Queen Nadya's Will
The last will and testament of Queen Nadya of Itrosia. This document set a precedent in Itrosia (later Icarria) for the royal family and the succession of the crown and control of the armed forces to the first male heirs.
Purpose
Last wills and testaments were customary documents drafted by Itrosian leaders and dignitaries. Traditionally, queens of Itrosia would outline in their wills the intended heirs and successors to the throne.
Traditionally, queens would choose a child, grandchild, or other relative whom they deemed qualified for the position, whether to lead in an executive, judicial, legislative, or military-commanding role. While often, successors would be their eldest daughter or child, a hereditary line of succession was not mandatory as it was in neighboring nations.
Document Structure
Publication Status
The will and testament of Itrosian royals typically go through three phases: private, in-confidence, and public.
In the private phase, the royal begins to draft the document, selecting their intended successor with only one or two trusted advisors.
The second phase is the "in-confidence" phase, where the will is reviewed by a wider but still select group of advisors and royal staff who will ensure the execution of the will and the peaceful transition of power after the death and end of the royal's reign. During this phase, the intended successors are made aware of their inheritance and responsibilities. By Itrosian custom, all successors must declare their intention to accept or deny their inheritance. If they deny, the reigning royal has the opportunity to name a new successor. All of this information remains in the confidence of the small group of staff and inheritors.
The last phase is when the will and testament is released to the public, typically within a week of the royal's death, in case of a successor being unable to fulfill the wishes of the previous ruler.
Legal status
The will of Queen Nadya was considered the queen's last legally binding words. Her only child, Matthias, was named her sole heir and successor as King of Itrosia and leader of the Itrosian armed forces.
Historical Details
Background
Queen Nadya came from a long line of queens ruling over Itrosia. The Voronin family line was traditionally matriarchal, passing down power from mother to daughter.
As the reigning queen ages, they prepare a will and testament to name their intended successor. Before her, Queen Nadya's mother, grandmother, and all the queens before them had the choice of their daughters to choose as their successors. Some would choose a son or grandson as the intended successor to the armed forces or diplomatic relations, but they would rarely name a male successor as the overall king of Itrosia.
Nadya, having only one heir, named her son, Matthias, as her sole successor. She specifically named her "firstborn child" as the next ruler of Itrosia and her "firstborn son" as the next commander of Itrosia's armed forces.
Public Reaction
Immediate public reaction was mostly positive. The people harbored great love and respect for their late Queen Nadya. They expected Matthias to be her successor as her only child, and they trusted her judgment to name him as the next king.
Legacy
While the public had a positive immediate reaction, the will came with drastic long-term ramifications.
Nadya's son, King Matthias, was not the ruler she intended him to be. While Queen Nadya was loving, Matthias was ruthless. He used his control over the military to fight battle after battle, seizing lands and conquering neighboring nations. His rule threw the nation into over a century of war.
When it was time for Matthias to write his own will and name his successors, he used the same language as his mother's will to place his sons in positions of power and leave his daughters to marry other noblemen and soothe ties with newly conquered lands.
Matthias and his descendants used the same language: the "firstborn child" would be the next ruler of the nation, but the "firstborn son" would be the commander of the armed forces.
Generations of rulers of Itrosia, and then Icarria, turned a traditional matriarchal rule into a patriarchal line. From 9159 to the modern day of 9523, only three queens have reigned over Itrosia and Icarria, though all three were succeeded by male relatives.
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