Markūs Bālthor I

Markūs I (born Markūs Noel Nellar; January 17th, 1993), is the reigning Czar of Alsesia. He ascended to the throne following the death of his grandfather, Danil Bālthor VII, on May 26th, 2021.

Early Life
Markūs Nellar was born on January 17th, 1993 at the Royal Hospital in Frosgard, Nordgard. He is the oldest of three children born to Talea Bālthor and her husband, Ādrēo Nellar. He has two younger brothers, Lukas (born 1995) and Ēlias (born 1999), both of whom retain the surname Nellar.

The Czar was educated privately at home until the age of 12, after which he began attending Tutyrk Academy in Bluforj, Irnia Province. He completed his tertiary schooling at South Haven International Boarding School, graduating on April 1st, 2012 while ranking 3rd in his year with a perfect GPA of 10.00.

Military Service
The Czar enlisted in the Ground Army shortly after graduation, against the wishes of his parents.

During a counter-insurgency operation near the city of Cularn in Dovencor, Nellar's platoon was caught in an ambush during which insurgents fired a rocket-propelled grenade into his vehicle. The explosion killed the driver, gunner, and front passenger, and injured the Czar. The incidence resulted in the loss of his right eye and burns to the right side of his body.

Reign
Due to the lateral Alsesian system of succession, Danil VII was able to select his grandson to succeed him. Although Norj Bālthor had been the provisional crown prince since 2012, the Czar was reportedly unsatisfied with his personality, considering Markūs a more "decisive" figure. On his deathbed in Frosgard Palace, the Royal Council presented the Czar with the list of potential successors, from which Markūs was selected. The Czar passed away at 8:43 AM on May 17th, 2021, and Markūs, who was present, was immediately ushered to a saferoom beneath the palace. There, he signed several documents affirming him as the Czar, in addition to changing his surname to Bālthor, as required by law.