1812: Alternative Divergence [AH][OOC-DEAD]

[Tracian Empire]

If you want to do future posts in Constantinople we could work on a plot together,

Ahah; if you have any plotlines in mind, definitely let me know. Given that I've set up an intrigue-focused naval-heavy nation concept, I'm probably going to need to work on collaborative plots if I want to do anything.

or at the very least, you've inspired me to try to write a post about the Varangians and about the Angeliaphóroi/Messengers, the evolution of the agentes in rebus.

I'm glad.

I'd have to think about it. Certainly something involving intrigue and the Messengers, but I don't have anything concrete in mind as of yet.

Though this also reminds me - was the aristocracy in Scandinavia completely removed, or does it still exist?

It's a relic since the very first iteration of the roleplay, but my current roster of royal family characters, the Basileus and his siblings, were supposed to have a foreign mother, and in the first iteration their mother was from a Scandinavian noble house.

If such a concept won't work with how your Scandinavia is though it's alright, I could look at some other European royal houses.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

-snip-

The way I envision it, it would be more or less like modern Britain. There would still be some titles of nobility, and a few of those titles would even still be hereditary, but they wouldn’t mean much in and of themselves anymore - the nobility has noble titles because they are rich and influential and not the other way around.

[Old Tyrannia]

Ahah; if you have any plotlines in mind, definitely let me know. Given that I've set up an intrigue-focused naval-heavy nation concept, I'm probably going to need to work on collaborative plots if I want to do anything.


I'm glad.

I'd have to think about it. Certainly something involving intrigue and the Messengers, but I don't have anything concrete in mind as of yet.

Though this also reminds me - was the aristocracy in Scandinavia completely removed, or does it still exist?

It's a relic since the very first iteration of the roleplay, but my current roster of royal family characters, the Basileus and his siblings, were supposed to have a foreign mother, and in the first iteration their mother was from a Scandinavian noble house.

If such a concept won't work with how your Scandinavia is though it's alright, I could look at some other European royal houses.

If you're in need of a foreign royal house, I intend to have several- you could have a Savoia, a Medici, a Sforza, an Este or a Farnese; take your pick!

[Tracian Empire]

I'd have to think about it. Certainly something involving intrigue and the Messengers, but I don't have anything concrete in mind as of yet.

Though this also reminds me - was the aristocracy in Scandinavia completely removed, or does it still exist?

It's a relic since the very first iteration of the roleplay, but my current roster of royal family characters, the Basileus and his siblings, were supposed to have a foreign mother, and in the first iteration their mother was from a Scandinavian noble house.

If such a concept won't work with how your Scandinavia is though it's alright, I could look at some other European royal houses.

If you're in need of a foreign royal house, I intend to have several- you could have a Savoia, a Medici, a Sforza, an Este or a Farnese; take your pick!

Relations with Italy might be a bit weird due to the whole Catepanate thing, but it could be very interesting to an Italian noble house

A Savoia or a Medici maybe, I'll have to think about it in order to choose

[The Imperial Warglorian Empire]

I've gotta find a new wife for my Louis-Joseph-Xavier XVI (note, Louis XVI is still married to Marie Antoinette, he's just not king), anyone have any ideas or are willing to offer up a lady?

[Deblar]

Full Nation Name : Republic of Florida
Majority/Official Culture : Blend of Spanish and American culture
Territorial Core : The Floridian peninsula
Territorial Claim : The entirety of old Spanish claims on Florida up to the Mississippi River
Capital City : St. Augustine, Florida
Population : 946,040 (1,357,040 including slaves)
Flag: (Image)

Government Type : Federal Republic
Government Ideology/Policies : [[OPTIONAL]] [[Militant, Imperialist, Expansionist, etc.]]
Government Focus : To establish Florida on the world stage, defend her interests against colonizers, and grow the economy
Head of State : Diego De la Rosa
Head of Government : Diego De la Rosa
Government Description : The Floridian government is based on the IRL American government, with three branches of government. There are a few differences, such as there is only one house of legislature and the Supreme Court is made up of elected officials rather than appointed judges.

Majority/State Religion :Christianity
Religious Description :[/b] Florida is 73% Catholic, with the rest of the Christian population falling under Protestantism. Other religions include Atheism and voodoo.

Economic Ideologies : Capitalism
Major Production : Cotton, Cattle, Food, Sugar, etc.
Economic Description : The economy of Florida is heavily based on agriculture, but the government has attempted to change that by subsidizing industry and encouraging factory development

Development: Pre-Industrial
Development Description : Florida is early in the process of industrializing, with a few factories in major towns and the capital

Army Description : The army is led by a former Spanish war general by the name of Julio Hernandez de Santa Anna, who fought for the Hispanics during various conflicts from 1767-1779, and led the Hispanic attacks of British forces in the Gulf Coast during the American Revolution. His experience in warfare and superb ability to train his troops brings an advantage to the Floridian Army. He trains his forces and uses tactics that he learned as a member of the Hispanic Army, with some of his own tactics mixed in. His leadership is similar to that of George Washington, a mix of guerrilla and tactics see by larger militaries .
Army Weakness : The Floridian Army is remarkably small(only 30,000 men in total) and not very well funded(military funding only takes up 3% of the GDP), and the rather conservative government is hesitant to give the military any new funds.
Naval Description : The navy is led by former American sailor Henry Jackson, who also fought in the American Revolution. His experience and leadership gives the navy a tactical advantage. He prefers to use European training methods and tactics. His leadership is similar to that of John Paul Jones(who primarily used hit and run tactics). The navy is primarily used for defensive purposes .
Naval Weakness : same as army(only 18 ships and 7,000 sailors in total)
Further Military Description : [[OPTIONAL]]

National Goals : Florida wishes to establish itself on the global stage
National Issues : Lacks international recognition, economy and industry underdeveloped
National Figures of Interest : [[OPTIONAL]] Ponce de Leon is seen as a Christopher Columbus like figure, and revolutionary leader and first president of Florida, Benjamin Fredrickson, is seen as a George Washington like figure and the father of Florida.
National Ambition/Aspirations : [[OPTIONAL]]

History :
In 1513, Florida was discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, who named the new land La Florida. In 1564, the first settlement, St. Augustine, was founded. As more settlements popped up across Florida, the area came under frequent attacks from British and French forces.

During the latter half of the 18th century, many colonists from the 13 colonies began to move to the area, considering they weren't allowed to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains and for the expansive farmland optimal for growing crops like cotton, tobacco, and others. Mass immigration continued through the American Revolution, mostly for loyalists looking to escape harassment in the 13 colonies. After the revolution ended, the population was now made up mostly of Americans who emigrated from the 13 colonies. These settlers began to clash with the Hispanic colonial government, which began to come to a head in 1787, when troops were sent to seize control over the territory. Armed colonists clashed with them near St. Augustine, officially starting the Floridian Revolution.

The Hispanics were able to create a blockade, but the colonists, who had boldly commandeered some anchored ships on the coast near St. Augustine were able to break through in a bold attack and create a hole in the blockade. Once more rebels to the south took up arms, they went to St. Augustine and flanked the assaulting Hispanics, who, after taking numerous losses, retreated into the countryside to regroup. When the Hispanics attempted to attack St. Augustine again, Floridian militia launched a surprise attack on their camp. The Spanish general was captured and was forced to surrender.

After the surrender of Hispanic forces, both sides signed the Treaty of Madrid, which granted the Republic of Florida independence from Hispania in 1788. Since independence, Florida has been trying to earn recognition from other European powers, such as Germany and France. Florida also has been attempting to industrialize it's economy, which is heavily dependent on agriculture.
RP Sample: https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=498384&p=38381231#p38381231

#AltDiv (Do not delete this, it is used to keep track of the apps)

/bump because why not

[Dragos Bee]

On the one hand, I still want to play in this RP. On the other hand, I am not sure I have the time and energy. So for now, I'll be going - I hope you guys do well!

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

Quick IC post up; the Commonwealth has absolutely no intention of just standing by and watching as a broad anti-Republican coalition form against its neighbours, and ultimately itself, form up. The creed of the Commonwealth's foreign intelligence is that there is no such thing as an interest of the State, only the interests of the individual human beings of which it is comprised...

This is probably a thing that Trace will likely want to keep in mind when writing their next IC post. :p Since you're the player actually playing the Roman Empire I'll leave it to you to decide how successful the Commonwealth's efforts to quietly spread this viewpoint around in Constantinople's elite is going to be. Trace's application says that the Roman Empire is highly interested in social stability and in the preservation of their imperial autocracy, so I tried to play on those fears.

EDIT: slight revision in the IC post made, fixing a few spelling and grammar issues

[Tracian Empire]

Quick IC post up; the Commonwealth has absolutely no intention of just standing by and watching as a broad anti-Republican coalition form against its neighbours, and ultimately itself, form up. The creed of the Commonwealth's foreign intelligence is that there is no such thing as an interest of the State, only the interests of the individual human beings of which it is comprised...

This is probably a thing that Trace will likely want to keep in mind when writing their next IC post. Since you're the player actually playing the Roman Empire I'll leave it to you to decide how successful the Commonwealth's efforts to quietly spread this viewpoint around in Constantinople's elite is going to be.

EDIT: slight revision in the IC post made, fixing a few spelling and grammar issues

Well, convincing the Roman Empire to be against a mending of the Schism would be relatively easy, very few figures in the Empire, if any, are in favor of Ecumenism or any sort of rapprochement with Catholicism, even just to how large the theological disputes are.

Similarly, Scandinavia isn't necessarily viewed as a hostile republic in Constantinople due to being both somewhat distant to the Roman worldview, and due to not being Christian to begin with. Pagans are viewed as people to be pitied, barbarians who are victims of invincible ignorance, so a just monarchy couldn't potentially exist in Scandinavia to begin with seeing as it would haven't the divine right to rule from God.

The Protestant republics however are viewed as unrepentant and violent deviationists, who reject both the religious and the political truth. To deny the divine right of kings and to mock Christian faith in such a way simply only deserves anathema.

The Catholics are considered a bit above them. They fell into heresy due to arrogance, but they are not as removed from the Orthodox thought as to be completely lost. Then there is also the concept of the European family of kings that the Romans still follow - in that they consider the European monarchs to be part of a family of kings with the Basileus as the paterfamilias. Those kings might be rebellious by not acknowledging the Basileus as such, but they are still part of the family - so the overthrowing of the monarchy in Britain and the rejection of the monarchy in Germany is in the end still a crime against the Basileus.

So long story short, religiously it's highly unlikely that the Romans would mend the Schism without serious concessions from the Catholics, especially the ERE also controls four of the original Patriarchates, but politically and militarily, further upheaval of the European order by Germany and Britain won't be viewed positively at all.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

-snip-

So the Commonwealth would largely be playing on already-existing prejudices and not building any new ones. That would make it even easier to get Constantinople to offer an outright hostile response to Vienna's overtures, and maybe get a more favourable trade agreement out of it as well. :)

Actually, depending on how things go this might even be a good opportunity to destabilise the Holy Roman Empire a bit. Being prepared to make some humiliating concessions in the name of reconciliation (giving up the Holy Roman crown... really?) and then having even that overture of reconciliation snuffed would probably be a substantial blow to the prestige of the Holy Roman monarchy. Hmm... I'll put some thoughts into that.

There is something wrong with the world when there exists a pie that a Hyperborean doesn't yet have his fingers in.

[Old Tyrannia]

I'm a little confused about the precise claims of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Based on the map they seem to have Venetia, but Venetia isn't mentioned amongst the claims in Kenobot's app. For whatever reason I initially assumed that Venetia was claimed but Lombardy or most of it was free, but the app indicates that the opposite is true.

[Kenobot]

I'm a little confused about the precise claims of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Based on the map they seem to have Venetia, but Venetia isn't mentioned amongst the claims in Kenobot's app. For whatever reason I initially assumed that Venetia was claimed but Lombardy or most of it was free, but the app indicates that the opposite is true.

Woops my bad. Venetia is indeed part of the claims, as is Lombardy. I've been relying too much on the discussion in the discord. EDIT: Scratch that just talked to Thrace and most of Lombardy is yours. It's as is on the map. Will fix up my IC post now

-snip-

So the Commonwealth would largely be playing on already-existing prejudices and not building any new ones. That would make it even easier to get Constantinople to offer an outright hostile response to Vienna's overtures, and maybe get a more favourable trade agreement out of it as well.

Actually, depending on how things go this might even be a good opportunity to destabilise the Holy Roman Empire a bit. Being prepared to make some humiliating concessions in the name of reconciliation (giving up the Holy Roman crown... really?) and then having even that overture of reconciliation snuffed would probably be a substantial blow to the prestige of the Holy Roman monarchy. Hmm... I'll put some thoughts into that.

There is something wrong with the world when there exists a pie that a Hyperborean doesn't yet have his fingers in.

I mean we haven't even sent anything to Constantinople yet. We've only sent stuff to Paris and Madrid. We're not going into this alone

[Tracian Empire]

I'm a little confused about the precise claims of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Based on the map they seem to have Venetia, but Venetia isn't mentioned amongst the claims in Kenobot's app. For whatever reason I initially assumed that Venetia was claimed but Lombardy or most of it was free, but the app indicates that the opposite is true.

There has indeed been a bit of a confusion, initially the HRE claimed more of Italy and we had a long discussion with a lot of maps over the borders, which resulted in the borders as they are on the map. We were trying to emulate the real life Kingdom of Lombardy-Venice, which is why Keno's app probably mentions Lombardy, but what we agreed on were the territories as they are on the map, and those do not include Lombardy or Milan.

I'm sorry that Keno misunderstood it there, it's my fault for mentioning Lombardy-Venice at the beginning of my discussion with him, but we did cut Lombardy off his claim before it was accepted, so Milan would be yours.

[Tracian Empire]

-snip-

So the Commonwealth would largely be playing on already-existing prejudices and not building any new ones. That would make it even easier to get Constantinople to offer an outright hostile response to Vienna's overtures, and maybe get a more favourable trade agreement out of it as well.

Actually, depending on how things go this might even be a good opportunity to destabilise the Holy Roman Empire a bit. Being prepared to make some humiliating concessions in the name of reconciliation (giving up the Holy Roman crown... really?) and then having even that overture of reconciliation snuffed would probably be a substantial blow to the prestige of the Holy Roman monarchy. Hmm... I'll put some thoughts into that.

There is something wrong with the world when there exists a pie that a Hyperborean doesn't yet have his fingers in.

Well, Vienna has yet to make any direct overtures, and Constantinople will contact Vienna diplomatically for a different reason, as the new Basileus wishes to properly establish the status of the Balkan NPC's between them.

But as for concessions in the names of reconciliation, those would probably mostly be religious-related, can't really have a mending of the Schism if papal superiority and papal infallibility remain.

[Kenobot]

So the Commonwealth would largely be playing on already-existing prejudices and not building any new ones. That would make it even easier to get Constantinople to offer an outright hostile response to Vienna's overtures, and maybe get a more favourable trade agreement out of it as well.

Actually, depending on how things go this might even be a good opportunity to destabilise the Holy Roman Empire a bit. Being prepared to make some humiliating concessions in the name of reconciliation (giving up the Holy Roman crown... really?) and then having even that overture of reconciliation snuffed would probably be a substantial blow to the prestige of the Holy Roman monarchy. Hmm... I'll put some thoughts into that.

There is something wrong with the world when there exists a pie that a Hyperborean doesn't yet have his fingers in.

Well, Vienna has yet to make any direct overtures, and Constantinople will contact Vienna diplomatically for a different reason, as the new Basileus wishes to properly establish the status of the Balkan NPC's between them.

But as for concessions in the names of reconciliation, those would probably mostly be religious-related, can't really have a mending of the Schism if papal superiority and papal infallibility remain.

I mean low key thinking about Danubian Federation. Also who doesn't love a good Sack of Rome if the Pope doesn't play along

[Old Tyrannia]

I'm a little confused about the precise claims of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Based on the map they seem to have Venetia, but Venetia isn't mentioned amongst the claims in Kenobot's app. For whatever reason I initially assumed that Venetia was claimed but Lombardy or most of it was free, but the app indicates that the opposite is true.

Woops my bad. Venetia is indeed part of the claims, as is Lombardy. I've been relying too much on the discussion in the discord. EDIT: Scratch that just talked to Thrace and most of Lombardy is yours. It's as is on the map. Will fix up my IC post now

I'm a little confused about the precise claims of the Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Based on the map they seem to have Venetia, but Venetia isn't mentioned amongst the claims in Kenobot's app. For whatever reason I initially assumed that Venetia was claimed but Lombardy or most of it was free, but the app indicates that the opposite is true.

There has indeed been a bit of a confusion, initially the HRE claimed more of Italy and we had a long discussion with a lot of maps over the borders, which resulted in the borders as they are on the map. We were trying to emulate the real life Kingdom of Lombardy-Venice, which is why Keno's app probably mentions Lombardy, but what we agreed on were the territories as they are on the map, and those do not include Lombardy or Milan.

I'm sorry that Keno misunderstood it there, it's my fault for mentioning Lombardy-Venice at the beginning of my discussion with him, but we did cut Lombardy off his claim before it was accepted, so Milan would be yours.

Thank you both for clarifying, and I'm sorry to Kenobot that your control of Venetia will likely be the cause of much resentment from the United Duchies IC.

On the subject of territorial claims, the claims I've been given on the map are a bit more expansive than what I asked for. In addition to my actual claims you've given me part of the Papal States, which is generous but unnecessary.

[Kenobot]

Woops my bad. Venetia is indeed part of the claims, as is Lombardy. I've been relying too much on the discussion in the discord. EDIT: Scratch that just talked to Thrace and most of Lombardy is yours. It's as is on the map. Will fix up my IC post now

There has indeed been a bit of a confusion, initially the HRE claimed more of Italy and we had a long discussion with a lot of maps over the borders, which resulted in the borders as they are on the map. We were trying to emulate the real life Kingdom of Lombardy-Venice, which is why Keno's app probably mentions Lombardy, but what we agreed on were the territories as they are on the map, and those do not include Lombardy or Milan.

I'm sorry that Keno misunderstood it there, it's my fault for mentioning Lombardy-Venice at the beginning of my discussion with him, but we did cut Lombardy off his claim before it was accepted, so Milan would be yours.

Thank you both for clarifying, and I'm sorry to Kenobot that your control of Venetia will likely be the cause of much resentment from the United Duchies IC.

On the subject of territorial claims, the claims I've been given on the map are a bit more expansive than what I asked for. In addition to my actual claims you've given me part of the Papal States, which is generous but unnecessary.

I'm sure IC we can come to some agreement. I've laid the seeds for a nice plotline in my IC post if you look closely

[Tracian Empire]

Woops my bad. Venetia is indeed part of the claims, as is Lombardy. I've been relying too much on the discussion in the discord. EDIT: Scratch that just talked to Thrace and most of Lombardy is yours. It's as is on the map. Will fix up my IC post now

There has indeed been a bit of a confusion, initially the HRE claimed more of Italy and we had a long discussion with a lot of maps over the borders, which resulted in the borders as they are on the map. We were trying to emulate the real life Kingdom of Lombardy-Venice, which is why Keno's app probably mentions Lombardy, but what we agreed on were the territories as they are on the map, and those do not include Lombardy or Milan.

I'm sorry that Keno misunderstood it there, it's my fault for mentioning Lombardy-Venice at the beginning of my discussion with him, but we did cut Lombardy off his claim before it was accepted, so Milan would be yours.

Thank you both for clarifying, and I'm sorry to Kenobot that your control of Venetia will likely be the cause of much resentment from the United Duchies IC.

On the subject of territorial claims, the claims I've been given on the map are a bit more expansive than what I asked for. In addition to my actual claims you've given me part of the Papal States, which is generous but unnecessary.

Why does everyone hate those territories?

The Papal player specifically requested not to have them, he wouldn't even have wanted Latium if not for the fact that I can't only mark the city of Rome on the map.

If you don't want them, I'll mark them as an NPC, but I'm not quite sure what kind of an NPC could exist there.

[Axis Asteroid]

Thank you both for clarifying, and I'm sorry to Kenobot that your control of Venetia will likely be the cause of much resentment from the United Duchies IC.

On the subject of territorial claims, the claims I've been given on the map are a bit more expansive than what I asked for. In addition to my actual claims you've given me part of the Papal States, which is generous but unnecessary.

Why does everyone hate those territories?

The Papal player specifically requested not to have them, he wouldn't even have wanted Latium if not for the fact that I can't only mark the city of Rome on the map.

If you don't want them, I'll mark them as an NPC, but I'm not quite sure what kind of an NPC could exist there.

The Republic of Ancona perhaps? It was historically annexed by the Papacy in 1532, but that might not be the case this time around considering the Papists only control Rome and its environs.

[Elysian Kentarchy]

Well, Vienna has yet to make any direct overtures, and Constantinople will contact Vienna diplomatically for a different reason, as the new Basileus wishes to properly establish the status of the Balkan NPC's between them.

But as for concessions in the names of reconciliation, those would probably mostly be religious-related, can't really have a mending of the Schism if papal superiority and papal infallibility remain.

I mean low key thinking about Danubian Federation. Also who doesn't love a good Sack of Rome if the Pope doesn't play along

A sack of Rome is just the thing to bring people together.

But that aside I do have to slightly wonder how the North has already heard about the religious coalition thing since it has only been 10 days since the Holy Roman Emperor sent the presumably confidential letters to the Kings of France and Hispania to ask for their support. Unless the Hyperboreans happen to be reading his mail or something.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

-snip-

I’m not entire confident what communication speeds look like in this day and age. What wound you say is a reasonable length of time for word to filter up there?

[Elysian Kentarchy]

-snip-

I’m not entire confident what communication speeds look like in this day and age. What wound you say is a reasonable length of time for word to filter up there?

Well after doing some research on letter delivery by hand would look like I will make the following assumptions:
-A letter going entirely over land will be able to go in one direction about 30 miles (48 kilometers) a day (the Pony Express did not exist yet and I am basing these numbers on the fact that the fell pony could go about 30 miles a day in a pack train used to deliver mail in the UK, not exactly applicable to continental Europe but it is the best I have and considering a healthy horse would go about 25-35 miles a day it is a good medium).
-The Kaiserliche Reichspost still exists and will prioritize the delivery of any of the Emperor's letters to European royalty so that should shave some time off if they hear about it in a place that is not Vienna
-A letter from Vienna to Paris or Vienna to Ribe will use an entirely land based route
-Paris is 771 miles (1240.8 km) away from Vienna
-Ribe is 754 miles (1213.4 km) away from Vienna
-Ribe is 706 miles (1136.1 km) away from Paris

Overall the Hyperboreans in Ribe (if their agents take a couple days to hear about it in Vienna and to confirm things and send news to Ribe) would hear about it at the tail end of January (probably around the 28th or so) if not the beginning of February. If they learn about it in Paris for whatever reason it would not be until the tail end of February.

[Old Tyrannia]

Full Nation Name : United Italian Duchies and the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia (Italian: I Ducati Italiani Uniti e gli Stati di Sua Maestà il Re di Sardegna) | Seven United Duchies (Sette Ducati Uniti) | United Duchies (Ducati Uniti)
Majority/Official Culture : Italian, with strong regional cultural identities i.e. Savoyard, Piedmontese, Lombard, Ligurian, Tuscan etc.
Territorial Core : RL territories of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Republic of Genoa, the Duchy of Milan, the Duchy of Parma, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Modena and the Republic of Lucca
Territorial Claim : The rest of northern Italy, including Venetia, and Corsica.
Capital City : De jure none, de facto Turin
Population : 7.2 million
- Duchy of Savoy and possessions: 2.9 million
- Duchy of Milan: 0.9 million
- Republic of Genoa: 1.2 million
- Duchy of Parma: 0.4 million
- Duchy of Modena: 0.3 million
- Grand Duchy of Tuscany: 1.3 million
- Republic of Lucca: 0.2 million

Government Type : Confederation of hereditary and elective monarchies
Government Ideology/Policies: Free trade, mercantilism, defence, Italian nationalism, counterrevolution
Government Focus : The rulers of the United Duchies are principally concerned with resisting interference in northern Italy by external powers, the protection and expansion of trade and the acquisition of colonial holdings outside Europe and the greater diplomatic prestige such holdings would bring.
Head of State : Members of the Grand Council of the United Duchies (Gran Consiglio dei Ducati Uniti):

• Amedeo II di Savoia, King of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy etc.
• Francesco VI Sforza, Duke of Milan
• Alessandro III Farnese, Duke of Parma
• Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio
• Giacomo de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
• Giuseppe Maria Doria, Doge of Genoa
• Fernando Nuccorini, Doge of Lucca

Head of Government : Amedeo II, King of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy etc., President of the Grand Council of the United Duchies
Government Description : The United Duchies, as it is colloquially known, is a confederation of seven duchies (two are officially republics, but their heads of state- typically referred to in English as doges- are still styled as dux in Latin); the Duchy of Savoy, the Duchy of Parma, the Duchy of Milan, the Duchy of Modena, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Republic of Lucca and the Republic of Genoa. Each member state is largely responsible for its own internal affairs, but foreign relations, trade and defence are the collective responsibility of the Grand Council (Gran Consiglio), which consists of the monarchs or chief magistrates of the United Duchies' seven member states or, more often, their appointed representatives in the de facto national capital of Turin. The Duke of Savoy- who is also King of Sardinia through personal union- serves as ex officio President of the Grand Council and by extension as supreme commander of the United Duchies' military and its chief representative abroad. What this means is that in practice the government of the Savoyard state- a union of the Duchy of Savoy and a number of other possessions of the House of Savoy, including Sardinia and the Principality of Piedmont- is responsible for the foreign relations of the United Duchies, although the president cannot make major decisions such as declaring war or entering into negotiations with foreign states without the approval of the Grand Council. Sardinia and other possessions of the House of Savoy besides the Duchy of Savoy itself are not formally part of the United Duchies, hence the full formal name "the United Italian Duchies and the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia" used by the Savoyard government in foreign relations. Five of the confederation's member states are hereditary absolute monarchies. The other two, the republics of Genoa and Lucca, are aristocratic republics headed by a doge or duke elected to serve for life.

Majority/State Religion : Roman Catholic Church
Religious Description : Historically a bastion of Roman Catholicism, today the states of the United Duchies permit freedom of religion, and there are significant Protestant (both Lutheran and Calvinist) minorities particularly in the northern regions of the country. There is also a longstanding Jewish presence in the region as well as a small number of Roman Orthodox believers, mostly traders and expats from the Roman Empire. The United Duchies' relatively tolerant policies have at times been the source of tension between the Duchies and the papacy, but the Roman Catholic Church nonetheless remains the established religion of all seven member states and the church is heavily patronised by the Duchies' rulers.

Economic Ideologies : Mercantilism, Dirigisme, Protectionism
Major Production : Silk, cotton and wine production, shipbuilding, financial services, tourism
Economic Description : Historically the United Duchies has been amongst the wealthiest regions in Europe. The Republic of Genoa is the last surviving of the great Italian maritime republics that dominated trade in the Mediterranean through most of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, and today is a major European financial capital, having thrived by bankrolling the early colonial exploits of the major European powers. Meanwhile, the Duchy of Milan has been famed since the Middle Ages for its silk production, which remains a highly lucrative trade into the present. Tuscany is famous for its wine production and the city of Florence is a vital stop for the younger sons of the European nobility and higher bourgeoisie on their "Grand Tours" of Europe, with its art and architecture being world famous; this early tourism is already growing to be an important part of the Tuscan economy. Despite their mercantile history, most of the United Duchies have not readily adopted free market policies. The economy is tightly controlled by the rulers of the various states who promote mercantilism- the economic policy of encouraging exports and discouraging imports- and protectionism as a means to increase the wealth of their own states. Even trade within the United Duchies is somewhat restricted as a result, though the Grand Council has recently taken some steps towards opening up free trade within the union. Shipbuilding is an important industry due to the Duchies' naval ambitions and centre of international shipping, and heavily subsidised by the government. Despite the wealth of the United Duchies' urban centres, many rural areas remain impoverished and underdeveloped, particularly the island of Sardinia.

Development: Industrialising
Development Description : The historically wealthy and mercantile-minded territories of the United Duchies are well primed to take advantage of new technological innovations to increase the profitability of their various trades, with both the funds and the motivation to industrialise. Early industralisation has taken off in the more populous parts of the duchies of Savoy and Milan, as well as in the Genoese Republic; on the other hand, Sardinia and the southern duchies remain largely agrarian and are stubbornly resistant to societal change.

Army Description : Although each of the states of the United Duchies retains its own army, in times of war all of the Duchies' forces come under the command of the Grand Council, exercised in practice by the President of the Council, the King of Sardinia, as Commander-in-Chief. The armies of the United Duchies are generally small but well-funded and motivated professional forces following reforms in the later half of the 18th century. The standing size of of the United Duchies' land forces are as follows:
- Duchy of Savoy and possessions: 6,100
- Duchy of Milan: 2,000
- Republic of Genoa: 2,410
- Duchy of Parma: 850
- Duchy of Modena: 625
- Grand Duchy of Tuscany: 2,800
- Republic of Lucca: 415
- Total: 18,700
In the event that war should break out with one of its larger neighbours, it is expected that the United Duchies would need to introduce conscription in order to effectively defend its territory. Each state's army is under the authority of that state's monarch or chief magistrate in peacetime, and operates independently of the other states' armies. Most of the states have their own languages and dialects, and consequently standard Italian- derived from the Florentine dialect of Tuscan- is used as the language of command in the various armies so as to facilitate easier cooperation in the event of war. The United Duchies have carefully planned their defence in the case of invasion from the west, the east or the south, and their borders with the major powers are well fortified. The Duchies have been particularly forward-thinking with regard to artillery and possess some of the largest and most cutting-edge artillery forces relative to their numbers in Europe.
Army Weakness : The lack of a permanent centralised command structure can pose problems in an actual conflict, as the various states' armies are largely unused to cooperating with one another. Additionally, rivalries between different states represent a serious additional challenge to cooperation and coordination in wartime. Although fairly professional and well-armed, the armies of the United Duchies are small and there is an expectation that in any prolonged conflict conscription would be necessary, meaning that many of the troops fighting in an actual war would potentially be poorly trained and inexperienced conscripts. Officers' commissions tend to be given to men of high birth, in return for money or through family ties, rather than on the basis of merit, resulting in an officer class who are not always as capable as the soldiers under their command. Finally, although the Italians have a reputation for making excellent infantry they are typically lacking in cavalry.
Naval Description : Unlike the land forces, the naval forces of the United Duchies make up a single organisation that is under the control of the Grand Council even in peacetime, the Marina Militaire. Created out of the navies of its constituent states, mainly those of Sardinia and Genoa, the navy is overseen by an Admiralty (Ammiragliato) with each of the seven states appointing a member. As a special concession to the Republic of Genoa in light of its illustrious maritime history, the Doge of Genoa is afforded the right to appoint the Head of the Board of Admiralty (Capo di Commissione dell'Ammiragliato). The United Duchies Navy is fairly large, but mostly composed of smaller vessels such as sloops and corvettes, plus a small number of increasingly outdated galleys. The largest ships currently in service in the United Duchies Navy are 20-gun corvettes, although six 74-gun ships-of-the-line recently began construction in Genoa along with ten smaller 28-gun frigates. The construction of larger ships-of-the-line is currently a priority for the government of the United Duchies, in order to support its colonial ambitions. However in the shallow coastal waters of the Mediterranean the existing forces of the United Duchies Navy are sufficient for defence.
Naval Weakness : Although generally able to match the forces of other Mediterranean powers, the lack of larger ships such as frigates and other ships-of-the-line mean that against the navies of major powers such as Britain, France or Hispania, the United Duchies Navy is seriously outclassed. Additionally both ships and crews are generally adapted to serve the demands of coastal defence and anti-piracy actions in the Mediterranean. As such, the United Duchies' hopes of establishing colonial territories outside Europe are dependent on the development of a modern navy capable of traversing the open ocean. Furthermore, as with the army, naval officers are usually commissioned in return for monetary payments or due to nepotism, with the result that officers often lack experience and sometimes common sense.

National Goals : Maintain independence from the surrounding great powers, increase the prestige of the United Duchies through the acquisition of colonial possessions outside Europe, and suppress republican and constitutionalist sentiments amongst the population whilst satisfying Italian nationalist sentiment by expanding control to the whole of the northern Italian peninsula and reclaiming Venetia from the Holy Roman Empire.
National Issues :

• Internal division between the member states of the union, especially between the most powerful state, Savoy, and the other six members due to fears that the King of Sardinia may seek to set himself up as "King of Italy" and marginalise the rulers of the other states
• Dissent from nationalist republican and constitutionalist groups within the nation's borders that desire the creation of a unified Italy under a constitutional government
• Diplomatic isolation and being surrounded by larger and more powerful states that may have designs on the United Duchies' territories and, in some cases, already occupy territory that the United Duchies itself has claims on
• Lack of a strong modern navy, necessary to be recognised as a great power and to pursue the Duchies' colonial ambitions

National Figures of Interest :

• Giulio Sforza: The nephew of Duke Francesco VI of Milan, chief minister of state to King Amedeo II of Sardinia. Appointed to the position largely as a favour to his uncle and to demonstrate the commitment of the House of Savoy to respecting its fellow ruling houses, Sforza is widely recognised as an exceptionally capable politician and diplomat. He is responsible for a wave of reforms in the Kingdom of Sardinia and the principle architect of the expansion of the United Duchies Navy, as well as being vital in enabling the Grand Council to work together due to being more trusted by the other states than his king.
• Joseph-Marie, comte de Maistre: As in real life, an arch-conservative ideologue, politician and diplomat known for his essays opposing political liberalism and revolution and defending absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church. Arguably the leading conservative ideologue in the United Duchies, if not in Europe, and amongst the most capable rhetorical opponents of liberal and republican movements in Italy; his writings serve as effective counter-propaganda for the Italian rulers. Currently serving as a diplomat in the Eastern Roman Empire.
• Cesare Balbo: Again as in real life, a prominent advocate for Italian nationalism and constitutionalism who has written in support of the unification of Italy under the House of Savoy. His writings have helped spur Italian nationalist sentiment but his support of reformism over revolution has also helped temper the Italian nationalist movement and provided a counterpoint to the more radical republican elements in the movement. He wishes for the United Duchies to adopt a constitution and an elected legislature. Lives in Turin.

National Ambition/Aspirations : To achieve recognition as one of the great powers of Europe and as the Italian state in the eyes of the international community and the people of the peninsula.

History : After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, Italy initially came under the control of the Ostrogoths. The Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy lasted for around 60 years before most of the Italian peninsula was retaken by the Eastern Roman Empire under the Emperor Justinian the Great; but this restoration of Roman rule was to prove short-lived, at least in the north of Italy. In 568, another Germanic tribe, the Lombards, invaded Italy, taking the city of Milan the following year. The efforts of the Romans to resist this invasion were only partially successful. The Exarchate of Ravenna created by Justinian crumbled, and its authority was assumed by the pope in Rome; only the southernmost parts of Italy remained under the control of Constantinople, forming the Catepanate of Italy. The Lombards gradually assimilated into the native culture of the peninsula, adopting mainstream Chalcedonian Christianity in place of their previous Arian Christian beliefs, but this did not prevent them from ongoing conflict with the pope over secular control of Italy. Pope Adrian I invited the King of the Franks, Charlemagne, to invade Italy in 773 and defeat the Lombards; Charlemagne was successful in doing so and rewarded with the title of Roman Emperor by the pope, taking advantage of the controversial ascension of the Empress Irene to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Charlemagne also adopted the title "King of the Lombards" after his conquest, ruling the Lombard Kingdom of Italy in personal union with Francia. A reduced Kingdom of Italy survived into the High Middle Ages as a nominal constituent kingdom of the Holy Roman Empire, with the Holy Roman Emperor claiming the title of King of Italy in personal union with the imperial crown; but over time the power of the emperor in Italy atrophied. Meanwhile, much of southern Italy was recaptured by the Roman Catepanate. In the north, the absence of imperial authority allowed the increasingly prosperous Italian cities to assert their independence, gaining control over the surrounding countryside. These new city-states were nominally part of the imperial Kingdom of Italy, but in practice they were sovereign states in their own right. Apart from the most powerful, the Republic of Venice, which was technically a former Eastern Roman vassal state and thus not part of the Holy Roman Empire, the most significant of these city-state republics were Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi- together with Venice, known as the maritime republics- and Florence.

With time, however, individual families began to monopolise political power in the Italian city-states, establishing themselves as rulers. In 1259 Martino della Torre established himself as ruler of the city of Milan; in 1395, Milanese ruler Gian Galeazzo Visconti was promoted to the rank of duke by German king Wenceslaus IV, thus founding the Duchy of Milan. Under the Visconti, Milan grew to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful states in northern Italy. At the same time, the County of Savoy to the north-east was also expanding under the eponymous House of Savoy. In 1416, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund granted Count Amedeo VIII the title "Duke of Savoy." To the south however, the city-state republics continued to guard their liberties jealously. The Republic of Florence fought to maintain its independence from the growing power of the Visconti dynasty of Milan, whilst the Republic of Genoa busied itself with trade in the Mediterranean and the creation of a small colonial empire. Genoese colonies were founded as far afield as the Crimean Peninsula, and the island of Corsica was also acquired in 1284 following a struggle for influence with the Republic of Pisa, which itself came under Florentine control in 1406. The small city of Lucca had also emerged as an independent republic in the Middle Ages, and unlike Pisa was able to preserve its independence from the powerful Florence by allying with Milan and Genoa.

The Republic of Florence was fated to come to an end with the rise of the wealthy Medici family. Under the practically dictatorial rule of Cosimo de' Medici, the Renaissance began in the city of Florence. Meanwhile, Filippo Maria Visconti, the last Visconti Duke of Milan, died in 1447. An abortive attempt was made to re-establish a republican government in Milan, but the city was taken in 1450 by the nobleman Francesco Sforza who was granted the title of duke by the city senate. Sforza was a friend and political ally of the Florentine ruler Cosimo de' Medici, and so his ascension to power ended the internecine conflict between Florence and Milan. The two cities formed an alliance against the powerful Republic of Venice. The Peace of Lodi in 1454 confirmed the rule of the Sforza in Milan and stabilised the borders of Milan and Venice, leading to a 40 year interlude from the constant conflict between the Italian states.

Borso d'Este, Marquess of Ferrara, was granted Modena and Emilia Reggio as a fief from the Holy Roman Emperor in 1452; he was then created Duke of Ferrara by the pope in 1471. Meanwhile, the death of King Ferrante of Naples was to have severe consequences for the states of the Italian peninsula. King Charles VIII of France had a claim to the now vacant Neapolitan throne, and seeing an opportunity to gain a powerful ally against Milan's main rival Venice, Duke Ludovico Sforza invited Charles to invade Italy through Milan. In 1494, Charles invaded Italy; Piero de' Medici, ruler of Florence, sought to gain Charles' favour and in doing so ceded large parts of Florentine territory to him. The outraged citizens of Florence responded by declaring Piero a traitor, and the Medicis briefly lost control of Florence to the radical priest Girolamo Savonarola, but Savonarola's theocratic rule was unsuccessful and he was ultimately overthrown and executed by the Florentines. In the meantime, Charles' ambitions in southern Italy were frustrated by the intervention of Ferdinand II of Aragon; Ferdinand's cousin Ferrantino was installed as King of Naples, but the small Norman kingdom would soon be entirely recaptured by the resurgent Catepanate of Italy, thus bringing the southern Italian peninsula firmly under Eastern Roman control.

His previous campaign having demonstrated the weakness of the Italian states, Charles decided to invade Italy again in 1499. He deposed his former ally, Duke Ludovico of Milan, and annexed the duchy to France, but the death of the pro-French Pope Alexander VI and his replacement by Pope Julius II led to a new alliance of Italian states being formed which, with the aide of the Swiss and the Holy Roman Emperor, expelled Charles from Italy and returned Milan to Ludovico's son Maximilan Sforza. Florence was subsequently conquered by Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, the future Pope Leo X, in 1512 as part of the War of the League of Cambrai, which began as a conflict between the Republic of Venice and a papal-led coalition including France and the Holy Roman Empire, but ultimately ended up involving most of the major Italian states including Milan, Florence and Ferrara with the participants switching alliances numerous times. During the conflict, parts of the Duchy of Milan were also captured by the Papal States; in 1545 these territories were granted to Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, as the Duchy of Parma. The five main dynasties that would go on to establish the United Duchies- the House of Savoy, the House of Sforza, the House of Medici, the House of Este and the House Farnese- were now established.

The Medicis were afforded the title "Duke of the Florentine Republic" by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1530. Duke Cosimo I was then elevated by Pope Pius V to "Grand Duke of Tuscany" in 1569, definitively ending the Florentine Republic. Meanwhile the Duchy of Savoy was occupied in 1536 by France, which had dominated Savoyard affairs for the last seventy years; it wasn't until 1559 that Duke Emmanuel Philibert succeeded in ousting the French from Savoy. The Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis confirmed Savoy's independence from France, and the duke moved his capital to Turin so as to be further from the influence of France and built an extensive series of new fortifications around the city. In 1597 Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Modena and Reggio and Ferrara, died without an heir. His cousin Cesare d'Este succeeded him in his imperial fiefs of Modena and Reggio, but Pope Clement VIII refused to approve his succession in Ferrara, which was subsequently lost by the House of Este. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the importance of the Republic of Genoa as a trading port declined as European exploration and colonialism reduced the importance of trade routes in the Mediterranean; however at the same time, Genoese bankers grew rich by funding the colonial efforts of the European powers, leading to a shift in power from the old merchant elite to the Genoese banking families.

In the early 18th century, Savoy aligned itself with France in a war against Hispania and the Holy Roman Empire, but switched sides during the conflict and was awarded Sardinia in return after successfully fending off yet another invasion by France. Duke Victor Amadeus II thereafter assumed the title King of Sardinia, but the island remained on the periphery of the House of Savoy's possessions and Turin remained the capital of the new composite state. By this time, Savoy was the strongest state in northern Italy, but the dynasties of the other major Italian states managed to retain their thrones in spite of internal conflict and external interference. The republics of Genoa and Lucca also survived into the 18th century, but Genoa's independence was increasingly threatened by Savoy. Genoa went to war with Savoy in 1745 as part of a wider series of European war that also included France, Britain and the Holy Roman Empire. Allying with France and Hispania, Genoa hoped to avoid annexation by Savoy by ending its diplomatic isolation and weakening Savoyard power in northern Italy, but was instead defeated. Fortunately for the Genoese, their independence was preserved by the final peace treaty that ended the conflict, but Genoa's power and prestige were greatly reduced. Corsica rose up against Genoese rule in 1755 and Genoa was forced to seek French aide in order to quell the rebellion. The French suppressed the uprising but subsequently forced Genoa to cede Corsica in 1768 as a pledge to cover her debts.

The Holy Roman Empire's acquisition of the former Venetian Republic and the spread of revolutionary sentiments through Europe with the creation of the British and German republics both aroused great alarm amongst the remaining powers of northern Italy. The foreign occupation of Venice served as a catalyst for Italian nationalist sentiments, which led to growing support for the creation of a united Italian state under a liberal constitution. Facing increased pressure from both within and outside Italy, in 1792 representatives of the Duchy of Savoy, the Duchy of Milan, the Duchy of Modena, the Duchy of Parma, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Republic of Genoa and the Republic of Lucca met at a conclave in Carrara in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The Treaty of Carrara, ratified by all seven parties in 1793, declared the establishment of the United Italian Duchies as a confederation of the seven major northern Italian states. The Grand Council was established as the ruling body, consisting of the heads of state of each member state or an ambassador appointed to represent them, with the King of Sardinia or his representative as ex officio President of the Council.

RP Sample: Just some dumb RP I was part of ages ago, tbh idk what it was even about lol

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[Tracian Empire]

Full Nation Name : United Italian Duchies and the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia (Italian: I Ducati Italiani Uniti e gli Stati di Sua Maestà il Re di Sardegna) | Seven United Duchies (Sette Ducati Uniti) | United Duchies (Ducati Uniti)


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Great app, accepted!