Scourge of Europe
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- See also: Scourge of Europe chronology
The Scourge of Europe is a neologism used to refer to the vampire team of Angelus, Darla, Spike, and Drusilla from the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" universe. It is more commonly known as "The Whirlwind"[citation needed].
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[edit] Overview
The Scourge of Europe existed, in its entirety, from 1880 to 1898, although it did exist with fewer members as early as 1753, when only Angelus and Darla were members. Currently, there is no general consensus as to whether or not the group is referred to as the Scourge of Europe with less than its full four members. A guide to finding a particulas flashback or flashbacks that one or more of the members appear in is at Angel, Darla, Spike and Dru: Before 1997.
[edit] Members
[edit] Darla
Darla, the oldest member of the Scourge of Europe, was born somewhere around the late 16th Century. Little is known about her life as a human, but we do know that she was a prostitute. It can be inferred that this brought her financial success since she is depicted in a large house, being aided by servants in a flashback in an episode of Angel in 1609. In this episode, she is seen afflicted by syphilis and near death. However, an old vampire known as The Master saves her by turning her into a vampire. The name "Darla", meaning "Dear One", was given to her by the Master after he sired her. Her original name is not known.
Joining the Master and his cult, the Order of Aurelius, Darla began her life as a vampire. In 1753, she found herself in Ireland where she came across a man named Liam. Drawn to him, Darla sired him and gave him the name Angelus. She taught him the ins and outs of being a vampire. The two were lovers and travelled through Europe wreaking havoc before Darla presented him to the Master, hoping Angelus would join the Order as well. But Angelus and the Master quarrel, and the Master forbids him from joining the Order. As a result, Darla and Angelus break off on their own. This is arguably the beginning of the Scourge of Europe.
[edit] Angelus
Angelus, born "Liam", was born in 1727 in Galway, Ireland. The son of a linen and silk merchant, he was born into some affluence. His father is depicted as being a quite conservative, religious, overbearing man. Despite such a "moral" upbringing, (or perhaps in response to domineering parenting) Liam had a taste for women and alcohol. He spent most of his nights out at local taverns. This deeply disappointed his father, who eventually disowned his son, forcing him out of the house. One night, he was out at a tavern where he encountered Darla. She sires him shortly after she met him and the two were lovers from then on.
As a vampire, Angelus was much more evil and sadistic than most. He liked to torment his victims first before killing them. He enjoyed making them suffer, toying with their minds and emotions, and then killing them. Angelus would go down as the most vicious vampire in history. In 1898, however, things changed. While in Romania, Darla presented Angel with a gypsy girl for his birthday (although it is unclear whether she meant his human birthday or the anniversary of his siring). He killed the girl, but her family learned of her fate and took its vengeance. The gypsy clan cursed Angelus by restoring his soul, and the conscience that goes along with it. This curse led to Darla's rejection of him and formal departure from the Scourge of Europe. He would rejoin the group for a brief period in 1901 China, but again depart as he couldn't bear to commit the evils he once could.
[edit] Drusilla
Drusilla was born around the years 1830-1840, although the exact date of birth is unclear. Almost nothing is known about Drusilla as a human, other than that she was quite a devout Catholic. It is known, however, that in 1860 she encountered the vampires Angelus and Darla. Darla had presented a challenge to Angelus. His challenge was to kill Drusilla, but it would prove difficult because Drusilla was a Seer, a person gifted with mystical, precognitive abilities. Her powers could not save her, though. Angelus tormented her in every way he could. He murdered her family and literally drove her insane. She eventually fled to a convent. On the day she took her holy orders, he turned her into a vampire, so she would have to suffer for eternity, unstable and insane.
While to make Drusilla suffer was Angelus' intention, something quite the opposite happened. Drusilla, although still damaged, became more stable as a vampire than she was shown as a human. It can be inferred that the strength she gained from being turned into a vampire made her more coherent and less insane than she was, although she is still clearly not in her right mind. Drusilla joined up with Darla and Angelus and became the third member of the Scourge of Europe. The three travel together for twenty years before they come across a man named William. Drusilla sees the potential for greatness in him, and turns him into a vampire. The two become lovers, and remain as such for over a century.
Drusilla is one of the few vampires in the Buffyverse depicted as having powers outside the scope of normal vampire ability. Through her clairvoyance, she can see future events and sense events as they unfold. She also possesses hypnotic abilities.
[edit] Spike
Spike, also known as William the Bloody (this nickname was given to him because of his bloody awful poetry), was the last vampire to join with Darla, Angelus and Drusilla to form the complete Scourge of Europe. Born William, he was attempting to be a poet at the time of his death. His only real fans, however, were his mother and Angel . Everyone else he associated with ridiculed his poetry. One can infer William was the subject of teasing all his life because of his sheer dependency on his mother. A flashback in Buffy depicts him reading his latest poem to his mother, and professing she is the only woman he needs in his life. Clearly he and his mother were wealthy due to the size and decor of their home.
One night in 1880, after attending a party where he read his poetry and was subsequently ridiculed, he was wandering the streets crying and upset. During which time, he bumped shoulders with Drusilla, who was with Angelus and Darla, and quickly hurried along. Drusilla, seeing the potential for great power and evil in him, turned him into a vampire. The two were lovers and would share a great affection for one another. William would later adopt the name Spike, because he liked to torture his victims with railroad spikes. As a vampire, Spike was quite different from Angelus. He enjoyed a more animal, savage kill than a carefully crafted one. Spike is responsible for the deaths of two Slayers, one in 1901 China, during the time Angelus briefly rejoined the group, and one in 1977 New York.
[edit] Disbandment
The first member to leave the Scourge of Europe was Angelus in 1898. His restored soul made him too guilty to do evil deeds, and Darla was now repulsed by him. He met up with the group in China three years later, hoping things could be as they were, but he could still not bear to be evil. The Scourge of Europe was reduced to three.
After Angelus' final departure in 1901, it is unclear why Darla's connection was severed with Spike and Drusilla. She does not surface again until 1996 when she appears again in the service of the Master. It can be inferred Darla left the group to rejoin her old Sire out of a feeling of emptiness after the loss of Angelus.
Spike and Drusilla, though separated from their two former Scourge of Europe members, remained together for almost a century after the group's unraveling. They shared a deep connection, perhaps even love. Drusilla left Spike, however, in 1997, because of Spike's obsession with the Slayer, Buffy Summers.
[edit] Resources
- Angel, Season Three, Episode Seven.
