Bacha XVIII of Qym

Bacha XVIII
King of Qym
The official portrait of King Bacha XVIII, taken shortly after his coronation on # MONTH 2409.
King of Qym
Reign	MONTH 2409 – present
Coronation	MONTH 2409
Predecessor	Bacha XVII
Born	DAY MONTH 2365 (age 75) Zhol, Qym
Spouse	Queen Qümica
Issue	Mirmo ish Zhifol Prince Vuqac Princess Tamasna Princess Hyleva
House	House of Zhifol
Father	Bacha XVII
Mother	Queen Zvonica
Religion	Scildism

Bacha XVIII (Bacha Zhovan Tihoran Janbor ish Zhifol; born # MONTH 2365) is King of Qym since # MONTH 2409.

Bacha was born during the reign of his paternal grandfather Bacha XVI. His father acceded to the throne in 2372 when he was still 6 years old. He became heir apparent upon reaching the age of 30 in 2395. Bacha was educated at NAME Primary School and NAME Secondary School in Zhol. After completing a FIELD OF STUDY degree from the Royal University of TBD, he served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Army from 2393 to 2399. He then had various appointments in the Government of Qym to familiarize him with government work and prepare him to rule. He married Qümica in 2408 and they had two sons, Mirmo and Vuqac, and two daughters, Tamasna and Hyleva.

In 2409, Bacha, then 43 years old, became king after his father automatically abdicated upon turning 75. Significant events of his reign include the STUFF, and his eldest son Mirmo's abdication of his royal titles and privileges in 2433.

Military career

Bacha served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Army from 2393 to 2399.

Early politics

Bacha served various roles in the Government of Qym from 2399 to 2409.

Relationships and marriage

Qümica

Bacha and Qümica in 2400

Bacha first met Qümica through mutual friends in 2399 when he was 34 and she was 30. They started dating officially in 2400, attracting intense attention from the press and paparazzi. Comparisons with his father Bacha XVII's relationship with his mother, Queen Zvonica were also common. The couple was described as having great chemistry and a "loving demeanor" suggesting reciprocal affection. However, as years went by and the couple delayed marriage, speculation mounted and scrutiny on Qümica's character emerged. In 2403, during a television interview, Bacha stated they were in "no rush to marry" and were still "getting to know each other fully". In 2404, the tabloid NEWSPAPER published a story going over various hypotheses, from suggesting Bacha's impotence or Qümica's infertility to alleging Qümica's infidelity and poor character. The Crown sued the NEWSPAPER for defamation and spreading misinformation, winning the controversial court case later in 2404. Shortly after the court case, Qümica did a television interview where she explained her views on her relationship with Bacha, notably stating she needed to "make sure he was the right man" for her, jokingly adding that "Prince Charming is not always as he seems," referring to usual portrayals of that stock character archetype as narcissistic, dimwitted, and solely focused on romance, and often as a foil to either the heroine or their true love interest. When pressed on characterizing Bacha's personality in comparison, Qümica poked fun at her boyfriend, describing him as a "not-so-charming prince" and "a man who usually talks too much, but also knows when to keep quiet and appreciate a moment," concluding that he was "alright, but could improve, a bit like this country". Following this interview and the court case, media attention was markedly more positive and Qümica's popularity increased drastically. According to political commentator Marlo Birval, Qümica's description of Bacha helped humanizing the royal couple and portray them as relatable to the commoners.

After 8 years of dating, Bacha married Qümica on # MONTH 2408 in Zhol, in a civil ceremony at the Zhol City Hall and a religious ceremony at the Palace of Zhifol in Zhifol. They have four children who were all born at NAME Hospital in BOROUGH, Zhol:

• Mirmo ish Zhifol (born DAY MONTH 2408; age 32 as of 2440)
• Prince Vuqac (born DAY MONTH 2410; age 30 as of 2440)
• Princess Tamasna (born DAY MONTH 2414; age 26 as of 2440)
• Princess Hyleva (born DAY MONTH 2418; age 22 as of 2440)

• King Bacha XVIII's children
• 
  Mirmo
• 
  Vuqac
• 
  Tamasna
• 
  Hyleva

Reign

Accession and early years

Bacha ascended the throne on his father's 75th birthday, on # MONTH 2409. His coronation took place on # MONTH, on the occasion of which he addressed his people on national television, promising BLA BLA BLA.

Ideology

Bacha's ideology has been described as populist, with a modern and progressive attitude towards economic and administrative issues, and a traditional and conservative stance on social and political issues. Internationally, it has been described as paternalistic conservatism and a continuation of his father and grand-father's royal legacy.

Democracy

Bacha has ruled out a democratic system for Qym, saying that "democracy is a delusion." U/C

LGBT rights

Bacha has made many mixed actions and statements with regard to the Qymish LGBT community during his reign. At the beginning of his reign, he stated he supported "gay rights". He notably legalized same-sex unregistered cohabitation in 2419, but positioned himself against same-sex adoptions and what he labeled the "growing threat of gender theory", claiming they "undermine family values" and that a child "needs a mom and a dad, not only two dads or only two moms". He further added that there are "only two genders, men and women" and that Qymish society was accommodating of LGBT people, but that "there are limits" and that the Crown will allow what is "common sense", which he clarified as being gender binarism.

In 2436, Bacha shrugged and asked if it was a bad thing, after a TV anchor asked him what his thoughts were on being characterized as a transphobe and heterosexist by LGBT advocacy groups. He added: "If one of my subjects wants to pretend to be the opposite gender, they can, it's their right to be delusional, but normal people also have the right not to entertain that delusion. If I were to wear a wig, a dress and some makeup, I may like how I look, but most people would think I lost my mind". Asked, whether he qualified non-binary people as mentally ill, he confirmed that was the case. "What is it other than mental illness? They call it the gender identity disorder for a reason." Bacha then dismissed a correction that ICD-11 uses the term gender incongruence and does not consider it a mental illness, saying "they are fighting with semantics to justify something that lacks any common sense to you, me, and everyday people".

Public image

Opinion polls

Throughout his reign as king, Bacha has maintained high public approval ratings, consistently polling above 67%.

Demographically, Bacha's strongest support has been recorded among adults above 60, with approval ranging from 70% to as high as 90% at times. Support has been lower among the Qymish youth, with approval among those aged 20-30 polling between 40% and 50%.

Post-reign (2440–present)

TO BE DETERMINED

Personal life

Family

In 2433, Bacha's eldest son and heir apparent, Prince Mirmo, abdicated his royal duties to pursue a music career, becoming the lead singer and frontman of the rock band NAME. U/C

Hobbies

Bacha is an avid hockey fan and has stated he supports the Zhol Squirrels of the Qymish Hockey League.

See also

• Line of succession to the Qymish throne