List of Cryrian Royal Residences
Cryrian Royal Residences are palaces, castles, and houses used for official purposes by the House of Leidensen. All of them are owned by the Drifting Throne, and property held personally by members of the House or properties not used for official duties are not considered to be royal residences. Similarly, some palaces such as Karsholm Palace are owned through the Crown Estate and are used to either house various government offices or are made open to the public. These locations are similarly not considered to be royal residences, as no royals reside at them.
Royal residences enjoy various legal privileges and immunities. Search warrants and other judicial processes, for instance, cannot be executed on royal residences, and similar protections apply to the air and watercraft of the Cryrian Royal Flotilla. Active royal residences are generally closed to the public, although they are often used to host various events and dignitaries.
The House of Leidensen encompasses nearly 15,000 recognized members and is closely entwined with nearly every aristocratic family in Cryria. Most of the House's political power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of the sitting monarch who normally only resides at Tvillingblom Palace and Leidenstad Castle on a regular basis. The many other residences are thus generally granted to other occupants, typically close members of the royal family.
Royal residences are cared for and maintained by the Properties Division of the Household Ministry. The funding for the residences is often murky - While they are officially funded as the private property of the House of Leidensen, residences are able to make use of government resources via the Household Ministry, and they enjoy an immunity from property taxes. Additionally, as sites of historic importance they are also able to draw various forms of support from the Historic Commission.
Residences in Leidenstad
Ulricehall
Ulricehall is an estate located in the suburbs of Leidenstad. It was built in 1757 as a private residence by Countess Ulrice of Verventis, who later married King Segol II. Ulricehall became a center for Cryrian high society throughout their reign. Unlike many previous and subsequent royal couples, Sego and Ulrice spent much of their time in Leidenstad rather than at Tvillingblom. While they resided at Karsholm Palace, Ulricehall offered a low-profile location for informal gatherings. The Queen's fondness for festivities made the estate infamous for the often raucous celebrations held there, and Ulricehall was associated with several aristocratic scandals throughout this period. The estate also reputedly was home to one of the most extensive wine cellars in the Kingdom after the House of Leidensen's personal collection was moved there.
Ulricehall remained with the House of Leidensen after the Queen's passing. Ever since Karsholm Palace was granted as a headquarters for the Cryrian government in 1865, Ulricehall has been the primary royal residence to remain in the capital city. It is typically used by Cryrian monarchs while visiting Leidenstad.
Älemsi Gardens
The Älemsi Gardens are located in central Leidenstad. They were originally build in 1800 by Mikael Tynam after his marriage to Queen Marina. Mikael had previously spent many years leading Cryrian expeditions in Älemsi, and he personally designed the Gardens with a clear Älemsi influence. The Gardens ultimately bore only a limited resemblance to the typical Älemsi architecture at the time and instead became a deliberate display of exoticness in the heart of Leidenstad. Its interior was richly furnished with luxury items imported from the Älemsi Khaganate, and the Gardens inspired a new architectural style among a Cryrian aristocracy which had grown increasingly taken with Älemsi's status as a strange and mysterious land. The Gardens were rarely used as an actual residence but often hosted gatherings and events by the Cryrian Overseas Society which promoted the continuation and expansion of Cryrian imperialism abroad. This legacy has made the Älemsi Gardens one of the most controversial royal properties still in use, and it remains a symbol of Cryria's imperial past. During the Leidenstad Riots of 2002, unknown assailants threw incendiaries into the Gardens, starting a small and ultimately harmless fire that was quickly extinguished.
In addition to its main palatial complex, the Älemsi Gardens are home to two separate residential houses, both of which are built in the same style.
Kalassa House
Kalassa House is a smaller country estate located just outside Leidenstad. It was originally built in 1760 by Queen Ulrice to house stables and caretakers for her equestrian hobbies. Kalassa House has since undergone several renovations and is now mostly used as a discreet residential property. It was briefly thrust into the spotlight during the 1957 White November Crisis when high level Tomorrow Ministry officials were detained in there in seclusion while awaiting trial.
Kamburn Royal Estate
Leidenstad Castle
Tvillingblom Palace
Tvillingblom Palace was first commissioned in 1553 by Queen Evelina as an island estate in Lake Lasi. It was generally used as a getaway for various Leidensen monarchs until Queen Leonora extensively rebuilt and expanded the location. Cryria had previously maintained a tradition of an itinerant court that was based in Karsholm Palace but spent much of its time travelling the realm. Leonora now sought to permanently settle the court in one location, and selected Tvillingblom for this purpose. The Palace had the advantage of a well-protected location that lay upon an important transportation route, and it was relatively close to Leidenstad while still being beyond the reach of potential urban volatility. Tvillingblom was a demonstration of wealth and power and it became a symbol of Cryria's Absolute Era. Today, it continues to be the most important royal palace in the Kingdom. It has been the primary residence for almost every monarch since Leonora and it is home to the Drifting Throne.
Three separate country houses are also located on lakeside estates near Tvillingblom.
Vadkenes Hunting Lodge
Vadkenes is a hunting lodge located just outside the Kankaanvesi Forest that has been in continuous use since the 12th century. In 1735, the original wooden structure was torn down to erect a more modern building in its place at the orders of King Helge. Vadkenes was not initially meant to be used as a long-term home, but rather as a banquet hall for royal festivities and a base for hunting expeditions into the surrounding forest.
Today, hunts are no longer held in the Kankaanvesi, and Vadkenes is instead used for other events and festivities. In 2003, Vadkenes was used to hold preliminary discussions between Astelan and Celanoran diplomats. These negotiations would later culminate in the Treaty of Talvere, which normalized relations between the two countries. Since 2020, Vadkenes has also been designated as the hosting site for the annual Cryrian National Climate Conference at the invitation of Queen Ulrika II.
Residences on Talvere
Cesmiera Castle
Cesmiera Castle is the main royal residence on Talvere. It was built centuries before the Cryrian migrations by the ruling House of Talva. The castle was the main center of power in the Kingdom of Talvere, and it came into Leidensen possession following the Union of Two Roses which brought Vesterholm and Talvere together with the marriage of Prince Karsten and Princess Lielsta. The Castle was at the time considered to be by far the most impressive Leidensen possession. It was later destroyed in the Burning of Talvere during the Sorrows along with its legendary gardens, and the remaining non-Leidensen branches of the House of Talva were executed at the Court of Quarters.
A new structure was later commissioned by Queen Evelina in 1540 in order to symbolize the strengthening of royal authority on Talvere. Though the gardens were never recreated and much of the castle's grounds were taken over by the growing city, the new Cesmiera Castle retained many Talveri architectural styles. Renovations in the 18th century saw Cesmiera progress towards a grander and more palatial appearance, and today it is both the oldest and one of the largest royal residences in Cryria.
Queen Leonora's House
Queen Leonora's House is a royal residence located on the Valngi Peninsula. It was commissioned by King Albert for his wife, Leonora. Queen Leonora was originally from the Duchy of Charlottesborg in Volscina, and had soon grown fond of Valngi for both its familiar Volscine-influenced culture and its relatively pleasant climate compared to that of Leidenstad. Thus, in 1873 Albert ordered the construction of a large country estate for her north of the city, located on 20,000 acres of land in the area already owned by the royal family. The house itself followed a clear Talveri inspiration, and later became known as Queen Leonora's House. An old 19th-century hunting lodge located on the grounds was also renovated at the same time.
In the 21st century, the estate's sprawling lands were used to help house refugees fleeing the Volscine Civil War, although it is reported that King Ludvig had been initially resistant to the idea.
Other Residences
Red Palace of Vesterholm
The original Red Palace of Vesterholm was built centuries before the Cryrians arrived in the Isles, and was a seat of power for the House of Vesta which ruled over the island and much of its surrounding territories. After Magnus' ascension to the throne of Vesterholm by marriage, the Red Palace became the primary home for the newly established House of Leidensen. The Palace was later completely destroyed in 1041 by the Vhydaszi during the Flaying of Vesterholm, and the House of Leidensen was forced to flee to their distant outpost at Leidenstad. The reconstruction of the Red Palace did not begin until almost 25 years later at the conclusion of the Vhydaszi Wars. Despite its rebuilding, the House of Leidensen would never settle in the Red Palace again. Karsholm instead became the royal family's main home, and as the Kingdom grew the practice of maintaining an itinerant court meant that no one location would permanently host the Throne again for centuries.
The Palace was again renovated beginning in 1540, but it has always retained elements of its original Talveri architecture, most notably its characteristic rounded domes. Two smaller residential houses owned by the House of Leidensen are also located on the palace grounds.
Nederborg
The castle of Nederborg is the oldest Cryrian-built fortress in the Kingdom. Its construction began when the Cryrians first arrived on the island of Nederborg in the eighth century. It was used both for defense and as a gathering spot for the various Cryrian clans. The castle was the site of the Great Wardings of Nederborg, where the Cryrians elected a new leader upon the passing of their predecessor. The winner of this vote was given control of the castle for the duration of their reign, and other Cryrian families would ceremonially give up one of their children as wards to both be educated in Nederborg and to also serve as hostages.
After the Last Warding of Nederborg, the castle became a permanent possession of the House of Leidensen, and it holds an immense historical and cultural value for the Cryrian royal family. Beneath Nederborg lies the Leidensen family crypt which holds ashes going all the way back to King Magnus himself, and Nederborg is still home to some of the earliest Cryrian artifacts. Nederborg legendarily was never taken by the Vhydaszi during their invasion, and though the castle has been changed through renovations and expansions over the centuries, much it remains the same since the 12th century.
Lindesgaard Ducal Palace
The Lindesgaard Ducal Palace is the royal residence in the Duchy of Lindesgaard. Traditionally the title of Duke or Duchess of Lindesgaard is bestowed upon the heir to the Drifting Throne. This practice originated because Lindesgaard sits upon the vital straits leading into the Cryrian heartland and controlling the Duchy grants a prospective heir both a power base with which to protect their claim, and a demonstration of confidence from the Drifting Throne. Thus, the Ducal Palace has historically also been held by the Crown Prince or Princess.
However, as the appointed rulers of Lindesgaard often still spent much of their time with the travelling court, it was centuries before any official royal residence was built in the Duchy, and visiting royals typically made use of Gammelgård Castle. In 1720, the House of Leidensen purchased land from the city of Lindesgaard to establish a permanent residence, and constructed the Ducal Palace there.
Karlin Castle
Karlin Castle was built in the late 13th century by the House of Karlinsen, which would later go on to be the primary supporter of Queen Charlotte during the Sorrows. Karlin Castle itself hosted Charlotte's court throughout the conflict. It would later become the place of her death as well when the Duke of Tynam betrayed Charlotte's cause and stormed Karlin. After Charlotte's defeat, Duchess Caroline Karlinsen vanished, and was presumed to have either been murdered by her own mutinying commanders or else gone into hiding. The remaining members of the House of Karlinsen were executed at the Court of Quarters, and titles to the Duchy of Karlin were now seized by the House of Leidensen along with Karlin Castle. The Castle continues to serve as the main royal residence in the Duchy, and it is also the northernmost royal residence today.
Sabilaine House
Sabilaine House was built in 1954 at a time when recreational skiing was becoming increasingly popular within the Cryrian upper class. Sabilaine is located in the highlands near the city of Lielsta and effectively operates as a private ski resort for the royal family. It remains the only royal residence in Lielsta March.
In 1956 it became the site of an infamous but unconfirmed physical altercation between Prince Stefan and the increasingly powerful Tomorrow Minister Ferdinand Hoffman after the latter reportedly threatened the royal family. The fight was reportedly witnessed by one of Hoffman's assistants, but neither Hoffman nor any members of the royal entourage ever confirmed the story. If true, the events described would have taken place concurrently with rising tensions between the Ministry and the Drifting Throne, and may have been a contributing factor to the subsequent White November Crisis.
Lyseborg
Lyseborg is a mock castle built in 1900 outside the city of Aisis. It was commissioned as a wedding gift by Queen Katharine to her brother, Prince Torben. The latter had moved to Aisis after becoming engaged to Maren Høyer, the daughter of a wealthy whaling family. Lyseborg was designed to mimic a classical fairy-tale castle, and was as much a gift as it was an inside joke - Katharine had found her brother's efforts at romance to be quite amusing, and reportedly remarked that "Such a melodramatic couple are deserving of a melodramatic home."
Torben would ultimately spend little time at Lyseborg, as at the Queen's request he returned to his officer's commission with the Royal Guard at the outset of the Great War. Maren died of pneumonia during the Black Winter of 1917, and the Prince returned the property to the Drifting Throne in his will.
Kotochaiv House
Kotochaiv House is the only royal residence outside the Kingdom. The house is located in the Cryrian Mandate of Ellesborg, and for all intents and purposes functions similarly to residences within the Kingdom. Kotochaiv House was built in 1865 by the Ellesborg Mining Cooperative and gifted to King Albert for his coronation. It was generally understood that the newly crowned King was greatly disinterested in continuing the distant colonial effort in Arcturia, and it was hoped that the establishment of an official residence in Ellesborg would ensure that the Drifting Throne would at least continue to provide a veneer of diplomatic cover for the EMC's continued presence there. King Albert would indeed elect against entirely dismantling the Mandate, and Ellesborg was allowed to continue operating under the aegis of the Cryrian Kingdom.