Holy Roman Empire/Chibitalia

Chibitalia/Holy Roman Empire is a popular (and canonical) pairing in the series Axis Powers Hetalia, involving the child version of Italy and the Holy Roman Empire.

Childhood
Chibitalia and Holy Roman Empire were briefly raised together as infants, before Grandpa Rome took Chibitalia away to live with him for an indeterminate period of time. By the time Chibitalia returned to his place of birth, the other children had become bullies to him and Holy Roman Empire vowed to make Chibitalia part of his "New Roman Empire".

Life In The Empire
Chibitalia eventually wound up claimed by Austria, on the behalf of Holy Roman Empire, after a period of war. The two children lived together in the household, HRE harboring a crush on Chibitalia, who he believed to be a girl (due to his feminine sense of attire).

However, life soon became uneasy in the household. HRE soon gave Chibitalia the offer of becoming part of his "New Roman Empire", which the other child refused, remembering what had eventually happened to his grandfather. HRE left the household, leaving only Austria, Hungary, and Chibitalia behind.

It is at this point which the published version of the manga and the anime adaptation ends, with Chibitalia crying as HRE departs. (However, it should be noted that when HRE ran away in the anime, the words "To be continued" were shown, suggesting that the anime adaption of Chibitalia may not be over just yet)

The Last Goodbye
Note: This section only applies to the original webcomic version of the Chibitalia side-story

The time came when HRE had to return to collect his belongings, as he went off to war. Chibitalia, in a panic, took off "her" panties and gave them to HRE as a parting gift. HRE then asked Chibitalia what "her" people gave each other as a gift in their culture. "She" responded that it was a kiss.

After confessing that he had loved Chibitalia ever since the 900s, the two children kissed. HRE departed, promising that he would return after the war and that he would always love Chibitalia, no matter how many years go by.

Aftermath
Eventually, after a long period of war, Holy Roman Empire was believed to have died. In a scrapped strip by Hidekaz Himaruya, France broke the news to a teenage Italy that HRE was no more and urged him to forget about the other boy, as he had suffered enough in the war.

Two age-progressed designs of HRE are also known to be in existence, one of which was included in the special edition of Axis Powers Hetalia volume 2. The illustrations suggest that HRE had finally aged, as Chibitalia had, by the time of his death.

Before the existence of the scrapped strip was known, fanworks often depicted HRE dying in his "child" form and Chibitalia being informed of the news then by either Austria or Hungary. Historically, the actual Holy Roman Empire was dissolved by Napoleon after its last emperor, Francis II, was defeated in war and surrendered. This has lead to speculation by fans that France had killed HRE and was informing the younger Italy of his death, possibly out of guilt.

Holy Roman Empire=Germany?
A popular fan speculation, supported by hints given in canon, is that Holy Roman Empire survived his apparent "death", but gained amnesia and forgot all of his childhood memories, eventually growing up to become Germany.

The strongest hint in canon came in the Buon San Valentino cliffhanger, when after proposing to Italy, Germany's mind became flooded with emotion and a memory of Chibitalia was shown from his point of view.

Another connection drawn by fans is the fact that Chibitalia gave HRE panties as a parting gift, while in his adulthood, Italy gave Germany a pair of underwear as a Christmas gift. The Christmas Scribbles strip series which the latter strip came from also featured a "past tale" strip with HRE involving underwear as well (he accidentally pulled down Chibitalia's underwear on Christmas after "she" got stuck in a decorations box).

Physical Resemblances


Germany is also shown to look much like HRE when his hair is not slicked back, and the two "grown-up" illustrations of HRE showed him to have a strong resemblance to Germany, albeit somewhat younger.

Though their eyes appear to be somewhat different, Germany's being more piercing and flatly-colored and HRE's to appear darker and shinier, the change could be chalked up due to aging and the changes in personality and maturity (in part due to his amnesia).

The Germanic Connection
HRE was also a descendant of Germania and had Prussia as an older brother, while in the later-day strips it is revealed that Germany and Prussia are brothers. Though Germania is said to have several grandchildren (or children, going by the Hetalia trading card game), two others being the little-seen Saxony and Bavaria.

There is also historical precedent for the theory of Holy Roman Empire becoming Germany: After the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806, it became known as the German Confederation, and then the German Empire. The full name of the Holy Roman Empire also happened to be The Holy Roman Empire Of The German Nation. However, other fans will often point out the government differences between the Holy Roman Empire and the later incarnations of Germany as evidence in an opposing argument.

During the period leading into World War II, Hitler stated that his Nazi Germany would be the Third Reich, and that the original Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire were the first and second, respectively.

But until the time comes when or if the cliffhanger in Buon San Valentino is followed up on, the exact canon connection between the characters of Germany and Holy Roman Empire will continue to remain somewhat ambiguous.

Webcomic: Main Storyline

 * Chibitalia side-story

Published Manga

 * Chibitalia side-story (altered ending, Axis Powers Hetalia volume 1)

Webcomic: "Extra Stories"

 * Chibitalia And The Holy Roman Empire 
 * Ita-chan's Dream
 * Kitty Festival
 * Christmas Scribbles (first strip)
 * Playing In The River
 * Hungary And Her Maiden's Heart
 * Liechtenstein's Journal Of Swiss Dopiness, part 4

Webcomic: "Comic Diaries"

 * Comic Diary 3