Italian League (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

The Italian League (Italian: Lega Italiana; Latin: Liga Italus) is a nation in southern Europe founded in 1651.

Old Republic (1651 - 1672)
The Italian League was originally established with a government similar to the late Venetian Republic, which it largely replaced, in which the consul would be elected for a life term, and would essentially act with monarchistic power in his ability to govern the state. This system of government lasted for approximately the first two decades of its existence, in what would later become known as the "Old Republic".

During this time the state was largely dominated by the former cities of the Venetian Republic, with the nation's first leader, Alessandro Andreatta, being a Venetian, albeit a strong opponent of the former government. The first fifteen years of the Italian League's history saw a high level of influence and support from the Belkan Empire, which had essentially formed the republic through its war with Venice, and guaranteed the independence of the League throughout this period. Belkan support allowed for the nation to make a quick economic recovery, with the military being reformed and reorganized, and the first new ships being constructed since the war.

Alessandro Andreatta would become one of the nation's most popular consuls for his early leadership in forging the nation, and laying the foundation for the modern state that would emerge. Following his death in 1660, however, the dominance of Venice over the state would become evident, with the election of the elderly Venetian noble, Paolo Valloni, who managed to orchestrate his election through widespread corruption. The southern cities of the League, spearheaded by the city of Urbino, formed a voting bloc specifically aimed against Venice that ensured little was done during Valloni's short lived term.

Around this time the Neo-Hitlerite Movement, based on the movement that had previously rooted itself in southern Germany and northern Italy, particularly neighboring Lombardy, began to emerge across the Italian League. A Belkan force under the direct command of the Tsar was dispatched to Italy to assist the Italian army. The Neo-Hitlerite Movement would ultimately culminate in the the Night of the Burning Cities, in which on 6 June multiple cities across the league would be targeted by religious fanatics.

In 1662 the next election occurred, and the Urbino party was narrowly defeated by Mario Andreatta, a relative of the famous first consul, and a compromise between the two sides. Mario Andreatta would attempt to reform the nation, streamlining the election process and aspects of the military, despite being largely conservative. By this time the Neo-Hitlerite Movement had died down, following the failure of the group to predict the rapture in 1666, however, this also led to an increase in banditry and raiding across the country from the former members of the movement.

Belko-Iberian War (1667 - 1675)
In 1667 Sicily would officially invade allegedly to finally put an end to the Hitlerite Movement, however, their failure to vacate the territory they captured eventually made it clear that this was a war of conquest and not just a war of liberation, beginning a conflict that would eventually result in the Belko-Iberian War. The last few years of Andreatta's reign as consul would be consumed with matters of war, resulting in his death in 1669 in battle.

Andreatta's successor, Giuseppe Zampini, would attempt to expand the liberal policies of his successor, being nicknamed the first true liberal consul. Zampini was a populist candidate beloved by the southerners, who attempted to create the first form of public participation in the government, as well as religious tolerance and equality before the law. Although he managed to pass a number of reforms while the nation was distracted with the war, Zampini's term would be cut short by his assassination on the order of his conservative opponents.

The lead general in the south, Gian Miossi, would ascend to the consulship in late 1669, overseeing much of the later half of the war. With the military under his control, and in the highest position of government, Miossi issued a decree in 1671 that would attempt to disband the republic and establish a hereditary kingdom under Miossi and his successors. Although Miossi was popular for his efforts in repulsing the Sicilians, this move made him a traitor in the capital city of Venice.

In 1672, while the war was still technically on going, Miossi would be assassinated. The "New Republic" that followed saw the introduction of several political reforms to limit the power of the consul, including term limits.

Government
The leader of the Italian League is known as the consul, an elective position that since 1672 has been limited by four year terms. The consul is elected by an electoral college consisting of representatives from each city in the league, a system modeled partially on the elections in the neighboring Holy Roman Empire, and on the systems of government of various merchant republics, such as Venice, one of the League's member cities.

List of Consuls
Old Republic (1651 - 1672)
 * Alessandro Andreatta (1651 - 1660)
 * Paolo Valloni (1660 - 1662)
 * Mario Andreatta (1662 - 1669)
 * Giuseppe Zampini (1669)
 * Gian Miossi (1669 - 1672), Miossi Dictatioship

New Republic (1672 - Present)
 * Giovanni Francini (1672 - 1676)
 * Giovanni Martelli (1676 - 1680)
 * Gian Giacomo Angeli (1680 - 1684)
 * Ottavio Leonardelli (1684 - 1682)
 * Pietro Francini (1682 - 1686)
 * Francesco Loli (1686 - 1690)
 * Francesco Maccioni (1690 - 1691)
 * Giovanni Saracco (1691 - 1692)
 * Onofrio Onofri (1692)
 * Federico Gozi (1692 - 1700), Gozi Dictatorship
 * Urbano Depretis (1700 - 1708), Guelfi (Conservative)
 * Francesco Crispi (1708 - 1712)
 * Urbano Depretis (1712 - 1716), Guelfi (Conservative)
 * Carlo Farini (1716 - 1724)
 * Ottaviano Ricasoli (1724 - 1728)
 * Vincenzo Mazzini (1728 - 1733), Guelfi (Conservative)