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Warhammer Karl Franz family

The Emperor Karl Franz and his family; Prince Luitpold is on Karl Franz's right.

Luitpold is the legitimised bastard son and designated heir of Emperor Karl Franz, who is named after his grandfather, Emperor Luitpold I. Despite being Karl Franz's son, Luitpold is not his successor as the Grand Prince of Reikland, a title that would normally be held by the heir to the Imperial throne. He is further characterised as a naïf, emotionally needy, and indecisive.[3a]

Prince Luitpold is the son of Karl Franz and his lover and distant cousin Maria-Luise von Walfen. As Maria-Luise was not Karl Franz's legitimate wife at the time of his birth, Luitpold was instead first legitimised as the emperor's designated heir to the Principality of Altdorf, the Imperial capital city-state. This was in contrast to Karl Franz's designated successor as the Grand Prince and future Elector Count of Reikland, who was his legitimately born nephew Wolfgang Holswig-Abenauer.[3a]

When Wolfgang was revealed to be compromised by the Chaos Cult known as the Purple Hand after the events of the Turmoil of 2512 IC, Karl Franz officially married Maria-Luise, yet still did not choose to name Luitpold as his sole heir. Instead, in the case of Karl Franz's death, his titles would be divided, with Luitpold inheriting the Principality of Altdorf and his infant sister Alia inheriting Karl Franz's position as Elector Countess of Reikland.[4a]

Luitpold was tutored in archery by Johann von Mecklenberg and fencing by Leos von Liebwitz.[2a]

Despite his growing confidence in matters of state, arms and his excellent character, Prince Luitpold does not command the affection of Altdorfers. A popular but preposterous rumour has it that the prince is responsible for the continuing concealed existence of a mad and monstrous twin brother, reared in secret and let out only at night to prevent him preying on the palace's wealthy and important guests.[3a]

Such is the strange relationship Altdorfers have to the Imperial family that, if it is pointed out to them that Karl Franz, rather than the prince, ought to be held responsible for such an atrocity, they simply change the subject. Gossip has it that the prince is ailing. Ever since the disastrous showing of Drachenfels, where the traitor Oswald von Königswald threatened his life, Prince Luitpold's hands have shaken. Though his tutors include the finest minds of the Empire, the prince remains a naïf, and a needy and indecisive man.[3a]

Sources[]

  • 1: The Prince of Altdorf (Short Story) by Andy Hall
  • 2: Beasts in Velvet (Novel) by Jack Yeovil
    • 2a: Part 1, Ch. 1
  • 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Altdorf: Crown of the Empire (RPG)
    • 3a: pg. 18
  • 4: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Empire in Ruins Comapnion (RPG)
    • 4a: pg. 55
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