Royal Order of Protestant Knights (Hellsing)
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Hellsing (also known as the Royal Order of Protestant Knights) is a fictional organization from the manga series Hellsing by Kouta Hirano.
The name "Hellsing" comes from the character of a similar name in Bram Stoker's Dracula, Abraham van Helsing. The leader of Hellsing organization, Sir Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, is the great-granddaughter of the grizzled professor. In Hellsing's universe the organization is an integral part of the true power-structure of Great Britain, which is in fact still ruled by a hidden aristocracy and the monarchy. The organization is tasked with defending the country's shores from any and all supernatural threats. Controversy is often raised, especially in the manga, over the highly unconventional methods Hellsing chooses to do this, namely the use of anti-Christian powers and creatures. In the TV series the agency resembles a counter-terrorist paramilitary strike force in uniform, methods and gear, however in the manga and OVA they begin as something more akin to a Men in Black agency than a paramilitary police force also in uniform, methods and gear.
Although human soldiers are used by the Hellsing organization in the OVA and manga, they seem to only be used to defend the mansion, and can be described as thoroughly ineffective.
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[edit] History
It is suggested that the Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham van Helsing shortly after the events of Bram Stoker's novel as a response to the threat posed by vampires after his encounter with Dracula. The purpose of the Hellsing Organization is to end all earthly activity of non-human creatures. It is traditionally headed by Abraham's descendants, as they are the only ones who can control Alucard, "the fruit of the Hellsing family's labors," whom they performed many experiments upon, building him into the ultimate undead for use in battle against other undead. In 1944, Arthur Hellsing, then the director of the organization, sent Alucard and a 14-year-old Walter to halt the attempts by Millennium to create an artificial vampire force that could help the Nazis win World War II. This they succeeded in doing, although they failed to kill the key members of Millennium. After WWII, it was decided that Alucard was too powerful, too potentially dangerous to be used as a weapon, and was locked away in the basement of the Hellsing mansion. Upon Arthur's death, his daughter Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing became the director of the organization. Her uncle Richard Hellsing attempted to kill her and take the headship of the organization for himself, but was defeated by Alucard, whom Integra accidentally released from a 20-year internment, on instructions from her father. Integral herself fired the bullet that killed Richard. 10 years have passed since Integra took control of Hellsing.
[edit] Motto
The official motto of the Hellsing organization appears to be "We are on a mission from God," but the introduction to the Anime, directly under the word "Hellsing", as well as in the dialogue several times within, the short prayer "In the name of God, impure souls of the living dead shall be banished into eternal damnation. Amen." appears. It is spoken by the Hellsing soldiers before going into battle at times as well, and is likely their unofficial motto, as "We are on a mission from God" can be spoken in public without revealing the true task of their organization. In the anime, the motto does not appear on the crests worn by the soldiers, but the word "Hellsing" is still at the top.
[edit] Members
- Alucard
- The series's main protagonist. As the Hellsing Organization's most powerful warrior, he serves as its special "trump card". He is not only a vampire, but also one of the most ancient ones, his original life dating back into the 1400s.
- Integra Hellsing
- A descendant of Abraham van Helsing and the Bureau Director of the Hellsing Organization. She inherited the headship of the Hellsing family at the age of 13 (12 in the manga), when her father died. Integra is also Alucard's master. She is beautiful, intelligent, and strong. Although she often seems strict and domineering, she is respected and admired, even among her sworn enemies.
- Seras Victoria
- A 19-year-old orphan. Seras was formerly a member of the police force's Special Division 11, but, after being mortally wounded on a mission by Alucard, chose to join him in the ranks of the undead, rather to than give up and accept death. She now serves as Alucard's fledgling vampire, and, through him, serves Integra and the Hellsing Organization.
- Walter C. Dornez
- Walter is a 69-year-old retired member of the Hellsing Organization. At the beginning of the series, he acted only as Integra's butler. However, he later lived up to his old nickname, the "Angel of Death," when Hellsing was attacked. Walter was altered in some sort of procedure by the Doctor, brainwashed, and now fights for Millennium.
