The Kingdom of Etruria

The Kingdom of Etruria is a constitutional Monarchy located on the Eastern Border of the Altian Republic. The other principle Successor State following the dissolution of the Kingdom of Altia, Etruria is nominally ruled by the liberal Farnese family, while actual statecraft is run by the Etrurian Senate (The higher house of legislature) and the Etrurian General Assembly (The lower house.) The Kingdom of Etruria would quickly ally with the Second Altian Republic following the onset of hostilities during the War of May, wherein the Kingdom suffered from Patrician military ventures. The Kingdom of Etruria would sign a treaty of union with the Second Republic following the Revolutionary victory.

History
The Kingdom of Etruria originated as one of the frontier provinces during Altia's early expansion half a millenium before the House of Liege came to establish the Kingdom of Altia. Etruria would be the last stronghold of the Volsci people, an advanced parallel civilization to the Altians who were vanquished and assimilated in a series of bloody wars. The destruction and massacre of the Volsci citadel (and future capital of Etruria) Valentana would be a popular tale within the new culture that came to replace the Volsci people.

For the next several centuries, Etruria would be divided up into five administrative districts, Etruria Major, Etruria Minor, Verentum, Volscium and Veii. The land would be rapidly colonized and shaped by large migrations of Altian citizens, and Etruria would, in spite of its historical past, be established as a fairly normal part of the Kingdom of Altia. All these would be largely governed as a Duchy under The House of Farnese, a cadet branch of the House of Liege. The House of Farnese would be among the most liberal-minded rulers, and observation of the Altian constitution and minor houses of legislature to determine the decisions of the Dukes and Duchesses of Etruria were established early on. Thus, while the Etrurian population largely sympathized with the insurgent movements of the First Republican Revolution, the Duchy would fight loyally on the side of the Monarchy, sending troops to assist the Royalist troops in the south. Revolutionary fervor would be dampened in Etruria owing to the redundancy of the cause in Etruria. The Dukes and Duchesses of Etruria had already lost the power to raise taxes without the consent of the people and regional representatives had real discernable power in the houses of legislature.



It was such that following the dissolution of the House of Liege in the Kingdom of Altia, the Etrurian people declared themselves a seperate kingdom from the First Altian Republic. This was for several reasons, the first being loyalty of the people to the House of Farnese and the second the fears of the new noble-dominated society. Etruria would thus remain as a bastion of moderate liberalism, its crown constitutionally restricted and its people enjoying many rights not available to neighboring states. Still, a strong vein of pan-Altian nationalism would persist in Etruria, and unification with the greater Republic given the proper circumstances has always been a popular cause.

Economy
The Kingdom of Etruria possesses an advanced economy based primarily on banking and the manufacture of skilled goods and services. Olive oil, grains and wine are all major commodities exported by Etruria, while finer wares such as textiles and ceramics have recently been a boon to Etrurian manufacturing.

Industrialized over the course of the last century, Etruria's economy is based off of free-market principles, with the exception of regulations set by the Ministry of Comerce. Still, relative to most of its neighbors, Etruria's economic policy is among the most liberal and accordingly, amongst the most advanced.

Still, the biggest factor in Etruria's wealth is its advanced banking system. The percieved stability of the Kingdom of Etruria concerning its domestic and foreign affairs has made Etruria an ideal place for wealthy foreigners to entrust their money. Indeed, the strength of the banks in absolute financial terms far exceeds that of the Etrurian monarchy!

Military
The Kingdom of Etruria's military retains many of the Royalist regiments and traditions that fell out of practice

following the First Republican Revolution. While relatively advanced as a result of Etruria's wealth and technical expertise, its size is limited by its purely professional nature. Unlike her neighbors such as the Kingdom of         Ulsino, Etruria does not conscript its armed forces. Military service is purely voluntary.

The Etrurian Military's history is essentially a combination of two main forces, the first being the Household forces of the Farnese family and the second being the emigres who fled the Kingdom of Altia after the First Republican Revolution. The large influx of Royalist officers would provide the young Kingdom with a large body of experienced and technically sound military commanders who would be able to forge Etruria's fledgling armed forces into an effective professional fighting force.

Unlike Ulsino, whose military is a mandatory feature of citizenship, Etruria's armed forces are purely professional and have a strong civilian infrastructure to help administrate. This has both reduced the military's influence in politics whilst also making a military that is highly motivated, well-trained and professional.

Culture
The Kingdom of Etruria, with its Constitutional Monarchy and strong judiciary, is a nation whose cultural and ideological undercurrents are strongly characterized by its liberalism. Close cultural ties with the Kingdom of Altia make Etruria a typically 'Altian State' while political transformation and evolution have made it distinct in its own right.

Linguistically, Etruria's cosmopolitan atmosphere and shared history make its citizens easily understandable to speakers from other countries. Certainly, linguistic variations exist, predominantly taken from the old Volsci language, however, this lends itself mostly to the Etrurian accent rather than any linguistic mechanics. That said, the Etrurian accent is easily identifiable within its speakers - unlike the provinces of the Altian Republic, no 'received pronunciation' is mandated in Etrurian schooling, and speakers often cannot 'switch' between pronunciations as is common in Altia.

The story for the nobility is somewhat different. The massive influx of exiled nobles from the Kingdom of Altia, all of them from varying regions of the realm, has lent itself to a hetergenuous noble speaking population. While many strive to keep up the formal language of the royal court, Etruria's culture is such that devolution has occured, and the gap between the language of the nobility and the lower classes is only moderate.

Popular Culture
The populations of Etruria have, over the last century, been moving inexorably towards Etruria's major cities. The citeis of Valentana (the capital), Ilium and Arimini have all seen population explosions in the last fifty years. That said, Etrurian culture is distinctly modern. Cultural values revolve around education and science and technology are highly valued fields. Moreover, the church, whose authority has been nominally been combined with that of the monarchy, exercises limited power relative to other regions, such as the Kingdom of Ulsino.



Being a modernized society, Etruria's class division is less in evidence than the other great states. Consolidation of the monarchy's power has come at the expense of the traditional nobility, with the monied classes filling the void as a result. Cleavages with Etrurian popular society do persist, however. The influx of exiles and immigrants from the other formerly royal provinces have led to debate concerning the Kingdom's native culture, and its adulteration by foreign influences. Certainly, all this is downplayed by the Monarchy, whose official stance is one in favor of complete reunification with the other Altian states.

Additionally, industrialization has done a great deal to influence the non-noble classes. Fears of industry's effects on the land and the rights of workers are topics that are always in vogue. And while the Labor movement has a widespread following, the Etrurian government's normal tolerance sees exception with the establishment of revolutionary diets and anarchist assemblies.

Ultimately, however, the greatest discussion within the Kingdom is that brought about by the nationalist currents sweeping through the region. Families divided by the Patrician Revolution and the state of unrest across nations has stoked nationalist fervor and the dreams of a reunited Altia. The course of war in the Altian Republic and the revolutionary ideals espoused will no doubt further change the nature of Ulsinian culture. Just how that is remains to be seen, however.

Culture and the Nobility
In spite of having fled the revolutionary reprisals following the Patrician Revolution, Etruria's royalist nobles have taken on a function in society that is remarkably similar to their nieghbors in the Altian Republic. Deprived of their previous feudal holdings and lands, success within the nobility has been largely attained through financial mastery and maneuvering. While the nobility of the Kingdom views itself as the progenitors of a new people descended from Altia's royal nobility, it is clear that their practical function is validated by money more than legacy. This awkward position, coupled with intermarriage between the native and emigre populations has resulted in the original Etrurian nobility's financial and propertied influence being dramatically diluted. The tumult of the Patrician Revolution has been a catalyst to progress even within the Kingdom of Etruria.

That said, in spite of the righteous pride of their ancestors, many of the newer generations have a markedly more liberal slant. While there exist factions calling for the invasion of the Altian Republic and reinstitution of the monarchy, these currents are closely monitored by the Etrurian security forces. Certainly, reunification with the 'Revolutionary Provinces" and the Altian people dominates the discussion more than the dream of the Farnese (or any other family for that matter) being reestablished as Altian monarchs. Nationalist ideas (primarily and perhaps surprisingly cultivated by the Farnese family) are currently at the forefront of popular and noble politics alike.