Virginia Carroll

Virginia Carroll is widely acknowledged to be the greatest resident of the Whirlpool Throne since Maj Thovold.

Virginia had a quiet and relatively normal childhood. She was a particular favorite of Anna Leonov, who was technically her grandmother. In a break with tradition, Virginia's education took place in "ordinary" schools, rather than through private tutors in the Palace. Of course, her classmates were mostly the children of various Idara. In school, Virginia was a fairly popular and made many friends.

Virginia took and passed her adulthood tests in 367, when she was 16. She immediately entered a group marriage with Mark Löwenger, Leo Castiligoni, Merisa Jakobbsen, and Monica d'Herelle. In 368, her son Yosef Löwenger was born, followed by Yenise Löwenger in 372 and Henry Castiligoni in 375.

Beginning about 370-371, Virginia took an active role in Lura Carroll's administration. Prior to this, Virginia had undergone the customary training for an Imperial Heir -- now Lura followed the precedent established by Alak Leonov and encouraged Virginia to work with her as a sort of "on-the-job training." Virginia accompanied Lura on several tours of the Empire, and herself made some highly-publicized visits to the war fronts.

This training proved invaluable when Lura died suddenly on 22 February 375. Virginia was able to take command of the Empire immediately, and her succession met no opposition in the Imperial Council.

In a break with tradition, Virginia insisted on the archaic title "Empress" instead of "Emperor."

As Empress, Virginia combined her mother's strength and singleness of purpose with her own easy, outgoing nature, and managed to charm the Empire while ruling effectively. Her Mark Löwenger and his brother, Karl -- both high-ranking Naval officers -- were among her most trusted advisors. Leo Castiligoni, who occupied the Imperial Council seat of the Bank of Luna and had an easy relationship with other mercantile leaders, was another effective advisor. And her Monica d'Herelle, an historian with the Kinshasa University, brought input from the academic community. Virginia also retained a good relationship with religious leaders, most especially the Sisterhood of Meletia.

With all three of her children, Virginia followed her mother's formula -- public education coupled with day-to-day experience at the actual job of being Empress. Yosef was accompanying Virginia on state business as early as age 10 (TE 378), and Yenise was not far behind.

In 381, amid a worsening war situation, Virginia faced the greatest challenge to any Emperor in the Empire's history: on 26 August forces of the Patalanian Union attacked Terra and sacked the planet. Faced with an overwhelming enemy force and the imminent danger of capture, Virginia (upon recommendation of TERRAD) moved the Imperial Capital to Laxus. Although Terra fell to the invaders, the Empire was preserved.

Over the next few years Patalanian forces continued to strike in the Sol Province (which was renamed Laxus Province) -- notably, in 383, an attack on Laxus itself was repelled, and the Patalanian forces finally broken.

On 3 August 384, a Navy vessel carrying the Empress was attacked while on transit to Borshall; the ship was destroyed and all hands lost -- including Virginia Carroll. For the first time, a monarch had died in battle -- public reaction was enormous, as the entire Empire went into mourning for a period of tendays.

Virginia was succeeded by her son, Yosef Löwenger.