Rio Palito
Kingdom of Rio Palito | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 | |
| Capital | San Beausoleil |
| Official languages | English, Spanish |
| Recognised national languages | Portuguese, French |
| Demonym(s) | Rio Palitan |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Maurice Bousieras |
| Émile Flach | |
| Establishment | |
• Quetanan Colonization | 1315 |
• Skithan Occupation | 1698 |
• Independence | August 3rd, 1822 |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 13,600,000 |
| HDI (2016) | 0.67 medium |
| Currency | Zamastan ziapet/dollar (ZPT) |
| Date format | mm-dd-yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +78-87 |
| Internet TLD | .ripa |
The Kingdom of Rio Palito, also known as Rio Palitos, is a small principality in the Coalition of Crown Albatross governed under a form of constitutional monarchy on the coast of Euronia, bordering Zamastan to the east and south, Ruskayn's mainland dependency to the west, and the Olympic Ocean to the north. Rio Palito's mild climate, scenery, and gambling facilities have contributed to the principality's status as a tourist destination and recreation center for the rich. In more recent years, Rio Palito has become a major banking center and has sought to diversify its economy into the services sector and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. The state has no income tax, low business taxes, and is well known for being a tax haven. It is also the host of the annual street circuit motor race Rio Palito Grand Prix, one of the original Grands Prix of Crown Formula Racing. The capital of San Beausoleil is one of the most expensive cities on Iearth to reside in, often dubbed "Billionare's Beach" due to its location on the shore of the Olympic Ocean.
Etymology
Rio Palito gets its name from the Quetanan words for "river of sticks"; 'Rio' meaning 'river' and 'Palito' meaning 'little stick'. The historical explanation is that an 12th-century Quetana colonial settlement along a riverbank near modern-day San Beausoleil was devestated by a flood which breached the shores of the river and washed the settlement and forested areas away, creating a path of destruction and water covered on the surface by wooden debris from destroyed trees and structures.
History
Quetanan Colonization
Following a grant from King Maruian II in 1291, Rio Palito was officially founded in 1315 as a colony of Quetana following its conquest. Rio Palito was first ruled by a member of the Quetanan Royal House of Bousieras in 1312, when Francesco Bousieras, known as "Il Malizia" (translated from Quetanan either as "The Malicious One" or "The Cunning One"), and his men captured the fortress protecting the Rock of Rio Palito. The Bousieras family has been either the instated or de-facto ruler of Rio Palito since 1312, making it one of the longest Royal dynasties on Iearth (more than 700 years).
Skith Empire
In 1698, the Empire of Skith claimed control over Rio Palito following their conquest and annexation of Quetana in 1690. Under the Imperial control, their population exploded from less than 100,000 in 1650 to over 3 million in 1800. San Beausoleil became one of the Olympic Ocean's most lucrative shipping ports and one of the busiest trading stops in the region, serving colonial ships from other colonies in Zamastan like Tofino, Arinals, and White Rock, as well as cities farther northeast like Loromano and Zeramon in Gladysynthia.
Independence
Rio Palito gained independence from Skith on August 3rd, 1822 following the Empire's decision to withdrawl from much of their colonial territory in Euronia, mostly as a result of the economic downturn caused by their defeat in the Zamastan War of Independence nearly 18 years earlier.