Florentia

Most Serene Florentian People's Empire Sérénissime Empire Populaire Florentien (Lysian)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Pour l'Empereur et la Liberté !" "For the Emperor and Liberty"
Anthem: "La voix du peuple" "Le Fou Rire" (Anthem of the People's Action) Royal anthem: "Vive l'Empereur et la Liberté"
Map of Florentia
Capital	Montcharmin
Largest	Belleville
Official languages	Lysian, Florentian creoles, Esonian
Recognised national languages	Florentian creoles
Recognised regional languages	Stillian
Ethnic groups (2022)	Lysian (69,4%) Natives (17,3%) Esonian (6,9%) Stillian (4,8%)
Religion (2022)	Orthodox (47%) Orthodox demonism (23%) Animism (16,7%) Shinshi (6%) Tocalic (4%) Other (3,3%)
Demonym(s)	Florentian
Government	Socialist Federation under a Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
• Divine Emperor of the Republic	Ambroise IV
• President of the Republic Guide to happiness	Hugo Lysandre Dellague
• Chairman of the Legislation	Nicolas Moreau
• Tribune of the Tribunes	Eléanore Petit
Legislature	Imperial Assemblies
• Upper house	Legislative Body
• Lower house	People's Tribunate
Independance from the Lysian Republic in 1773
Area
•	325,000 km2 (125,000 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	26 223 000
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	279 694 518 000
• Per capita	10,666
Currency	Imperial Lys (IL)

Florentia, Most Serene Florentian People's Empire, is a developing country on Eurth, located in Eastern Alharu, on the Cashari Island. It has a population of approximately 26 223 000 inhabitants and has a size of 325 747 km2. The political capital city is Montcharmin, while the economic capital city is Belleville. It is bordered by Esonice via the treaty ports of Sademi and Mihura.

Florentia is a socialist federal parliamentary monarchy. A former Lysian colony, Florentia held from 1767 to 1768 the government-in-exile of the Kingdom of Lysia. In 1773, Emperor Ambroise I of Lysia, next to a referendum, is crowned Emperor of Florentia, ending the Lysian monarchy.

After an era of glory because of its high value agricultural products, Florentia slowly began to lose power and influence because of its outdated means of production (mainly the use of slavery). In August 2023, former Confederal Chancellor Hugo Lysandre Dellague held a referendum to vote for a new socialist and progressive constitution. After several days of intense political instability, the referendum was won with 92% of the voters in favor of the new constitution. The executive power is shared between a hereditary Emperor, currently Ambroise IV, and an elected President, Hugo Lysandre Dellague. The legislature, named the Imperial Assemblies, follows a tricameral system, divided between the appointed Constitutional Senate, the indirectly elected Legislative Body, and the directly elected People's Tribunate.

The Florentian economy is mainly based on high-quality agricultural exports, the main ones being cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane. There is also a developing mining sector in the northern states and industries centered around tobacco products and textiles. Tourism also holds an important place. While slavery has been abolished, the previous economic sanctions heavily damaged the Florentian economy.

Etymology

Florentia has been named by the founders of Port-Rouge - the first Lysian settlement on the Cashari Island - to honor the Lysian sailor Florent Bouvier who explored the Saint-Elme river and its delta.

Geography

Florentia has an area of 325 747 km2 and a population of 26 223 000 inhabitants (2020). Its capital city is Montcharmin but its biggest city is Belleville. While most of the country is very flat, dominated by forests, grasslands, and bayous supplied by an important and complex system of natural waterways, the northern part of the country has hills and small plateaus where you can be find the source of the two main rivers of the country, the Saint-Elme and the Borria. Because of the arid North of the Cashari Island, Northern Florentia occasionally suffers from small sandstorms, while Southern Florentia occasionally suffers from hurricanes.

Rivers, lakes and reservoirs

Florentia has thousands of small rivers and creeks, creating a complex system of natural and navigable waterways in all the country. The country also has numerous bayous along the Saint-Elme river, the Borria river and the coast. Those water resources provide recreation, civil and freight transportation, fishing, hunting, crop irrigation and water for human consumption, and millions of Florentians are reliant on it.

Climate

Florentia has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), perhaps one of the best examples of a humid subtropical climate in the wurld, with long, hot, humid summers and short, mild winters. The subtropical characteristics of the country are due to its low latitude, low-lying topography, and the combined influences of the Cashari Sea and its waterway system.

Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year, which is the country's wet season. There is a dip in precipitation in October. In summer, thunderstorms build during the heat of the day and bring intense but brief, tropical downpours. In winter, rainfall is more frontal and less intense.

Summers in southern Florentia have high temperatures from June through September averaging 32 °C or more, and overnight lows averaging above 21 °C. At times, temperatures in the 32–37 °C, combined with dew points in the 24–26 °C, create sensible temperatures over 49 °C). The humid, thick, jungle-like heat in southern Florentia is a famous subject of countless stories and movies.

Temperatures are generally warm in the winter in the southern part of the country, with highs around Belleville, Mouvant and the rest of southern Florentia, averaging 19 °C. The northern part of the country is mildly cool in the winter, with highs averaging 15 °C. The overnight lows in the winter average well above freezing throughout the country, with 8 °C the average near the Sea and an average low of 3 °C in the winter in the northern part of the country.

Flora and fauna

Some of the most common animals found throughout all of the country include otter, deer, mink, muskrat, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, nutria, turtles, alligators, woodcocks, skunks, foxes, beavers, ringtails, armadillos, coyotes, and bobcats. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, and bear are hunted as game, while muskrat, snakes, nutria, mink, opossum, bobcat, and skunk are commercially significant for fur. Prized game birds include quail, turkey, woodcock, and various waterfowl, of which the mottled duck and wood duck are native. There are several endemic plants and animals in Florentia that are found nowhere else on Earth; an example could be the Florentia bluestar or the white leucistic alligator. The Borria river map turtle and the ringed map turtle are only found in Florentia.

While Florentia deeply lacks of protected national parks, most of the country remains untouched or almost untouched by human intervention. The only protected area is the National Park of the Saint-Elme Delta, under the jurisdiction of Bayave and Javiosia.

History

(WIP.)

Early history

• First humans came from Mesothalassa.

Cashari Invasions

At the dawn of the 2nd century AD, a chieftain managed to unite the Cashari tribes of the southern Cashari island. In 104 AD, this chieftain took the name of Ya-tun, meaning "The one who speaks with the ravens". Indeed, in Cashari animist faith, the Great Raven is the ultimate deity, while the ravens on Eurth are believed to be his messengers. After seeing visions, she was believed to be able to directly communicate with the deities. Her coronation was the starting point of the Great Cashari Nation, nicknamed the Cashari Empire by modern historians.

Ya-tun waged a series of military campaigns – renowned for their brutality and ferocity – sweeping through much of western Alharu. She first conquered the rest of the Cashari Island to unite the Cashari tribes, before coordinating large-scale campaigns, from the invasion of Esonice to the conquest of the Fasaìl peninsula.

In 132, however, Ya-tun died and the Cashari Empire fell apart, with the Cashari tribes returning to their pre-conquest way of life.

Colonial Era (1587-1773)

The colonial era in Florentia begins with the exploration of the Saint-Elme river's delta in May 1587, by the Lysian explorer Florent Bouvier. In 1595, the "Décret Royal sur la Florentie" ("Royal Decree on Florentia") claims the Cashari Island as the rightful possession of the King of Lysia, and the Governorate of Florentia is created.

In 1748, Lysia buys the islander part of the Vice-Royalty of Cashar, renamed Lasoda, from Iberica.

Lysian monarchy in-exile and march towards independence

In 1767, prince Louis-Ambroise of Lysia fled the Lysian Revolution and came to Florentia, followed by the Lysian Royal Navy. The Florentian authorities and the population still being loyal to the Lysian monarchy, the prince gathered an army before sailing back to Lysia and overthrowing the first Lysian Republic. Then, the prince was crowned King Louis XI of Lysia, and later Emperor Ambroise I of the Lysians, while solidifying power through his alliance with the radical faction of the Uniformists. However, after the coup of marshal Achille Domar and the fall of the monarchy in 1773, the monarch fled to Florentia once again, where he was crowned Emperor Ambroise I of Florentia.

Downfall and decolonisation (1877-2023)

Civil war (1877-1885)

Fugitive cashari slaves fighting for the Empire, 1879

The Florentian Civil War was the most defining conflict of Florentian history, tearing apart the empire as the struggle between abolitionist and slaver forces escalated into full-scale war. It was sparked in 1877 by Emperor Ambroise II and Chairman Eloïse Rougeau's attempt to eradicate slavery once and for all. This decision, long in the making, was met with fierce resistance from the six states where slavery was deeply embedded in the economic and social fabric. These states (Narizonia, Nouvelle-Creuse, Nouvelle-Vendée, Tyronie, Abalavier, and Rivière de Juillet) denounced the imperial government, declaring that neither the Emperor nor the Chairman held legitimate authority. Rebel forces quickly mobilized, marching on the imperial capital of Montcharmin with the intent to overthrow the government and preserve their way of life. Recognizing the imminent danger, the imperial government evacuated Montcharmin and relocated to Belleville, the empire’s largest city and its main port, where abolitionist sentiment was the strongest. From here, Ambroise II and Rougeau sought to rally the forces of the abolitionist states (Javiosia, Coayard, and Saint-Isidore) against the rebels, marking the official start of the civil war.

Initially, despite the rapid capture of Montcharmin, the Confederate forces were met with fierce resistance from the Imperial Army. The latter, despite being outnumbered by the Confederate forces, was better organized. However, they were met with resistance by local aristocrats who feared the centralisation of power under Rougeau's social-authoritarian government. Furthermore, the Imperial northern forces, in Saint-Isidore and Coayard, were disconnected from Javiosia, preventing communication.

A turning point came in 1879, when the Stillian nobles of the Duchy of Lasoda, a province within Nouvelle-Creuse, seceded from the Confederacy to remain loyal to the Emperor. Lasoda provided a strategic foothold for the imperial forces on the other side of the country. This defection was further reinforced by the military successes of General Emiliano Sebastián de San Castellino, an ardent abolitionist and one of the empire’s most skilled commanders. Under his leadership, the imperial army achieved a series of critical victories, connecting Lasoda with the northern forces, and threatening to cut rebel forces in half.

However, in 1881, the Confederacy successfully negotiated with Duke Lorenzo II of Lasoda, promising him full statehood within a decentralised Florentia. Convinced that this was his best path to autonomy, the Lorenzo II switched allegiance, bringing Lasoda into the Confederate fold. This betrayal severely weakened the imperial war effort, cutting off supply lines and isolating the Emperor’s northern forces once again. Refusing to betray his cause, General San Castellino continued his campaign against the Confederacy, along with soldiers loyal to him, but was soon outmatched. In 1882, he was captured and executed, a devastating blow to the abolitionist side. His death became a symbol of martyrdom for the anti-slavery movement, but did little to halt the tide of the Confederacy's advance.

With San Castellino gone and the imperial forces in disarray, the Confederate army launched a final offensive against Belleville. After a prolonged siege, the city capitulated in 1883. Ambroise II and Rougeau were captured, along with the rest of the imperial family. While resistance continued in the north, the writing was on the wall. The abolitionist forces, demoralized and fragmented, finally surrendered in 1885.

With their victory secured, the Confederate leaders forced Emperor Ambroise II to abdicate, replacing him with his second son, crowned Célestin II. They then imposed the Confederal Act, a new constitution that drastically reduced the Emperor’s authority and granted each state complete autonomy. The Confederal Chancellor was still appointed by the Emperor, though real power rested in the newly established Senate, with one Senator per state. The number of states was also increased to weaken the power of the abolitionist strongholds : Javiosia, the most ardent opponent of slavery, was carved up, with the Duchy of Yalme and the Marquisate of Bayave elevated to full statehood. The war, combined with the White Terror which followed, left Florentia deeply scarred. The victory of the slaver nobility solidified their power for the coming century, while the abolitionist cause was pushed into the shadows until the Wild North revolution of 1911.

• 1887 : Drafting of the "Charter of the Master and the Slave", guaranteeing the first rights to slaves and greatly limiting the punishments given by the masters. The charter is signed by three of the 9 slave states.

Florentian-Cashari wars (2019-2023)

• 2019 : One of the most severe states with regard to slaves undergoes a major slave revolt. The slaves managed to organize themselves and control part of the state, with no advances on either side. (WIP)
• 2022 : Florentia and the revolt sign an armistice, but are technically still at war with each other. (WIP)

Politics

Imperial government

Florentia is an authoritarian socialist federal semi-constitutionnal and semi-presidential monarchy. The central government is divided between the executive power, held by the Emperor and the President of the Republic, and the legislative power, held by the Constitutional Senate, the Legislative Body and the People's Tribunate. It holds its legitimacy from the Kingdom of Lysia, since the Emperor of Florentia is the most direct heir of Louis I of Lysia. The citizens elect half of the executive power and most of the legislative power, while the other part of the executive power is hereditary and some legislative positions are appointed by the executive. Since its independance, Florentia didn't recognize the Lysian Republic as the rightful Lysian government, claiming the republican regime was a fraud. However, since 1934, while the Emperor of Florentia still bears the title of King of Lysia, efforts have been made to normalize relations between both countries.

Organisational Chart of the Florentian Government

The executive power is minimal compared to the legislative one. The Emperor of Florentia is, according to law, the most direct heir of Louis I of Lysia. Since the civil war, the Emperor's power on the central government is reduced to naming the Chancellor and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. However, the Emperor of Florentia holds still absolute power over the Grand-Duchy of Montcharmin, usually nicknamed the Imperial District, and which corresponds to the capital city Montcharmin and its surroundings.

The Confederal Senate's role is to represent the states. It used to be the upper house of the assembly but, since the Confederal constitution of 1885, it is the only house of Florentia. It is composed of twelve senators, one per state. Senators are elected every two years, without limit to the number of terms, by universal suffrage in their respective states. Each senator has one vote, except the Confederal Chancellor, named by the Emperor, which has two votes. The Chancellor's role is to lead the debates and to organize the work of the Senate. He also has to name the government, except the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, who is named by the Emperor himself.

Diarch Executive

List of the Florentian heads of state

Tricameral Legislature

Legislature of Florentia List of the Chairmen of the Legislation of Florentia

States government

Florentia being a federal government, the states profit from a restricted autonomy. Some states with unique political and cultural history even have local parties, such as Saint-Isidore, Upper Cisboria and Narizonia. This system is believed to allow local issues to be better understood and handled by local representatives while preserving the primacy of the imperial government. Florentia currently has 13 states.

#	Name	Type of regime	Legal status	State capital	Population	Leading political party	Flag
1	Javiosia	Kingdom of (syndicalist constitutional monarchy)	State	Belleville	9 103 000	People's Action
2	Lasoda	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Teldore	1 539 000	People's Action
3	Sonore	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Nouvelle-Ligomes	820 000	People's Action
4	Abalavier	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Mouvant	1 507 000	People's Action
5	Bayave	Marquisate of (syndicalist constitutional monarchy)	State	Port-Rouge	915 000	People's Action
6	Lower Transboria	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Guéret	1 338 000	People's Action
7	Rivière de Juillet	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Baste	1 415 000	People's Action
8	Yalme	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Rodaze	1 180 000	People's Action
9	Tyronia	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Vimbe	602 000	People's Action
10	Narizonia	Pluriethnic Federation of (federal council republic)	State	Libreville	2 293 000	Progressive Party
11	Saint-Isidore	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Adèrnes	1 722 000	Party of the Libertarian Revolution
12	Upper Cisborie	Imperial Unit of (council republic)	State	Coeur	806 000	Liberty Union
13	Imperial District	Kingdom of the (syndicalist constitutional monarchy)	State	Montcharmin	2 983 000	People's Action

Economy

(WIP. Employment. Exports. Energy. Transport. Media. Currency.)

The Florentian currency is the Lys, as a reference to the Lysian Fleur-de-Lys.

Energy

The Ménilbaissant power station

Energy mix in Florentia.

  Coal (76%)

  Oil (9%)

  Hydro (9%)

  Solar (4%)

  Natural gas (2%)

Due to abundant coal supply from Garindina, since the early XIXth century, Florentia became more and more reliant on coal for its energy. The lack of centralised authority also compromised the creation of mega projects, most of them being abandoned because of the lack of funding due to the inability of the states to collaborate. Until the 1950s, only Javiosia, the richest Florentian state, could afford mega projects. For example, in 1936, the Javiosian government inaugurated the Ménilbaissant power station. In 1940, 42% of the country was reliant on this power plant, 87% if we count only Javiosia, Tyronie, Bayave and Yalme. Even if the power plant lost in efficiency through the time, it is still used and provides 15% of the Florentian energy.

Nowadays, the Florentian energy mix is less reliant on coal, with an augmentation from gas, oil and hydro energy. The Federal Republic of Saint-Isidore also began to exploit solar energy in the northern plateaus. For now, 76% of Florentian energy comes from coal, 9% comes from oil, 9% comes from hydro, 4% from solar and 2% from natural gas.

Agriculture

• Huge export-based agriculture economy
• One of the main exporter of tobacco, cotton
• Also produces some maize, wheat, soybean
• Use of slavery

Mining

• Important sulphur and magnesium resources. Few natural gas.
• Exploitation of sand (one of the main exporter) and controversy over the progressive destruction of beaches

Industry

• Industry (textile, cigars) in Javiosie
• Developing industry in a few other states

Tourism

• Important tourism, despite a boycott due to the use of slaves
• Renown to be a "return to the past"
• Famous steam boats cruise on the Saint-Elme river

Demographics

(WIP. Ethnic groups. Language. Religion. Health. Education.)

Ethnicity

Ethnics diversity chart (2020)

  Lysian creole (69.4%)

  Cashari native (17.3%)

  Esonian (6.9%)

  Stillian (4.8%)

  Other (1.6%)

Florentia is a fairly diverse nation. While most of the country is populated by Lysian creoles, descendant of Lysian settlers, there is a significant amount of Natives, Esonians and Stillian creoles.

Cultures

(WIP. Literature. Visual arts. Music. Cuisine. Sport.)

• Culture : Louisianian creole, natives

Cuisine

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Education

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Language

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Literature

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Music

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