What was a direct result of WWI? Nicholas II was named czar of Russia
Germany lost its colonies in Africa and Asia
Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by a terrorist
the Ottoman Empire expanded

the birthmark on georgiana's face alludes to the doctrine of "original sin," being tainted with evil from birth

nothing certain is known about what happened, but it seems that the country declined gradually, perhaps due to bad government, or, more likely, due to a series of bad harvests, which resulted in widespread and recurrent famine.