Hildegard von Mariendorf

Hildegard von Mariendorf (later Hildegard von Lohengramm) is one of the principal characters in Legend of the Galactic Heroes. She served as the New Galactic Fleet's Chief Advisor, and later reigned with Reinhard von Lohengramm when she became his wife and Empress in U.C.801. She was remembered by history as the one who nurtured the Lohengramm Dynasty to maturity, after her husband has established it.

Early Life

Hildegard, usually referred to by the nickname Hilde, was born in Galactic year 777 into an undistinguished noble family of the the Goldenbaum dynasty, the sole daughter of the benevolent and just Count Franz von Mariendorf. From an early age, she was distinguished from the other girls of the aristocrat society by her independent ideas, her unwillingness to engage in studies like gemology (then considered essential knowledge for noble ladies), instead she remarked that the judgement of jewels can be trusted to professional experts and she'd much rather acquire the skills to judge those experts. Ideas like these set Hilde apart from her peers, who considered her lacking in the essential qualities and charms of a young aristocrat girl. Completely unconcerned, Hilde pursued her own interests in reading, politics and history. Her mother having died when Hilde was young, her open-minded father respected Hilde's unique ideas and choices in life. The path Hilde chose would later save the Mariendorf family from ruin, and go on to shape the course of history.

Allegiance to the Lohengramm camp

Hilde was twenty years old when the tottering old empire finally approached the breaking point of civil war. The surge of new power, headed by Reinhard von Lohengramm, the young military genius of low birth but brilliant talent, was facing open battle with the old powers of the decaying aristocratic society. Hilde's penetrating insight into the empire's strategical and political situation convinced her father to devote their family's allegiance to support the newer camp lead by Reinhard von Lohengramm. As she left for the imperial capital, Hilde thanked her father for having given her life at those turbulent yet captivating times, allowing her to witness the great tides of history.

She met with Reinhard on the day that war broke out. Reinhard received her first with curiosity, then with surprise and delight at her keen insights. Hilde outlined the political situation incisively, explaining that she chose the Lohengramm camp because the aristocracy camp's internal instability and the people's discontent and injustices had been mounting against them. The Lohengramm camp, while it first appears disadvantaged, possesses the faith of the people and the soldiers, thus it is ultimately poised to win victory over the established powers. Reinhard was fascinated by her intellect and impressed by her daring. He thanked her for her and Mariendorf family's allegiance, and signed the document that promised the safety of the family and its properties. As Reinhard left to prepare for war, he asked that they should meet again. Hilde's subsequent involvement during the civil war, passing intelligence directly to Reinhard, played a role in securing Lohengramm camp's final victory.

Political Career
When the Lohengramm camp emerged triumphant from civil war, Reinhard came to power, and Hilde joined his office and became his chief secretary. The Lohengramm power now controlled both the political and the military forces of the empire, and Reinhard's reforms swept across the nation.

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