Northern Italy
He is the central protagonist of Hetalia, representing the personification of Northern Italy. Known by the human name Feliciano Vargas, he is the grandson of the Ancient Roman Empire. Bright and friendly yet completely non-combative and timid, he relies heavily on his allies. Together with Germany and Japan, he forms the primary Axis trio, serving as the cheerful core of the series.
Overview
He is the central protagonist of Hetalia, representing the personification of Northern Italy. Known by the human name Feliciano Vargas, he is the grandson of the Ancient Roman Empire. Bright and friendly yet completely non-combative and timid, he relies heavily on his allies. Together with Germany and Japan, he forms the primary Axis trio, serving as the cheerful core of the series.
Appearance
A young man with short brown hair that is parted in the front, distinguished by a prominent single curled strand of hair sticking out from his head. He is usually depicted with closed eyes, but reveals brown eyes when opened, which are rendered as yellow in the anime adaptation. His facial features closely resemble those of his older brother, South Italy. He typically wears a blue military jacket over a black collared shirt and necktie, paired with gloves, a hat, and black boots.
Personality
He has a cheerful and restless personality, frequently moving around and playfully interacting with those nearby. He possesses an overwhelming love for pasta, even boiling it in desert battlefields despite water shortages. Extremely cowardly and averse to conflict, he easily panics in danger, shedding tears or surrendering with a white flag before hastily retreating. He strictly observes a 3 PM afternoon siesta and frequently lets out an involuntary sound resembling Ve.
Abilities
His military combat capabilities are extremely low, with his retreat speed being significantly faster than his ability to advance. His primary item in combat is a white flag used to signal immediate surrender. Owing to his facial features being nearly identical to those of his older brother, South Italy, he is capable of posing as him.
Background
During his childhood, known as Chibitalia, he originally lived alongside figures such as the Holy Roman Empire and France, later remaining with Ancient Rome until the 15th-century Renaissance. Following the fall of Rome, he came under external control and worked as a house servant in Austria's residence. Because of his gentle behavior and voice prior to puberty, he was mistaken for a girl by those around him and made to wear a maid dress.
Relationships
He first encountered Germany (Ludwig) during World War I and continuously relies on him, forming the Axis trio alongside Japan (Kiku Honda). When he becomes overly noisy, Germany pulls his curled ahoge to quiet him down. He refers to his biological older brother, South Italy (Romano), as well as France and Spain, with brotherly terms. The Holy Roman Empire was his childhood romantic interest, and he served under Austria's household.
Trivia
The human name Feliciano Vargas was provided by the author in response to a fan question as a hypothetical concept, and it does not appear within the main manga story. It is widely utilized across fan communities to distinguish the character from the actual country. His in-universe birthday of March 17 is derived from the historical date of Italian unification in 1861.
