In the 19th century, Belgium emerged as a nation, a complex birth shaped by mortal aspirations, Cainite power dynamics, and the territorial ambitions of a Methuselah. As revolutions swept through both realms, ambitious young vampires, unable to ascend in European society, saw Belgium as a new land ripe for titles and blood.

Throughout history, Brussels, whether under Austrian, French, Dutch, or Spanish rule, never dictated its destiny. It was time for change. Nationalism surged, and in 1830, Belgians sought independence. For many ancient Cainites, this swampy territory seemed insignificant, but for the ambitious, it held promise.

The push for independence brought turmoil. The Belgians wanted their own king, and Cainite factions vied to place their candidate on the throne. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, backed by German Cainites, became King of the Belgians. In the shadows, Camille Duschesne, supported by the Methuselah Ludmilla Van Der Holst, unraveled the German bonds and wove her web in the royal court, so as to be able to give the country the direction she wanted.

Although the Monarch’s image is influential and important, Brussels is profoundly liberal. The city, at the forefront of political and technological progress, boasted the continent’s first public railroad. This new means of transport enabled many, mortal and Cainite alike, to accelerate their businesses and move large volumes of goods and people in record time.

Belgium’s openness attracted a diverse mix of humans and Cainites. Camarilla, Anarch, Sabbat, Giovanni, Autarkis—everyone was welcome, as long as they submitted to La Paix and contributed to the region’s prosperity.

Ludmilla van der Holst, through the new Prince, got the message across. And it was a system that worked. Despite the mockery and lingering doubts of certain elders in neighboring countries. Ludmilla Van Der Holst was the guarantee.