Emmerich Hegel

―*Emmerich Hegel*

**Emmerich Hegel** is a Valgslandian politician and communist revolutionary who currently serves as the Chancellor of the Democratic Republic of Valgsland. He is also the chairman of the People's Party of Valgsland. Hegel played a leading role in the 1920 Revolution in the Empire of Valgos and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Valgsland. He was also responsible for many relatively liberal reforms in areas of domestic policy, now collectively known as Valgslandian Socialism.

## Appearance

Emmerich Hegel is described as an old man around his 70s or mid 70s and of short stature. He has blue eyes, white hair, large defining wrinkles, large ears, and a large nose. His head has a bald spot, but retains his hair around his sides and has a goatee. In his Codex portrait, he wears a blue blazer, white shirt, and brown tie. He is also described to be smoking a Valgslandian smoking pipe (a well-known trait) in his first in-game appearance at the museum.

## Biography

Hegel was a political commissar during the Valgslandian revolution. He fought alongside the famous revolutionary Wilhelm Ulbrik, who led the revolution inspired by the Malenyevist revolution in United Contana. Hegel extensively helped Ulbrik with the establishment of the People’s Party.

With Chancellor Ulbrik’s help, he worked his way up the Valgslandian hierarchy. He supported Ulbrik’s purges and the arrests of thousands of anti-communists in the 1930’s. He worked extensively for the de-colonization of the Rika and Xina continents, convincing the government to give military and financial support to various independence and revolutionary movements.

After Ulbrik’s death in 1940, he was elected by the People’s Party as the Chancellor of Valgsland. He started a period of de-Ulbrikization where he denounced his purges which he supported earlier, and enacted many reforms which started a *less repressive era* in Valgsland. He re-organized the People’s Party and distanced it from Malenyevist lines. He promoted what he called ‘Valgslandian Socialism.’

Despite his reforms that shifted Valgsland away from Malenyevism, he brought the country closer to United Contana both economically and diplomatically. He also greatly improved the relations with the old colonies of the Empire of Valgos.

## Personality

Emmerich Hegel is first and foremost, an idealistic man; He is an ardent supporter of the rights of the workers, the common man, and a passionate supporter of communism. Despite his good intentions, his strong adherence to his idealism may occasionally cloud his judgment. An example of this is the invasion of Heljiland, seemingly justified in Valgsland's perspective but ultimately leading to heightened global tensions between Arcasia and United Contana. This impulsive decision has had adverse effects on Valgsland's international standing, seen in the 1957 AN meeting.

Moreover, Hegel's quick temper and stubborn nature contribute to his decision-making style. He tends to judge individuals based on their actions, as demonstrated during Rayne's visit to Valgsland. This disposition, while reflective of Hegel's commitment to his principles, may hinder diplomatic relations and negotiations. However, Hegel's administration actively tries to diffuse tensions between Sordland and Rumburg. Additionally, it also pursued the normalization of relations between Sordland and Valgsland, something which Hegel personally contributed to, believing in reconciliation between the Sords and the Valgs, and may emphasize moving forward together if Hegel is pleased with Rayne's actions.

## Trivia

* The name '**Emmerich**' is a Germanic name composed of Old High German *heim* ‘home, house’,*irmin '*whole, great*'* or *amal* ‘capable, brave, eager’ + *rīhhi* ‘powerful, rich’, an affix usually attributed to people of power.
	+ The name '**H****egel'** is a Germanic topographical name, possibly derived from a diminutive of Middle High German *hac* ‘hedge enclosure’, a pet form of the name *Hugh* *or* hagen, or a diminutive of a metonymic occupational name for the owner or keeper of a breeding bull, Middle High German *hagen*.
* Emmerich Hegel's surname is possibly derived from German philosopher, **Georg** **Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel**. Herr Hegel was one of the most influential figures of German idealism and 19th-century philosophy. His works have influenced many German intellectuals, grouped into what can be called the Old Hegelians and the Young Hegelians. **Karl Marx**, famous for **The Communist Manifesto** and **Das Kapital**, was a member of the Young Hegelians.
* Emmerich Hegel shares many traits with the Soviet premier **Nikita Khrushchev**; both rose to power following the death of an authoritarian leader (Wilhelm Ulbrik and Joseph Stalin), denounced purges that happened under the previous regime, and slowly reformed the country removing the influence of their predecessors (de-Ulbrikization and de-Stalinization).
* Hegel's love for smoking pipes is a reference to the Yugoslav revolutionary and politician, Josip Broz Tito, who also preferred smoking pipes.
* Hegel's outburst against Maartin Van Hoorten and shoe-banging against Dwight Walker in the 1957 Alliance of Nations Assembly Meeting is a reference to an infamous ***shoe-banging incident**.* On October 12, 1960, Nikita Khrushchev, the 7th Premier of the Soviet Union, pounded his shoe on his delegate-desk in protest at a speech by the Filipino delegate, Lorenzo Sumulong.
* Orso Hawker's beta portrait was reused into Hegel's portrait.

## Gallery

Portrait of Emmerich HegelBeta Portrait of Orso Hawker (Hegel)