NationStates Jolt Archive

This contest is over. The result is here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12285658&postcount=32).

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In an effort to increase awareness of of (and interest in) the history and culture(s) of different countries, the Ariddian Secretariat for Education has announced an international contest to determine people's "favourite" person in history.

The principle is very simple. Each participating country nominates a famous person from its own history, providing some basic background information. There will subsequently be an international vote to determine who the most "popular" is in world opinion.

The only rule is that the person must be dead.

In Ariddia, the process to select a nominee was a long one, with many Ariddians becoming actively involved in discussions online, in the media and at their local community discussion centres.

Among possible candidates were O Tau (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/O_Tau), the possibly mythical "father of Ariddia" from around 1,000 BC, Annabelle Laurier (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Annabelle_Laurier), a 19th century socialist novellist and arguably Ariddia's greatest writer of that time, Hugh Vale (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Hugh_Vale), a controversial but famous and mostly progressive politician from the early 20th century, 18th century explorer and linguist Yves Noël (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Yves_No%C3%ABl) (who established a written base for the Wymgani language), and Sho Ea (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Sho_Ea), an Indigenous (Wymgani) artist and philosopher of the 15th century.

But one of the favourite was Xavier Gris (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Xavier_Gris), the founder of Ariddia's "Social Republic" in the late 20th century.

In the end, however, the nation decided on its nominee, an instantly recognisible name in Ariddian history: Wa We (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wa_We).


Entry file

Name: Wa We
Nationality: Ariddian Islander, Wymgani (before the creation of an Ariddian nationstate)
Portrait (if available): here (http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6391/wawe2rn0.jpg)
Date of birth: unknown; thought to have been in the early 1340s
Date of death: unknown
Job: anthropologist, diplomat, linguist, navigator
Reason for fame: Wa We was arguably one of the most talented and enterprising Ariddians in recorded history. She played a key role in Ariddia's pre-colonial history, taking part in Indigenous missions of exploration across the vast oceans to distant shores. Reported to have been one of the very best navigators of her time, she was also a skilled diplomat, managing encounters with foreign peoples and studying their languages and cultures - committing her findings to memory, since Wymgani had no written language in the fourteenth century.
Returning to her homeland, she brought back her findings, the results of her philosophical and anthropological reflections, and had a significant impact on the society of her people.
Her legacy was preserved in oral memory for generations afterwards, and today she is considered one of the most admirable Ariddians ever to have lived.
More information here (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wa_We).


OOC: Votes will probably be handled by the simple process of TG. But before that... let's see the other entries!


ENTRIES
Alphabetically, by person's name.


* Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12230998&postcount=4) (Xirnium) (12th century)
* Jesus Christ (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12265814&postcount=13) (The Archregimancy) (1st century BC / 1st century AD)
* Robert Fortier III (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12268710&postcount=16) (Imitora) (20th & 21st centuries)
* Jack Hubart (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231545&postcount=8) (Edward City) (20th century)
* Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231385&postcount=7) (Kahanistan) (20th & 21st centuries)
* King Leo I (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12234800&postcount=11) (Ropa-Topia) (20th century)
* Queen Signa-Une (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231213&postcount=6) (Qazox) (10th & 11th centuries)
* Wa We (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12221995&postcount=1) (Ariddia) (14th century)

Qazox nominates the following 4 people as its Favorite Person in History.
The finalists will be voted upon by a panel of historians, with the final nominne to be announced after the voting.

Qazoxian Nominees

#1
Name: Goran Oxfield
Nationality: Englishman, Cornwall, England
Portrait: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Wilhelm1.jpg/250px-Wilhelm1.jpg
Date of birth: either 1423 or 1424
Date of death: 1458
Job: Ship's cook, Ox herder, wino
Reason for fame: In 1443, at the age of 19, Goran and his pet Ox Joe were shipwrecked on the Island of Qazox and after begin saved by the Qazian princess, founded Qazox with Charles Feld who arrived in 1444. Goran was the leader until his death, which has been suspected was by posioning, but has never been proven. He is also the religous figurehead of the Qazian Religion, which combined elements of the native Qazians Ox worship and Christianity, into what can only be described as an Ox-Cult. Although now only 38% of the country practices Qazian, its effects have shaped the very history of the country.

#2
Name: 1st Holy Ox (Hoofaran Oxfield)
Nationality: Englishman/Qazian
Portrait: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Pope-benedict-xv-02.jpg/200px-Pope-benedict-xv-02.jpg
Date of birth: 1445, 1st english child born in Qazox.
Date of death: 1512
Job: Preacher, Holy Oxen (ooc: RL= pope)
Reason for fame: Born in 1445, the 1st son of Goran Oxfield lived most of his life with his mother's tribe, the Qazians. At the age of 13, his father died and young Hoofaran; which, in the old Qazian language, means "He who looks nothing like his father"; began to study both the Bible and the ancient beliefs of his mother's people. In 1475 at the age of 30, he founded the Church of Qazian and declared himself the 1st Holy Oxen. Recent studies have shown that Hoofaran was an abuser of what today is now known as LSD, and his visions were possibly nothing more than bad acid trips.

#3

Name: Queen Signa-Une
Nationality: Qazian
Portrait: (please note this is a statue, no known portraits exist) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Pocahontas_at_jamestown.jpg/175px-Pocahontas_at_jamestown.jpg
Date of birth: circa 980
Date of death: 1033
Job: Queen of the Qaz tribe, Uniter of the World, Queen of the Universe
Reason for fame: Born around 980, Signa-Une, became queen upon her father's, King Haa the Round, death in 995. Although only 15 years old, Signa possessed a strong will, intellect and had a superb grasp of military strategy. By 1007, she had united the Qazian tribes and became Signa-Une, literally the One True God. The next 26 years until her death in 1033, was primarily spent expanding the frontiers of the land, reaching the Lake Porter region in 1013, the Island of Wickedable in 1016 and the Isle of Sativa (now Sativaville) in 1027.

#4

Name: General Robert "Brickwall" Lee
Nationality: Qazoxian
Portrait: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Generalmajor_Nov_1862.jpg/93px-Generalmajor_Nov_1862.jpg
Date of birth: 1656
Date of death: 1721
Job: General of Qazoxian Army during 1st Qazoxian Civil War/The Insanican Uprising
Reason for fame: Under siege with 17,000 men in Lorax City from October 16-20th, 1688 by over 32,000 Rebel troops, a daring midnight raid, lead by Lee, on the Morning of the 20th lead to the loss of 5,000 rebels, while Lee lost only 300 of the 1200 men he attacked with. The stunning raid andd subsequent "Brickwalling" of the rebels at Lorax City, gave Lee his nickname and turned around the war for Qazox, which at that point had lost 75% of its territory to the rebels. The tide of the war changed and within 18 months, the war was over. If not for the raid and the "brickwalling", quite possibly Qazox would not exist today.

The most favourite person in the history of the Ropa-Topian Alliance has not been chosen yet, but after several weekly television shows, the list of candidates has been narrowed down to the following three:

Name: King Leo I of Uhuh-Ropa (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Monarchs_of_Uhuh-Topia_and_Uhuh-Ropa#Leo_I_.281917-1969.29)
Nationality: Uhuh-Ropean
Portrait: here (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/DarthBunny/ns_stuff/monarch/ur_leo1.jpg)
Date of birth: 1900
Date of death: 1985
Job: Diplomat, King
Reason for fame: King Leo I was the first King of Uhuh-Ropa after the country's independence from the Uhuh-Topian Empire after the first Ropa-Topian War. The reason that he is famous in both Uhuh-Ropa and Uhuh-Topia (and thus the Ropa-Topian alliance) is that Leo I was instrumental in drawing up the Second Treaty of Ropadam which was signed in 1934 to end the Second Ropa-Topian War and which resulted in peaceful relations between the two neighbouring nations for the first time since Uhuh-Ropa's independence.


Name: The Uhuhland Man (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/History_of_Uhuh-Topia_and_Uhuh-Ropa#Uhuhland_Man) (Homo Uhuhensis)
Nationality: n/a
Portrait: n/a
Date of birth: ~200,000 BC
Date of death: ~50,000 BC
Job: Hunter, gatherer, caveman
Reason for fame: Considered to be the first inhabitant of Uhuhland. Skeletal remains and tools have been found around the Sea of Uhuh to the north of Uhuh-Topia. The first humans arrived in Uhuhland approximately 20,000 years after the Uhuhland Man had become extinct. The reason for the Uhuhland Man's extinction is still unclear.


Name: Delmer the Conqueror (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Monarchs_of_Uhuh-Topia_and_Uhuh-Ropa#Delmer_the_Conqueror_.281723-1747.29)
Nationality: Uhuh-Topian
Portrait: here (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/DarthBunny/ns_stuff/monarch/ut_delmer.jpg)
Date of birth: 1723
Date of death: 1747
Job: Emperor, founder of the Uhuh-Topian Empire
Reason for fame: By the end of the 16th century, the Ropa-Topian Empire (not to be confused with the present day Ropa-Topian Alliance) had fallen apart into many small atonomous nations. Delmer from Arcadia, the former capital of the Ropa-Topian Empire, had grown up hearing stories of a large empire stretching from the Ropatopian Sea in the east to the mountains and Sea of Uhuh in the north, and with this in mind, he started to expand his empire. This empire (which was expanded some more during the reign of Delmer's son Delmer II) stayed roughly the same until Uhuh-Ropa's independence in 1917.


Next week (ooc: tomorrow or later today) in a special live broadcast on RTTV, the viewers will decide who becomes the most favourite person in the history of Ropa-Topia.

Dr Arcángela Cemësílyë, a professor of mediaeval history at Hencélevön University and author of the bestselling book Exquisite Sinner: Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna and Her Place in Fin de Siècle Xirnium, submitted the following nomination for her ‘favourite’ person in Xirniumite history:

Name: Lady Anghâdriel Märyä Nýnëdrien Sevrâthíl Feüyanóna; Margravine of House Vesänyär

Variously known to her contemporaries as the ‘White Lily’ (lilies have the same association with death in Xirnium that they do in the rest of Europe), the ‘Bloody Witch of House Vesänyär’, and the ‘Angel of Terror’

Ethnicity: Xirniumite (the realm of Xirnium was not, at that time, a true nation state)

Portrait:
The splendid, early Renaissance painting included in this section (clearly completed many centuries after its subject’s time) skilfully depicts an exquisitely beautiful young noblewoman in all her regal glory. Anghâdriel is an aristocrat who is slender, tall and extremely cold in demeanour. The lady’s features are noble, elegant and proud; her nose is aquiline and her cheekbones sharp.

She wears a silver-threaded lamé gown of beautiful fabrics heavily encrusted with elaborate embroidery, flawless pearls, and precious jewels. Fine lawns and lace are elegantly employed, and the garment is extensively patterned. Its sleeves are narrow and the neckline is very décolleté. Although the gown is tight about the waist and upper body it is trailed by a long train lined with fine, white furs.

So unnaturally fair is the noblewoman’s alabaster complexion that her beautiful translucent skin seems almost to glow vibrantly. Her lips are carmine and full, her teeth neat and pearly. Anghâdriel’s raven-coloured hair is long, plaited, and coiled over the ears. Belying the noblewoman’s enchanting beauty and false warmth are her strange eyes, which are silver-flecked and grey, their bottomless depths barely hinting at her incredible capacity for malicious cruelty. The faintest touch of a contemptuous sneer lingers at the corner of her lovely mouth.

Birth: 22 December 1102, at Nýmiandë Castle.
Death: 30 September 1188, at the Tower of Nwälkätil

‘Jobs’: Powerful hereditary noblewoman and feudatory of the Xirniumite aristocracy; Provincial military governor and margravine of several important south-western marches (frontier districts) of the Xirniumite realm; Marshal of the realm of Xirnium

Reasons for fame:
Whilst still a young noblewoman, Anghâdriel distinguished herself militarily, fighting heroically in the wars of the Xirniumite Crusade of 1133. Raising innumerable regiments and lavishly equipping them out of her own pocket, the noblewoman brilliantly commanded Xirniumite armies at several decisive battles, including the famous relief of Anárësilyë. Anghâdriel was one of the principal Xirniumite commanders in the battle before Naèräth (after which she was made a marshal of Xirnium) and successfully repulsed several determined assaults during the siege of Iáthërn. The noblewoman soon gained a reputation for extreme ruthlessness amongst her foreign adversaries, and was most creative in dreaming up novel and inventive methods by which to execute her Christian enemies.

Inheriting extensive domains upon becoming the head of one of the wealthiest ancient families in Xirnium, Anghâdriel’s decadent hedonism was legendary even amongst the shamelessly dissolute Xirniumite aristocracy. Rich, narcissistic, and unabashedly licentious, Anghâdriel frequently engaged in public and often scandalous love affairs with the famous married noblewomen (both Xirniumite and foreign) of the day. She is also believed to have entered into passionately-charged, intimate relations with her siblings. Anghâdriel kept a court more lavish even than that of the Xirniumite emperor, and surrounded herself with a clique of artists and wits. She squandered vast sums of House Vesänyär’s wealth on the decoration of her châteaux and the maintenance of an enormous train of servants, heralds, and advisors.

A lady of refined artistic and intellectual tastes, Anghâdriel was a munificent patron of literature, music, and pageants. She rebuilt the Palace of Nymêntälya in Neúvenärta after the Xirniumite Crusade of 1133, and helped found the University of Ailintelpë with generous donations from her own coffers.

It is perhaps Anghâdriel’s monstrous cruelty, however, that most accounts for the enduring fascination that has surrounded her. The noblewoman was said to have had an ungovernable temper and terrible lack of self-control, combined with pathologically intense, xenophobic chauvinism and a sociopathic passion for the inflicting of tremendous pain and terror. The unimaginably sadistic and brutal tortures that she meted out to captured crusaders in the ‘Blood’ Tower of Nwälkätil (all done by her own hand) have inspired horror writers and gothic novelists for centuries. Anghâdriel indulged her most perverse and darkest of desires, flaying alive her hapless victims and vindictively scourging countless hundreds to death. Indeed, the noblewoman is reputed to have even bathed in and imbibed the blood of her vanquished foes.

A romantic, praiseworthy and valiant figure to her supporters, a wicked, soulless and calculating murderess to her political enemies, Anghâdriel aroused furious controversy in her own lifetime. Today, Anghâdriel is remembered as perhaps the most infamous, multifaceted, and intriguing serial killer that Xirnium has ever known.

See also: The Xirniumite Crusade of 1133 [link (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Xirniumite_Crusade_of_1133)]

The only rule is that the person must be dead.


Crap, the rules out Jesus. ;)

After weeks of debate our panel of Historians have voted and the Nominee for Greatest Qazoxian Historical Figure by a vote of 13 to 6 over Hoofaran Oxfield is:

QUEEN SIGNA-UNE


Name: Queen Signa-Une
Nationality: Qazian
Portrait: (please note this is a statue, no known portraits exist) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Pocahontas_at_jamestown.jpg/175px-Pocahontas_at_jamestown.jpg
Date of birth: circa 980
Date of death: 1033
Job: Queen of the Qaz tribe, Uniter of the World, Queen of the Universe
Reason for fame: Born around 980, Signa-Une, became queen upon her father's, King Haa the Round, death in 995. Although only 15 years old, Signa possessed a strong will, intellect and had a superb grasp of military strategy. By 1007, she had united the Qazian tribes and became Signa-Une, literally the One True God. The next 26 years until her death in 1033, was primarily spent expanding the frontiers of the land, reaching the Lake Porter region in 1013, the Island of Wickedable in 1016 and the Isle of Sativa (now Sativaville) in 1027.

Details of the voting process are, after the 4 nominees were announced, The scholars and historians took a preliminary vote, in which one nominee would be dropped the results of that vote were:

Queen Signa-Une 9 votes
Goran Oxfeild- 5 votes
Hoofaran Oxfield- 4 votes
General Robert "Brickwall" Lee- 1 vote

The overwhelming consensus was that while Lee's contribution to the 1st civil war was great, it wasn't a world changing event.

After a couple of days of debates a 2nd vote was held, with the nominee recieving the least votews eliminated. Results:

Queen Signa-Une 11 votes
Goran Oxfeild- 2 votes
Hoofaran Oxfield- 6 votes


Goran Oxfeild, founder of the modern nation of Qazox, was eliminated due to limited impact on international history.

The fianl vote occurred after 7 days of deliberations, and while Founding a religion was deemd histroically, culturally and internationally significant, as was the case of Hoofaran Oxfeild, Queen Signa-Une's unifaction of the Qazian tribes, and the emergence of the Qazia (ooc: Qazox's ancient name) nation and exploration of the world was deemed a bit more significant to the overall history of Qazox.

Name: Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel
Nationality: Kahanistanian
Portrait:
Date of birth: 14 May 1954
Date of death: 23 November 2005
Job: Butcher, painter, soldier
Reason for fame: During the Freekish invasion of Kahanistan, al-Kamel, then a 51-year-old meat worker, secretly ran a resistance cell which, at great risk to their lives and many torturings, obtained a sizable quantity of Kahanistanian and Freekish VX nerve agent from unexploded ordnance. They then planted an estimated 40 tons of the agent in an isolated settlement, luring the Sentinels over it. As the civilians fled, al-Kamel dispersed the agent, killing himself and an estimated 4,000 Sentinels, though the Ministry of Defence under General Abdullah Hassan al-Ghazi at the time claimed 60,000.

This act is held by many Kahanistanians as a testament to the willingness of the average ex-soldier or civilian to die for his or her nation if called upon to do so, and some analysts say that armed civilian resistance is one of the reasons most enemies care little for attacking civilian targets. At the time, it was also held responsible for winning an armistice with AMF that did not involve the loss of sovereignty of Kahanistan. He is hailed as a national hero, but critics say his legend is overblown.

Name:Jack Hubart
Nationality:Edwardian
Date of birth:9th February 1953
Date of death:22nd November 1999
Job: Brigadier General(Edward City Marine Corps)
Reason for fame:He was the organizer and leader of the Coup d'Etat who ejected the Royal Family of the power and returned democracy to Edward City.He was one of the founder parents of The United States of Edward City.Was the President of Edward City between 1980 and 1984.
More information here (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Jack_Hubart).

bump

OOC: I'm going to give this a few more days for further entries.

Due to problems with the telephone network in a few western provinces of Uhuh-Topia, the results of the voting were a bit delayed.

The third most favourite person in the history of Ropa-Topia is...

The Uhuhland Man, with 2% of the votes


On the second place...

Delmer the Conqueror, with 37% of the votes


So that leaves 61% for...

King Leo I of Uhuh-Ropa, as the number 1 most favourite person in Ropa-Topian history


Name: King Leo I of Uhuh-Ropa (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Monarchs_of_Uhuh-Topia_and_Uhuh-Ropa#Leo_I_.281917-1969.29)
Nationality: Uhuh-Ropean
Portrait: here (http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/DarthBunny/ns_stuff/monarch/ur_leo1.jpg)
Date of birth: 1900
Date of death: 1985
Job: Diplomat, King
Reason for fame: King Leo I was the first King of Uhuh-Ropa after the country's independence from the Uhuh-Topian Empire after the first Ropa-Topian War. The reason that he is famous in both Uhuh-Ropa and Uhuh-Topia (and thus the Ropa-Topian alliance) is that Leo I was instrumental in drawing up the Second Treaty of Ropadam which was signed in 1934 to end the Second Ropa-Topian War and which resulted in peaceful relations between the two neighbouring nations for the first time since Uhuh-Ropa's independence.

OOC: I'll give this another day than start organising the vote.

The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy nominates:

Name: Jesus Christ
Nationality: Galilee-based Jewish non-citizen of Roman Empire
Portrait (if available): As quite possibly the most portrayed individual in Western art, the Holy Synod feels no need to offer yet another portrait of Jesus
Date of birth: c. 8-2 BC (in other words, eight to two years before himself)
Date of Death: c.33 AD
Job: Carpenter, Son of God, Logos, Messiah, Saviour
Reason for fame: Founder of Orthodox Christianity (from which heretic schismatics such as those Papist Catholics regrettably broke away) and - as Son of God - one third of the Holy Trinity. Even atheists, heathens and Freemasons grudgingly admit that Jesus Christ had an undeniable impact on western civilisation; while many debate the accuracy of the Gospels as history, or the extent of St. Paul's influence on nascent Christianity, only a tiny fringe minority attempt to deny any historical existence for Jesus.
To citizens of the Archregimancy, however, while respectful debate on the historicity of the Gospels is welcome (we're not some of those weird 'Bible Truth' literalists overrunning some countries), Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, the Lord, and the eternal Word who became man in the Incarnation, so that those who believe in him might have eternal life.
And as such, we think he's a top bloke.

PS - this nomination is made as regards the Incarnate Christ, who died for our sins, and is not meant to theologically suggest that the second person of the Trinity is 'dead'. Atheists won't worry about that anyway, since they will presumably concede the death of the historical Jesus.

We would also like to nominate:
Name: Mary
Nationality: Judea-based Jewish non-citizen of Roman Empire
Portrait (if available): As quite possibly the second most portrayed individual in Western art, the Holy Synod feels no need to offer yet another portrait of Mary
Date of birth: c. 15-25 BC [B]
Date of Death: Unknown, but after c.33 AD
Job: Homemaker, Virgin, Theotokos [Mother of God]
Reason for fame: Mother of God - though note in Orthodox doctrine, unlike those naughty schismatic Catholics, the only two indispensable doctrinal points regarding Mary, as defined by the Third Ecumenical Council, are that she is the Mother of God and a Virgin. We don't have much time for that Immaculate Conception nonsense. Also the person in whose name the entire Archregimancy is dedicated - which is why we don't usually allow other women in.

OOC: It's only one nominee per nation, so I've listed Jesus Christ for the Archregimancy.

Nominations are now closed. These are the nominees:

ENTRIES
Alphabetically, by person's name.


* Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12230998&postcount=4) (Xirnium) (12th century)
* Jesus Christ (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12265814&postcount=13) (The Archregimancy) (1st century BC / 1st century AD)
* Robert Fortier III (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12268710&postcount=16) (Imitora) (20th & 21st centuries)
* Jack Hubart (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231545&postcount=8) (Edward City) (20th century)
* Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231385&postcount=7) (Kahanistan) (20th & 21st centuries)
* King Leo I (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12234800&postcount=11) (Ropa-Topia) (20th century)
* Queen Signa-Une (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12231213&postcount=6) (Qazox) (10th & 11th centuries)
* Wa We (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12221995&postcount=1) (Ariddia) (14th century)


OOC:
Anyone may now send votes to me by TG. The votes represent what the people of your nation have chosen. You can send as many as four votes, listed by order of preference. You cannot vote for your own nominee.

In four days, I'll announce who the world's most popular person in history is.

Feel free also to RP what's going on in your nation regarding the vote. You can organise it ICly in any way you like.

Name: Robert Fortier III
Nationality: Imitoran
Portrait: Here (http://bestof.provocateuse.com/images/photos/clive_owen_99.jpg)
Date of Birth: 12 Jan 1959
Date of Death: 10 August 2010 (OOC: Can be read here ( http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=490252&page=14), post number 207)
Career: Imitoran Marine Corp, Imitora Central Intelligence Agency
Reason for Fame: Fortier continues to be noted as quite possible the most decorated, most traveled, and most skilled Marine and ICIA operative within Imitora. Hailed by many as the purest definition of a hero, Fortier was one who always put his country and others before himself. At the time of his death, he was in the process of resquing an injured team member from a fire fight. For this, he was given a full state funeral, posthumously awarded the Imitoran First Speaker's Medal of Honor, and posthumously commisioned a Two Star General of the Imitoran Marine Corp. Further, a new training facility for IMSPECWAR Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors has been commisioned in his name. After his death, a campiagn to release the full files of his operations was succesfully carried out. The files, a full set of post operation reports, made public his exploits, showing the Imitoran peoples how many times he had saved their nation. Fortier is in truth the true Imitoran Hero.

OOC: Personally, I would love to be able to go go back and dig up every single thread I have ever used Fortier in as my main RP character to get a general idea of his massive amount of over the top yet still down to earth heroics, but as 90% of them were on the old server, I fear that the hope of such is lost. Still, heres to hoping and what not.

Bah. It seems that in the forty five minutes or so in which I was looking up posts for references, you closed the nominations before I could get me post up. No matter, its your call, I'm good either way.

OOC: I'll add your entry, but after this it's DEFINITELY closed. ;)

Gratzi

OOC: It's only one nominee per nation, so I've listed Jesus Christ for the Archregimancy.

OOC - Sorry, meant to follow that up with a post narrowing the selection down to Jesus anyway, but was distracted by RL. No harm done since you picked the Orthodox monks' preferred candidate anyway.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9408/645045968nt.png Channel 3 news

Jean-Carl Luthier (presenter): “…Allanean government was not available for comment. A look now at a rather unusual contest, the aim of which is to establish who the world’s most popular person is in history. The idea comes from the Ariddian Secretariat for Education, and the aim is to increase people’s knowledge of their own country’s history, and of the history of foreign nations and societies.

Well, voting is underway in various countries, where people have to decide who their favourite is, and among the nominees is Ariddia’s very own fourteenth century explorer Wa We, whom we all learnt about at school. The question is, is she one of the world’s most popular? There are eight candidates, all of them dead – it’s a requirement -, ranging from the first century BC to the twenty-first century AD.

With me to take a look at the candidates are Melissa Brindor, professor of history at the University of Haven, and Ean Larsen of the Wymgani Cultural Centre, also in Haven. Good afternoon to you both.”

Brindor & Larsen: “Good afternoon.”

Luthier: “Comrade Brindor, first of all… There’s been a lot of talk in Ariddia about all eight candidates, and people here have learnt a lot about each of them. There’s even been a booklet published by the government and placed in libraries” - *holds it up* - “with details about the lives and accomplishments of all eight. And a lot of information on the website of the Secretariat for Education. So in that sense at least, I suppose this whole idea has been a success?”

Brindor: “Absolutely. Ariddians have taken a great interest in the famous names from the histories of foreign countries. Take a country like Kahanistan, or Xirnium, that most Ariddians knew very little about until a few days ago. This has been an opportunity to learn, and it’s an opportunity a great many people have seized.”

Luthier: “Let’s take a quick look over the candidates. Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna… Lived in the twelth century. Remembered for her great beauty… and above all her extreme cruelty. They call her the ‘Angel of Terror’. Is this, perhaps, a rather surprising nomination? Are people likely to choose, as their favourite person in history, someone who personally tortured her victims with extreme cruelty?”

Brindor: “It is surprising, and I don’t think she’ll be very popular in Ariddia, but what you have to look at is the role she played in Xirniumite history. She was controversial during her lifetime, and she’s been controversial ever since she died. She has a very mixed but very long-lasting legacy, and views about her in Xirnium are very… split.”

Larsen: “She was also a great intellectual, who did a lot to develop literature, music and art of all sorts in early Xirnium. She was exactly the kind of person who was going to cause debate and disagreement for centuries to come.”

Luthier: “She was also notoriously xenophobic. That could put people outside Xirnium off, although I suppose that at the time most people were indeed very xenophobic.”

Larsen: “Yes. They were violent times, when you were very wary of anything a little different.”

Luthier: “So, to sum up, a controversial military leader and patron of the arts from 12th century Xirnium. Then we have the Archregimancy’s nominee… Jesus Christ. We all know him of course, and he could come out on top if Christians around the world vote for him. Thoughts?”

Brindor: “Well, speaking from an Ariddian perspective… He had fairly little impact on Indigenous Ariddians. Missionary efforts in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were a notorious failure, and… Ean?”

Larsen: “Yes, speaking as a Wymgani ( http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Wymgani) myself, Wymgani on the whole have never been very religious. And in the Ariddian population as a whole, we have, what… about 3% Christians ( http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Religion_in_Ariddia)? Still, there’s his role in shaping Western civilisation, and…”

Luthier: “And of course, isn’t Wa We herself rumoured to have converted to Christianity? In fact, to have been the first Ariddian Christian?”

Larsen: “There’s very little documentary evidence, but yes, it’s distinctly possible. Now, even if most Ariddians are atheists, they… we may recognise that Jesus Christ’s beliefs, his teachings of compassion and sharing, free giving, altruism and non-violence, make him someone we can all respect.”

Brindor: “Paradoxically, he may well have felt at home in Ariddia.” *laughs*

Larsen: *nods* “As atheists, we follow his teachings a lot more closely than most religious fanatics do. There should be a word for that. Christists?”

Luthier: “From Imitora we have a late entry, a Marine and Intelligence operative. Robert Fortier III lived mostly in the 20th century, and is seen as a hero in his country. He’s admired for his courage and sense of self-sacrifice.”

Brindor: “I’m… a bit wary of military heros, and I think a lot of Ariddians are. Of course this man’s bravery is admirable, and he deserves respect. But I can’t see Ariddians picking a marine as their top choice.”

Luthier: “From Edward City, another military man, also from the 20th century. Jack Hubart, remembered as the coup leader who brought democracy back to the country. Do you think Hubart and Fortier might draw votes away from each other?”

Larsen: “They’re quite different from each other, but yes, it’s possible. Again, here I’d have to agree with Melissa. The problem with military heros is that their… official public image, shall we say, tends to be… made very clean and pure. Now, as military leaders Fortier and Hubart are a lot more worthy of respect than Lady Anghâdriel… although, comparing centuries in that way is rather meaningless, really.”

Luthier: “Staying with the twentieth century and with people regarded as military heroes in their own country, we have Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel, from Kahanistan. He was the leader of a resistance cell during the country’s occupation, and he used nerve gas to kill thousands of enemy soldiers.”

Brindor: “Killing himself in the process, which is why they see him as a hero. Not so in Ariddia, I really don’t think. Glorifying someone whose claim to fame is slaughtering his enemies is very unlikely.”

Larsen: “Plus, can you image Ariddians voting for a butcher? In the literal sense, I mean. That was his original job.”

Luthier: “Moving on… King Leo I of Ropa-Topia. Specifically, of Uhuh-Ropa. Again, the 20th century.”

Larsen: “Well, here’s someone else we learnt about at school.”

Luthier: “He ensured peace with Uhuh-Topia. A lasting legacy there. Popular with Ariddians?”

Brindor: “Yes, quite. He may rank quite highly. A man – or woman – of peace is often preferred to a warmonger here.”

Luthier: “From Qazox we have Queen Signa-Une. She lived in the tenth and eleventh centuries, earlier than all the others except Jesus Christ. Interestingly enough, she styled herself Queen of the Universe, and was looked upon as a deity. She was a military leader, but she was also an explorer, and she was noted for her intellect. Of course, at that time, the ‘universe’ was mostly unexplored. Anything beyond the boundaries of the outermost Qazian tribes was the great unknown.”

Larsen: “Yes, and Signa-Une boldly went into that unknown. She didn’t just send other people there; she was an explorer herself, leading the way, charting uncharted lands and expanding her people’s knowledge of the world. She was a doer rather than a scholar, but she brought back the material for scholars to work on.”

Luthier: “You’re going to say that Wa We was both an explorer and a scholar, I suppose?”

Larsen: “The word ‘scholar’ may be anachronistic to fourteenth century Ariddia… although… well, we’ll talk about Wa We in just a moment. But… yes. The main point about Signa-Une, though, is that she left a constructive legacy of knowledge behind her.”

Brindor: “Indeed, and I commend the Qazian historians who nominated her. It’s nice to have another explorer on this list, and not just military men.”

Luthier: “So do you think Queen Signa-Une could be popular in Ariddia?”

Brindor: “I think so, yes.”

Luthier: “All right, that brings us to the final entry… Ariddia’s very own Wa We. Without a doubt one of the most famous names in Ariddian history. Chosen over Xavier Gris, O Tau, Annabelle Laurier, Sho Ea…”

Larsen: “And others. Wa We was one of the first to link Ariddia to the outside world, of course, if only briefly. But most of all, she was… Well, she was an amazing woman in every conceivable way.”

Luthier: “It’s difficult to classify her, isn’t it? Explorer, linguist, diplomat, navigator, anthropologist…”

Larsen: “She was all of that, and she excelled at everything she did. She really was remarkable. I mean, she found her way in small ships over vast – and I mean vast – unexplored oceans, to distant shores where she met people who must have seemed very, very strange. She was going into the unknown in the most literal sense. She couldn’t even have been sure she’d find land, and Wymgani ships in the fourteenth century… Well, they were very well designed, but if she’d run into a bad storm, that would have been the end of her, and history would have been a lot poorer for her loss.”

Luthier: “And once she got to these strange places, she studied their languages, their cultures.”

Larsen: “Without knowing how to write, remember. She had a prodigious memory. And it wasn’t just a case of seeking out knowledge and absorbing it. It really was scholarly studies, and she reflected on her own discoveries, thinking about her own culture in light of what she’d found in foreign societies.”

Luthier: “And she even learnt Latin, correct?”

Larsen: “Yes. Well, we think she did. We can’t be absolutely certain. Records also suggested that she was received by the Pope himself.”

Luthier: “She was fascinated by religion, wasn’t she?”

Larsen: “Amongst many other things. What you have to bear in mind is that religion, believing in any kind of supernatural, was something fundamentally foreign, completely alien for her. She tried to understand what it was all about. And she may ultimately have converted to Catholicism; we don’t know exactly.”

Luthier: “All right. Then she returned home, and… And what was her impact in Ariddia?”

Larsen: “Ambiguous. She brought home all these new ideas, and they did, really, revolutionise the way Wymgani looked at themselves and at their own society. So in that sense she had a huge impact. But she didn’t bring religion with her, not in the sense of trying to convert people, and she never tried to teach Wymgani how to write. We’re fairly sure she learnt to read and write Latin, but it doesn’t seem as if she considered writing to be important enough to spread around Ariddia.”

Brindor: “It would be fascinating to know exactly what she thought of all she’d experienced during her journeys of exploration. But the fact that her tale, her teachings, were preserved orally, from generation to generation, show us how important she was in the eyes of her own society.”

Luthier: “And it’s said she even had a lovely singing voice.”

Brindor: *laughs* “Yes.”

Luthier: “Of course, Ariddians aren’t going to be able to vote for her. So, of the other seven… Who do you think the top three will be, for Ariddians?”

Brindor: “Well… I don’t think Lady Anghâdriel will be much of a favourite… nor al-Kamel… nor Fortier, for that matter. Of the others… I think Hubart will probably take a back seat to Leo I, Christ and Signa-Une. It’s difficult to be sure, though.”

Luthier: “Comrade Larsen?”

Larsen: “I agree. I wouldn’t be surprised if… if there were a surprise and people proved us wrong, but for now my prediction is the same as Melissa’s.”

Luthier: “All right, thank you both very much. Now, to our viewers, don’t forget you can go and vote, at your local library, at the local community centre, or online at… uhm… www.secretariat_education.gouv.ari/fr/personnalites_historiques/voter. Thank you for watching. Stay with us as we take another look at the headlines…”

OOC - Sorry, meant to follow that up with a post narrowing the selection down to Jesus anyway, but was distracted by RL. No harm done since you picked the Orthodox monks' preferred candidate anyway.

OOC:
Plus, would the Archregimancy really have wanted to see Jesus competing against Mary? ;)

In the Eternal Republic, there was something slightly akin to mild embarrassment at the unusual and quite unexpected nomination of Margravine Anghâdriel Feüyanóna for the world’s most popular person in history. An individual who, after all, had scandalised her contemporaries by living out her cruellest and most sadistic compulsions, who had murdered countless individuals in cold blood, would hardly seem to be the first choice for one’s favourite personage from history. A praiseworthy ambassador for Xirnium, Anghâdriel most certainly was not. Not for no reason had the Bloody Witch of House Vesänyär been considered by many to be an incarnation of exquisite evil.

Nonetheless, Anghâdriel was certainly an interesting and complex figure. With the benefit of impartial detachment, something that the gulf of long centuries inevitably conferred upon the examination all people, Anghâdriel had acquired something of a horrific yet fascinating charm; indeed, she seemed to have become something of a guilty pleasure. In Xirnium most who were aware of the competition hoped that she would win, if only because she was a Xirniumite.

A newspaper story from Daytanistan's state/only newspaper (translated from Dushtoo):

Worker and Peasant Daily

KHEMAL NUGAT VOTED FAVOURITE PERSON IN HISTORY IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

The Ariddian Secretariat for Education today announced that Khemal Nugat, first General Secretary of the Daytan Communist Workers Party, revolutionary leader and hero, champion of the working classes, and grand-father of current Daytan Communist Workers Party General Secretary Farrokh Nugat, political father of the nation and ideological champion of the global proletariat, has been voted by the peoples of a large proportion of the world as their favourite figure from history.

Khemal Nugat was the leader of the Straw Hat Revolution (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Straw_Hat_Revolution) and oversaw the liberation of the workers and peasants of Daytanistan from their capitalist Islamist oppressors. As the commander of the Daytan People's Army, he crushed the enemies of the Daytan people and as author of the constitution he enshrined the liberty of the Daytan people in law for all time.

Khemal Nugat's grandson, Farrokh Nugat, expressed surprise at his grandfather's victory in the international competition.

"I expected Marx to win such a competition, but clearly the peoples of the world look even more to Daytanistan and its practical socialist examples than they do to the purely theoretical work of Marx." said Comrade Nugat.

Khemal Nugat's victory in the competition demonstrates the esteem Daytanistan's socialist government is held in by the peoples of the world, despite the rhetoric of their oppressive and imperialistic governments. It is an endorsement of the Nugatist strain of Marxism-Leninism practised in Daytanistan by the ordinary workers of the world.

Well, do we have a vote yet? Hannah Angstrom impatiently typed into the computer.

say wut

Our vote for the Ariddian contest: favorite person in history.

histore? aridia?

Never mind. In her time as ambassador, Hannah had already forgotten her home country's isolationism. On a side note, how do you expect to compete in the World Cup without caring about other countries?

As predicted, no answer.

I assume you want me to vote on behalf of the country, then.

They did.

I see this is now closed what a shame for me. :( Will you be doing this again in the near future?

I see this is now closed what a shame for me. :( Will you be doing this again in the near future?

OOC: If it's a success, yes, quite possibly. Well, maybe not the near future and in this exact form, but we - or you :p - can think of something.

OOC: BUMP. Still collecting votes.

OOC: BUMP. Voting is still open until tomorrow.

OOC: Bump.

OOC: Final BUMP. Voting is about to close. You can still send me a TG if you haven't done so yet. Everyone is entitled to vote.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9408/645045968nt.png Channel 3 news

Jean-Carl Luthier (presenter): “We look now at the results which have just come out regarding what some have been refering to as the ‘history popularity contest’. Voting is closed, votes have come in from all over the world, they’ve been added up, and a system of points has been used to list them from least to most popular. Just to remind you, there were eight candidates in the ‘contest’, including an Ariddian. And… there’s a winner!

With me to look at the results are Juliet Mdluli, Ariddian Secretary for Education, and Serge Martel, who’s a postgraduate history student at the University of Val Wneh here in Rêvane, and who’s agreed to tell us who he voted for. Thank you both for joining us. Comrade Martel, just out of interest, what exactly are you studying?”

Martel: “I’m working on nineteenth century Kelssek, industrialisation and its aftermath, prior to the revolution. But I try to take an interest in history in general, and this contest has certainly helped us all do that.”

Luthier: “Indeed. Now, Comrade Secretary Mdluli, to keep up a little bit of suspense we’ll be looking at the list starting from the bottom, and commenting as we go along. You’ll be able to give us your thoughts on the results. But first, what exactly was your intention with this contest?”

Mdluli: “Well, due credit has to go to my son André, actually. He was the one who first suggested the idea. He didn’t think I’d actually do anything with it, though.” (smiles) “As for the intention… Well, what’s already been said, really. To give people a bit of fun, a friendly competition… And to educate participants about the history of foreign countries.”

Luthier: “All right, well, let’s get started on the results. In last place, with unfortunately no points, we have Robert Fortier III and Jack Hubart. Any comment, Comrade Secretary?”

Mdluli: “Yes. It’s a shame they weren’t able to attract very much support, of course. But you have to remember voters were being asked to choose their favourite within a list. So even if their views on Fortier and Hubart may have been favourable, there were simply people who were more popular. Also, these two are heroes in their own countries because of exploits carried out within those countries. Taken in a global perspective… Their international impact wasn’t perhaps all that great. And the very fact that the two are in some ways similar, and that there were four military people on the list of eight, meant that they probably weren’t seen as all that unique.”

Luthier: “Comrade Martel ? Did you vote for either of these?”

Martel: (shakes his head) “No. I think what the Comrade Secretary says is very true. And I didn’t really want to help military figures become enshrined as the world’s favourite people in history. No offence to their countries of origin.”

Luthier: “Moving up into sixth place, with two points, we have Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel.”

Mdluli: “Well, that pretty much confirms what I was saying, doesn’t it? The military heroes seem to have had the effect of undermining one another. They weren’t ‘unique’ enough.”

Luthier: “In fifth place, we have the other military leader, Qazox’s Queen Signa-Une. She has five points. That means the four military leaders take the four bottom places. But Queen Signa-Une is clearly ahead of the other three.”

Martel: “She’s a more complex character. She wasn’t just a military leader, far from it. She was also a memorable explorer, and I think that gave her an extra edge over the others. I’m actually rather disappointed that she didn’t do better.”

Mdluli: “There’s also the fact that she’s from ancient history, relatively speaking. Eleventh century. That distance makes her less controversial, for one thing. And more… ‘historical’, even. The other three were all from very recent history.”

Luthier: “Good point. In fourth, we have King Leo I of Ropa-Topia, with ten points. Twice as popular as the Queen.”

Martel: “Well, a man who brought peace and stability to his country, through peaceful means… I’m quite pleased to see that voters have put him way ahead of someone like, say, al-Kamel. Not that I’m saying al-Kamel and others deserve no praise, in some ways… But I find it healthier to admire and favour someone like King Leo.”

Luthier: “Well, it seems people on the whole agree with you, although that of course could lead to some very interesting debates. Maybe we’ll have an opportunity soon to talk some more about the respective merits and influences of these eight people. But continuing on up, in joint second place, with thirteen points each… Ariddia’s very own Wa We, and Jesus Christ, nominated by the Archregimancy.”

Mdluli: “Interesting. Very interesting.”

Martel: “I suppose that means we can now say Wa We is officially as popular as Jesus, world-wide!” (laughs)

Mdluli: “There was never much doubt that Jesus Christ was going to be a favourite for many people. And for many different reasons. Mr. Christ’s influence on the world has been considerable.”

Martel: “Well, I voted for him.”

Luthier: “Oh?”

Martel: “I couldn’t vote for Wa We, of course, as an Ariddian, or I would have.”

Luthier: “Would it be indiscrete, Comrade, to ask what your religion is?”

Martel: “I’m an atheist. But of the seven people I could choose from, I thought that Christ’s… beliefs, his message, his life, appealed to me the most. In a purely secular sense, of course. I also considered voting for King Leo or Queen Signa-Une.”

Luthier: “And what about Wa We’s popularity abroad? Comrade Secretary?”

Mdluli: “Quite remarkable. I’m very glad, naturally. She was a truly remarkable woman, brilliant in so many ways. She took an interest in the world around her, she had an open mind, she was a diplomat, and extremely intelligent. A model for people still today, in my view. Though of course now we live in a very different world.”

Luthier: “And now, the moment everyone has been waiting for. You’ve worked it out for yourselves of course, but... The name of the world’s most favourite person in all of history. It’s a woman. She has fifteen points. She’s from Xirnium, and she lived in the twelth century. Lady Anghâdriel Märyä Nýnëdrien Sevrâthíl Feüyanóna. Reactions?”

Martel: “It’s, ehm…” (scratches the side of his nose) “I think ‘disturbing’ would be an accurate way to put it.”

Luthier: “Comrade Secretary?”

Mdluli: “Well, the fact that the world chose a woman as its absolute favourite person from history should be noted, of course. But… Well, in my personal view, there have been a lot more admirable women through history than Lady Anghâdriel. A cold-blooded murderer more popular than Jesus Christ? I think we can agree that’s odd, to say the least.”

Luthier: “Well, we haven’t got a psychiatrist here with us, but… She was beautiful, ruthless, very mysterious. Do you think that may have had some appeal?”

Mdluli: “Oh, undoubtedly. There’s also the fact that, again, she lived a very long time ago. History has smudged away at least some of the controversy, leaving us with that… enigmatic and powerful woman, as you said.”

Martel: “I agree. If she’d lived… well, died fifty years ago, I’m not convinced she’d have been quite as popular.”

Luthier: “Well, in any case, thus is the verdict of the world. Lady Anghâdriel is officially the world’s favourite person from history. That’s all we’ve got time for; thank you both for joining us. And thank you to everyone for voting. Now a reminder of the headlines…”

The Qazoxian National Council of Historians would like to post this following statement to the rest of the world:


We demand a re-count!!!!!!

Please note the above post is not the offical stance of the QNCH but one disgruntled historian who lost a bet and now must wear a cheerleader's uniform for 5 years or have his nuts cut off.

The Late Report
Televised nightly after eleven o’clock

Xirniumite Broadcasting Service

‘…remained adamant, however, that the Government had no intention to lengthen the 35-hour working week. Adrián Ehtyânthölien, World News Xirnium.’

As the videotape ceased and the political correspondent’s report finished, the television’s image once again returned to the Xirniumite Broadcasting Service’s stylish evening news studio in Naèräth. The anchorwoman of The Late Report, Félicité Valänthisiel, smiled briefly at the camera before continuing.

‘A recent poll by the Ariddian Secretariat for Education has named notorious twelfth century Xirniumite noblewoman Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna the world’s most favourite person in history,’ explained the newscaster with a small smile. ‘Tying for second place on the list was fourteenth century Wymgani diplomat, adventurer, and outstanding traveller Wa We and the founder of the Christian faith, Jesus of Galilee.’

The Xirniumite anchorwoman had evidently found something rather amusing, and did her best to maintain a serious expression.

‘The result,’ continued Félicité, ‘which the Ariddian Secretariat for Education said was determined by online voters from countries around the world, saw the Xirniumite margravine beat King Leo I of Ropa-Topia and Queen Signa-Une of Qazox, who came in fourth and fifth place respectively. The competition’s organisers left the list’s selection criteria entirely up to the world’s voters, a factor which accounted in part for the diverse variety of people from history nominated.’

‘Well just a short while ago I spoke with Dr Arcángela Cemësílyë, a lecturer of mediaeval history at the University of Hencélevön, and the individual who nominated Lady Feüyanóna for the poll. I started by asking her whether she thought the margravine was not a strange choice for a popularity contest,’ explained the anchorwoman.

The image changed seamlessly to that of the pre-recorded interview. Arcángela appeared relaxed and quite cheerful; and why should she not, for interest in her latest scholarly biography of the noblewoman’s life had surged remarkably since Anghâdriel had taken first place.

‘Well certainly many might well think so,’ replied the academic, laughing. ‘I suppose that, if one is asked to think of a “favourite” person from history, the conventional approach, one’s immediate reaction, might be to weigh up the various possible candidates by reference to some desirable or virtuous quality. For example, we might measure the person’s positive contributions to humanity. Or we might instead look for the person who happened to be most influential. But in formulating my choice I wanted to avoid such tired clichés.’

‘Plus the fact that you have recently written a book on Lady Feüyanóna,’ pointed out Félicité.

‘Yes, I must confess that there was that as well,’ admitted Arcángela with more laughter.

‘The Ariddian Secretariat of Education’s own stated aim in this contest was, in part, to increase people’s knowledge of foreign nations and societies. Do you really think that the “Bloody Witch of House Vesänyär” makes a good ambassador for the Eternal Republic?’ asked Félicité with an amused smile.

‘Oh, heavens no!’ replied Arcángela in feigned horror, her smile a broad grin. ‘Let us make no mistake about it; Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna was a thoroughly unpleasant person. Her crimes have been well documented and even immortalised in popular culture, so I don’t want to belabour the point. But it is undeniable that the margravine was an exceptionally horrible individual, a sadistic murderess and an unfathomably cruel sociopath.’

‘Given so, why do you think that so many people voted for her?’ asked Félicité.

‘Anghâdriel is an utterly fascinating figure from history,’ explained the academic. ‘Time has fortunately allowed us to look at her comfortably and, most importantly, dispassionately. Although her crimes were indeed reviling, we seem today not to have great difficulty in looking past them. When examining Anghâdriel, we need not view her in simplistic terms, in either black or white; we can, instead, fully appreciate her intricately complex and subtly nuanced nature. Who the true Anghâdriel was, what the person behind the monster was actually like, and what exactly made her the pitiless killer that she was, are all precisely the kind of questions that captivate the imagination of so many.

‘In a world that is still dominated in many places by puritan morality, a world that (with the exception of a few liberal states like the Eternal Republic) I should describe as highly repressed and harmed by restrictive conformity, the margravine represents an intriguing alternative, the unleashing of humanity’s darkest impulses. The image of Anghâdriel is seductive, exquisitely evil, and mysterious; or, at least, the romanticised, fictional image of her that has been formed in the world’s popular culture and public consciousness is. She embodies forbidden desire, because we aren’t really supposed to like her. It is this which has made her something of a fixture in the strange, occult twilight world of gothic literature. Anghâdriel both repulses and irresistibly entices us; she both frightens and excites us. Certainly her gorgeous beauty and the rich sensuality with which she has been traditionally portrayed helps somewhat in this respect. But so does the fact that she was thoroughly unconventional by the wider European standards of the time. Sometimes the “evil” characters are the most adored, and the myth of Anghâdriel is, for many, a delightful escapist fantasy.’

‘Now as you know, of course, one of the Eternal Republic’s own government ministers happens, in fact, to be a direct descendant of Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna,’ continued Félicité. ‘When questioned about the list, Margravine Zsófia Făvârin-Sevrâthíl, deputy Minister for Culture, remarked only that she was extremely pleased with the Ariddian Secretariat of State’s admirable efforts to “improve public interest in history and culture around the world.”’

‘I think one could definitely say that the deputy minister has been rather reticent about the whole affair,’ smiled the academic. ‘And I think we can hardly blame her for that. How often does one have it brought to the world’s attention that one is the direct descendant of a depraved serial killer?’

‘Well, quite. Very quickly, an examination of some of the other nominees. Mohammed Battuta al-Kamel, Robert Fortier III and Jack Hubart all performed rather poorly,’ noted the anchorwoman.

‘I think that there may have been a number of reasons for that,’ mused the Xirniumite academic. ‘There is, of course, the fact that the stories of war heroes tend often to be embellished by nationalistic governments in order to inspire patriotic adoration, which I suppose might be off-putting to many. Mohammed al-Kamel is a good example in point; his exploits were, if we examine them from a purely dispassionate standpoint, rather underwhelming. Ultimately his sacrifice did nothing at all to affect the inevitable course of a war that Kahanistan lost disastrously - or even that particular battle, which was also a crushing defeat for Kahanistan. And yet al-Kamel has been elevated to such a legendary status by the more jingoist elements in the Soviet Republic’s society. There is also the fact that individuals such as war heroes tend often to be portrayed without vice and beyond reproach by the mainstream. If anything at all is remarkable about them, it is their bravery alone. Quite frankly, they’re dry and boring.’

Félicité chuckled a little at this. ‘Just below the margravine came Wa We of the Wymgani...’

‘A truly remarkable explorer,’ noted Arcángela earnestly. ‘The accounts of her travels opened up new vistas and expanded the horizons of the Ariddian peoples.’

‘And finally before we run out of time, tied for second place with Wa We was Jesus of Nazareth...’ continued the newscaster.

‘The only individual in the entire list who has had even more fanciful and contrived stories written about his life than Lady Anghâdriel Feüyanóna has,’ observed the academic, smiling archly. ‘It’s ironic, because I think that the margravine would have been rather delighted to know that she had polled higher than the man who gave rise to Christianity, a movement that she violently execrated.’

‘Dr Cemësílyë, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us,’ replied Félicité, who smiled slightly as well, despite the demands of journalistic impartiality.

‘My pleasure.’

Her interview with the academic now over, Félicité took a deep breath and looked seriously at the camera.

‘To Thorlund now, and a recent report has indicated…’