South-European Crowns

## Holiest Federation of South-European Crowns

South European flag

The **Holiest Federation of South-European Crowns**, often called **Europa Meridionalis** or the **Crowns**, was a nation in the first season of Terra Divided. It was actively played by Fabi until its annexation into the newly formed Italy.

## Geography

### Borders and Cities

Stretching across North-Western Italy and South-East France, the HFSEC consisted of Crowns which ranged from the Alps to the fields of Siena. In the Alps, Europa Meridionalis bordered various Swiss and German states during its long existance of almost 40 years.

The capital of Mediolano, which made up 12.3% of the country's GDP, was divided into 14 districts. Other major cities in the Crown of Mediolano were Magenta, Ticinia and Busto Arsizio.

## History

### Establishment

Before the collapse of the Human Federation, the richest began gaining in power in many North Italian cities as Federation control waned. After the Flare, people were left without authority and protection. The new aristocracy of the region began building its power by securing obligations from the common people. These aristocrats eventually declared themselves as dukes or even kings of their respective cities, unsing their new power to contend with neighbors.

However, one mighty aristocrat, named Agostino de Martino from the city of Milan had allied with the Tuscan Crown, which had largely come under control of the Borromeo family, and won over many other cities with his splendor and patronship of the arts. This man later became known as Agostino I. "the Founder", though many other epithets were thrown his way such as Caesar or Augustus. Certainly his diplomatic forté wasn't natural, rather it was the product of an advanced augmentory AI which had since been passed down in his family. Agostino I. was acclaimed emperor when he marched to Rome in Winter of 3101 after recieving word from the now extremely weakened papacy that the local government had been encroaching on the Vatican.

### Döia controversy

When Agostino I. died at the age of 40, the throne passed to his son Giacomo I., who wasn't deemed worthy of the title emperor by the Papacy. Meanwhile, the Crown of Genoa, which had from 3101 onwards been held by the allied Orsini-Gravina family, fell to a coup by the minor aristocrat Emanuel Döia. Soon, Genoa became uncompliant to Federation directives and even threatened to reappropriate holdings from the Albizzi and Berardino families. With Papal and Noble backing, Giacomo I. confiscated the titles of the Döia family in 3106, after which a relative of the Martino family was installed to the crown of Genoa and the Döia family expelled from the city. The opportunity of a 'blank slate Genoa' was later utilized in the 3107 royal economic acts.

### Arc of the Knight

To protect the HFSEC from internal and external threats, Giacomo I. soon moved to recruiting new Knights for the Federation army. A poor, young man who had lived in the favelas of Mediolano for his whole live took this opportunity and joined the army after being approved by a recruiter, who would go on to be his closest friend. That man, who eventually rose the ranks was Pagano Lombardi. Joining the Third Regnal Regiment of Mediolano, he soon recieved the mark of each knight, a battle-ready augment to his arm.

The Archduke of Tuscany and the Duchess of Lucca had requested the assistance of the Federation army in dealing with a group of Bandits hiding in the forested hills of northern Tuscany who were dealing with drugs and commiting murders. When the regiment found the hideout of the Pistoria bandits, the young knight and Nicodemo della Torre cornered the leaders in a room and Pagano's augment was activated, immediately subduing the leaders. Following this mission, Pagano Lombardi became known as the hero of Pistoria.

### Consequences of Cattenom

With the explosion of the Cattenom Nuclear Plant, the fallout quickly spread to Europa Meridionalis. King Giacomo I. passed away from radiation poisoning in late 3111 and Pagano Lombardi was sent out on a mission to protect a mysterious box in Corsica. The late Giacomo had initiated the self destruction of his REX augment and only the copy in the box remained. When Pagano opened the vessel to view its contents, REX declared that he was worthy of succeeding the former monarch, due to his proven leadership qualities.

### Reign of Pagano I.

Pagano I. was officially declared monarch of the Federation in Mediolano and immediately began reforms. The mess of Cattenom was dealt with, tourism bolstered, new technologies implemented in public transport and diplomatic relations forged with the neighboring Switzerland and Italian Syndicalists. Prefering friendly diplomacy with his neighbors, Pagano allowed the entry of the gilds into the PPC (Peninsular Protection Council) and the Federation came to see itself as a liberal monarchy.

### Second Risorgimento

While the HFSEC established itself as an entity separate from Italy, the European Famine caused the rise of three Italian States. The state of Sicily soon moved to reunite Italy and declared war on Roma-Napoli and later Europa Meridionalis itself. Though Pagano fought heavily on the defensive, his smaller army meant that he remained on the retreat. Eventually, casualties mounted and even having recruited the Custodia, the nation's police force, and Pagano had to surrender his nation to the Sicilians.

## Economy

### University of Mediolano

The University of Mediolano (lat: Universitas Studiorum Mediolanensis) was a state owned and funded research university in Mediolano. It was the largest university in early post-Flare Europe with about 140,000 students and 3,400 research and teaching staff. Due to its affiliation with the HFSEC, it has played a vital role in upholding the information accessibility in post-Flare Italy.

The School of Computer and Information Sciences was the biggest reason for the university's growth in popularity and power as its localized energy production feeds the ever-growing need for access to information. Among other things, students from this school were responsible for the creation of the 'REX' AI and the continuous updating of Wikipedia, while their pages were translated by students from the School of Linguistics and Cultural Mediation. An important mission of the School of Humanities was the preservation of information, which had resulted in one of the most expansive (mostly) public libraries in the Modern Day. Certainly the University enjoyed great privileges thanks to these advantages. Under Emperor Agostino I., its campus had been expanded by 140% to house new students.

## Characters

### Monarchs

 Giacomo I. Martino
 Pagano I. Lombardi

### Various

**Nicodemo della Torre**, former Knight recruiter, later Federal Legate, † Tuscany during the Risorgimento

**Serena Lisio**, Federal Legate

**Aza Lombardi**, sister of king Pagano I.

**REX**, AI-assistant to every king, passed down through an unique augment.