Sandra Tamarin married Peter Asmundsen who:
"...was Hermetian, not of the Kindred but of respectable Follower family; he had organized and personally led enterprises on sister planets of the Maian System; various deeds had made him a popular hero." (p. 57)
A popular hero! Here is yet another potential series. This passage could have been referring back to previous instalments as when Coya mentioned the adventures of the fabulous Muddlin' Through team. In fact, however, Asmundsen's only earlier appearance was in Mirkheim, Prologue, Y minus 24, when he proposed to Sandra. (Well, that is something.)
Sandra's return to Hermes pregnant by van Rijn - this was before she married Asmundsen - was not a major scandal because the Commonwealth and the League had influenced the Hermetian aristocracy towards easier going attitudes. This again touches on the disagreements between van Rijn and Coya. The whole Technic History hangs together as it presents both individuals and civilizations.
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
True, but in most monarchies a prospective heir, like Sandra's son, was at least expected to have been born of parents who married each other. The exceptions were usually those realms where all the sons of the king, those born of a queen as well as bastards born of lemans had an equal claim to succeed their father. Such rules were designed to lessen chances of disputed successions and fratricidal strife.
We also see mention somewhere of Old Nick declining marriage with Sandra Tamarin.
Ad astra! Sean
The insistence on legitimate marriage to produce heirs also "upped the ante" of high-level monarchic marriages. It meant that not only the -King's- blood was necessary, but the Queen's, which inserted -her- family's bloodline into the royal succession.
Incidentally, IRRC Sandra's motivation for having van Rijn's child was in large part eugenic -- she wanted a father with great shrewdness, determination and other abilities, which van Rijn certainly had.
And not that the choice of Princess Diana as mother of the current British heirs was also not least eugenic -- the Windsors had been substantially inbred, and bringing in 'fresh blood' from a healthy outsider was a consideration in her choice.
It is stated that Sandra got pregnant by van Rijn because she was a eugenicist.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling and Paul!
Mr. Stirling: Your first paragraph, but from the time of Philip II onward the French insisted on reckoning the succession only from the patrilineal descendants of Hugh Capet. I.e., only from father to son or the nearest kinsman in the male line.
And there are still lots of patrilineal Capetians!
I don't recall how close it was, but I do know the late Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip were related. Maybe first cousins once removed?
And by "her choice" do you mean the late Queen or the then Prince Charles?
Paul: I remember that, how Sandra Tamarin wanted a strong and able man to father her son.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: it was chosen by a consultation in "the Firm".
Prince Charles' children are better-looking (and rather less strnage-looking) and seem healthy; so it was probably, in a cold-blooded way, a good decision.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I can see why it was decided it was time for some "out breeding."
And, meaning no disrespect to her late Majesty, the young Elizabeth II was very good looking.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yes, she was. Note the big noses and bat-like ears on the male side, though!
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Well, I didn't think George VI and his grandsons that bad looking! (Smiles)
Ad astra! Sean
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