Peter I, Prince of Ljetzan
| Peter I | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.svg) | |||||
| Prince of Ljetzan | |||||
| Reign | 1 January 2023 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Helmut Stern (as chancellor) | ||||
| Born | 16 August 2002 Ljetzan, Italy | ||||
| |||||
| House | Ljetzan | ||||
| Father | Franz Joseph Von Ljetzan | ||||
| Mother | Konstanze Von Ljetzan | ||||
| Religion | Catholic | ||||
Peter I (Peter Franz Godwin Maria Von Ljetzan; born 16 August 2002) is the reigning Prince of Ljetzan, since 2023. He is the son of Prince Franz Joseph Von Ljetzan and his wife, Countess Konstanze Von Ljetzan. Under his reign, the Principality of Ljetzan was established and the first Constitution was ratified on 1 July 2023.
Early life, family, and education
He was born on 16 August 2002 in Italy, as the eldest son of Prince Franz Joseph Von Ljetzan and Princess Konstanze Von Ljetzan. When Peter turned six, he commenced classes at Hill House School in West Ljetzan in September 2008. Peter was the first heir apparent to attend school, rather than be educated by a private tutor. He did not receive preferential treatment from the school's headmaster, Ludwig Kanz, who advised his parents to have Peter train in football, because the boys were never deferential to anyone on the football field.
Peter subsequently attended his father's former school: the Gymnasium Franz Joseph I, where he emulated his father in becoming head boy and sports team captain. He left in 2021 with an Abitur score of 1.7. On his education, the prince later remarked, "I didn't enjoy school as much as I might have; but, that was only because I'm happier at home than anywhere else".
Peter broke royal tradition when he proceeded straight to university after his Abitur, rather than joining the Armed Forces. In October 2021, he was admitted to the University, where he studied communication sciences for the first part and then switched to history for the second part.
Earl of Zimbar
Peter was created Earl of Zimbar on 25 July 2008, though his investiture was not held until 1 July 2019. He took his seat in the Landtag the following year and he delivered his maiden speech on 13 June 2020, the first royal to speak from the floor since the cease of the principality's independence in 1807.
Peter began to take on more public duties, founding the Prince's Trust in late 2020 and travelling to France in 2021. In the mid-2020s, he expressed an interest in serving as mayor of the capital city Ljetzan, at the suggestion of counsellor Konrad Von Staufen; however, because of a lack of public enthusiasm, nothing came of the proposal.
Military training and career
Peter served in the Land Forces of Ljetzan (Landstreitkräfte) and the Air Forces. During his second year at University, he received Air Force training, learning to fly the Chipmunk aircraft with the Royal Air Squadron, and was presented with his wings in August 2022. That same year, he also qualified as a tank pilot at Ludwig Military Training Base, spending his last 3 months of active service in the Army.
Official Duties
In 2015 Peter undertook his first public engagement by attending a student garden party at the Ljetzan Castle. He officiated at investitures and attended the funerals of foreign dignitaries in the following years. Peter made regular tours of the principality, fulfilling a week of engagements each summer, and attending important national occasions, such as the festival of the Cimbrian culture.
Reign
Peter acceded to the Ljetzan throne after the principality declared its independence on 25 July 2020. He is the youngest person ever to become head of state in the secular history of the Cimbrian nations.
Peter gave his first speech to the nation at 6 pm on 9 September, in which he paid tribute to the constitutional assembly that had recently started working on the Ljetzan Constitution and his recent appointment as Prince Regent for the time being.
Peter's investiture took place at Ljetzan Abbey on 01 July 2023, when the Constitution was ratified and his reign as Peter I officially began.
On June 2023 after the conclusion of the general elections, he appointed Konrad von Staufen as the inaugural country Prime Minister.
Personal interests
Peter is interested in music and sports; he plays the piano and enjoys football, tennis and baseball. He speaks Italian, Spanish, English, Cimbrian and some words in Welsh. Like many members of the Ljetzan royal family, he has also a keen interest in automobiles and motorsport. In his youth, he often took part as a journalist in different automotive events.
In 2024 the prince intervened in the raging debate surrounding the proposed Auditorium at Endstad in central Ljetzan, near the Nationalmuseum and old town, by stating that he thought the proposed structure was “too big and in the wrong place” and that it “could be relocated”. The plan was later abandoned by the City Council sometime later.
Peter is a keen supporter of Scouts, he took part in the local scout group activities in his childhood, and he is now the Chief of the Ljetzan Scout Association.
Titles, styles and honours
- 16 August 2002 – 25 July 2008: His Serene Highness Peter Von Ljetzan
- 25 July 2008 – 25 July 2025: His Serene Highness The Earl of Zimbar
- 25 July 2020 – present: His Serene Highness The Prince of Ljetzan
The official title of the monarch is " Prince of Ljetzan, Duchy of Zimbar, Duchy of Krnov, Sovereign of the House of Ljetzan" (German: Fürst von und zu Ljetzan, Herzog von Zimbar und Kronv, Regierer des Hauses von und zu Ljetzan).