Katherine Avington (Galia)

Grand Duchess Kathrine Avington is the head of house and most prominent member of the Galian House Avington, one of Galia's 16 Great Houses. One of few women in such a prominent position in Imperial politics, she has become an immensely controversial figure in the more conservative circles of the Empire, and has led the unusual, and greatly unexpected realignment of House Avington into the reformers sphere of Imperial Politics.

Early Life
Katherine was born September 19th, 3081 (1040/151 UST) to the Grand Duke of Lineria Michael Avington, and Emilia Spencer of House Seaton). Katherine grew up on her family's estate on Juno immersed deep in the richest luxuries of the Empire. Her father Michael held the title of Grand Duke of Lineria, which had become the family's primary title in the period of liberalization following the Antonine Tyranny. As the eldest of six siblings Katherine's father made it clear to her from a very early age that she was his chosen heir and would inherit the Grand Duchy rather than her younger brother Peter.

Education
While the members of House Avington have long subscribed to a brand of Epicureanism that has often isolated them from political life in Galia, or even brought them into conflict with it, the family Head of Household has always been responsible for the stewardship of the family in both politics and finances. Katherine was selected by her father because he saw a keen wit, and naturally calm demeanor unusual to the household, one which could prove invaluable to guiding one of the great houses of the Empire.

From an early age Katherine was educated in the arts and sciences, as well as in diplomacy, politics, philosophy, finance, and psychology. In particular Katherine excelled in the areas of negotiation, rhetoric, and fencing. She received special attention from tutors from the Rose Circle, and the Imperial Combat Society. Having excelled in her education, Katherine was gradually given increased responsibilities, including shadowing her father's work and even assisting in the day to day operations of many family businesses and land holdings before she even graduated high school. At the age of 18 Katherine was enrolled in the Imperial Academy at Izuna for a double course in Military Science, and Diplomacy.

Adulthood
Following her graduation Katherine joined the Admiralty and was accepted into Admiralty Military Intelligence where she quickly rose in rank, eventually earning a seat on AMI's central board and attaining the rank of Lord-Commodore. Though much of her tenure in AMI remains shrouded in mystery she eventually retired from the Admiralty in 3121, receiving the Emperor's Cross, and Admiralty Stripe with merit for her service. For the following years prior to her accession to the Grand Duchy of Lineria she joined the Imperial Diplomatic Service and was appointed as chief Attaché to the Orran League. During her time in the Diplomatic Service Katherine spent half the year working directly with Chancellor Ax. Mathias Corwin from Akari in the Empire, and half in Syracuse meeting with various elected officials and patricians across the seven leagues.

Having taken a liking to the sword from a very early age, Katherine quickly gained renown as a skilled fencer and duelist across the Empire. While Women in the Empire suffer substantial discrimination and are generally looked down upon in martial orders, Katherine was able to enter the Imperial Combat Society as a fellow with little trouble, largely thanks to her rank and connections in the organization. From the ages of nineteen to thirty-six Katherine would hold a 19-3 record in rapier duels, 3-0 in saber duels, but declined when challenged with pistols. Katherine gained some degree of celebrity during this period, and several of her duels were televised across the Empire, and even into Terra and the Republic.

Reign (3130-Present)
On the night of December 19th, 3129 the Grand Duke Lineria was assassinated by a junior vassal, one Severo Castelli Count of Claudia. Gx. Michael had arranged a small private dinner for his direct vassals, a regular event which occurred monthly. Generally such events are common amongst the nobles of House Avington, and are used both as an opportunity to forge closer bonds between vassals as much as they are used simply as an excuse to hold an expensive and gaudy ceremony. During the reception party Severo approach Gx. Michael to discuss a matter that had come to concern him, namely that he had incurred a massive gambling debt recently which was paid in full by House Avington. Gx. Michael was quickly growing tired of Severo's delays and began to apply pressure seeking the repayment of the debts. Before the Grand Duke could respond Severo drew a pistol and fired five times before being shot himself by House Avington's Noble Guard. The Grand Duke was announced deceased an hour later, UST 1091/77 03:22:00

Accession and coronation
Following the assassination of Grand Duke Michael chaos enveloped the Avington manor on Juno as family members of servants alike struggled to come to grips with what had just happened. First the guests who were present were ordered to stay behind for inspection and interview from the familial guard, then later Capital Police once they had arrived to the scene. During this time the Duchess Consort Emilia Spencer prepared a public statement on behalf of the family to be released the following morning. By midnight the court in Junica were informed of the Grand Duke's passing. The Duke had kept his will, regalia, and documents detailing his intentions for succession in a vault in Junica which was opened hours before the announcement of his death. Fifteen hours after the announcement of his death now acting Duchess Regent Emilia read out her late husband's will, including its declaration of Katherine has his heir. On Juno this declaration was hailed with acclaim, but beyond the lands loyal to House Avington, then ascension of a woman to such a prominent role as Grand Duke shocked the Empire.

The news would arrive to Katherine just under one week later, just as she was preparing to depart from Akari to the Orran League for another six-month diplomatic service. Immediately making way to Juno joined by a small escort provided by Chancellor Ax. Corwin she would arrive to Juno on the night of December 31st. Katherine ascended to the throne during her Coronation on January 1st 3130 at the age of 48. For the day following celebrations were held across the Lineria system, which Katherine extended to last for a full week. Following her coronation Katherine would enter the history books as the first Grand Duchess in recent memory.

Political consolidation
Among her first acts as Grand Duchess Katherine began to reconsolidate her families holdings in Lineria, first by leveraging her close relationship with Chancellor Ax. Mathias Corwin to ensure the transfer of the County of Claudia from the now former Count Castelli to Robert Abazac, member of a cadet house of House Rigal, who Katherine had worked closely with during her time in the Chancellery. Additionally Katherine ensured the loyalty of her immediate vassals by forgiving interest on all loans issued by her family to vassals. Though this had the immediate effect of weakening the family coffers, it also headed off any possibility of dissent amongst her lower vassals during the nascent years of her reign. In addition to this, Katherine arranged for a meeting with her maternal uncle Gx. Andrew Spencer, Grand Duke of Grazac and head of House Seaton. Katherine negotiated a deal from Gx. Spencer in which House Seaton and House Avington would enter into a political and financial alliance, with House Seaton providing warships (particularly around a dozen Aosect Light Cruisers) and a personal body guard for Grand Duchess Katherine, while House Avington would provide processed metals for House Seaton.

By the end of her first year as Grand Duchess Katherine had managed to secure her position as Grand Duchess by ensuring the placement of a loyal subordinate in the County of Claudia, and through brokering an alliance with her relatives in House Seaton, however as the reality of her sudden coronation set in and the initial optimism began to fade it became increasingly apparent these precautionary measures were not only warranted, but necessary to maintain control of her Grand Duchy. Conflicts with her immediate family, especially her brother Peter, estranged from the title which would typically have been his, conflicts with the conservative Chancellery, and looming financial troubles would spell a turbulent few years for the fledgling Duchess.

Realignment
In the years following her alliance with House Spencer, Katherine grew increasingly distant from the Chancellery, with Chancellor Ax. Corwin himself feeling especially troubled by the growing network of informal alliances and familial ties being forged by the scheming Gx. Andrew Spencer. Having now placed herself in the bad graces of the Chancellery, Katherine found navigating the highest levels of the Imperial Bureaucracy increasingly challenging, with bureaucrats of all levels distancing themselves from House Avington for fear of being associated with an enemy of the Chancellor. What limited attempts Katherine made to ease tensions between House Avington and House Akari were quickly stymied by internal issues however, as the inner court of Lineria had been swept away by turbulent rumors and minor schemes against the Grand Duchess.

Katherine rightly suspected the origin of the rumors to be her brother, Peter, who had long been embittered by her father's favoritism for Katherine over his own son. Though she was the eldest child it is customary for the eldest male to inherit, and while a noble is free to choose their own successor at will variation from this standard is extremely unusual, especially in favor of a female heir. While the court of House Avington trended more liberal than the Imperial median, such a radical departure from cultural norms made Katherine a lightning rod for gossip even amongst her own courtiers with wild rumors regarding her personality, integrity, and sexual promiscuity -- all predominantly false -- raging rampant.

Knowing there was little she could do to stymie the naturally gossip-prone nature of her court, Katherine instead chose to bury herself in the matters of righting the family finances, enforcing a strict financial regime on the family, specifically prohibiting the unnecessary expansion of family gardens, palatial holdings, and placing a cap on luxury expenses per person. While House Avington's budget was still trending downward these actions were able to largely stabilize the family's dwindling coffers, albeit at the cost of much goodwill from within her own house. In the end, Katherine understood her own family better than any outsider could. House Avington's membership had always sought to live the easy life, and had grown infamous for their splendor and socialite attitude, and to clamp down too hard on that inherent nature would risk the alienation of her own family. In order to secure her future as the Grand Duchess of Lineria, she would need to ensure the continued stability of her finances, while allowing her family the freedom to live as spendthrifts under her own dime.

Marriage and alliance
Though Katherine had largely clamped down on the Avington's many raucous parties that didn't mean they had stopped completely, and for the sake of maintaining familial relations she attended many of the larger events. It was during one such celebration (Dedicated to no event of particular import) that an unexpected opportunity presented herself to Katherine. One of the nobles in attendance was Marchioness Marina Rigal, the Marchioness of the Osulara Imperial Shipyards, one of the most prominent military postings in the Empire. Both Katherine and Marina enjoyed one another's company during the party and quickly after a romance blossomed. Though initially the two dated in secret it wasn't long before the gossip prone court of Lineria, and equally so the media on Izuna caught wind of their relationship -- which quickly became front page news.

The two's relationship quickly become a hot topic in the media, as the vast majority of Imperial nobles are subject to political or arranged marriage, it is quite rare for two nobles of such prominence to naturally fall for one another. After a couple years in the spotlight, Katherine and Marina publicly announced their engagement to the Media. The following week Katherine met with Marina's father Gx. Ellis Rigal, head of House Rigal and Duke of Chutov. House Avington and House Rigal would enter into an informal alliance by marriage, with House Rigal providing a substantial dowry to House Avington to accommodate the difference in rank between Marina and Katherine. This dowry would help stabilize House Avington's financial situation in the near term, and help further solidify the relationship between House Rigal and Avington.

Marina and Katherine were officially married the following year in a formal ceremony attended by nobles predominantly from the reform faction of the Empire, with the most notable guest in attendance being the Crown-Princess Teresa Abiret. With her marriage, and subsequent alliance with House Rigal, House Avington officially completed its transition into the Imperial Reform faction, and was able to stabilize itself for the near term, however with ever present internal tensions with her brother, and the growing uncertainty in the Empire during the Imperial Succession crisis Katherine has still yet to totally solidify her rule over Lineria.

Relationships
Through a long and successful career Katherine has forged connections with a large number of important figures across the Empire, and has an impressive network of friends, allies, and clients even by Imperial standards.

Awards, Citations, and Honors
Emperor's Cross

Admiralty Stripe with Merit