Striped Shirts

Striped Shirts Liberating the Homeland, Eduardo Ganzanì, 1875.

Striped Shirts (Vespasian: Camicie righe, Gapolanese Vespasian: Camìcie rigè), often shortened to the Stripes, were a volunteer paramilitary group in the 19th century Gapolania comprised mostly of farmers, miners and former slaves that operated under the Council of the Righteous and were tasked with peacekeeping missions, land seizing and goods distribution among the rural population. The name derived from the pattern of their shirts, with the colored stripes sewn in plain white shirts, most commonly used by the tenuti laborers.

Established after Gapolania proclaimed its independence from Etruria and entered the Semaran War against its neighbor, Adamantina, their role was initially to form the front lines, as the country lacked the professional military forces and was dependent only on its levy quantity to defend the most strategic points. Striped Shirts consisted mostly of the Razzamista and Black population, as the war became an opportunity to improve their socio-economic situation. Following the Liberation Act proclaimed in 1817 by the Council, the Striped Shirts were granted status of a semi-official organization that worked to "implement the God's Law, establish equal society and punish the sinful" across the republic, though the Act itself does not mention any geographical limitations. They were focused mostly on inspecting and seizing lands and goods from the affluent citizens, especially rich landowners and trade guild members, transferring estates, ships, art and material goods to the Gapolanese church and the Council. In turn, the members of the organization were provided salary, debt relief and land parcels to own under the supervision of the clergy on which they could grow crops, keep livestock or develop workshops.

The Striped Shirts heavily contributed towards achieving some goals of the Sotirian republican ideas, especially those concerning ethnic inequality, Template:Economic inequality and forming national identity. However, their actions are also associated with delaying introduction industrialization and capitalism in Gapolania - conscious resignation of these led to a very slow development of Gapolania, which is believed to impact the current economic situation as well. The organization's increasing unpopularity in the second half of the 19th century, especially within the urban population, caused a series of riots and counteractions, including the emergence of the Soleggiato Movement, which ultimately started the Brick Revolution and overthrew the joint church and republican council rule. The Striped Shirts were stripped of privileges in 1896 and later disbanded in 1898.

Background

A statue of Sergiò Matanèl in Zeta, often referred to as the founder of the organization.