Mayfield application
Character Name: Estonia / Eduard von Bock
Character Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Character Age: appears to be 17; actually much, much older.
Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetalia http://sites.google.com/site/hetaliaindexes/simple-character-introduction http://hetalia.wikia.com/wiki/Eduard_von_Bock
Let's start with the beginning. Estonian tribes were first mentioned 1 BC, though some claim that Aetius talked about the Baltic tribes, not the Estonian ones (yet, what are the Baltics? They are a Roman word for "all the various tribes in a certain area", carried over through the times, expanded to include Lithuania, narrowed down to exclude Finland. Implying that there was anything that they shared besides not being part of the Roman empire, which was hardly the case. They had different cultures, believes and languages, were never united in any way and never considered themselves a group of any sorts - the only real common action that they ever took would take place 1800 years later when they broke away from the collapsing USSR, the famous Baltic Way.) Either way, 600 AD we have the first real mention of him, along with his bff Finland. But it would take nearly half a century until his first mention as something that resembled a nation enough to be mentioned in Hetalia.
It's the 13th century, where I'll be taking him from. Canon tells us that Denmark and Prussia (who was the Teutonic and the Livonian order at that time - which doesn't make much sense because they were different things until the merged, but there's no other way to match canon mentions; I'll call him Teutonic Order for everyone's sanity's sake, despite that not being entirely correct) "beat the hell out of" him. "Then they taught me the teachings of Christ against my will.
So what does that mean, nation-tan wise. It means that the later Vatican, irritated by those nations in the North that weren't even heretic like the Rus' nations, but just plain pagan, declared plundering the Estonian, Latgalian, Livonian and Lithuanian lands a good deed and a crusade. Which was very convenient for all the Northern nations, including Northern German ones; Jerusalem was a heck of a world away, if they went crusading the Baltics they could come back in autumn and spend the winter at home and still spare their souls some years in hell while gaining something at the same time. That said, Teutonic and Denmark both decided that they liked the idea. Sweden tried to join the fun later on, but was too late to stake a claim.
First Teutonic arrived and attacked Latgalia and Livonia, who might both have been Latvia (history is too complicated for APH canon sometimes). That worked well, and soon he had the smallest Baltic in his house. That was when he started running into trouble.
Lithuania managed to fend him off and then make a deal about parts of his nobility becoming Christian for a while, and suddenly it wasn't crusading anymore. Sucks to be Teutonic. And in the North, he just couldn't got a foot in. Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, sometimes Latvia sided with him, sometimes with Estonia.
Why all the rant about other nations, you are supposed to write about Estonia, you ask? Well, for most of his life, Estonian history is the history of his various invaders, masters and owners, not really his own; German nobility will soon replace his elites, and even they will have to bend to empire after empire.
Which pretty much tells you what happened next: Estonia was strong, yes, but he was at one huge disadvantage: While both considered what they did the right thing, Teutonic had the whole continent as a moral back-up. Estonia had nobody, Finland having been taken away and under the protection of Sweden, and himself being the only remaining pagan nation in Europe at that time. Luck left him, the Estonian counties broke apart, Denmark joined the fun, and the crusaders defeated the Estonian tribes one after the other. The last stronghold to fall was Sareema/Ösel; but by that time, the nation-tan was already living with Denmark, his lands partitioned, only a little part of them remaining to be called Danish Estonia.
Later, Denmark sold Estonia to the thing that once would become Prussia in a later incarnation.
And now things start to become complicated, partly because History and APH canon don't match, partly because it is hard to assign the nation-tan to a certain part of Estonian lands at times.
Canon mentions that Estonia was "living with Poland" which is cute family but doesn't make sense historically... Sometimes you just have to say SCREW HISTORY this is canon. So let's just pretend that Estonia, instead of being married to Latvia and split and reunited and conquered and independent again was living with Poland after the decline of the Teutonic Order after the battle of Grunwald/Tannenberg. Until Sweden came to Poland's house and asked if Estonia and Latvia wanted to live with him. he got partial custody.
After this point, I'll just quote canon:
1560~1711: Sweden, Finland and the Swedish/Baltic countries lived together under one roof.
But as underlings.
1700-21: Everyone gets beaten up in the Great Northern War between the Russian Empire, Denmark and Norway.
1712: Then I noticed that I was in Russia's house.
That was the beginning of a long hardship...
Afterward, I was taught many things in order to be converted into Russia.
1918: Independence from Russia.
1940: For some reason, I've become Russian territory again...
And now, in 1941, where I'll take him from, shortly after Germany broke the non-agression-pact, he has with the larger nation's help started to drive Russia off his soil, and just took Tallinn back.
Personality:
A trait that he shares with his brothers is that he is rather reserved, shy and nervous around other nations (he doesn't shake as much as Latvia, but he still does shake some). The latter trait seems to have lessened a lot since he became independent, though. Since they came to Russia's house, he has always been the most confident Baltic brother to begin with. He has even been seen talking to others in a slightly brisk and off-putting manner (France in the Christmas strips) or standing up against his old oppressor Russia - although even then his self-confidence crumbles as soon as he is under pressure.
He is quite compliant, even obedient, usually being the one of the brothers who manages to get away easiest, mostly because he manages to stay under radar and just not get into situations that mean trouble in the end. Another reason might be that he just believes that things should be solved peacefully if possible. But although he can judge situations well usually, he can still make mistakes. And as soon as his little brother is in danger, he will scream his name and often try to come and save him - even though he is rather weak himself.
Estonia and his brothers Latvia and Lithuania used to be very close and grew even closer during the Soviet occupation; they grew apart after getting independent, though. Estonia was trying (without much success) to become recognized by the Nordic nations, and also getting closer to his old friend Finland again. The two of them seem to have known each other from a very early point in time.
Estonia is a rather quiet character, he can think about things calmly for a long time - although he can act too fast after coming to a certain conclusion, too (seen for example in the "the sort of lenient fight between Russia and me" strip when he accuses Russia of having hacked his site). He is proud of what he achieved in his life, but will not push the matter. The middle Baltic nation lacks his brothers' gentleness and caring attitude. He tries and it works sometimes, but he just isn't as emphatic as them, especially Lithuania. He's still a very friendly nation, though, who gets along very well with most nations, because of and also resulting in the general wealth that he enjoys. He also does well with computers and is very intelligent, his nickname being “honor student”
Abilities: As a nation, he is about immortal, can feel his people and soil nd is affected by what happens to them, and he affects them. He can handle all kinds of weapons that were ever used in his region pretty well and is a good, but not strong fighter. Also he is good with finances and technical things.
Sample Entry:
[There is the sound of shuffling, and the voice is low and tired when the young man speaks, a mix of worry and fear in his words. He very obviously tries to not be heard by whoever is close by, and has to will himself to not shout.]
Latvia? Please, Latvia, answer. Lithuania? Why... where are you? Please answer.
Mr Russia seems to have taken me to another house while I was sleeping, I don't know where it is, and I can't find either one of you... Mr Russia, if you're listenig, please tell me where they are.
[A pause. Waiting.]
You are still there, right? You didn't vanish. We've all been through worse. please, answer.
Character Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Character Age: appears to be 17; actually much, much older.
Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetalia http://sites.google.com/site/hetaliaindexes/simple-character-introduction http://hetalia.wikia.com/wiki/Eduard_von_Bock
Let's start with the beginning. Estonian tribes were first mentioned 1 BC, though some claim that Aetius talked about the Baltic tribes, not the Estonian ones (yet, what are the Baltics? They are a Roman word for "all the various tribes in a certain area", carried over through the times, expanded to include Lithuania, narrowed down to exclude Finland. Implying that there was anything that they shared besides not being part of the Roman empire, which was hardly the case. They had different cultures, believes and languages, were never united in any way and never considered themselves a group of any sorts - the only real common action that they ever took would take place 1800 years later when they broke away from the collapsing USSR, the famous Baltic Way.) Either way, 600 AD we have the first real mention of him, along with his bff Finland. But it would take nearly half a century until his first mention as something that resembled a nation enough to be mentioned in Hetalia.
It's the 13th century, where I'll be taking him from. Canon tells us that Denmark and Prussia (who was the Teutonic and the Livonian order at that time - which doesn't make much sense because they were different things until the merged, but there's no other way to match canon mentions; I'll call him Teutonic Order for everyone's sanity's sake, despite that not being entirely correct) "beat the hell out of" him. "Then they taught me the teachings of Christ against my will.
So what does that mean, nation-tan wise. It means that the later Vatican, irritated by those nations in the North that weren't even heretic like the Rus' nations, but just plain pagan, declared plundering the Estonian, Latgalian, Livonian and Lithuanian lands a good deed and a crusade. Which was very convenient for all the Northern nations, including Northern German ones; Jerusalem was a heck of a world away, if they went crusading the Baltics they could come back in autumn and spend the winter at home and still spare their souls some years in hell while gaining something at the same time. That said, Teutonic and Denmark both decided that they liked the idea. Sweden tried to join the fun later on, but was too late to stake a claim.
First Teutonic arrived and attacked Latgalia and Livonia, who might both have been Latvia (history is too complicated for APH canon sometimes). That worked well, and soon he had the smallest Baltic in his house. That was when he started running into trouble.
Lithuania managed to fend him off and then make a deal about parts of his nobility becoming Christian for a while, and suddenly it wasn't crusading anymore. Sucks to be Teutonic. And in the North, he just couldn't got a foot in. Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, sometimes Latvia sided with him, sometimes with Estonia.
Why all the rant about other nations, you are supposed to write about Estonia, you ask? Well, for most of his life, Estonian history is the history of his various invaders, masters and owners, not really his own; German nobility will soon replace his elites, and even they will have to bend to empire after empire.
Which pretty much tells you what happened next: Estonia was strong, yes, but he was at one huge disadvantage: While both considered what they did the right thing, Teutonic had the whole continent as a moral back-up. Estonia had nobody, Finland having been taken away and under the protection of Sweden, and himself being the only remaining pagan nation in Europe at that time. Luck left him, the Estonian counties broke apart, Denmark joined the fun, and the crusaders defeated the Estonian tribes one after the other. The last stronghold to fall was Sareema/Ösel; but by that time, the nation-tan was already living with Denmark, his lands partitioned, only a little part of them remaining to be called Danish Estonia.
Later, Denmark sold Estonia to the thing that once would become Prussia in a later incarnation.
And now things start to become complicated, partly because History and APH canon don't match, partly because it is hard to assign the nation-tan to a certain part of Estonian lands at times.
Canon mentions that Estonia was "living with Poland" which is cute family but doesn't make sense historically... Sometimes you just have to say SCREW HISTORY this is canon. So let's just pretend that Estonia, instead of being married to Latvia and split and reunited and conquered and independent again was living with Poland after the decline of the Teutonic Order after the battle of Grunwald/Tannenberg. Until Sweden came to Poland's house and asked if Estonia and Latvia wanted to live with him. he got partial custody.
After this point, I'll just quote canon:
1560~1711: Sweden, Finland and the Swedish/Baltic countries lived together under one roof.
But as underlings.
1700-21: Everyone gets beaten up in the Great Northern War between the Russian Empire, Denmark and Norway.
1712: Then I noticed that I was in Russia's house.
That was the beginning of a long hardship...
Afterward, I was taught many things in order to be converted into Russia.
1918: Independence from Russia.
1940: For some reason, I've become Russian territory again...
And now, in 1941, where I'll take him from, shortly after Germany broke the non-agression-pact, he has with the larger nation's help started to drive Russia off his soil, and just took Tallinn back.
Personality:
A trait that he shares with his brothers is that he is rather reserved, shy and nervous around other nations (he doesn't shake as much as Latvia, but he still does shake some). The latter trait seems to have lessened a lot since he became independent, though. Since they came to Russia's house, he has always been the most confident Baltic brother to begin with. He has even been seen talking to others in a slightly brisk and off-putting manner (France in the Christmas strips) or standing up against his old oppressor Russia - although even then his self-confidence crumbles as soon as he is under pressure.
He is quite compliant, even obedient, usually being the one of the brothers who manages to get away easiest, mostly because he manages to stay under radar and just not get into situations that mean trouble in the end. Another reason might be that he just believes that things should be solved peacefully if possible. But although he can judge situations well usually, he can still make mistakes. And as soon as his little brother is in danger, he will scream his name and often try to come and save him - even though he is rather weak himself.
Estonia and his brothers Latvia and Lithuania used to be very close and grew even closer during the Soviet occupation; they grew apart after getting independent, though. Estonia was trying (without much success) to become recognized by the Nordic nations, and also getting closer to his old friend Finland again. The two of them seem to have known each other from a very early point in time.
Estonia is a rather quiet character, he can think about things calmly for a long time - although he can act too fast after coming to a certain conclusion, too (seen for example in the "the sort of lenient fight between Russia and me" strip when he accuses Russia of having hacked his site). He is proud of what he achieved in his life, but will not push the matter. The middle Baltic nation lacks his brothers' gentleness and caring attitude. He tries and it works sometimes, but he just isn't as emphatic as them, especially Lithuania. He's still a very friendly nation, though, who gets along very well with most nations, because of and also resulting in the general wealth that he enjoys. He also does well with computers and is very intelligent, his nickname being “honor student”
Abilities: As a nation, he is about immortal, can feel his people and soil nd is affected by what happens to them, and he affects them. He can handle all kinds of weapons that were ever used in his region pretty well and is a good, but not strong fighter. Also he is good with finances and technical things.
Sample Entry:
[There is the sound of shuffling, and the voice is low and tired when the young man speaks, a mix of worry and fear in his words. He very obviously tries to not be heard by whoever is close by, and has to will himself to not shout.]
Latvia? Please, Latvia, answer. Lithuania? Why... where are you? Please answer.
Mr Russia seems to have taken me to another house while I was sleeping, I don't know where it is, and I can't find either one of you... Mr Russia, if you're listenig, please tell me where they are.
[A pause. Waiting.]
You are still there, right? You didn't vanish. We've all been through worse. please, answer.