Post by angelinehofstee on Oct 26, 2010 23:59:20 GMT -5
(((Mijn herinneringen-Mes souvenirs)))
Nation: Belgium
Name: Angeline Hofstee
Gender: Female
Appearance Age: 23
Hair Color: Dark golden blonde
Eye Color: Green
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Appearance: Belgium has shoulder-length, dark blonde hair. It is usually adorned with a head band that is tied into a ribbon at the hairline. Her eyes are a sea green of sorts, and they tend to be a little more thin compared to the other European girls. She has a pale complexion. When she is feeling happy or naughty, a catty grin appears on her face. It is something of a trade mark of hers.
As for body type, unlike some of the more dainty women, Belgium has a bit of a build. Not like a female body builder mind you, but she definitely has some muscle to her. It doesn't show much though. It comes with being related to The Netherlands. She is quite buxom as well, though not as much as Ukraine quite obviously. Her legs are nice and long, in comparison to her torso. Her feet are normal for someone her size.
Belgium likes to wear almost anything. But nothing extremely fancy, unless it's a special occasion. She tends to wear pastel, creamy reds. Like many nations, dressing in her country's colors is favorable. She wore dresses almost exclusively in her younger days. As the 20th century rolled around however, she enjoyed the new freedoms that came with it...including wearing pants, shorts, etc. She adores suspenders. To put it simply, she likes to pull off the tomboy look. But even then she feels like wearing nice dresses too. She is torn between things alot, but more on that later.
(((Savez Uzelf )))
Personality: Angeline is a paradox in many ways. She, like most countries has had a harsh past, mixed with happiness and tragedy. This seems to be played out in her own personality traits, and more so than other nations. She can be cheerful and quite friendly, but she is intimidating when angered, and has quite the attitude. She doesn't like putting up with annoying behavior, and will promptly tell you to cut it out (not necessarily so nicely...). What she finds annoying and not annoying...is questionable however. The fact that her northern half, home to the Flemish, and the the south, home to the Walloons never get along increases her somewhat random personality changes. It also has been causing her much physical strain recently, as seperationist movements have been getting stronger and stronger. She would never admit to the pain though, because she wants to prove how tough she can be.
Belgium has been subjugated almost all her life, and by many different nations. She has also been used again and again as a battlefield in the European wars. This is so true, that she has been dubbed the "Battleground of Europe". Thus she has many scars, most emotional that she carries around. She is conflicted in the fact that she does not trust outsiders, yet needs them for her global economy. Even more so...is the fact that an "outsider" does not even have a clear definition. The Flemish view the francophones as outsiders, and the Walloons vice versa.
She dislikes authority that she has not approved of herself. Angeline is rebellious and quirky, but especially towards her brother. The only person she really allows to tell her what to do is Spain, and even then, it's more because he's her friend than anything. She likes to let him have his fun and think he is a "boss". She also humors Romano to a certain extent.
Even with these changes in her persona, she does not stand out alot, and is almost always forgotten. Even when it comes to her friends like Spain, and France... they don't think of her that much. If you asked them to name their friends, they might not even mention her. Naturally, being a small country, this fact is understandable. Still she resents it, but has gotten used to it over time. So, she likes to boast of any and all accomplishments she has made. Even if they are not of great importance. Notable here is the fact that she refuses to drink non-Belgian beer. The E.U., her newest accomplishment, is something she will gloat over for hours if you mention it. She rushed to industrialize, and is pretty good with technology and is up to date. She utilizes cars a little more readily than her brothers.
Likes:
★Sweets and snacks of almost any kind. (She prefers them to full blown meals many times.)
★Beer.
★ Being considered legitimate,independent, and strong.
★Spain
★Romano
★
★ Order to an extent.
★Precision
★Going out with friends to clubs, and parties.
★Children
★ Being a mother or big sister figure.
★Cooking.
★Shopping for things she likes.
Dislikes:
✖ Being dominated in any way.
✖Being dependent on anyone.
✖Bitter foods.
✖War in general, because she is usually used to advance it.
✖The conflict within herself.
✖People assuming she can't do things.
✖Having to speak or think about the Belgian Congo, Burundi or Rwanda.
Fears:
☣The unknown(if she dissolves)
☣Being part of France and/or The Netherlands
☣Karma
☣The E.U. collapsing.
Secrets:
♦She enjoys Netherland's company at times. He is the only person who really pays attention to her and cares about her involvement in his life.
♦She wishes to be an Empire again(albeit a much kinder one).
♦Belgium would really like to kick Germany's ass one day. The way he did to her.
Strengths:
While not physically strong, she has a knack for sniping. She is quite handy with a rifle. Belgium has high pain tolerance, and a lot of endurance as well.
She can also be quick with her words, and is quite good at speaking different languages.
Weaknesses:
Her stubborn attitude can get her deeper into trouble than to begin with. And the inability to finalize decisions is also a vice. Belgium either over thinks things when trying to make choices, or, in an attempt to override that habit, she makes them too fast.
(((De bladzijden de l'Histoire )))
History:
1st century BC: the Romans defeated the local tribes and created the province of Gallia Belgica. (Interesting fact: Julius Caesar said that "Of all the [Germanic] tribes, the Belgae are the most courageous." )
Beginning of third century A.D. : Roman holds in Belgium run over by German tribes. Franks rule over the area.
843 A.D. : Treaty of Verdun is created. Emporer Charlemagne's grandsons divide the most of the area now known as Belgium, amongst themselves
1214 A.D. : Attempts to free themselves from France fail at The Battle of Bouvines.
1261-1294 A.D. : Battles to push back German forces behind the Rhine by John I Duke of Brabant succeed. German power held in check for some times.
1302 A.D. : A massacre of all Frenchmen in the city of Bruges, ignites a fierce battle between French and Flemish forces called The Battle of the Golden Spurs. This results in the emancipation of Flanders.
1419-1464 A.D. : Philip the Good unites and rules almost all of modern day Belgium, for the first time since Emperor Charlemagne.
1470s : Mary of Burgundy assumes the throne. She was a weak ruler and was pressured to chose a good husband for the future of the country. She ended up being married to Archduke Maximilian, son of the Holy Roman Emperor. This would be what eventually tied the Spanish to the Hapsburgs.
1504 : Mary's son, Phillip the Handsome, marries the Spanish princess Juana (La Loca). With that union, they rule over both the Spanish and the Hapsburg Empire.
1526 : Phillip's son, Charles uses the military power and location of his two Empires to put the squeeze on France. France signed the Peace of Madrid, in which they gave up all claims Flanders and Artois.
1555 : Phillip the II, Charles' son takes over. He prefers to Spain, and decides to rule from there. From this point on, the lowlands (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.) are more political tools of the Spanish empire than equals.
1565 : Nobles( of all the lowlands) were not happy with this arrangement. They created the Compromise of the Nobles, and attempted to make a revolution of sorts. Phillip sends "bloody" Duke of Alba to crush the revolt.
1576 : Delegates from the North (Netherlands) and the South (Belgium) met to discuss further rebellion. But religious differences made compromise impossible. Spanish and French Catholic influence in Belgium, and the Holy Roman Empire's Protestant slant in the Netherlands had already split the two. Civil war ensued. Since the Belgians also held "Legitimate Government" to be right, and rose up with Spain against separating with the Netherlands.
1598 : Belgium recognized for the first time as a separate state, though still ruled by Spain.
1648 : Another war, but this time, Belgium was wedged between France and the Netherlands. France wanted all territories known as "Gaul" to be his. This included Belgium. The treaty left her with Spain, but she lost the Scheldt river mouth. Spain refused to sign the treaty. However soon it wouldn't matter either way.
1659 : France defeats Spain and takes even more parts of Belgium.
1684 : The Spanish realize the situation is hopeless and sign the Treaty of Regensburg. This gives France ruler ship of Belgium. Belgians still fought and resisted though...
1713 : The English went about challenging and manipulating countries against each other in order to obtain a balance of power. This included giving The Netherlands the ability to occupy Belgium in order to provide a boundary for the French( Though Belgium was under the house of Hapsburg.). This was what was stated in the Treaty of Utrecht. This was the first time that the Netherlands was forced to recognize Belgians as their own people.
October 7th, 1797 : France, under the leadership of Napoleon, takes over Belgium.
1814 : Belgians successfully boot the French out with the help of Allies against France.
June 18th , 1815 : Battle of Waterloo. Fought on Belgian soil.
May 30th 1814 : The Congress of Vienna wrote up the Treaty of Paris. This treaty states that Belgium would be annexed into The Netherlands to become one land once again. The purpose was to create a line to prevent France from invading again.
August 25th, 1830 : Revolts against Dutch rule first appears in Brussels but eventually spreads out all over Belgium. Dutch soldiers do not open fire. Prince of Orange comes in to speak to the people, but leaves without making any promises. The Belgians decided that if no promises would be made, they would have to handle things themselves.
September 27th, 1830 : The Belgian Revolution begins. The Dutch and Belgians fight a little, but soon they decide to leave. Very little bloodshed occurs and the insurrection is successful.
July 21st, 1831 : Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, is named King of Belgium. Several days later, the Dutch invade and the Belgians fight back. However, the Dutch easily defeat them within 10 days. The Dutch and Belgians thereby occupy each others lands. Chaos ensues.
November 15th, 1831 : London convention intervenes with the Treaty of 24 articles in favor of Belgium. The Netherlands refuses to sign and acknowledge Belgium's independence.
April 19th, 1839 : All states interested (including the Netherlands) sign the treaty officially recognizing Belgium as her own country. (It is worth noting that this treaty forced Belgium to stay neutral.)
1885 : The Belgians take over the Congo under Leopold the II.
August 4th 1914 : German forces march into Belgium, igniting the first world war.
1924 : Belgium gains German provinces of Ruanda and Urundi.
1940 : German forces invade Belgium once again.
1946 : BeNeLux alliance is made between BElgium, NEtherlands, and LUXembourg.
July 23, 1952 : The Treaty of Paris becomes effective. Belgium is one of the founding members. This alliance would evolve into the European Union.
1960 : Belgian Congo gains independence. Followed shortly by Rwanda and Burundi.
2010 : Flemish Seperationist Party is the Largest in Flanders. Instability and rivalry between the Flemish and Walloons has reached a point to where the dissolution seems possible.
Allies:
England since her creation.
France during the World Wars.
Netherlands and Luxembourg in present day.
Spain in the golden age of the Spanish empire.
Enemies:
France almost all the time before the World wars.
The Netherlands during the Belgian revolution and the conflict in the 1830s
Germany during both world wars.
Sample Post:
The wind blew through the lowlands that were now beginning to fill with smoke. The strong breeze was refreshing, but it hardly helped ease Belgium's troubled mind. The ash in the air only made her sense what she already knew. The onslaught of German troops is approaching, and in reality, there was nothing she could do to stop them. The burnings and killings caused her head to spin and the smells made her queasy. Smoldering horse and human flesh filled her nose and made it hard to walk along the beaten path on which the Belgian forces were retreating without wobbling over.
The letter that had reached Brussels only months before, demanding she let Germany march into France via her homeland, was the beginning of the end. She knew this. But, she respected and was loyal to England and the Treaty of London. It was what had given her what she had craved since the 1600s: the independence and freedom of her home. So, If it required that she be a defensive wall between two powers...so be it. She would show the world how important her existence was to Europe's peace in whatever way she could. She would admit, the temptation to allow Germany to plow Francis over, like had happened to him The Franco-Prussian War, was awfully tempting. But she refused to let that thought take over her will and drive. No, this was her time to prove her value to England, the country that held her independence in his hands.
Germany had much more resources than her, but she had a much fiercer drive. Still, even though she killed more considering her small numbers, like locust they kept coming and coming. It was a never ending swarm of dull green. The Belgian generals had decided that it was time to kill the hordes with one final assault (or at least attempt to). Belgium was antsy at the thought. It would be a bit painful for her, but anything to send Germany packing. What made her upset the most was the fact that she knew,deep down, that this plan would not stop him permanently. It seemed to her that she would go through more pain, simply to set them back a couple of days. Her body started trembling as they came up to the city of Antwerp.
The soldiers got situated in the old forts of Antwerp, many talking of things that made Belgium quite depressed. Conversation of the good old days they had lived in. Many of the soldiers were young, which made thoughts of their assumed fate worse for the upcoming country. So much wasted. She supposed this was God's punishment on her, for what had been and was happening in her African colonies. She grimaced, there was just no comforting her today. Not even the soldiers. Of course, at this time she was disguised as one. Women were not allowed in the army, so she had put her hair up in her hat and tied down her chest. King Albert had been worried, but she assured him she would be fine. Hiding with the women and children would not make her pains any better. So, in any case, the soldiers had no idea what and whom she was. Thus, they thought nothing of comforting her, aside from the occasional firm pat on the back, or the worried, but hopeful smiles they threw her way.
It was times like this, that she longed for her brother's help. But she would not even admit that to herself. He was remaining neutral, and unlike her, did not posses a border shared with France. She envied him so...
It was time. Belgium closed her eyes. She inhaled. The seconds froze. Soldiers around her cheered as they smashed it. She couldn't hear them. Everything blurred. Then it broke completely. Water from the already enlarged Yser river burst out of it's constraints, rushing down the lowland's valleys. The torrent surely would slow the German soldiers. From their high point, they would simply snipe the invaders out of existence. She felt heavy, and kneeled down. It wasn't the worst thing she had ever felt, but the pressure was crushing. She struggled to breathe, but the excitement of the other soldiers kept them from noticing. It was still nothing she hadn't experienced before, so she slowly got up and watched the soldiers cheer. They couldn't see the Germans, but their imaginations could. She smiled uneasily. It was worth it to see them smile, perhaps for the last time.
Did you read the rules and Dark Reflections Canon?
I think Italian pasta is great for surrre~
Random fun fact about yourself:
Hmmm. Nothing extremely interesting. I am kinda afraid of rabbits, and I don't like cucumbers (or any kind of squash really). I enjoy over-cast days and dense forests. I like meeting people and am very friendly. This will be my first literate RP.
