Roman Empire (Season 9)

The Roman Empire is a nation centered in the middle of the Mediterranean, controlling much of the Italian peninsula and some of its surrounding islands and lands. It is currently led by DeathCow, and is one of the largest nations on the server in both player count and territorial extent. It controls five cities, Roma, Hispania, Constantinople, Gaul and Port Amongus, and is one of the leading nations in Europe.

Rome is the richest nation on the server, achieving more than a million dollars in net citizen worth. Combine this with their central position, this makes it an arbitrator in many of the geopolitical concerns in Europe, especially the Mediterranean. Currently, Rome is allied with the nations of Texas and the HRE, though relations with these allies are tenuous at best.

## History

Rome was founded on the first day of Season 9. DeathCow, along with four other players, were the first to create a nation with more than just three people in it. As with all who achieve early success, Rome spread rapidly, extending their territorial claims across the majority of Italy. Though most of these claims are wilderness surrounded by a thin border of claimed chunks (like many other nations), this made them a territorial juggernaut very early on in their history.

Unlike their neighbors, Rome did not grow organically. The nation was completely comprised of one city - Roma - and though it was extremely centralized, it left no room for natural expansion. The consequence of this meant that DeathCow was forced to create artificial power structures in order to support a nation that fell over its own weight.

In practice, this essentially meant Rome was left with no good fighters nor active players. In order to remedy this, DeathCow invited the town of Port Among Us, which was centered in Sardinia, into the nation. This slowly began to improve the overall effective power of the Empire, but it would still take time for them to grow into an actual state.

While its citizens continued work on projects that DeathCow deemed "useless", other nations eclipsed it in military strength and building prowess. Not only did these things heavily effect prestige, it effected the way other nations viewed Rome, and soon DeathCow realized that if things were not fixed soon, the nation would be torn apart by powers such as the HRE or the Hittites.

### Rise to Power

Immediately, Rome began to seek allies internally and externally. Internally, DeathCow commissioned citizens to create towns in provinces such as Hispania or in North Africa. Additionally, Rome began to create building projects in the city itself to expand upon its foreign prestige and respect among other nations. Externally, Rome established diplomatic relations with the allies of its natural rivals - notably, Texas and the Holy Roman Empire. Immediately, this began to worry the power of Europe and the world, which has created a sense of dread of what is to come.

After the Hittite Empire finished up their civil war, conquered Greece, and attacked the small but symbolically important city of Alexandria, the Romans began to understand that conflict with its new natural enemies, the Hittites, may be on the horizon.

After the Great War, Rome immediately saw that the Hittites and their allies were weak, and declared almost immediately after the war between the HRE and United Vales came to a close. Knowing their fate was sealed, the Hittites voted to disband the Empire and its towns, with the majority of its players fleeing to Cuba and Georgia. However, the now-former leader of the Hitties, sungross, decided to join the Roman Empire in a stunning move that shocked the world. DeathCow agreed to let sungross into the Empire, letting him reclaim Antioch and Byzantion to form the new town of Constantinople.

### Roma

Roma is the capital of the Empire. It is currently under construction, but houses the majority of the nation's players. It controls a vast territory, but until very recently was essentially devoid of any development.

### Constantinople

Constantinople is located on the straits between the Mediterannean and the Black Sea, as well as much of Anatolia and the remnants of Antioch. It is led by Sungross, making it the home of the Co-Emperor.

### Port Among Us

Port Among Us was founded separately from the Roman Empire, but was eventually incorporated into it. It is by far the longest and oldest of the cities in terms of building age. It has an infamous reputation for its name.

### Hispania

Hispania is a city located in the Iberian peninsula. While it has little development, it is an important first step in the eventual creation of an organic state wished by the Emperor.

### Gallia

Gallia is a city located in modern-day France. It is currently expanding it's territory, but it is very underdeveloped.