what was bothering him, instead fixating on his old friend and his family, the government of the duchy, and the alchemical matters, which he was also fond of. After almost two months of his visit, Claudio finally revealed to Romolo and Lucrezia the reason for his visit: he was dying of an illness, and wanted to see his friends before he expired. Claudio meant to go to Romagna next; he never managed to accomplish that goal. Claudio died in Urbino, in his final moments giving Romolo a book which was dedicated to their late friend Lorenzino - Il Principe.
The stress of a chaotic duchy and the loss of an old friend sent Romolo into a downward spiral. He locked himself in his bedroom for the first three days, only ever admitting Lucrezia inside and refusing to eat or even to see his children. In her later letters to her sister Livia, Lucrezia reminisced that her husband looked emaciated and almost confused, as if he could not think properly. When Romolo finally did leave his chamber, he only ever went into his study, burying himself with papers and alchemical ingredients, which some took to be a misguided attempt to find the elixir of life. But surprisingly, the experiments did him no good, only further worsening his condition and putting him on a moody, irritable, and withdrawn mode. At last, though, Lucrezia managed to snap him out of it, bringing Vanozza and Perotto to see him when both were obviously scared about their father. Romolo was genuinely shocked to see the effects of his behaviour and apologised profusely, slowly returning to his former self.
Soon after, the Pope died, and a new Pope was elected: Lorenzino's uncle, Giulio de' Medici, the Pope Clement VII. With a family member on the papal throne, Romolo immediately sent an appeal for help, which was heeded. Soon, Urbino was restored, slowly replenishing the supplies, and while it was not instantly what it once was, things were obviously heading towards the better. And after their reconciliation, Romolo and Lucrezia found themselves expecting another child! The daughter was named Claudia, after the lost Claudio da Firenze, Livia, after Lucrezia's youngest sister, and Pacifica, after Romolo's mother.
Trivia: Il Principe, Lorenzino's book, is now known as The Prince, by Niccolò Macchiavelli. Romolo's particular dementia showed hints of mercury poisoning, most likely from his alchemical hobby.
This message was edited 7/24/2011, 11:51 AM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1