Aeolia

Republic of Aeolia Vespasian: Repubblica Eolia Povelian: Repùblega de Eolia
Constituent State
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Pax tibi Marce, evangelista meus "Peace be to you Mark, my evangelist"
■ – Aeolia ■ – Etruria
Country	Etruria
Status	Constituent state within a Federation
Annexation into Etruria	1786
Constituent State	1889
Capital	Porto di Sotirio
Government
• Type	Parliamentary republic in a federation
• Body	State Assembly
• Prefect of State	Luciano Giustiniani (MT)
• Deputy Prefect	Serenella Capri (MT)
Area
• Total	1,898 km2 (733 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,128,553
• Density	594.60/km2 (1,540.0/sq mi)
Demonym	Aeolian
GDP
• Total	$ million
• Per capita	$
Area code	+101
Official languages	Vespasian
Patron saint	Saint Mark

Aeolia, officially, the Republic of Aeolia (Vespasian: Repubblica Eolia; Povelian: Repùblega de Eolia) is an island located in the Bay of Povelia and is a constituent state of the United Etrurian Federation, it is comprised of several islands, the largest being Aeolia, followed by Santa Eufemia, San Carlo, Ogliastra and Tavolara. The state is separated from the Etrurian mainland via the Straits of Accadia located 89 miles to the east. At 1,898 km2 (733 sq mi) it is the second smallest state in Etruria, ahead of Il Dogado. Its capital and largest city is Porto di Sotirio, and the total population is estimated to 1.128 million.

The islands have been inhabited by humans since the paleolithic, evidence of an organised civilisation has been regularly documented with monolithic sites dated to as early as 10,000 BC. This civilisation would prosper until around 700 BC when the islands were colonised by Classical Piraea, they would see numerous Piraean colonies and infrastructure built which effectively ended the existence of the Pre-Piraean civilisation. Under Piraean control, the island would also serve as a major maritime hub for Piraea's network of cities and outposts across the Solarian Sea and Acheolian Sea. In 215 BC, using instability in Piraea as justification, the Solarian Republic seized control of Aeolia and its smaller islands and incorporated the archepelago as a Provinicia Senatoria. The island's rich soil and copper deposits were rapidly exploited by the Solarians, the island was also significantly militarised by the Solarians, with a large number of shipyards and castras constructed.

Following the collapse of the Solarian Empire, the island fell under the control of local Solarian officials who moved to establish the Duchy of Aeolia in 477 AD, however, its independence would be short-lived with the expansion of the Verliquoian Empire, which seized much of coastal Etruria. The island would remain under Verliquoian control until it was ceded to the newly independent Republic of Andora in 1098, however, this would later bring conflict to the islands as Andora struggled to maintain control against the Exalted Republic of Povelia. In 1304, the Aeolian War resulted in the complete annexation of the archepelago into Povelia which in turn constructed a number of fortresses and harbours to protect the maritime entry into the Bay of Povelia. Aeolia would serve a prominent role within the Povelian dominated trade network across the Solarian and Acheolian Seas, leaving a permament linguistic and archtitectural legacy. Aeolia is the only other state in Etruria to speak the Povelian dialect of Vespasian besides Veratia and Il Dogado. Under Povelian rule, the island would occassionally suffer raids by the Gorsanid Empire and Tsabaran corsairs. In 1786, the island alongside Povelian Republic was annexed into the Etrurian First Republic, it would be the sight of the Battle of Ceres Point in 1787. Many revolutionary leaders, including Francesco Cassio Cacciarelli were exiled to the island following the Caltrini restoration in 1810.

Today, Aeolia is a popular tourist destination and is a major hub for the Etrurian Defence Force, including the Piastra Training Grounds, Castelvetrano naval base, Porto di Sotirio Arsenal and its historical hosting of the Poseidone anchorage.

Etymology

There is debate as to whether the name Aeolia is derived from Aeolus, the son of Poseidon or from a local myth produced by Piraean colonists prior to the Solarian Conquest. Several Piraean writers and historians also mark that the island was known as Aeolia throughout Classic Piraea's rule, though they do not confirm which Aeolus is the namesake. Solarian writers such as Quintius supports the argument that the island received its name from the local mythological figure, "Aeolus Watcher upon the Wind", a figure who reportedly became the patron of the warm winds that buffer the islands during summertime. Conversely, Valencius Valens during his writing of "Histories of the Provinces" claimed the Piraeans colonised the island and dedicated its "terrain to Aeolus, Prince of the Sea and Son of Posdeidon." The discovery of a large temple complex - dedicated to Poseidon and Aeolus - near Castelvetrano in 1878 has led modern historians to argue that Poseidon's son is most likely the namesake.

During the course of the Etrurian Second Republic, Greater Solarian Republic and the 1970s, many developments and constructions were named in alignment to the ancient Piraean pantheon in respect to the islands' namesake.

Government

The political structure of the state is defined by the Constitution of the Republic, which acts as the basic law of the state and provides guaranteed rights and freedoms for citizens. Like all other states in Etruria, Aeolia operates a parliamentary system, with the executive branch dependent upon the confidence of the legislature, while the judicial branch is separate and independent.

The Palazzo della Sirena is the seat of the State Assembly.

The government of Aeolia is led by the Prefect of State, who is the leader of the largest party or coalition in the State Assembly. The Prefect upon securing office appoints members of the Assembly to form his or her state cabinet, as well as Deputy Prefect of State. The State Assembly of Aeolia has 62 members who are elected from single-member constituencies every five or four years, while the Prefect has the right to dissolve the State Assembly upon securing permission from the President of the Federation. The incumbent Prefect of State is Luciano Giustiniani, who entered office following the 2015 Tarpeian state election, his deputy is Serenella Capri.

In the 2016 election, the far-right Tribune Movement won over 50% of the popular vote, securing a supermajority in the State Assembly. In the 2020 state election, the Tribune Movement won 48% of the vote, losing two seats but retaining its supermajority.

Aeolia was until 2016, the only state in Etruria to operate the first past the post electoral system, this has led to Aeolia have constitently more stable and long-serving state governments compared to those on the mainland. Aeolia has also been one of the most consistently conservative states, becoming a stronghold for Libertas, Etrurian Federalist Party and the Tribune Movement, though its support for the latter is markedly stronger than its predecessors. The state is also the only to run elections for the appointment of state judges, this has become increasingly politicised since the 1980s, leading to Aeolia being widely percevied as operating the most conservative state-level court system in Etruria. This process is a legacy of Povelian Republic's governance of the island, which due to its small size and historically small population, permitted elections by the wealthy patrician and merchant classes to elect magistrates. This has remained in place since 1786, with elections for the three sitting criminal case judges every six years.

Geography

The state of Aeolia covers the entire Aeolian archepelago and covers a total land area of 1,898 km2 (733 sq mi). It is comprised of five populated islands: Aeolia, Santa Eufemia, San Carlo, Ogliastra and Tavolara, as well as 28 outcroppings and smaller unihabitated islands. Aeolia island is the largest, covering an area of 1,756 sq km (677 sq mi). Aeolia island unlike the smaller islands of the Archepelago is recorded as having an ancient geoformation, with some rock layers dating from the Paleozoic Era. The smaller islands were formed via the uplifting of granite over 250 million years ago. However, it is believed that the island was much larger historically and lost over 30% of its original size to rising sea-levels, which formed the Bay of Povelia during the closing stages of the last ice age.

As a result of its formation, Aeolia’s terrain is defined by its rocky Piccolo Custode mountains that run west-to-east along the northern coastline. These mountains are formed primarily of schist, trachyte, basalt, sandstone, granite and dolomite limestone, produced through eons of erosion. The Piccolo Custode average in heights between 300 to 1,100m (984 to 3,608 ft), the island’s highest peak is Punto di Efesto (Hephaestus Point) which stands at 1,308m (4291 ft) and is in the eastern end of the Piccolo Custode range. Aeolia from the Piccolo Custode running southward is predominately flat, being covered mostly by alluvial plains and rolling hills.

The coasts of Aeolia are generally high and rocky on the northern, western, eastern and southwestern edges, the southeast is generally flatter. The northern coastline is defined by many inlets and rias, the southern coast hosts deep bays and headlands. There are also numerous small islands and islets along the northern and southern coastlines leading to the four larger populated islands.