Maximilian Augustus

Maximilian II
King Maximilian II's official portrait c. 3022
Personal Details
Residence	Multiple. The Iberian Palace, Balancia (formal and primary)
Gender	Male
Species	Terran
Occupation	King of the Balancin Kingdoms
Education	MPhil in Philosophy and Theology from the Divinity School, University of Pembroke
Military Service
Allegiance	Kingdom of the Rock

Maximilian Augustus (Lucian Carlos Murcia; born 8 May 2978) is Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Balancín Kingdoms. He is often colloquially referred to as Maximilian the Crusader or Maximilian the Great following his establishment of the Balancín Kingdoms during the Doggerlands Crusade of 3023. In January 3025, he was crowned Emperor of the Romans, establishing the 31st century's Holy Roman Empire. He reigns the Balancín Kingdoms as Maximilian II.

Born as the youngest son of Maximilian, King of Romania, and his second wife, he was christened as Prince Lucian Hohenzollern-Ansbach in 2978. He was born at the Imperial Palace in Romania, prior to the abolition of the Romanian Monarchy, and fled the country alongside his father and elder brother. Lucian lived all across Europe in his youth, eventually moving to Balancía to study at Pembroke University in 2997. At Pembroke, he met Lady Elizabeth Holland and, in 3000, were married. Over the next 12 years, Lucian and Elizabeth had five children: Louis, Henrietta, Peter, Olaf, and Grace.

In 3013, his family moved to Balancía to live alongside the Balancín Royal Family. Following the restoration of the Balancín Monarchy in 3021, Maximilian became an active member of the court of King Charles VI, eventually being named the Earl Marshal. Being loyal to Charles VI, and suspicious of Brandon Blackfyre's takeover of the government just prior to Charles' death, Lucian declared for Mary Maekar during the War of the Balancín Succession. He pledged his support for Queen Mary, temporarily residing in the Dreadfort during the conflict. As Earl Marshal, he was a senior commander in the Maekar/Lancastrian Army, commanding the forces alongside the Lord Maekar himself during the Battle for the Iberian Palace.

Following the war, Lucian was created as Duke of Sinacras, the title that was stripped by Brandon Blackfyre himself. His short tenure as Duke of Sinacras saw him outwardly oppose the skism between the churches of Rockfield and Ecclesia, stating that politics should not interfere with faithful service. He was named Chairman of the Royal Trust - a charitable organization run by the Balancín Crown.

Following the Council of Lancastria, where the churches of Balancía and Ecclesia were reunited, it was decreed by Pontifex Konstantin IX that the monarch of Balancía would become the Legate of the Rockfield Rite - the subdivision of the Balancín Church - in order to facilitate an orderly reunification. By Church law, a Legate must be a male. In September 3022, the Prince Regent formally abdicated the throne on behalf of Mary Maekar and, as the most senior Pontifical heir, Lucian ascended the throne, taking the regnal name Maximilian II in honour of his father.

Upon his ascession, Maximilian pledged himself to the cause of reunifying the Balancía and Ecclesian churches, calling the mission's success the "primary objective of my reign". He was the first monarch to reign under the direct control of the Wiltshire Republic. In late 3022, Shipley voted in a referendum to adopt the monarchy alongside Balancía. Maximilian was coronated by Pontifex Konstantin IX in June 3023, at which time he proclaimed that the royal house name would change from "Hohenzollern-Ansbach" to "Murcia".

Following the outbreak of the Wiltshirian Civil War, Maximilian proclaimed the reformation of the Royal Army and declared independence from Wiltshire. He described the decision as "committing my whole self" to "the lives of my subjects". He proclaimed victory after the Battle of the Three Bridges when Port Eddington was captured, formally creating the Balancín Kingdoms by signing the Royal Charter.

In January 3023, Maximilian lost his wife, Queen Elizabeth, in a tragic car accident at Murcia Castle. Shortly after, he summoned the first ever Parliament of the Balancín Kingdoms which became known as the Partial Parliament. During his reign as King, Maximilian became the Conqueror as he used the Pontifical summons to rally an army of Crusaders. With that army, he invaded and conquered Wiltshire, Lorikeet, and Minevgrad, as well as supporting the campaign for Zaandam. After securing independence for Zaandam from the Paxemese Republic, and placing it under his military domain as a client state, Pontifex Konstantin IX crowned Maximilian as the Emperor of the Romans, re-establishing the Holy Roman Empire with Maximilian Augustus as its head of state.

Titles and Styles

• 8 May 2981 - 22 March 3013: His Royal Highness Prince Lucian Carlos
• 22 March 3013 - 20 October 3021: His Highness Prince Lucian Carlos
• 20 October 3021 - 6 September 3022: His Highness Prince Lucian Carlos, Duke of Sinacras
• 6 September 3022 - 1 January 3025: His Majesty The King
• 1 January 3025 - present: His Imperial Grace The Emperor

As King of the Balancín Kingdoms, his formal style was:

By the Grace of God, Maximilian the second of the House of Murcia, King of the Rock, Shipley and the Newton, Lord of the Balancín Kingdoms, Defender of the Faith and His Most Catholic Majesty, King of Bonitana, King of Wiltshire

Upon his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor, his formal style became:

By the Grace of God, Maximilian of the House Murcia, most serene Augustus, great and pacific Emperor, governing the Roman Empire, King of the Rock, the Wilts, and the Newton, King of Bonitana, of Shipley, of Romania, King of Jerusalem, Margrave of the Holy Roman Empire, Lord of the Balancín Kingdoms, Lord Protector of Zaandam, Asturias, Shore, and Obragon, Duke of Sinacras, of Murcia, of Iberia, Defender of the Faith and His Most Catholic Majesty, Captain General of the Holy Pontifical Church, and Lord High Sovereign and Majestic Crusader of the Order of the Knights Templar

Issue

King Maximilian II has five children by Queen Elizabeth. His first, Louis, was born in 3001 - he holds the title Prince of the Newton and Duke of Talaga. Henrietta was born in 3002 - she holds the title of Princess Royal. Peter and his twin sister Gracie were both born in 3004 - Peter's title is the Duke of Sinacras, while Gracie will receive her titles upon her marriage. His youngest child, Prince Olaf, was born in 3012.