User:George the Greek/Lab

Princess Liese of Brunant

She married Prince Hugo Dietrichstein zu Nikolsburg, a member of the Mensdorff-Pouilly family.

9mm is a Carrington-based Brunanter metal band.

Saint Benedict the Chronicler (born Benedictus Daalmans; March 12, 1584 - September 27, 1669) was a Brunanter friar, best known for the foundation of St. Andrew's Abbey and his chronicles. Patron saint of Boguestown since 1681, he is considered a polymath, as he was also interested in botanology and fluently spoke French, German, Italian and Dutch.

Gisbert "the Lion" Mengblod (Dutch: Gijsbert "de Leeuw" Mengblod) is a folk hero of Brunant. His legend is recorded in a middle 17th-century chronicle, written by Saint Benedict. It is set in the period of the Venetian sovereignty, during the early 15th century. According to the legend, Gisbert — a brave warrior of great strength — rebeled against a local tyrannic Lord, before being captured and tortured to death.

Along with Adrianus Graf and Mateus Brasefort, Gisbert is a central figure in Brunanter patriotism. His story has inspired many artistic works, including authors and musicians.

Legacy
The figure of Gisbert the Lion has been a major folk hero of Brunant, representing stength and fearlessness. Lion has even become a symbol for the Brunanter people; the so-called Lion of Brunant is depicted in Brunant's flag and was also present in the flag of the Brunanter State. The Presidential Standard features the lion, too.

Throughout World War II and particularly during the German occupation, Mengblod was perceived as a symbol of valour and resistance against the Nazis.

Many musicians from different genres have been inspired by Mengblod's legend. The power metal band Veldwachter have written the songs Grootswaert and De Leeuw Brult, while Havering's Symphony 12 was dedicated to Mengblod. Infinite Eloquence Orchestra song Sad Ending is inspired by Gisbert's last moments.

Strangely enough, only one movie has been produced about Gisbert's legend, in 1984. Titled Gisbert the Rebel, it was directed by Ronald Koopman and was a commercial success.

Comparative mythology
The Menglod legend has been compared to a number of other European myths or legends and even real historic figures. Historian Reinout van der Bijl considered him a Brunanter version of William Tell, while pointing out that Gisbert's tragic end is similar to that of William Wallace. What is more, Gisbert's outlaw status, led to comparison with Robin Hood. Gion Viatger believed that Mengblod was a fictitious counterpart of Mateus Brasefort.

A quite interesting comparison is that with Digenes Akritas, the most famous figure of the Byzantine acritic songs. "Digenes" is Greek for Twain-born or Two Blood, while "Mengblod" seems to derive from Dutch for mixed blood (gemengd bloed). Gisbert's father was Dutch and his mother was Aragonese; similarly, Akritas' father was an Arab emir and his mother a Greek.

Personal life
In 1989 Roggeveen married Agnes Holst, a violin player, but they divorced one year later. He married Evelien Pender (niece of Martine Pender) in 1992 and they had one daughter, Myrthe (1993). They got divorced in 1996, but they remarried and had a second daughter, Rosanne (1998).

Although Roggeveen was born in a Roman Catholic family, he converted to Greek Orthodox Faith in 1999. He was baptized in Hagios Demetrios, Koningstad. "Personally, I feel really tranquil in Orthodox churches and I can come closer to myself", said he in 2006.

Roggeveen has admitted being an amateur painter, inspired by Caroman.

Dionys Vincentsz van der Akker (April 9, 1810 - August 22, 1866) was a Brunanter novelist. Van der Akker was very popular throughout his rather short lifetime and is considered one of the pioneers of Brunanter modern prose, along with Gottschalk Meinhardt. He is also thought to be the most important representative of Romanticism in Brunant.

His works, inspired mainly by Brunanter folklore and history, were heavily influenced by writers like François-René de Chateaubriand and Sir Walter Scott.

Early years and first works
During that period he met Eugenio Cavall and they became good friends.

Works
Navedacanta (roughly translated as Christmas song) refers to a Barzuna tradition, similar to Christmas carol. Popular during the 17th and 18th, it was forgotten afterwards. Recently, however, has revived, largely due to the efforts of Anstitut nalla Langua Barzuna and Gion Viatger in particular.

To the Householder we Greet
To the householder we greet

A glorious "Merry Christmas"!

When Love doth reign,

every day will always be Christmas!

The reason we have come

is to ask for gifts.

If we happen to be a bother,

be patient for we are carolling!

It's Christmas Day
The day of Christ has come,

And the angels sing loud!

But you are all going to see,

Not louder than us!

Everybody wake up

It's Christmas Day

Everybody smile wide

It's Christmas Day

Adrian Augustijn van Haecht was a Brunanter militaryman, best known for his actions in the Battle of Niesburg.

Carlyle Martin O'Keefe (February 5, 1916 - November 11, 1999) was a Brunanter plawright, author and professor. He was among the first to introduce realism into Brunanter drama, greatly inspired by Eugene O'Neill. He was the only playwright to win the Medal for Arts and Letters in 1973. He is considered the greatest Brunanter dramatist of the 20th century.

Early years
O'Keefe was born in Koningstad to Edward and Abigail (nee Daniell). Both his parents were of Borderers descent. His father was a merchant, while his mother was a housekeeper, born in Niesburg. He was the youngest of three children (Bethany, 1912-1990; George, 1914-1942).

Initially a small trader, Edward O'Keefe managed to make a considerable fortune during the 20's. Hence, all his children attended higher education; Bethany studied nursing in RUK; George studied sculpture in ERAA; Carlyle studied theatre in ERAA. Carlyle wrote his first play, while still a student.

During World War II
Carlyle finished his studies in 1939, only two years before the German invasion. During the occupation he didn't participate in the resistance, unlike his brother who was a zealous member of Underground Revolution. However, he frequently hide partisans in his home, including his brother and Gerard Donner.

In January 1942, George was captured by the Nazis and was tortured to death. Carlyle himself was beaten by a few soldiers but he wasn't killed. He then escaped to Britain with the rest of his family. In London, he was trained in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was parachuted to Netherlands in 1943. Carlyle acted as a spy and risked his life many times, mainly due to his accent.

What he went through during World War II, left an indelible mark on his soul. Many of his works (including his masterpiece God is Wearing Black) are influenced by his adventures.

Early steps
After he war, Carlyle returned in Brunant and married Erica Adcock in 1946. He worked for a couple of years as Gerhard Pietersen's secretary. In 1947 he resigned and wrote The Birds, his only comedy. Due to the situation, it wasn't a success, although it was praised by some scholars.

Two years later he wrote Money and Honor, which was better accepted. Still though there were many people who believed that this is not the time for theater or painting, but hard work. Embittered, Carlyle published The Fools (1950), a rigorous work, criticising those who see nothing beyond their bellies.

Success
In 1952, Carlyle wrote God is Wearing Black which became immensely popular, even among people who disapproved of his works. Considered the most important anti-war piece of Brunanter literature, it was played at the Royal Theatre of Koningstad for four consecutive years.

Plays

 * Bloody Fists (1936)
 * The Birds (1947)
 * Money and Honor (1949)
 * The Fools (1950)
 * God is Wearing Black (1952)
 * The Sailor and his Wife (1953)
 * Men and Beasts (1956)
 * Jesus Swept (1960)
 * Against the Wind (1967)
 * The Fatalist (1970)
 * No Home (1972)
 * The Sailor and his Wife (1977)
 * The Rutgers Family (1978)

Non-fiction books

 * From Aeschylus to Ibsen: The History of Western Theatre (1975)
 * Brunanter Literature through the Centuries (1982)

Jibrel Soas (August 14, 1947 - September 30, 1980) was a Barzuna playwright.