Ariella I of Furstán-Festil

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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Ariella I Furstána-Festila was the sister of King Imre of Gwynedd. After her brother was deposed by the Haldane Restoration, Ariella became the first Festillic Pretender, proclaiming herself Titular Queen of Gwynedd and attempting to regain her brother's lost throne.


Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Ariella Festila Nimura Furstána-Festila was born on October 9, 875, the second daughter and fourth child of King Blaine of Gwynedd and his wife, Pasqualetta di Barbarico di Torenti. Ambitious and hungry for power from an early age, she furiously objected when her father arranged her engagement to Baron Aleksander d'Zenevis, fearing that any marriage would reduce her status from a royal princess to that of a mere noble's wife. After her father died in 900, she convinced her brother, King Imre, to renounce the proposed union. Ariella remained close to Imre throughout his reign, using her proximity to the throne to increase her political power. She eventually entered into an incestuous relationship with her brother, which lasted throughout the final year of his reign. When the Haldane Restoration deposed Imre and led to his death, Ariella fled to Torenth and declared herself Queen of Gwynedd. She gave birth to her brother's son in January of 905, and quickly had him legitimized by her cousin, King Nimur I of Torenth. Using troops provided by her Torenthi relatives, she invaded Gwynedd in June of 905, intending to retake her brother's throne. Her army met the Haldane forces at the plain of Iomaire, and was subsequently defeated by the Gwyneddan army. Ariella was killed while attempting to flee the battle, slain in personal combat by Father Alister Cullen, the Vicar-General of the Michaelines. Princess Ariella Furstána-Festila died on June 25, 905, at the age of 29. She was succeeded by her son, Prince Marek, as the Festillic heir to the throne of Gwynedd.


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Preceded by:
None		 The Festillic Pretender
904 - 905		 Succeeded by:
Marek I Furstán-Festil
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