souveraine | (no subject)

PLAYER
Player name: Hebe
Contact:

illuminations
Characters currently in-game: Armitage Hux

CHARACTER
Character Name: Anne of Austria (Ana Maria Mauricia de Habsburgo)
Character Age: early 20's
Canon: The Musketeers (BBC)
Canon Point: end of 1x09
World Description: N/A

History: she's not a woman, she's a queen

Anne is first introduced as the Queen, wincing as her husband the King, Louis XIII, is shooting birds. She is Spanish by birth (daughter of the King of Spain and Margaret of Austria of the House of Habsburg) which complicates Louis' foreign policy when it comes to dealing with Spain and Austria. Anne herself must straddle the line between being Spanish and now being the Queen of France. Alliances by marriage are important during this time and Anne's position is even more precarious as she hasn't yet given Louis any live children. She did become pregnant shortly after the marriage but lost the baby.

She is later held hostage by a man seeking to escape prison during a trip to extend the King's pardon. It's then when she first experiences an attraction to Aramis as he pushes her down and protects her from the fighting all around them. She's been trapped in a marriage to Louis since she was 14 years old and so she sees Aramis as someone who could help her escape from it. Her marriage is a source of unhappiness as she's tied to a king who can be immature and she has no children to secure the line of succession. Louis is upset about this, even once suggesting that he and France would be better off without her so he can remarry a woman who would give him children. This results in Cardinal Richelieu, the King's most trusted adviser, arranging an attempt on the Queen's life. She's protected by Aramis and Athos while Porthos and D'Artagnan ride to Paris to get help. They are able to take shelter in a convent and it's there Aramis and Anne spend a night together, conceiving a son together.

Louis is overjoyed his wife is pregnant again and Anne knows her duty is to France and her husband even if she was able to have a moment of happiness with another man. Her son will be raised as the son of the king instead of the son of a musketeer.

Note: Anne is from the BBC Musketeer series but I will draw a little on the historical Anne to fill in the gaps here and there. The timelines don't match up, however. Also, she will be coming after her return to Louis after the battle, before she discovers her pregnancy but I will not have her pregnant in game.

Personality:
Anne was raised to be a queen from the moment she was born. The eldest daughter of King Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria of House of Habsburg, she had many expectations placed on her shoulders. She lost her mother at a young age and was expected to be strong not only for her other siblings but to do her duty. She lived a life of duty and sacrifice but she never wavered.

Her husband Louis once referred to her as dull and too serious, complaining that Anne didn't like to do the same things as he did. She does tend to appear serious, her focus on her subjects and being a queen instead of her own pleasures. That's not to say that she's completely cold but she's more practical than her husband. She's known as a wise, caring Queen by her people, going so far as to pardon criminals and personally hand out money so they are able to start out a new life.

She's told that some may take advantage of that kindness but Anne believes that all men need a helping hand in life. While she is certainly not a fool, she believes in her people. Perhaps she may be taken advantage of but she wants to put that hope in the future of all in her country. She is willing to go to great lengths for the people of France even though she's disliked for being Spanish. She's a fighter, determined, and doesn't back down easily. She doesn't hesitate to use her power when needed.

When she found out about Cardinal Richelieu's plan to kill her in order that her husband may remarry, she kept herself very controlled, her expression that of a Queen passing judgment. She's able to put aside her own personal feelings as she knows the Cardinal does protect the interests of France and the King. It couldn't have been an easy decision but she makes sure that it's not so much an act of mercy but a decision made in the interest of her husband and country. She holds the cards, she has the power to reveal the Cardinal's part in the plot should he ever fail in his duty. There is no doubt that she means to do exactly what she says, it's not a threat so much as a promise.

It was her who suggested that Louis spares the life of his mother, Marie de'Medici. She mentions that a king who puts his own mother to death, no matter her actions, would not be to Louis' advantage so much as giving her his pardon. While her husband was getting emotional, Anne was practical and knew that the execution of the former Queen would not only be a bad political move but would be a decision Louis would always regret. Again, she's able to put aside feelings to make difficult decisions. Anne is always aware that the decisions she makes won't just influence her but everyone around her, and her people.

Anne is, beneath all her titles and duties, still a young woman. She's lonely, trapped in a loveless marriage where she is reminded that she can be disposed of if she doesn't do her duty. She's still kind and cares for others around her, especially those she loves and trusts. She's capable of laughter and, around Aramis and the other Musketeers, she's shown to be a bit playful.

She's willing to roll up her sleeves and try to be helpful when she's on the run with the Musketeers. She doesn't want to just sit around and be waited upon, she even takes it upon herself to do the cooking, something she's never done before. She may lack practical skills but she's humble nonetheless, she's not afraid of getting her hands dirty when she has to.

She's never had freedom to follow her heart or her own desires. She sees in Aramis an escape, even for just a moment, and it's a moment of weakness. She may be young but she's borne the burden of being married to a man she doesn't love while being unable to provide an heir to the throne for so long. She selfishly gives herself one night of freedom, a memory to sustain her because she's only human.

Inventory: She's wearing this awesome outfit and that's pretty much it.

Abilities: Anne has no supernatural abilities and is just human. However, she does have some strengths and despite being a woman of her time, she has the education of most royals of her time. She speaks French and Spanish, most likely Germain as well. She is educated in music and dance of the Spanish and French courts, is experienced with politics in France and Europe in general given she was a princess of Spain and is the Queen of France.

Flaws: Anne is a queen first and foremost. She'll do what she has to in order to do what is best for her people even if it's not always pretty. She doesn't like having to resort to those measures, however, but she's capable of it. She threatened a cardinal and even though Richelieu deserved it for trying to kill her, she meant every word of her threat. She would have destroyed him.

She is capable of being selfish though it's not common. She fell in love with and slept with another man. Her only concern is keeping the secret from her husband everyone else. She doesn't regret the actual act of cheating on Louis.

SAMPLES
Action Log Sample: here