History of Italy (Cromwell the Great)

"Libertà, Virtù, Eguaglianza (official motto of the Piedmontese Republic)" "Il voler tutto riformare è lo stesso che voler tutto distruggere (Vincenzo Cuoco)" Italy, or more properly the Italian Peninsula, during and after the Revolutionary Wars changed its political makeup in the establishment and merge of new states. As in Germany French revolutionary armies deeply change the social and political landscape. Bringing with them the revolution they were equally happily cheered or sorrowfully regretted. The French armies rapidly established sister republics in northern Italy but they could not advance further than Rome where they established for a brief time a Roman Republic.

Although, its political effects were more lukewarm and uncertain in its political and social dimensions. One certainty is that the Peninsula was divided in two halves, one republican and the other the monarchical old regime, with the Papal States serving as a neutral buffer state between these two worlds. At the end several peace treaties organized the territory of the Peninsula and the boundaries of each republic and monarchy. Victory was not assured as most states had internal dissension that in time could lead to revolutions. Arbitration not taken in fully enthusiasm by the French and British. Fluid alliances and royalties made uncertain longstanding alliances within and outside Italy, even in members of the same camp.

Italian unity, one of the main goals of Italian republicans and revolutionaries and radical French was frustrated by peace and the lack of enthusiasm from both France and Britannia. This despite, or because of, Italy being one of the main land and naval war theatres between the two great powers of Europe. For example Britain gained Malta, becoming an important naval enclave in the Mediterranean Sea and France neutralized possible territorial gains of Austrian Habsburg and Spanish Bourbon, and gained a foothold in the Balkans thru the Illyrian republic and a permanent grateful ally, the Corsican Republic.

Italian League?
The idea to establish and Italian League in the same way as the Confederation of the Rhine has part of the arrangements of a future Pax Gallica in the Peninsula after the Revolutionary Wars had no immediate reception in the italian sister republics.

It became however after the Peace of Vienna a divisive issue of the unity of Italy has some wanted a League under the leadership of the Pope and others assembled under the call for Republican League of equal states under the tricolored Milanese flag. Behind either schemes were the evasive and pusillanimous policies of France and Britain on the Italian issue. Neither of the two European powers favored one idea over the other.

This debate would be carried out further by the Risorgimento when and how the Italian peninsula would merge into a single state based on the legacy of the Revolutionary Wars, that could be either a unitarian or federal states.

Etruria
Republic of Etruria (Repubblica di Etruria) is located in the region of the old Gran Duchy of Tuscany. It took its name from Etruria, the old Roman name for the land of the Etruscans. It is a constitutional democratic and unitary republic. The head of state is the Gonfalonieri elected for 5 years. He is assisted by the Signoria a council of high state officers and ministers. A bicameral elected Parliament compromising the Senate and the Council. The judiciary is organized in tribunals of first instance, courts of appeal, courts of revision and a court of cassation. The territory is divided in departments, districts and communes. Etruria as a National Guard, a National Gendarmerie, and a finance police; the metric system was introduced as in all of North Italy.

Etruria's economy is very varied, ranged from wine-making to heavy industry, passing through textiles, fashion, food industry, mining and tourism. However its economy is in a close second place in regard to the Italian Republic and above the one of Piedmont.

Etruria known for its landscapes, traditions, history, artistic legacy and its influence on high culture. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science. Due to its rich cultural heritage and production it is apart from most of the Italian Peninsula. A huge quantity of resources have been thrown to enlarge, improve and give access to all of the schools, universities, polytechnics, research centers and art schools.

Italian Republic
The Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana) is located in Northern Italy consisting of the territories of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. It is a constitutional democratic and unitary republic. The head of state is the President elected for 10 years. He is assisted by the Consulta (Consulta di Stato) a commission of eight ministers. A bicameral elected Legislative Body (Corpo Legislativo) compromising the Senate and the Chamber of speakers (Camera degli oratori). The judiciary is organized in tribunals of first instance, courts of appeal, courts of revision and a court of cassation. The territory is divided in departments, districts and communes. The republic created a National Guard, a National Gendarmerie, and a finance police; the metric system was introduced.

The Italian republic also administers the former republic of Ragusa as an Italian department. From the former Austrian and Venetian territories of the Adriatic Sea become part of the General Government of the Provinces of Illyria.

Its economy was based on cereal agriculture and cattle, plus flourishing small industries, notably the production of silk. With the introduction of steam engines business started to quickly change to factory system and build railways and roads becoming in a short time the industrial center of the Italian Peninsula. However it could not surpass the scientific and artistic achievements of Etruria.

Piedmont
The Piedmontese Republic (Repubblica Piemontese) a state located on the territory of Piedmont. It is a constitutional democratic and unitary republic.

The head of state is the Consulate, a triumvirate elected for a 6 year terms. They are assisted by the Council of State and the Tribunate. A bicameral elected Parliament compromising the Senate and the Legislative Body. The judiciary is organized in tribunals of first instance, courts of appeal, courts of revision and a court of cassation. The territory is divided in departments, districts and communes. The republic as a National Army, a National Gendarmerie, and a finance police; the metric system was introduced.

Lowland Piedmont is a fertile agricultural region. The main agricultural products in Piedmont are cereals, including rice, maize, grapes for wine-making, fruit and milk. Piedmont contains major industrial centers, the main of which is Turin. Although in third place, below Etruria and the Italian Republic, Piedmont is a major industrial center.

Glosary
Repubbliche sorelle (in French Républiques soeurs) or Sister Republic was a republic established in the Italian Peninsula and Switzerland by invading French armies or by local revolutionaries and assisted by the First French Republic during the European Revolutionary Wars.