Leopold I d'Ulsino, His Triumphant Majesty, the King of Ulsino

Leopold Brutus I d'Ulsino was the ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Ulsino and central in aligning the Kingdom of Ulsino with the Second Altian Republic. The son of Alexander IV, Leopold would not be groomed for the Ulsinian throne. Rather, his place in Ulsino's line of succession would only arise as a result of the death of his older brother, Albert III in 352. Alexander's reign, while relatively brief, would see major changes to Ulsinian policy. Previously an insular, reactionary bastion of conservatism, Leopold would set the Kingdom of Ulsino on a path of renewed engagement with its neighbors, ending the war as a major victor. Still, Leopold would not survive to see the day and in 365 would be killed in action near Chauvet-sur-Mer. Documents later siezed by Republican forces would indicate a deliberate assassination orchestrated by the Patrician Famiglia Ducale in a frantic attempt to enstate a new leader who might switch sides. In any case, Leopold, whose popularity would soar during the war years, would be succeeded by his wife - the Etrurian princess, Louise Anna Maria della Rovere.

Early Life and Education
Leopold Brutus d'Ulsino, later Leopold I d'Ulsino, was born 1 February, 320 in the Ulsinian capital, Metternich. The second of three sons and a daughter, Leopold would not initially be considered a serious contender for the throne. Considered frail and too timid to amount to a great leader in his childhood, his adolescent years would see Leopold disconnected from much of his immediate family. He would find a mentor in the figure of Count Peter Von Hersfeldt, an adviser to King Alexander IV who, unlike much the court, saw great promise in Leopold. He would accordingly accompany the prince in his studies abroad in the Patrician Republic and later the Kingdom of Etruria. He would be taught at some of the best foreign institutions, such as the University of Aranjuez and, in Etruria, the Royal Conservatory. During this time, Count Von Hersfeldt, a staunch monarchist, would instill in Leopold a sense of duty and a belief in his destiny to one day rule Ulsino. Warning him of the scheming of Ulsino's nobles as well as the dangers of ignoring the people's will, the Count would help to shape Leopold into a formidable leader.

In 338, Leopold would conclude his studies abroad, returning to serve in the Ulsinian army as a Captain of a company of Grenadiers. Leopold would be an exceedingly popular commander, his childhood reputation for fragility quickly disappearing. Leopold would distinguish himself as a diligent leader with a tendency to micro-manage. A gifted speaker and ambitious soldier, he would institute minor reforms within his units that would later be adopted by the entirety of the Ulsinian army. The success would be sufficient to attract the rivalry of his brother, Albert III as well as the rare praise of his father. Still, Leopold would remain something of an outsider through much of the 40s, and Alexander IV's favors would invariably remain with his oldest son and the rightful heir, Albert III. At the bidding of his mother and pressure from his brother and father, Leopold would maintain a low profile throughout the rest of the decade, speaking on behalf of his brother at events and serving as his representative abroad.

In 345, Leopold would marry the Etrurian Marquise of Arimini, Louise Anna-Maria della Rovere. Although the marriage would be planned by Alexander IV, the King would quickly grow weary of his second son's wife, whose flagrant liberal sympathies flew in the face of Ulsinian public policy. Still, the Princess Louise would adjust well to life in Ulsino, adopting Ulsino's customs, language and dress. An ambitious, cunning woman, she would provide Leopold with a capable asset amidst the intrigue of the Ulsinian Court. The two would be a remarkably popular if subdued couple throughout the 40s.

Relationship with Alexander IV
In spite of his real talents, Leopold would have an uneasy relationship with his father. His fragility as a child would earn his father's disdain, while his disconnect from court affairs would further strain his father's opinion. While Alexander IV would praise his second upon his coming of age (and the expression of his gifts in leadership,) the King would make no mystery of his preferences for his heir. As far as King Alexander was concerned, Leopold was a capable man, but one simply too ambitious for his station in life, and one whose mind was too open to dangerous ideas. It would be a fact exacerbated by the degree of closeness between Leopold and his Etrurian wife, the Princess Louise. Partially influenced by his son and heir, Albert III, as well as his own fears of a liberal uprising, Alexander would send Leopold into an informal exile into Ulsino's highlands in 351. While his son would dutifully comply, his contempt as a result would complicate their relations upon the death of Albert III and the change of succession. Their relationship would be rocky in the years leading to Alexander's death, with Leopold publically mocking his father on multiple occasions; his personal popularity would more than suffice to guard him from his father's wrath.