#aph history

[lemonerix]

"...and when I'm gone, will you remember me?"

"When you're gone? I doubt someone like you would be going anywhere anytime soon."

"Haha, you're right. I suppose I'll be stuck here for a while."

"Good, because I need someone to keep praising the awesome me!"

[pepsiloverswarehouse]

attack of the dead

[iam-lnt]

The Age of Louis XIV

Voltaire, who wrote Le sciècle de Louis XIV (The Age of Louis XIV), started off by doing a recount of the states of Europe before Louis XIV. and my hetalia brain rot began to go wild so i figure this can help me understand the first chapter of the book better so I sorted out quotes and made a brief summary for each mentioned nation in order that is written in the book to help enforce my understanding.

Germany*

*- "Germany" refers to the Empire of Germany, known in history as the Holy Roman Empire; since the 15th century, its throne had been occupied by the Habsburgs

"...the most powerful neighbor which France has...it abounds more with sturdy men inured to labor." "this great Germanic body...is maintained in [... ] order and regularity [...] The difference of government and genius makes...the Germans [more proper] for acting on the defensive."

Summary: strong, divided into two parties by Christianity. Emperor has less power in compare to a King in France. Was at the time pretty poor despite being "rich at home", and would eventually see its flourishing later on.

Spain

"...more formidable to Europe than the Germanic Empire. The kings of Spain were infinitely more absolute and rich than emperors..." "[Spain] under Philip II became a vast body without substance, which had more reputation than real strength...Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, Spain, by being united to the empire, threw a very formidable weight into the balance of Europe."

Summary: strong #2, starting to see its weak points, but still a ringing force and surviving well with the colonies.

Portugal

"...Portugal was again made a kingdom...through necessity, cultivated trades...entered into a league with the French and Dutch against Spain." "Portugal...extended its trade, and augmented its power..."

Summary: doing well over there. Shall watch your career with great interest.

The United Provinces

"...almost the only example in the world of what may be done by the love of liberty and unwearied labor. There poor people...made head against the whole collected force of their master and tyrant...and founded a power which we have seen counterbalancing that of Spain itself." "...they established a form of government which preserves...equality, the most natural right of human kind."

Summary: quite an admirable force (don't mess with the Dutch's money bags™️). Good government.

England

"England...arrogated to itself the sovereignty of the seas, and pretended to preserve a balance between the powers of Europe." "This civil war...[made England] lost [...] credit in Europe...trade was obstructed, and other nations looked upon [England]...till the time that she at once became more formidable than ever, under the rule of Cromwell."

Summary: pirate arc of England sprouting. Charles I could do well in anything but being a king ("ill-advised prince"). Waiting for Cromwell to do his thing.

Rome/The rest of Italy

I merged these two parts together for ✨aesthetics✨

"[Rome] has very little trade or money. [Rome's] spiritual authority...is slighted and abhorred by one half of Christendom...yet [...] some [...] resist [Rome's] will at times with reason and success." "but [the privileges] of Rome, by an almost constant proper use of resolution and concession, has preserved all that was humanly possible for her to preserve." "Some rights, many pretensions, patience and politics are all that Rome has left now of that ancient power..."

Summary: typical pope behavior, but in reality was losing respect and control. Impressively that was dealt with seasoned insight, and different oppositions of different kings/emperors were met with different levels of defense ("submissive...terrible to..acting cunningly"). Sly old fox, if you will.

"...situated in a peaceble country...biassed by various interests." "The state of Florence enjoyed tranquility and abundance under [...] Medici; and literature, arts, and politeness [...] still flourished there."

Summary: the typical Renaissance still doing the thing. Less disturbed by conflicts compared to the northern parts.

The Northern Kingdoms

"The Swedes [...] were a freer nation by their constitution which admits even the lowest class of the people into the assembly of the general estates." "Denmark...was no longer so [formidable] to any power."

Summary: Sweden good. Denmark flopping a bit. The rest of the northern kingdoms were doing their best (fighting)

The Turks

"The seraglio, though corrupted by effeminacy, still retained its cruelty...when it had [recovered from wars], this empire became again formidable."

Summary: may look messy back home but still don't underestimate the power

The situation of France

"France [...] was in alliance with Sweden, Holland, Savoy and Portugal...was engaged in a war against the empire of Spain...The French there has done the Spaniards and Germans a great deal of mischief, and had suffered as much themselves."

Summary: fighting with Spain (and also the house of Austria, so also Germany), tho the battles has reduced to petty squabbles over "a few frontier towns". Richelieu came to raise tax.

---

Works cited The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version. A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901). In 21 vols. Vol. XII.

--- Rambling (just a little) time.

Okay first off, bear in mind that all the quotes and summarized content are from the pov of Voltaire, so there can be possible biases.

I've been invested in the reign of Louis XIV for quite a while now, and I can attribute the reasons to 1) BBC Versailles, 2) Molière, and 3) general liking to history at the time (17-18c). I'm trying to figure out what exactly that the time period attracted me so much, like what "vibe" what "ideal" etc, but I'm still trying. And reading that book, which is long as hell, not to mention the messy af™️ European drama and people having Too Similar Names may just be helpful in terms of getting to know the history that happened in and around the court of Louis XIV.

Welp, gotta read more if I want to know more.

[eisenrosen]

Mein schiesse son Alfred who shoots me with guns

[lookiamnotshameless]

A man who looks surprisingly plain without his glasses, as described by Himaruya Hidekaz, aka a liar who LIES.

I intentionally didn't use anything from APH, because you can argue that his concept had changed since then or something. But you know what, Hima still lies.

(Roderich's feelings about his own face are a wholly separate thing.)

[renonv]

Legend has it that only a kiss of the one who may truly humble the dumbass warrior will free him from the imprisonment of stone ❤️

Sorry guys! On this blog there’s no order. Just random gay thoughts that pop into my head that I will hopefully draw more of later 😋💕

[ifindus]

Would love to hear your thoughts about Norway during his peak in the Middle Ages - The old kingdom!

Thank you so much for all the top-tier historical asks you’ve filled my inbox with 🙏🥺💖 I very much appreciate it ✨

Norgesveldet, Norway at its largest and most powerful is such an interesting topic, and I’d like to take this opportunity to talk more about Norway’s character arch and his standing in Scandinavia during this time. And along this, @95jezzica’s hc that Norway is the oldest out of the Scandis, which I absolutely love.

During the 1200s Norway is at his peak. He is the largest he has ever been, ruling over land far away, a result of his exploration and craftiness at sea. He is involved with an extensive trading network, stretching from his settlements on Greenland, Iceland, the Faeroe Islands, Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, as well as large areas that today belongs to Sweden, with connections to Europe through the Hanseatic League as well as his neighbours. Many of Norway’s territories are inhabited by Norwegian settlers, who all pay taxes to the Norwegian crown, accumulating a fair amount of coin to be spent on buildings and other stately projects. He has the entire North Atlantic under his control. Norway is exporting iron, furs, fish, and fish oil to the rest of Europe. At this time, Norway is the largest nation in Europe measured by land.

At home, Norway has just finished his civil war in 1240, and with a new and stable system in place, he flourishes; the Sagas are written, churches are built, and cities are founded. A sort of government is formed, and a new law is made, establishing a more developed justice system and a more effective military system. Norway was the second kingdom in Europe to be gathered under a common law (after Castille) and establishes diplomatic connections to other countries. The administration of the Norway is solidified and he really takes his shape as a powerful and well-established nation.

Based on the actual year of founding, Norway is the oldest “nation” in Scandinavia, and I want to give Jezz credit here for influencing me towards this hc. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have all been more or less equal throughout the Viking Age, with some periods where they were in alliances and had more complex relations. Norway was allowed to grow on the basis of Denmark being weaker etc. But we essentially have three nations who grew up together here, similar in age, development, and influence. And we see Norway really grow up through his civil war between 1130 and 1240, coming out stronger as a result. In the 1200s and 1300s he is a genuine powerful nation who has powerful connections and resources.

Then, we get The Plague, The Black Death. Norway is hit a lot harder than Denmark and Sweden. It is almost fatal to him and it nearly kills him, eventually merging his royal family into those of his neighbours, and we see Denmark especially take advantage of the situation to form the Kalmar Union.

And this all makes such an interesting character development for Norway. As a slightly older nation with a rich and proud history, being an equal or maybe even more powerful than his neighbours, at his definite peak, to take such a fall. To end up being stowed away, his existence merely symbolic at times, seeing his future as uncertain and under the total control of others. He falls. He is crippled. And he ends up being tossed around for nearly 500 years before he can finally stand up as an independent nation once more.

It really makes for such an interesting dynamic between the Scandis as well. Both Denmark and Sweden knows what Norway used to be, how powerful and proud he was, and they see what he has been reduced to after the Plague and during the union. Maybe they even start to forget who he used to be. Though sometimes, in certain situations when he is fired up, they can see remnants of the nation he once was.

They are definitely reminded of his past in 1814 and 1905.

[pokytoad]

(holds your hand) I need you to imagine Commonwealth Liet being a burly pagan warrior decked in leather and furs and looking menacing by default but also having the saint-like patience to let a crowd of village children take turns braiding his hair and decorating it with flowers (and probably sticks/leaves too for more pizzazz)

[goldenstarprincesses]

*modern trench warfare being used for the first time in a major conflict during the American civil war*

*trench warfare leaving mental scars on Alfred that takes years of healing to move past*

Alfred showing up to Europe and seeing they somehow made trench warfare worse

[dandelion6669]

WHYYYYYYY WHYYYYY WHY WHYYYYY

DOES NO ONE SPEAK ABOUT

🙌THAT🙌

[billowingangel]

╭────────────────────.🗺..─╮ If you're a hetalian and bored click here! ╰─..🗺.────────────────────╯

(≥ヮ≤)Ⳋ Carrd includes 12 different categories you can distract yourself with!

Art included is by @/Titaniumtsar and @/Arumidden (^し^)

( ∂ ω ∂ ) If you have any suggestions for links to add send them my way!

I hope this helps to distract and entertain anyone whose bored (´ヮ`)~*

[lookiamnotshameless]

I like to imagine that the Bad Friends Trio shade Roderich all the time when they're sober, but when they get really drunk, he becomes Europe's No. 1 taboo topic.

If anyone mentions Roderich while these three got drunk out of their brains, Gilbert gets weepy and angry and all kinds of unintelligible annoying drunkard about how he's been extremely down bad for Roderich ever since the nth century and that asshole keeps choosing anyone, anyone in Europe other than him. He did so much! He kind of tore Roderich's shit apart! And Roderich wouldn't even look at him!

Which makes Antonio start talking about the 200 years he was married to Roderich, not because he wants to hurt Gilbert or because he's jealous, but because he's the sort of drunk who likes to rant and rave about happy times to assert some control over his memories of them after they've slipped out of his hands probably unto forever.

Which makes Gilbert weep worse. Which makes Francis, who's the only one here who actually got to have something with Roderich without putting his entire heart into it, start talking how he totally understands, because Roderich was extremely hot when he was losing a war or when he does this and that. Which makes everything spiral down a drain REALLY FAST.

Bonus funnies if they were doing this in a Swiss bar and got thrown out of the entire country, only to be stalked by a Bastard Frypan Demon From Hell, who may or may not be there for either their blood or their deets.

[franconianmenace]

honestly I admire those people who have well researched headcanons because mine are 90% just vibes

[mystybird]

al and his first giiiiiiirlyyyyyyy friend (she’s a human and this will end tragically)

[shtoproishoditemae]

Poland again

[ifindus]

i dont know if you've already answered a similar question — but do you think that norway/denmark/sweden still speak/write/understand old norse well? or is it just iceland these days?

Probably just Iceland, because his language is the most similar to old Norse and he is very proud of his old saga literature, so he'd want to be able to read it in his old language and has constantly been maintaining it. The Scandi trio could probably make out some sentences and words and get the general gist of the contents, but if you haven't spoken it in a 1 000 years, you'll probably forget a lot of it, and they haven't bothered to maintain it as well as Iceland.