Talk:Julia II of Illyricum
Early Life
Julia II (Full Name: Julia Claudia Maxima), was born the daughter of King Julius VIII of Illyricum in the city of Illyricus in 1539 AD. Julia was the only child of Julius VIII until 1544 when her sister, Princess Juliana was born. Julia and Juliana shared a deep bond as sisters and both spent hours together daily. However in 1555, while on campaign near Turis, Julius VIII fell ill and died.
War of Succession and Reign as Queen of Illyricum
Immediately after the death of Julius VIII a succession crisis began, as Julius VIII had no male heir. After Severus Adrianus Maximus, Duke of Secundia, laid claim to the throne, Patriarch Cornelius Pius advised Julia to lay claim to the throne. Cornelius Pius advised her to do this because Severus was known to be rabidly anti Catholic, and the Church did not want an anti Catholic to be King of Illyricum. Cornelius Pius crowned Julia as Queen of Illyricum in a royal coronation on June 6, 1555. Julia was just 16 years old at the time of her coronation and most of the true power lay with Patriach Cornelius Pius, who arranged a marriage between Julia and Duke Alexus Marcius Lunus of Illyricus in order to gain favor amongst the nobility of Illyricus. Julia and Alexus married on July 23, Julia was 16, Alexus was 27. On September 10, Severus was crowned by nobles in Secundia, which made Cornelius Pius demand to Julia that they go war against Severus. According to the journal of her sister, Princess Juliana, Julia did not want to go to war with Severus, however eventually after almost a month, Julia declared war on Severus on October 5, 1555. Julia appointed Cornelius Pius to lead her armies into battle, while Julia stayed in Illyricus, pregnant with twins. For months the war raged in the outer provinces, but little was spoken of the war in Illyricus, which was a peaceful town under Julia's rule. For two years Julia did little as Queen of Illyricum, as there was little to be done, and other than the occasion return of troops from the front, little was heard of the war. However in December of 1557, after a major defeat at the Battle of Hadrianicum, Julia was forced to seek military aid from _______ (TBD). Julia spent two months negotiating a treaty with _____ (TBD) and the Treaty of _____ (TBD) was signed on April 3, 1558. Bolstered by the ______ (TBD) reinforcements, Julia's forces drove back Severus' armies. The war continued like this, both armies pushing back and forth without any real gains, for three years, until the summer of 1561. During that hot summer, Julia's forces where defeat repeatedly by Severus and eventually they surrendered at Armorolaus on July 19, 1561. Severus' forces pushed towards Illyricus for ten days, before surrounding the city on August 1. After two days being besieged, Julia surrendered, ending the war. Julia and Severus negotiated a treaty for several months before the Treaty of Illyricus was officially signed on December 16, 1561. The major stipulations of the treaty were that Julia abdicates in favor of Severus, Catholicism would not be the official religion of the kingdom, and finally that Julia divorce Duke Alexus (Who was executed two months later) and marry Severus.
