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 neighbors, Semara and 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.

Political changes in colonial Etruria in the late 18th century affected its colonies as well. This was especially noticeable in the northern parts of New Povelia, where peasants and slaves were the dominant demographic group and the authority of both the central and colonial governments was reduced due to geographic features and low population density. The work of two priests: Giacomo Sandera and Lozano Bigantú led to the rise of the Pantheonisti movement in Gapolania, which aimed to create an independent Sotirian republic out of Etrurian colonies in the Asterias. Their followers, called the Sanderistas, promoted abolitionism, social equality and clergy-run state. The movement acted as an opposition to a liberal faction led by Marzio Brettè, supported mostly by the landowners and merchants. Believing that the army would also follow Brettè, Sergiò Matanèl, one of the Sanderistas, advocated for creation of an "idea-driven" popular army, consisting of the less affluent population that would help maintain Sotirian ideas in the nation.

Independence of Gapolania was secured by Lorenzo di Ceilla, Bishop of Nassea, a member of the Sanderistas, who proclaimed the Republic of Gapolania on 18th October, 1808. Joined efforts of the group prevented Marzio Brettè and his allies from obtaining political power and forced them to move south to the city of Astia or to Adamantina. Most of Brettè's supporters, as well as Etrurian army and officials were allowed to escape, while their belongings were confiscated by the popular army. That army gained access to many armories, exchanging farming tools like scythes or sickles to professional equipment, which would later prove useful during the Semaran War, in which the Pantheonisti government of Zeta and Nassea would fight the liberal-led republic formed on the western coast of the modern-day Gapolania. The war, which lasted from 1810 to 1818, was the first large-scale land conflict in the region, with both sides claiming full control over the newly independent region. While initially victorious, the liberal army was quickly outnumbered by the levies of the Sanderistas and ultimately lost, sealing Pantheonisti rule over the country for other 80 years.

• Goals of the Striped Shirts
• Second half of the century
• Brick Revolution