Profile. Probably should have one of these.
Character Name: Lithuania, Vilna Governate/Province of Lithuania.
(Not Toris. If you call him this, he will want to know how you know about the cute little dog he owned back when he was 300 or so.)
When Founded: His name first popped up in 1009. Back then he was still kind of nomadic. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was founded around 1219, and was officially recognized in 1253.
When He's From: 1867.
Where He's At: Russia's house. Specifically, he has the dubious honor of being a province in the Russian Empire. This has been his honor since 1795, the partitioning of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
History:
1009-1253: a purely pagan nation, he has some truly Fun Times with the Teutonic Knights to the west, Livonia to the north, and the Slavs from the south. This is when he keeps coming home with arrows sticking out of his head.
1253-1386: united under one (baptized) king, Lithuania's fortunes reverse and he conquers Belarus and Ukraine and even further south, all the way to the Black Sea. He's the cultural center of Eastern Europe. Teutonic Knights is still beating him up from the west. He's a pretty great boss, though, and lets the conquered nations govern themselves provided they give tribute (look, there's not that much of his people to go around).
1386-1569: an alliance with Poland is formed and Lithuania formally becomes Christian. Together the two of them beat the crap out of Teutonic Knights, resulting in Teutonic Knights becoming a fief of Poland's. They also chase off Muskovy, which is basically teenager Russia. It's an uneasy alliance after the first fifty years or so, though. They're still living in separate houses at this point. Belarus lives with Lithuania, and Ukraine with Poland. Lithuania finally goes knocking on Livonia's door, killing him and obtaining what will one day be Latvia and Estonia. Poland faces off with the Golden Horde and sends them packing!
1569-1795: a new treaty signed with Poland results in the Commonwealth. They move in together, functionally married, and behave that way. Taking advantage of some internal issues, they kinda-sorta-maybe occupy Russia's heart (Moscow) during the Time of Troubles, only to get kicked out again when Russia has a surge of nationalistic spirit and grows up. Lithuania learns how to write in his own language and then proceeds to never use it except to make Bibles and Canons. Over time, Poland basically owns the place (Lithuania never quite gets the level of nobility Poland does); relations deteriorate. So does their economic status. Rising powers to their west (Austria-Hungary Empire) and their east (Russia. Looming.) and north (Sweden, HOLY CRAP where did you come from) take them apart - literally as of 1795.
~
1795-1812: Lithuania moves into Russia's house and is designated a province. His government is completely dismantled and he is treated as if he's part of Russia proper. Now he's serving Russia alongside his own former properties, Estonia and Latvia. Whoops.
1812-1813: Lithuania spends about five seconds in France's possession while France advances on Russia with Napoleon. Russia, utilizing his favorite method of beating foreign armies, burns Lithuania's land before retreating and abandoning him to France. This is where Lithuania got the scars on his back. By the time the winter is over, Lithuania is back in Russia's house. Poland gets to become a Kingdom and goes home, but Lithuania remains behind as a province.
1813-1863: Lithuania is pretty content to just be in Russia's house and scrape by under the radar. Nonetheless he's influenced by Poland to have some pride, dude! and the two of them have two major uprisings, the second one with Belarus' help, in 1831 and 1863. Russia puts them down ruthlessly and punishes Lithuania and Belarus by taking away their languages entirely.
1863-1867: Lithuania, still living in Russia's house, begins to smuggle books in his own language from Prussia and America. He's determined to get away from Poland's influence, as some of his great writers have proposed, but he's not going to submit to Russification either: he's going to revive his own natural culture. And the second he's strong enough, he's breaking out of this joint.
Presently: smuggling books. running an illegal newspaper out of Lithuania Minor (that is, Prussia). still a servant in Russia's house, but he can be a very snarky one. avoiding Poland without trying to look like he's avoiding Poland.
Personality:
A nation with no personal history with Lithuania would be meeting a very congenial fellow who doesn't have much to say about himself. He's caring and eager to help, open with advice, and self-effacing.
If you're Russia, you probably know him as the sort of guy who has someplace else to be very soon because there is always some chore that needs doing that is nowhere near you. He's a little nervous and apologizes for everything, even when nothing is wrong. He's also your most excellent housekeeper who does chores without being asked, keeps your clothes clean and your coal furnaces running, and gives every vibe of being the most trustworthy sort of nation, with no opinions of his own and no self-esteem.
Get to know him a little better and there's a broader picture.
At this juncture of his life, Lithuania is rediscovering himself: his language as it is written, his songs, his history, his opinions. His identity has been so wrapped up in Poland for so long this is as much of a surprise to him as to anyone else, and he loves every second of it.
While still giving off the air of a good servant, underneath Lithuania is a growing pool of resentment. Prideful and stubborn, Lithuania isn't the sort to let go of something that he loves until he's ready - if ever. This resentment and pride bubbles over sometimes into uprisings and protests; most of the time he keeps a tight lid on it. He will often think the opposite of what he says, all while wearing a smile on his face.
Nonetheless, the mask is hardly perfect, and so Lithuania can say many passive-aggressive things - which he will immediately apologize for, but not because he doesn't believe them! In fact, because of his illegal activities, he's even more likely to become apologetic and nervous at the drop of a hat. It's better that Russia think he's stupid than find out what he's up to. Additionally, he is the sort of nation that worries himself sick over everything. He used to often imagine the worst possible futures; however, he feels he is living one such future now, so he tries to keep himself focused on the present.
When he's focused, Lithuania is a force to be reckoned with. If someone were to physically strike him or threaten him, he would strike back with no mercy. He is a master tactician and when he's firmly made a decision, nothing can dissuade him from his path. However, it often takes him a long time to come to a conclusion or resolution he is satisfied with. An organized person, Lithuania likes to have a plan, so those who are completely carefree and haphazard exasperate and annoy him (see Poland), especially when they won't take his advice. He's also obsessively neat, which makes him the ideal housekeeper.
Additional fun facts:
-When he's working out a problem in his head, he tends to mumble to himself or stare out into space. He also reacts out loud to his own imaginings, which can make him look a little crazy.
-He's not fully literate in his own language. Lithuania's only just published his first grammar book. Hey, it was only ever spoken (except in religious texts) up until 1818!
-Lithuania actually finds doing dishes and cooking his own foods quite relaxing. He doesn't like the other chores so much, but because of his need for cleanliness he doesn't hate them either.
-Once Russia, trapped in a financial tangle, gave Lithuania and Estonia his books to sort it out. Lithuania embezzled hundreds of thousands of rubles. Lithuania then spent the next year in Siberia.
(Not Toris. If you call him this, he will want to know how you know about the cute little dog he owned back when he was 300 or so.)
When Founded: His name first popped up in 1009. Back then he was still kind of nomadic. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was founded around 1219, and was officially recognized in 1253.
When He's From: 1867.
Where He's At: Russia's house. Specifically, he has the dubious honor of being a province in the Russian Empire. This has been his honor since 1795, the partitioning of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
History:
1009-1253: a purely pagan nation, he has some truly Fun Times with the Teutonic Knights to the west, Livonia to the north, and the Slavs from the south. This is when he keeps coming home with arrows sticking out of his head.
1253-1386: united under one (baptized) king, Lithuania's fortunes reverse and he conquers Belarus and Ukraine and even further south, all the way to the Black Sea. He's the cultural center of Eastern Europe. Teutonic Knights is still beating him up from the west. He's a pretty great boss, though, and lets the conquered nations govern themselves provided they give tribute (look, there's not that much of his people to go around).
1386-1569: an alliance with Poland is formed and Lithuania formally becomes Christian. Together the two of them beat the crap out of Teutonic Knights, resulting in Teutonic Knights becoming a fief of Poland's. They also chase off Muskovy, which is basically teenager Russia. It's an uneasy alliance after the first fifty years or so, though. They're still living in separate houses at this point. Belarus lives with Lithuania, and Ukraine with Poland. Lithuania finally goes knocking on Livonia's door, killing him and obtaining what will one day be Latvia and Estonia. Poland faces off with the Golden Horde and sends them packing!
1569-1795: a new treaty signed with Poland results in the Commonwealth. They move in together, functionally married, and behave that way. Taking advantage of some internal issues, they kinda-sorta-maybe occupy Russia's heart (Moscow) during the Time of Troubles, only to get kicked out again when Russia has a surge of nationalistic spirit and grows up. Lithuania learns how to write in his own language and then proceeds to never use it except to make Bibles and Canons. Over time, Poland basically owns the place (Lithuania never quite gets the level of nobility Poland does); relations deteriorate. So does their economic status. Rising powers to their west (Austria-Hungary Empire) and their east (Russia. Looming.) and north (Sweden, HOLY CRAP where did you come from) take them apart - literally as of 1795.
~
1795-1812: Lithuania moves into Russia's house and is designated a province. His government is completely dismantled and he is treated as if he's part of Russia proper. Now he's serving Russia alongside his own former properties, Estonia and Latvia. Whoops.
1812-1813: Lithuania spends about five seconds in France's possession while France advances on Russia with Napoleon. Russia, utilizing his favorite method of beating foreign armies, burns Lithuania's land before retreating and abandoning him to France. This is where Lithuania got the scars on his back. By the time the winter is over, Lithuania is back in Russia's house. Poland gets to become a Kingdom and goes home, but Lithuania remains behind as a province.
1813-1863: Lithuania is pretty content to just be in Russia's house and scrape by under the radar. Nonetheless he's influenced by Poland to have some pride, dude! and the two of them have two major uprisings, the second one with Belarus' help, in 1831 and 1863. Russia puts them down ruthlessly and punishes Lithuania and Belarus by taking away their languages entirely.
1863-1867: Lithuania, still living in Russia's house, begins to smuggle books in his own language from Prussia and America. He's determined to get away from Poland's influence, as some of his great writers have proposed, but he's not going to submit to Russification either: he's going to revive his own natural culture. And the second he's strong enough, he's breaking out of this joint.
Presently: smuggling books. running an illegal newspaper out of Lithuania Minor (that is, Prussia). still a servant in Russia's house, but he can be a very snarky one. avoiding Poland without trying to look like he's avoiding Poland.
Personality:
A nation with no personal history with Lithuania would be meeting a very congenial fellow who doesn't have much to say about himself. He's caring and eager to help, open with advice, and self-effacing.
If you're Russia, you probably know him as the sort of guy who has someplace else to be very soon because there is always some chore that needs doing that is nowhere near you. He's a little nervous and apologizes for everything, even when nothing is wrong. He's also your most excellent housekeeper who does chores without being asked, keeps your clothes clean and your coal furnaces running, and gives every vibe of being the most trustworthy sort of nation, with no opinions of his own and no self-esteem.
Get to know him a little better and there's a broader picture.
At this juncture of his life, Lithuania is rediscovering himself: his language as it is written, his songs, his history, his opinions. His identity has been so wrapped up in Poland for so long this is as much of a surprise to him as to anyone else, and he loves every second of it.
While still giving off the air of a good servant, underneath Lithuania is a growing pool of resentment. Prideful and stubborn, Lithuania isn't the sort to let go of something that he loves until he's ready - if ever. This resentment and pride bubbles over sometimes into uprisings and protests; most of the time he keeps a tight lid on it. He will often think the opposite of what he says, all while wearing a smile on his face.
Nonetheless, the mask is hardly perfect, and so Lithuania can say many passive-aggressive things - which he will immediately apologize for, but not because he doesn't believe them! In fact, because of his illegal activities, he's even more likely to become apologetic and nervous at the drop of a hat. It's better that Russia think he's stupid than find out what he's up to. Additionally, he is the sort of nation that worries himself sick over everything. He used to often imagine the worst possible futures; however, he feels he is living one such future now, so he tries to keep himself focused on the present.
When he's focused, Lithuania is a force to be reckoned with. If someone were to physically strike him or threaten him, he would strike back with no mercy. He is a master tactician and when he's firmly made a decision, nothing can dissuade him from his path. However, it often takes him a long time to come to a conclusion or resolution he is satisfied with. An organized person, Lithuania likes to have a plan, so those who are completely carefree and haphazard exasperate and annoy him (see Poland), especially when they won't take his advice. He's also obsessively neat, which makes him the ideal housekeeper.
Additional fun facts:
-When he's working out a problem in his head, he tends to mumble to himself or stare out into space. He also reacts out loud to his own imaginings, which can make him look a little crazy.
-He's not fully literate in his own language. Lithuania's only just published his first grammar book. Hey, it was only ever spoken (except in religious texts) up until 1818!
-Lithuania actually finds doing dishes and cooking his own foods quite relaxing. He doesn't like the other chores so much, but because of his need for cleanliness he doesn't hate them either.
-Once Russia, trapped in a financial tangle, gave Lithuania and Estonia his books to sort it out. Lithuania embezzled hundreds of thousands of rubles. Lithuania then spent the next year in Siberia.