Axis Powers Hetalia: Neither Holy Nor Roman Nor An Empire
Neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire
All There in the Manual: Saxony and Bavaria (two other descendants of Germania) appear as background characters in the Austrian War of Secession. Saxony also appears in Comic Diary 7, Liechtenstein's Journal of Swiss Dopiness and Chibitalia (as one of HRE's bodyguards, but only in the manga). They are confirmed as elder brothers of Germany in the Prussia-centric Kuso-game, along with the additional three states of Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, and Brandenburg.
Subverted in the case of Chibitalia, Hungary, Austria and HRE. Austria's mansion is pretty big but the end of the Chibitalia strips suggests (if not outright states) that their spending wealth is very limited, which is remarked when HRE leaves the mansion with other Germanic states.
Played straight with the fancy palace where Austria and Hungary interact with Maria Theresa. It's a Justified Trope considering that Vienna is very famous for palaces like Belvedere or Schonbrunn.
Meido: As a young child living with Austria, Italy used to wear maid outfits. Especially in the Chibitalia chapter, which lampshades the trope when the Holy Roman Empire is seen with a portrait of Chibitalia and is asked if the model was a servant.
Team Dad: Austria, no question. He raises the girlish N. Italy with the help of Hungary.
Team Mom: Spain is this at start, being equal partners with Austria (or property?), and raising the boyish S. Italy. Hungary graduates to this from Cool Big Sis after she marries the local Team Dad.
The Sound Of Martial Music: Austria, though due to historical reasons Hungary plays a large role here as well.
Unsettling Gender Reveal: Young Prussia used to think that young Hungary was a boy, until he got to grope her chest. And some other characters thought that Chibitalia (child North Italy) was a little girl (the Holy Roman Empire included), until he hit puberty.
open/close all folders
The Holy Roman Empire
Italy, come with me, and become the Roman Empire again!
Ho Yay: He has a crush on Chibitalia, but he doesn't know Chibitalia is actually a boy. Later, as Germany, he has a crush on Italy again and he's quite scandalized by the fact he tries to date a guy. If he is actually Germany. (Though the hints are really, really laid thick)
Monochromatic Eyes: In the manga and merchandise. Subverted in the anime, where his eyes are changed to be brighter and with pupils and shine to them, as well as in the very recent strip of him as an older child/teen where his eyes are drawn with pupils.
Unlucky Childhood Friend: Italy's. According to France (in a deleted strip), HRE apparently perished in the war, but some definite hints say HRE actually lost his memory in the war and was found by Prussia later, then raised by him to become Germany.
Hungary - Elizabeta Héderváry
Ah, that horny man is touching his chest! Austria's nipples are sacred things!
Badass Adorable / Cute Bruiser: She started fighting when she was a little girl, and was able to take on both Prussia and Austria successfully. She also averts Chickification by both not being invincible in her "male" days and by being shown as physically strong (if not even stronger) during her "maid" ones.
Beware the Nice Ones: This cute and sweet maid brutalizes Prussia's army, watches him get ready to sleep with a spear in hand, and busts down a wall in his home to help out her beloved Austria.
Bifauxnen: For a request during the April Fool's 2011 event, Himaruya drew her dressed in a prince-like outfit with Liechtenstein. She also had shades of this when she was younger before she discovered she was a woman.
Her Halloween costume in the 2011 event was also a prince.
Not to mention her fancy outfit in the Gakuen games also qualifies as this.
Bi the Way: She may have some shades of this... Hungary suggested that Ukraine should wear the traditional ancient Crete dress (which completely exposes the breasts) in this comic strip
Bokukko: When she was a child, Hungary spoke rather boyishly, assuming that she was a boy and would grow up into a man (heck, when her breasts started developing, she actually thought that she was sick...). Ever since she grew out of this, though, she has perfectly feminine speech patterns, only reverting to boyish speech when she's very pissed off.
Wholesome Crossdresser: Himaruya originally intended to have Hungary as a crossdressing male. He used this idea for Poland instead.
Then again, she did take photos of the mess around Austria when he was groped by France.
Chickification: Averted very hard. She's actually manlier than a good chunk of the male cast.
And she gained girlier outlooks and sides, and she's not exactly ashamed of them. This is a girl who can pull a very nice Bifauxnen stint, and yet wears her hair down and with Hair Decorations as well.
Foe Yay: In Fanon, with Romania, emphasis on the 'foe' part, due to the fact that they hate each other with a burning passion. They probably have one of the strongest cases of antagonism. And this is true in Real Life, too, as Romanians and Hungarians still have some serious differences to settle. Doesn't stop fans from making Romania her Third Option Love Interest, after Austria and Prussia.
Frying Pan of Doom: If Hungary and Prussia are in the same comic, you can expect to see her attack him with at least this. France is another target when Hungary isn't in "Voyeurist" Mode. The frying pan probably comes from 'László the Brave,' a Hungarian slapstick comedy in the vein of 'Punch and Judy,' where the titular hero uses a huge frying pan to beat up his enemies.
Green Eyes: Justified, as it turns out. Hungary as one of the highest percentages of green eyes in Europe.
Hot Amazon / Ninja Maid: Hungary often dresses up as a meido (especially in the Maria Theresa mini arc). She's also very willing to use her spear to defend herself and/or Austria.
It seems to me that it's not a maid dress but a simplified version of the traditional Hungarian dress or folk attire.
It could actually be a mix of both factors. In Chibitalia we see Italy working as a maid at the "Holy Roman Empire Household" and dressing up as a maid, and when Hungary is introduced as his Cool Big Sis it's said they're technically in the same situation. And in "France and the frying pan", she's clearly wearing a normal maid outfit.
Platonic Life Partners: Kinda hinted to be this with Poland, which is supported by the historical connections between both nations. She refers to him as "Po-chan", to start.
While not quite as pimped out, Himaruya also drew her wearing a simple, but very elegant dress alongside Austria.
Single Woman Seeks Good Man: She and Austria. In her own words from the Gakuen Hetalia script: "My heart is Austrian territory!"
Also slightly subverted, due to her status as a Yaoi Fangirl. She does love and care for Austria, but rarely minds seeing her husband/boyfriend being felt up by other males...
Sitcom Archnemesis: She gets riled up whenever Romania's around. As shown in the 2011 Bloodbath, wherein there's already a bad tension in the air when Romania appears.
What Could Have Been: Along with the idea for Hungary as a man, Himaruya had another idea for her personality, with her being a snide and witchy type of woman who would shoot people full of arrows if they mistook her for a guy. The basis of her current design and this rejected personality were in turn recycled from a Hungarian witch character in a series that never materialized.
Yaoi Fangirl: Hungary loves nothing more than watching men having sex. Even if it's her husband. Who are we kidding, she loves it especially if it's her husband. ("Platonic and pure love", OUR FEET!) Justified Trope to a degree, considering Hungary's fame on pornography.
Artistic License - Biology: She thought she was a boy. She had the strangest theories to explain this. And she made fun of Prussia for not only thinking her theory was as unbelievable as it is, but for not knowing it already.
Austria - Roderich Edelstein
Beethoven attained greatness as an Austrian. He would count out 60 beans when he drank his coffee. This kind of over-serious behavior is characteristic of Austrians.
Bishōnen: While it could be argued that this applies to a lot of characters, Art Evolution seems to be hitting Austria hard in the latest manga volumes.
Dichter And Denker: The Dichter part, his musical skill being a nod to Austria's famous composers.
Elegant Classical Musician Really handsome, really skilled in piano playing. The official calendar and several fanarts also make him a skilled violinist.
Ermine Cape Effect: Subverted. While most of his outfits aren't flashy, there's still an element of elegance and class in them, his cravat being a constant.
Even the Guys Want Him: While pretty much every male has this going on, let's not forget that his beautiful wife loves seeing them hit on him in canon.
Impoverished Patrician: Just because the glory days of the Habsburgs are over doesn't mean Austria has to act like it. Prussia tries to blow his cover on his penny-pinching ways to Austria's archrival Switzerland. Too bad he forgets that for Switzerland, nothing is nobler than thrift.
Stoic Spectacles: Actually, Austria has a great emotional range: he can be 'solemn', 'sullen', 'stern', 'saturnine', 'harsh' and 'sterner'.
Neat Freak: As an aristocrat, he gets angry when seen disheveled. Even if it's by his wife. At least in public anyway.
Non-Action Guy: Much to Switzerland's frustration. Luckily, his partner and wife is a Ninja Maid who's more than happy to fight for him, while he remains as Mission Control.
Also lampshaded in a strip where it's revealed that his fastest walking pace is slower than everyone else.
No Sense of Direction: Says Word Of God. Alluded to in the Valentine's strip when Austria is about to go out to get something for Hungary, and Germany tells him that he won't be able to come get him if he gets lost. Austria decides to make something with his own hands instead.
Again alluded to in Hetalia Bloodbath 2010 when he gets lost looking for the phone that's just in the next room.
Not So Stoic: He does have considerable control over his emotions. But even he has certain limits.
Playing Cyrano: In the Valentine's strip, Germany asks him for help and advice on dealing with Italy.
Real Men Wear Pink: He sees himself as highly cultured, enjoys gardening and seems to be better at making pastries than actually fighting. And that's not counting the corset in Hetalia Bloodbath 2011. This is in turn in contrast to Hungary.
Vestigial Empire: He may no longer be a high and mighty Empire (and he sure misses it). But that hasn't stopped him from acting as though he still is one.
Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: He's TERRIFIED of sea creatures according to a Drama CD where he freaks out twice from Italy's catches, once over a crab and once over a sea star.
Prussia - Gilbert Beilschmidt
Mission Complete! Praise me! Hail me! On your knees!
Voiced by: Atsushi Kousaka (JP), Jonathan Brooks (EN)
Beam Me Up, Scotty! - Never Live It Down: He never said anything about "vital regions". Others did it (namely: Austria, Spain, Lithuania, and Hungary)
Beneath the Mask: Pretends to be an arrogant jerk, but really he's just lonely.
Though he really is arrogant and rude at least to some extent. However, he does have other kinds of feelings too - namely loneliness - he just doesn't show them to others, letting them see only his Jerkass persona. Also see Hidden Depths below.
Berserk Button: Prussia seems to have a number of these, such as words that sound like Mark.
Big Brother Mentor: He's supposed to be this to Germany. Even though he doesn't really accomplish his job.
He had better results with America, though. Sort of.
Bi the Way: Has had some "moments" with Hungary, and is apparently interested in Italy. Not to mention there's the Foe Yay with Austria...
Chivalrous Pervert: As mentioned below, Prussia talks big, but when it comes to actually seeing his childhood "friend" Hungary pretty much naked, he freaks out.
Diary: over 250,000 entries long, if he's really written in it every day. That was a pretty impressive library he opened up...
Determinator: He has survived many disasters that could have killed some other nation-tan, or at least reduced them into insignificance. When whatever he is currently representing gets offed for good, he simply reshapes himself into something new and eventually makes a comeback. And through his darkest times he keeps up his highs spirits. One could argue that while he isn't as awesome as he thinks he is, his true Badassness is his hellbent refusal to go down and die.
After becoming secularized he seems to have dropped his chasteness. Though we're let to understand he's not very succesful in courting anyone, so for all we know he could still be a virgin.
"The spot next to me is always open!"
Men Don't Cry: Oh surely they do. Prussia breaks down in tears rather often, but mostly manages to pull off some sort of Manly Tears. While insisting things like
"I'm so happy to be alone it makes me cry!"
Mugging the Monster: Oh Prussia, it really isn't a good idea to pick fights with the resident Psychopathic Manchild, especially when he's gonna seize control of you in the future...
Mysterious Past: Usually with Hetalia you can pretty much read each character's life story from Wikipedia. But this nation-tan character is more or less artifically created, as one cannot draw a clear line from The Teutonic Knights to the kingdom of Prussia, let alone from there to East Germany. (If he ever even becomes East Germany. In his latest bio he is hinted to be Kaliningrad.) Therefore much of his life is left for Canon Fodder.
Nice Hat: He actually wears the legendary/notorious Pickelhaube in the Austro-Prussian War preview.
His 18th Century tricorne is pretty sweet, too.
The Nicknamer: To some extend. West, Old Fritz, the Aristocrat, Four-Eyes, Specs, the Pervert...
No Social Skills: Used for comedic purposes. His usual method of dealing with people is annoy them and see what happens.
"Alright! It's fun to poke that aristocrat and see his reaction!"
Non Human Side Kick: Gilbird, a small yellow bird flying around him and perching on his head or shoulder.
OoC is Serious Business: As he usually keeps up his grin even when he's feeling miserable or insecure, when he gets serious something big is going on. Most notably did this while Hungary came into accepting she's a female.
Pure Awesomeness: Subverted. For all his claims, he just thinks he is.
Raised by Dudes: Hinted by Hungary in one comic, mentioning how Prussia was "surrounded only by men" since birth.
All the other characters are nations by birth, and have grown up representing normal people of both genders leading normal lives from the cradle to the grave. For a long time Prussia represented nothing but already grown-up males leading militaric, ascetic life style.
" Prussia around this time was really ghastly in a lot of ways, huh."
Spell My Name with an S: There is a speculation for the spelling of his surname for either "Weillschmidt" or "Beilschmidt". However, Beilschmidt is considered the more correct spelling by most fans, since it is an actual German name unlike Weillschmidt.
The Strategist: Learns his Strategy-fu from Old Fritz, and is later shown teaching it to Germany. It's necessary for him, as he's not the nation blessed with the largest of population, or the most advantageous of geography.
Also pancakes with maple syrup, ever since Canada introduced them to him.
While potatoes are more connected with Germany, they deserve a special mention as Prussia was taught to eat them by Old Fritz. After some persuading, that is.
Training from Hell: He does this on America during the American Revolution, where he forces him to do push ups while he whips him with a riding crop.
Author's Note: Prussian-style is extremely harsh. Training → Abuse → Training → Abuse
Undying Loyalty: Said to be very loyal to his bosses, and shown to still be very fond of Old Fritz's memory.
Sibling Rivalry: If Real Life is anything to go by, he and Prussia should have the worst of relationship. (Notice how Prussia sometimes refers to himself as "North German" instead of "German".) Referenced briefly to in Prussia's character song. Historically he's this to both Prussia and Austria, and sometimes played their own rivarly for his own ends.
What Happened to the Mouse?: Has a few brief cameos here and there, the first one being already in the original Chibitalia story, but fades away only to be later mentioned by Prussia.
