Eifionwy II ferch Idnerth
| Eifionwy II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Archduchess of Daesdain | |||||
| Reign | August 4, 2024 - | ||||
| Predecessor | Idnerth ap Celt | ||||
| Born | Eifionwy Siân Anwyn September 9, 2006 Neuadd Wen, Daesdain | ||||
| |||||
| Dynasty | Dirwen | ||||
| Father | Idnerth ap Celt | ||||
| Mother | Conwy ferch Serfil | ||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
Eifionwy II (Eifionwy Siân Anwyn; born September 9, 2006) is the Archduchess of Daesdain since 2024.
Eifionwy was born on September 9, 2006, as the daughter of heir apparent Idnerth ap Celt and Conwy ferch Serfil in Palas Gwyn, Neuadd Wen. Eifionwy was raised as a Catholic and attended Saint Siffre of Cenhadwr Academy. In 2017, Eifionwy became heiress presumptive following her father Idneth's accession to the throne. She became increasingly involved in the public sphere during her time at Central Amking University in Monsilva and helped begin the Ynys Môn Preservation Organization, a non-profit environmental activist group. Eifionwy graduated Amking University in 2024 with a degree in religious studies and foreign relations. Shortly after she made her first address to the Senedd, making a speech in support of the proposed Religious Traditions Act, put forth by Leader of the Opposition Siôn ap Llawfrodedd.
On August 4, 2024, archduke Idnerth suffered a major heart attack and died shortly after, leaving Eifionwy as the new archduchess. She was confirmed by the Senedd on August 5 and soon later made her first address as archduchess. During her short reign, Eifionwy has continued preparations for the 2024 Ostlandet Parliament election in Daesdain, scheduled for December 22, as well as the 2025 Senedd election. Eifionwy has worked largely against the Cynnydd Brawpobl-led government of Prime Minister Fflewyn Morgan, presenting herself in her own words as a "new Catholic democratic" (Daesdic: democrataidd Catholig newydd). Eifionwy's coronation is scheduled for December 15.
Early life
Eifionwy, neé Eifionwy Siân Anwyn, was born on September 9, 2006, in Saint Siffre the Healing Hospital in Neuadd Wen, Daesdain. She was born the eldest child of heir apparent to the archducal crown of Daesdain Idnerth ap Celt and his wife Conwy ferch Serfil. Her father was the eldest son of archduke Celt II ap Aelan and Cristyn ferch Awel, and her mother was the daughter of Serfil ap Cadgyffro, a longtime Aachducal advisor who had served as the National Standard Bearer since 1982. She was named Eifionwy after her ancestor Eifionwy I ferch Cynwrig who had served as the first female Daesdic head-of-state from 1851 to 1878. Eifionwy took her name Siân from her ancestor Siôn II ap Manogan, who had ruled from 1929 to 1947, and her name Anwyn from her great-grandaunt Anwyn ferch Dirwen.
Eifionwy began attending the Catholic all through-school, Saint Siffre of Cenhadwr Academy, in 2013. The choice was highly criticized by members of the Protestant left, who, according to spokesperson Gwmawdeaw Davies, believed the move would "skew [Eifionwy's] political and cultural views towards authoritarianism" (gwyro safbwyntiau gwleidyddol a diwylliannol Eifionwy tuag at awdurdodiaeth). These concerns were dismissed by Idnerth and the archducal family. While at Saint Siffre of Cenhadwr, Eifionwy show interest in a variety of subjects and became a large part of the school's religious studies program.
Heiress
In early September, 2017, Eifionwy's grandfather archduke Celt II fell ill while on a visit to Sconia. Celt returned to Daesdain where he was hospitalized in Saint Rhydwellt of Gwddf Afon Hospital. Eifionwy was among many members of the archducal family to be present at Celt's death on October 10 and later spoke briefly at his funeral. With his death, she became heiress presumptive through male-preference primogeniture.
As heiress presumptive, Eifionwy gained notoriety for her social media presence and her usage of online platforms to support various environmental preservation plans. Eifionwy's also became more politically active, publicly showing her support for Leader of the Opposition Siôn ap Llawfrodedd and his proposed Economic Reformation Initiative. In 2020, Eifionwy's mother, Conwy, suffered a miscarriage of a male child in the third trimester, meaning that Eifionwy herself narrowly avoided being supplanted in the line of succession. Shortly after, archduke Idnerth proposed a constitutional amendment which would replace the system of male-preference primogeniture with absolute primogeniture and would secure Eifionwy's succession. The amendment passed with bi-partisan support 198–21.
At just sixteen, Eifionwy graduated from Saint Siffre of Cenhadwr and announced her plans to attend Central Amking Univeristy (CAU) in Amking, Monsilva. She moved to Amking and began attending CAU in August, 2020. Eifionwy focused religious studies and foreign relations, working with professors Iago Zhen-yu, Gu Man and Gong Ming-si. While studying at the university, she also became involved in gathering support for the Ynys Môn Preservation Organization, a non-profit organization environmentalist group meant to ensure longterm sustainability in Daesdain. Eifionwy used social media and online platforms to collect a wellspring of support, largely from younger more active demographics.
On August 1, 2022, while on her first state tour to Paleocacher, Eifionwy was at a metro station in Chicajun near the Trenton Avenue Bridge when an armed assailant took control of the drawbridge and lower it on a passing ship. The attack was part of a larger set of attacks throughout the Ostlandet Union. Despite being urged not to, Eifionwy immediately cancelled the rest of her tour and returned to Daesdain where she addressed Daesdic National News in a two-hour interview. During the interview, Eifionwy condemned OUSkeptics and declared her full support of the Cherzian rebels in Ajakanistan. The appearance received widespread reviews and quickly became viral on TuVu. Eifionwy received praise from OU advocates including Ernest Pyle, who declared in a Twitter post that "[Eifionwy] said what needed to be said" (Cantuath: Dúirt Eifionwy cad ba ghá a rá). However it was criticized by members of the archducal family and forced Eifionwy to travel under heavy security, for fear of attack from Ajaki nationalists.
On May 25, 2024, Eifionwy graduated CAU with a degree in religious studies and foreign affairs. Shortly after, she returned to Daesdain and spent time in Cenhadwr with the Sisters of Saint Elisedd. Eifionwy later spent several weeks as a volunteer with the Daesdic Armed Forces, observing the 505th Aircraft Squadron and meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Prydwen Williams. On July 15, she was invited by archduke Idnerth to address the Senedd on the proposed Religious Traditions Act put forth by the Free Liberal Party. The bill would restore the tax exempt status of Catholic churches and secure a government subsidy to maintain historic religious buildings and institutions. Eifionwy's address helped garner support from the majority Cynnydd Brawpobl and helped the bill narrowly pass 115–104. Prime Minister Fflewyn Morgan, who had opposed the bill, praised Eifionwy's public speaking, saying that she "skillfully appealed to both sides of the Senedd and used her own voice to gather support, not that of her father" (apeliodd yn fedrus at ddwy ochr y Senedd a defnyddio ei llais ei hun i gasglu cefnogaeth, nid llais ei thad).
Reign
Accession and coronation
On the night of August 3, while in Barf y Llew, archduke Idnerth suffered a heart attack and was quickly rushed to the hospital. Officials quickly notified Eifionwy, who was staying at Iorwerth Castle in Porthladd Brân, and she immediately boarded a plane to Barf y Llew National Airport. While she was in transit, archduke Idnerth was pronounced dead at Barf y Llew Emergency Hospital at 22:14 DAET. Eifionwy was proclaimed archduchess at 22:34 while in transit. On the morning of August 5, Eifionwy released an official statement to the public announcing her accession and declaring two weeks of national mourning for her father. Prime Minister Morgan made an official address to the Senedd later that day declaring his full support for Eifionwy and urging the Senedd to "confirm [Eifionwy] together in a show of unity in this time of mourning" (cadarnhewch Eifionwy gyda'ch gilydd mewn sioe o undod yn yr amser hwn o alar). The Senedd confirmed Eifionwy as archduchess 217–2, with the two dissenting votes coming from the Protestant Labor Rights Party.
On August 20, after the end of the two weeks of national mourning, Eifionwy convened the Senedd for the first time in her reign. She addressed the Senedd and promised that she would "continue to uphold the sacred traditions, protect our faith and homeland, and help lead Daesdain to an era of peace and prosperity" (parhau i gynnal y traddodiadau sanctaidd, amddiffyn ein ffydd a’n mamwlad, a helpu i arwain Brawpobl i gyfnod o heddwch a ffyniant). The Senedd then held a vote to confirm Eifionwy in her position as Presiding Archduchess of the Senedd, which passed 218–1.
Eifionwy's coronation is scheduled for December 15, 2024, a week prior to the OU Parliament election. Over 50 foreign dignitaries from over 20 different nations have officially announced plans to attend. The coronation is estimate to cost around ₵150 million and will be the largest coronation in Daesdic history, outpacing the coronation of Idnerth by over ₵75 million. The coronation will be held at Palas Gwyn in Neuadd Wen and will be presided over by Cardinal Pybyr ap Iâl.
Politics
Outside analysts largely described Eifionwy as a "new wave Catholic" (Catholig don newydd) at her accession, and she quickly moved to reinforce these notions by proposing an expansion to government subsidies to religious institutions. However Prime Minister Morgan and Cynnydd Brawpobl opposed the motion and it was shot down in the Senedd 134–85. Eifionwy made her first foreign policy move on October 2, dismissing both members of the Daesdic delegation to the Council of Ostlandet and nominating Wddyn ap Mordaf and Dystarian Davies, who were confirmed 124–95 and 154–65 respectively.
As archduchess, Eifionwy has taken a much more active role in politics than her predecessors. She has been present at each session of the Senedd since her accession and has actively participated as presider. However she and her leadership style have been critiqued for their partisanship by many members of the Senedd and by Prime Minister Morgan. Eifionwy has largely presented herself as centrist and has largely supported motions put for by Leader of the Opposition Siôn ap Llawfrodedd.
On November 28, Eifionwy made her most unexpected action by vetoing a proposed redistricting which had passed the Senedd 123–96 behind a push from majority Cynnydd Brawpobl. It was only the second time that any Daesdic sovereign had vetoed a motion which had passed the Senedd since the establishment of the 1956 constitution, the first being by Aelan II ap Manogan in 1988. The veto caused an uproar in the Senedd and Prime Minister Morgan immediately announced his intention to appeal to the National Court. The redistricting would have greatly benefitted Cynnydd Brawpobl which had greatly struggled previously with the large lack of proportionality in the Senedd[note 1]. Morgan has openly declared the move to be unconstitutional and announced plans to remove the veto clause from the constitution.
Personal life
Public image
Titles, styles, honors, and arms
Titles and styles
Upon her accession on August 4, 2024, Eifionwy was styled as Her Archducal Majesty, Archduchess Eifionwy II ferch Idnerth of Daesdain and the Daesdic peoples, Defender of the Faith, and Protectress of the Traditions and Beliefs. Eifionwy will be officially given a personal title on her coronation.
Arms
Notes
- ↑ In the 2022 Senedd election, Cynnydd Brawpobl won 64.8% of the popular vote but only 51.1% of the seats in the Senedd, while the Free Liberal won only 23.5% of the popular vote but won 41.5% of all seats, making it the least proportional election in Daesdic history.