List of historical characters in Hetalia: Axis Powers
This is a list of historical characters in Hetalia: Axis Powers. These characters represent either inexplicitly or explicitly actual persons from history and are shown interacting with Nations in different manners such as a "boss" (i.e. ruler).
Contents
Europe
Adolf Hitler
- Voiced by: Ken Takeuchi
- Voiced by (English dub): R Bruce Elliott
Adolf Hitler, referred to as "Germany's boss", is seen in stories set around the time of World War II. He first appears Chapter 4: Pact of Steel of the original webcomic, where he and Germany are preparing for a meeting with Russia. He has misplaced something and is giving Germany notes on what to do when he arrives, including having high-class Vodka on hand. Germany later complains to Finland about his boss, claiming that he even sent him to try to find the Holy Grail. Finland asks if Germany worries that he boss might throw him in jail for complaining, and while Germany expresses his doubts, Finland concludes that Germany's boss could foreseeably go that far.
Friedrich II
- See Friedrich II of Prussia on Wikipedia
Prussia's favorite boss of all time, whom he refers to as "Old Fritz."
Jadwiga of Poland
- See Jadwiga of Poland on Wikipedia
Poland's boss during the The First Time The Poland Rule Was Used strips.
Jeanne d'Arc
- Voiced by: Michiko Neya
- Voiced by (English dub): Dana Schultes
Jeanne d'Arc, also referred to as "Joan of Arc" and "that girl," first appears in a series of illustrations called Big Brother France and That Kid, which showed her relationship with France. Jeanne is shown admonishing France and telling him that she is fighting for his sake.
Joanna of Castile
- Voiced by: Michiko Neya
Joanna of Castile, also referred to as "Spain's boss", is seen in stories set around South Italy's childhood as an underling of Spain. She first appears during one of Spain's attempts to teach Romano how to speak Spanish, and after asking Spain on his progress, Romano asks Joanna "Dame un Beso!" ("Give me a kiss!"). In the footnotes it is explained that she was sometimes called "Mad Queen Joanna" due to a purported mental illness, and it was said that she would sometimes do things repeatedly in confusion. As a result of that environment and time period, the pressure of her position made her a very unhappy and ridiculed ruler.
In the anime adaption of Boss Spain’s control of Southern Italy, Part 2 she replaces an unseen ruler in scolding Spain for starting a war with Turkey just so he could get Romano back. In the version of Spain's Spanish lesson seen in the published manga, she is replaced with Belgium.
Joseph Stalin
Josef Stalin, referred to as "Russia's boss" or "Russia's adviser", is seen in stories set around the time of World War II. He is first alluded to in Chapter 4: Pact of Steel when Lithuania overhears a meeting between him and Russia where the later explains the plans for the Invasion of Poland.
Maria Theresa
- See Maria Theresa of Austria on Wikipedia
Austria's boss during the War of Austrian Succession strips.
Niccolo Machiavelli
- See Niccolo Machiavelli on Wikipedia
Appeared once in a strip. He wrote a book with great war strategies entitled The Art of War, but in the end none of them did actually work.
Władysław II
- See Władysław II on Wikipedia
Also known as Jogaila, he is Lithuania's boss in The First Time The Poland Rule Was Used.
Other Characters
Other European historical characters have been mentioned in the context of the series in addition to the ones listed above. In Chapter 3 of the original webcomic, England gets drunk and begins swearing about Lafayette and Kościuszko - two prominent European members of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In the webcomic The Austrian Anschluss, Germany and Austria have an arguement about whether the composer Ludwig van Beethoven would be considered German or Austrian. Francisco Franco appears at the end of the strip The story of Italy’s big brother where he and Spain are making roses in order to earn money due to the poor economy.
Asia
Xuande Emperor
- See Xuande Emperor on Wikipedia
China's boss in the China's Age Of Exploration strips.
Zheng He
- See Zheng He on Wikipedia
A notable Chinese explorer, he is seen with China asking him a question in China's Age Of Exploration.
Other Characters
Other Asian historical characters have been mentioned in the context of the series in addition to the ones listed above. Emperor Kōmei of Japan appears in the strip Black ships have come~ where he is seen furiously preying for the Americans that came on the Black Ships to leave. The following emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji, appears in the strip The Anglo-Japanese Alliance between two lonely people where he tries and fails to make friends with Russia behind Japan's back after he sees Japan start to become friendly with England.
Tōgō Heihachirō, a Fleet Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, appears in the strip "The Cuisine That Was Originally England's" in Comic Diary 4, where he orders Japan to prepare him Beef Stew that he had eaten at England's. Japan improvises the recipe leading to the creation of Nikujaga.
North America
North American historical characters have been mentioned in the context of the series. In the strip Reduce your opponent’s willpower American-style, America's Boss (unclear whether it is Franklin D. Roosevelt or Harry S. Truman) suggests that they try to paint Mt. Fuji red in order to lower Japanese moral. However the plan is scrapped once they realize how much paint would be necessary to go through with it. In the same strip one of America's Bosses during the Cold War has America order 25cm condoms from Russia in order to intimidate them, but they are delivered with the label "XS" (Extra Small).
President Franklin Pierce appears in the strip Black ships have come~ where he orders America to go visit Japan in order to try and gain access to the whale population living in Japanese waters.
Gallery
Hitler giving instructions to Germany in Chapter 3
France and Jeanne d'Arc from Big Brother France and That Kid
America and his boss (1945) discuss their plan in Reduce your opponent’s willpower American-style
One of America's Bosses during the Cold War in Reduce your opponent’s willpower American-style
Franco and Spain making roses in The story of Italy’s big brother
Pierce and America in Black ships have come~
Emperor Kōmei prays for the Americans to leave in Black ships have come~
Omake Illustration of Joanna of Castile included in Boss Spain’s control of Southern Italy
France and Jeanne d'Arc from a 2011 Blog Post
