Finding A Name...oh! (IPINBA) The Prince and Princess are still looking for a name to call their unborn daughter. They have looked up names from many different cultures and their meanings. Here are some names of Latin-Greek origin that have suck in their minds:

(Empress) Alvita [Latin-Annointed] Paradis
(Empress) Christabel [Latin-Beautiful Christian] Paradis
(Empress) Dionne [Greek-Divine Queen] Paradis

They have also thought about family names like:

(Empress) Maria Theresa Katarina Isabella Paradis
(Empress) Maria Sophia Paradis
(Empress) Chirstina Maria Paradis

Which one has a better ring to it? Help the Imperials decide!
Seconds ago The Socialist Monarchy of Zahumlje Excellencies: We like Our own name verymuch! however, new names would be nice, We like the name Jelena,for aprincess,a very great Queen from our House bore that namw, she often is portrayed,carrying weapons as she led the people in battle against invaders.Jelena Mara has anice ring zar na?
Katarina of Zahumlje itd.(keyboarrd is TOAST!)

Empress Maria Jelena Paradis? The first two names are good, but the last name ruins it all.

actually Jelena Mara, we also like the name Jelisveta,we like the name Sofija.

we dislike the first three names, we have areally serious dislike of the name Chjstine in all it's varients.

(ooc: not one but 3 truly ROTTEN EVIL and awefully really nasty people in my life had that name )

We propose the name Zoe. Zoe means Life in Greek and is a common name. Another name would be Eleftheria (Freedom), also widely spread name.

(OOC: There have been royals with those names)

Those names should be considered for any future daughtes of Prince Manuel and Princess Teodora! They are utterly lovely names!
By the way how are they getting on ? Teodora hasn't written to me in AGES!

Well, fine, busy with Olaf and Co. We are also planning to install some compluters in the palace -- well, u guys will need firewalls cuz olaf loves hacking.

Jelena Gives Birth!(IPINBA) After going into labor three hours ago Princess Jelena gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, the Grand Dutchess Maria Jelena Theresa Paradis, 7lbs 8oz, 1 1/3ft tall. Emperor Pierre was seen giving a hug to his son with tears of joy in his eyes. Maria will be baptized on Oct.3, 2004 at 10:00 A.M.

Isn't this a little soon? Is everything ok medically?
(ooc: or are we on 'vrijeme serija' here?'

Did you really think I would wait 9 months for a fictional character to be born? I don't have that kind of patience. ;-)

ooc:'vrijeme serija' it is then, although the birth seemed a bit rapid for 'vrime serija' hahahahahahaha!

(vrijeme serija is the Zahumljani expression for 'soap opera time')

IC: So when is the baptism, and the gathering afterwards? Who will be Kum and Kuma*?

(*Godfather and Godmother)

The Baptism is this Saturday at 10:00 a.m in St. Paul's Basilica, Rome. The reception will be at 12:00 p.m at the Imperial Palace. The mass will be an hour and a half (10-11:30) an it should take another hour for everyone to get to the Imperial Palace and changed out of their Church clothes.

The God Mother will be Princess Sophia (Soon-to-be Empress of Russia), Maria's Aunt, and the God Father will be.....well, I don't know. Lets work that out together.

I think the King of Slavpo would be a wonderful God-father!
Is Princess Sophia Catholic? It is important that God-parents be Catholic.
I'll be there.
I have found some utterly lovely antique Zaqhumljani gold work for the Princess to wear when she is bigger. Earringa and a necklace. Also there is a lace chrstening dress I sent along made from Trogir lace. It is a family heirloom. For Princess Jelena and Prince Phillipe, I sent a coffee service made in Mostar. Princess Jelena says she misses our traditional form of coffee. and with all those night feedings....

I hadn't thought about Sophia not being Catholic. The baptism will not take place untill we find Catholic God parents.

Here are the Monarchies with Catholicism as the dominant religion, or with predominantly Catholic Royal Houses, Paradizia, Slavpo Empire of HRVATSKA, and while I am Catholic, the Royal House of Zahumlje is a mixed Royal House religiously speaking.

I'm kind of it here...
The succession is in the Muslim branch of the family here in Zahumlje.

Have you any female relatives you could consider? I think the King of Slavpo would be happy to stand God-father, so the selection process is half done.

with honour, Katja

Well Emperor, it looks like the issue of who are to be Kum and Kuma is resolved! :) Hvala najlipsa Your Majesty!

molim lijepo

I don't know....

We just enquired of Austro-Hungarian Empire whether they are a Monarchy and invited them to join the League if they are. Perhaps there are suitable female relatives to stand Godmother (Kuma)

(ooc: the Baptism should not wait too long, considering we are on 'vrijema serija' she maust be walking around and perhaps even speaking by now!)

I want to 'keep it in the family' as it were. I don't want other dynasties making claims to the Empire.

God Parents don't have the same claims Emperor and they get ruled out as marriage partners the same way that a blood relative would be so if you are trying to narrow dynastic choices it's actually a good thing. Is there some person in Holy Orders perhaps that could be trusted with this important duty?
Come to think of it, due to the unique circumstances of Zahumlje, I've never been to a Baptism for anyone under the age of 18! It hasn't hurt anything, just that the Church seems to prefer that Baptism takes place in childhood.
Anyway Austro-Hungarian Empire hasn't replied. They aren't very active for a new Nation it seems.

Then who will be the god mother?

I have been working on this for weeks. Finally someone offered, Lady Marcella Markievicz has agreed to do this, she's Duchess of Jugska Dalmacija. She was reluctant as she's a bit of a recluse.
She's a good Catholic, but her family are not Old Zahumljani. They are of Polish-Irish origins. She was reluctant until I explained that it didn't matter. If the Princess were going to actually rule in Zahumlje maybe that would have mattered. Lady Marcella speaks Italian, French, Polish, Irish and English. She knows a lot of interesting things. She even is willing to live part time in Paradizia.
So between King Mate and her that's dealt with hvala Bog!