Blievie Palace (Pacifica)

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Yellow Manor of the Blievie Palace, 2020.

Blievie Palace is the former royal residence of the Luniere Dynasty, the ruling house of the Kingdom of Prydon. It is now currently a museum jointly owned and administrated by the House of Lichtenburg-Hohenzollern-Luniere and the Government of Prydon. The palace is located in the western side of the Belaya River, opposite of downtown Aetrinun.

The palace was initially a fortified position, residence of the Dukes of Aetrinun since the 11th century. Following the Kingdom Proclamation made by Ferdinand I, he began construction of a church inside the walled section. Later monarchs of Prydon added barracks and armories to the complex, making it one of the most well-defended fortress in Prydon. The fortress went into disrepair during the Karnetvor Aristocracy era, and became a warehouse for the Aetrinun harbour.

Aerial Image of the Palace Complex in Eastern Aetrinun, 2016.

When the Luniere Dynasty took control over the Kingdom in the 1600s, they took residence within the complex, building royal residences and renovating the walls, effectively transforming it into a palace. The biggest construction was made by King Ferdinand VII who built the Yellow Manor, a baroque-style building furnished with art collection and decorated with precious metal. The palace complex eventually merged with the nearby Equestrian Academy of Ferdinand VIII.

The name 'Blievie' or 'warm' referred to its coastal location, which is warmer relative to other royal residences of the Dynasty. Today, the complex is open for public visitation and is a major tourist attraction in Aetrinun. The government occasionally use several parts of the palace for diplomatic or state venues. A contingent of 100 Royal Guards ceremoniously guard the palace, holding changing-of-the-guards processions every 10 am and 4 pm. On special occasions, the Prydonian Army uses the Artillery Court for gun salutes, and the Navy occasionally uses it for ceremonies.

History

Fortress of Aetrinun

Old foundations revealed behind later brickworks, 2016.

The Dukes of Aetrinun had inhabited the fortress that now occupied the Palace grounds for generations. Older foundations discovered on the location suggested a stone fortress might stood in the place since the 7th century, concurrent with the settlement of Aetrinun itself. The House Liffe extended the walled section of the fortress to include an armory and docks on the banks of the Belaya River. The only surviving structure built by them is the foundations of the modern northern walls, which also held a church, where the modern Royal Chapel is located. Following Ferdinand I's conquest of Aetrinun, much of the defensive structure surrounding the location was brought down. Ferdinand ordered the construction of a church in the middle of the area, roughly the current location of the Cathedral of St. Virnien, using stones from the demolished walls. His successors, Ferdinand II and Michael I, restored the walls of the northern half of the current ground, and added several barracks for the growing Prydonian Navy.

During the Karnetvor Aristocracy, the significance of the location diminished, as Aetrinun grew rapidly in the western banks of the Belaya River. The Zemsky Sobor Palace and the Red Market in front of it became the political and financial hub of the city, while eastern Aetrinun lagged behind. Further barracks and armories were constructed as the Prydonian Fleet grew in power and number. A dockyard for ship repair was built just north of the complex to complement the crowded dockyards in the west bank. However, when Prydon was caught into mercantile conflicts abroad, the influence of the fleet declined, and so does the complex's importance. When the Luniere Dynasty seized Aetrinun, the complex was almost abandoned, and most of its buildings were dilapidated.

Royal Residence

The Clock Tower and surrounding Buildings, the original residence under Alexei I. Photographed in 2021.

Alexei I quickly saw the importance of the fortress' area, and ordered the location to be flattened and reinforced from the river's strong current. Due to the burdens caused by the Prydonian Succession War, Alexei's first goal was to established a secure residence for his family and court. Alexei built a simple wooden estate in the southern side of construction ground in 1604, and began the building of the palace's modern walls. The walls were built to accommodate gunfire weapons, especially the bronze cannons that Alexei bought from abroad. The east, west, and southern walls were raised above the surrounding grounds to improve defensibility, and a moat was dug around all sides, except for the north where a new stone pier was constructed. Alexei's final construction project was the Alabaster Clock Tower in 1621, replacing his old wooden estate where his family would live and he held his court. After Alexei's death, his successors filled the walled section with barracks and armories, similar to its original function.

Following Ferdinand IV's victory over the southern nobilities in 1662, he demolished the old church of Ferdinand I and built the Cathedral of St. Virnien. He also built a small mosque for one of his trusted advisor and the First State Minister of Prydon, Sharif Ma'azine. Ferdinand build a one-floor rectangular house near the northern walls as his personal retreat, and planted some formal gardens around he building. He also initiated the construction of the Central Wing, a long building that stretches from the middle to the southern end of the complex, to host his courtiers and store his armors. A stable was build near the Alabaster Tower, which then served more like a gatehouse than a proper residence.

Cathedral St. Virnien's interior built under Alexei II. Photographed in 2019.

Ferdinand IV's great-grandson, Alexei II added the complex's most iconic landmark, the Leaning Tower in 1737. Built on an unhardened part of the raised ground, the tower sunk backwards midway of the construction, and its architect, Villiers Domitian, had to compensate the upper level's design, and to strengthen its foundation. Alexei added the domes over the Cathedral of St. Virnien, and renovated the Sharif Ma'azine mosque with minarets. Despite the constructions, Alexei rarely reside in Blievie and opted to live in the Nevre Manor, a hunting lodge west of Aetrinun. His successor, Lvov II, returned the court to Blievie, where he demolished the olf retreat of Ferdinand IV, and built the Green Manor in the Baroque style. The building was completed in 1779 by the architect Giovanni Mazzini. In addition, Lvov ordered the construction of the Royal Chapel as a personal religious sanctuary for the family in 1778. Leopold V built the Artillery Court to host the new Prydonian Admiralty, supporting his naval reforms in 1784.

The Audience Room of Ferdinand VII within the Green Manor. Painted by Ilmansky in 1852.

Ferdinand VII became the biggest contributor to the palace, adding the Red Row east of the Central Wing which replaced the southern half of the eastern walls, and most importantly, the baroque Yellow Manor, which was completed in 1810. The Red Row housed the King's personal retinue and more accommodations, while the Yellow Manor became his private quarter. Ferdinand VII bought art collections from abroad to furnish his new palace, and hired the artist Morena to paint the manor's interior with frescoes. The Central Wing and the Green Manor were lavishly furnished as well, while the Artillery Court was incorporated into the palace as the new Admiralty Building was completed in the western banks of the Belaya River. The Green Manor was renovated into the King's official office, where he held counsels and heard petitions. Ferdinand VII oversaw the construction of a Bell Tower for the Cathedral of St. Virnien, and gilded the Cathedral's main dome with gold.

His son's reign, Ferdinand VIII, saw no further construction within the walls of the complex, but he integrated the palace with the surrounding areas, including the Arch of Victory to the east and the Equestrian Academy to the south by building public parks and stone paths. The last monarchs of Prydon, Michael III and Vielie II spent less time in Blievie, and mostly reside in the White Manor in Viniere Manor in Setrivie and the Belaya Manor in Mikhailgrad respectively.

Public Museum

Finance Minister Nevalnie in 2011 heading a Public-Private Partnership Conference in the Green Manor.

The Palace suffered heavy damage during the Prydonian Civil War. The Communist Forces caused a fire that destroyed the Sharif Ma'azine Mosque and the collapse of the Cathedral's bell tower, while the palace itself was looted. Under the Ultravisionary Regime, The Palace, being stripped off most of its furnishing, was transformed into a museum, and a public venue for local events. After the fall of the Ultravisionaries, the ownership of the Palace was split with the House of Lichtenburg-Hohenzollern-Luniere, the legitimate successor to the Luniere Dynasty in 2010 to help sped-up the Palace's interior restoration. By 2015, most of the Palace's interiors had been restored, though mostly using imitation materials. The Palace ground is open for public, except for the Yellow Manor Gallery. Entrance to the Green Manor is limited for organized venues, and occasional government events.

Buildings

Interior

Panorama

Panorama of Blievie Palace from the Belaya River, 2017.
Night panorama of the Palace, 2019.