The Merchant State of Firocco

## Summary

The Merchant State of Firocco, also known as the Republic of Firocco is a relatively small major nation located on the Occidan Depression and the Galecian Peninsula bordering Antargentina in the west, Arkadyetsiya and Eireen in the north and the Encircled Sea to the east. Home to the Firoccan commercial waterways, Firocco throughout its history is a giant of maritime trade and possesses an overseas colonial empire spanning the globe, During the Firoccan Golden Ages dating from 16th to the late 19th century, The influx of world trade and extensive industrialization of the country brought unprecedented amounts of wealth to Firoccan harbors, making some of the ports incredibly wealthy, thus allowing for expansions. The Port city of Damlis and Cartaginesis became some of the largest harbors in the continent. The Firroccan state, born out of the ashes of the Firoccan Independence Wars against the Antargentinian Empire was the catalyst behind the slow descent of Antargentina’s imperial decline and subsequently Firocco’s rise as an international commercial giant. No longer shackled under the boot of the perfidious Antargentinian. Firocco was free to expand its wealth, its outposts, prestige, treaty cities and their merchant marine. Firoccan traders strive to expand the horizons of international commerce as well as expand Firoccan commercial influence globally. “Expansion through trade, to boldly go beyond horizons” is the Firoccan Merchant Marine’s motto and prime directive. Throughout it’s history it has met, traded with and fought against several countries and regional powers, establishing their influence through treaty harbours and military outposts, Nations across the globe host treaty harbours leased to Firocco, Firocco controls dominions in the Kijama continent and wealthy Firoccan corporations profit abroad in the name of the Empire.  Being a trading behemoth, the Firoccan state played the role of a key international mediator in foreign conflicts and a proponent of unrestricted global trade.

## History

The Occidan Depression was home to several small thassalaocracies with their economies linked to the highly wealthy and successful Encircled Sea trade, During the Classical Era, the states competed and fought against each other. While these states shared a common language and identity through the centuries, internal competition drifted them apart. City States rose and fell, Grand legendary cities like Fir, Jinova, and Guarida were lost to history, either burned by rivals or crippled, never to rise again. Historically however the City State with the most economic and political power was the City of Cartaginesis, located in a strategic chokepoint and safe haven that other cities would kill for, they controlled a large portion of trade and it’s importance increasing with time. Ruled by the House Cartagena for most of it’s history, it’s name was synonymous with power and wealth in the thalassocracies. Not only were they wealthy, but also procured a respectable military, if they wished, they could take out all the remaining city states under their banner. The story of the Fir however can be studied as a brutal sibling rivalry between the Firoccan state and the Antargentinian state that led to major conflicts with major influence across the planet.

## 800-1400 "End of the Thassalocracy Era."

By the 800-1000s fate soon turned against Cartaginesis however as a new Empire rose in the Early Medieval Era, the Antargentinian Empire, hailing from the eastern lands of Patia, marched their armies across mountains, rivers and forests, claiming the Grappa Valley and the Gaborian and Turaguan Kingdoms. After consolidating their power in Antaria, the Empire set it’s sights on the wealthy lands of the Occidan, launching a campaign of conquest. In 1023, the Empire crossed the Fajardo strip, crushing the City state of Malvina, Cartaginesis, seen as the protector of the thassalocracies, saw this move as a threat and moved to declare war against the Empire, rallying the quarreling city states under a common enemy, While the cities held reservations towards others, conquest from a foreign power was unacceptable and heeded the call to arms. The war was long and bloody, the mainland was slowly overrun by superior Antargentinian arms and numbers while the cities were sieged one by one, the naval front was fierce with thousands of ships sunk or captured. While the superior craftsmanship and firepower was on the Allied side, the Antargentinians held the upper hand in strategy and numerical advantage in the sea and slowly the Allies were losing the naval front and their cities blockaded, Critical naval battles like the Battle of Baleafornia where Allied ships quashed the ill prepared Imperial 2nd fleet, the Battle of Canardia where the allies suffered their first naval defeat after they were flanked and destroyed, the Battle of Balagua where a Allied relief force was sunk by Antargentinian warships and the last major naval battle of the war, the Battle of the Gulf with the Cartaginesis fleet sinking the Antargentinian First Fleet but under great cost, dubbed as the Allied Navy’s Last Stand as the Cartaginesis Fleet was the last major operating fleet of the Allies.

These battles were studied extensively after the war, promoting a well trained admiralty. With most of their allies destroyed and put down by the Antargentinians, the city proper beginning to go under siege and trade shattered, Cartaginesis surrendered to the Empire and accepted it’s terms of vassalization which were considered to be merciful by the Empire, while the rest of the cities were annexed into the Empire. By 1083, the Antargentinian Empire reigned supreme and uncontested for centuries in the region only directly challenged by Celtica in the south and Arkadyetsiya in the north. Under imperial rule however, the now provinces thrived and became important centers of commerce to the empire, the local nobility and rising merchant class publically loyal to the empire, slowly harbored sentiments to self determination and bide their time until the moment they were ready to strike.

## 1400-1512 "The Independence Struggle"

By the beginning of the 15th century, cracks were beginning to take shape in the Antargentininan Empire, the long unaddressed plights of the distinct people’s the Empire suzerainty, have made the imperial situation unstable, Coupled with lackluster leadership by the ruling monarchy and subsequent economic decline after the rise of states like the Confederation of Fusou and the Kingdom of Liotain made trade much more competitive. The now Firoccan provinces increased it’s discontent after religious crackdowns and economic taxes on it’s trade made business incredibly difficult. Provincial Governors of the Empire covertly drifted away from imperial rule or allowed for power to be relegated to the Firoccan elite. There they slowly increased their army and navy to meet the Antargentinians once they inevitably secede.

Several attempts by the Imperial courts to reel in the Firoccan provinces back from their path, first by establishing the Firoccan people’s as separate entities under the Empire, and later as a full autonomous vassal of the Empire, but to no avail, unbeknownst to them, they have created their worst rival. In 1470, a plea by the Kingdom of Liotain for support in their war against Anitkabir was answered and the combined armies were sent to fight, There Firoccan leadership received a taste of warfare and studied the Antargentinian tactics, Unknown to the Liotains, the war set the stage for the conflict between Firocco and Antargentina. By 1498, the War for Firoccan Independence had begun, While the Antargentinian armies were still a formidable opponent to the Firoccans, they were a shadow of what they once were back in the 1080s.

This time however the Antargentinian Navy was crushed by the Firoccan fleets in the Battle of the Cartaginesis Gulf and also known as the “Firoccan Fleet’s Last Stand” where a battered fleet of 30 Firoccan Ships layed a desperate last stand against 250 Antargentinian warships to protect the Captial City, the Firoccan 5th Fleet under the command of Admiral Marco Esquipio fiercely defended the bay using their superior artillery sinking dozens of enemy warships with little cost to his own fleet, the bay burned red in fire and ash as 110 Antargentinian warships lie wrecked in the sea while the firoccans only lost 5 warships. This battle was seen as the turning point of the war with the Antargentine fleet routed, the Firoccan combined armies started to get the upper hand on the Antargentine armies with the Battle of Bertun of 1512, where the Antargentinian 3rd Army was flanked and destroyed by a firoccan relief force aiding the siege of the Bertun Fortress. After these crushing setbacks, the Antargentinians were forced on the defensive, slowly withdrawing from Firocco before being dealt a decisive final blow with the Battle of Fajardo Bridge where Firoccan cavalry successfully outflanked and took control of the Fajardo river crossing forcing the Antargentinian armies stuck in Firocco to surrender. With most of their combat ready army stuck in the Grappa Valley and in Fajardo, Antargentina sued for peace and signed the Treaty of Fajardo, where it established the modern borders between Antargentina and Firocco with the Fajardo Strip being ceded to Firocco.

## 1512-1707 "The Firoccan Imperial Golden Age"

With victory achieved, Firocco now set to the task of expanding it’s trade horizons. Having a small population to begin with, colonial ventures were limited to the practice of “treaty ports'' and trade outposts worldwide, Firoccan explorers roamed the planet searching for avenues of trade and colonies. In 1514 once the war was over, the monarchy, under House Cartagena was put into power, contact with Montserraria was established, and moves to expand trade were authorized. The enormous influx of wealth to the Firoccans began a period of growth and prosperity unmatched in it’s history, at least until the Industrial Revolution, a new city, the Port of Damlis began construction and several treaty ports were established, chief among them, the City of Svyturys in Liotain. In 1534, several private companies with government backing were established to expand the interests of the empire, these being the Firoccan-Dengfeng Trading Company or FDTC which carried out business on behalf of Firocco with Dengfeng and accessing the bountiful goods from the country along with establishing treaty ports in the process. The Firoccan West Kijana Trading Company and East Kijana Trading Company were established to conduct colonial and trading business on the west and east halves of the Kijana continent. The West Kijana Trading Company was occupied with establishing contact with the Nari'Mona (now Montserraria) and the buildup of commercial zones while the Eastern was occupied with the buildup of the recently contacted Laotaosian Kingdom and overlapping economic zones of the East. Through the centuries, these companies grew exceedingly wealthy and controlled vast trading fleets that sailed the globe for the riches to be allocated in the coffers of the Empire.

The Firoccan Navy grew in strength and sophistication creating some of the first proper ships of the lines and sail battleships while the army eventually reorganized into a Mercenary system where it could hire foreign mercenaries for the protection of Treaty ports abroad often those who knew the terrain and the environment they are stationed at providing a sense of loyalty. While highly effective warriors and well paid in their own right, they were woefully inferior to the capabilities of an organized modern army, which such system was put to the test in the Firoccan-Liotain War, where the Kingdom of Liotain would wage a war to retake the port city of Svyturys. While initially having the upper hand in both the naval and land theaters of the war with Liotain armies unable to siege the city effectively and challenge the mighty Firoccan navy in a direct fight, the newly founded RLN adopted effective privateering and raiding tactics on Firoccan commerce and supply lines, severely hindering the war effort and Firocco’s economy in the process. The Admiralty was indeed aware of the vulnerabilities of Firocco’s merchant marine and their overreliance on foreign trade, so the majority of the Firoccan navy was assigned escort duties which alleviated some of the strains of the economy but did little to improve the war effort as this meant the Firoccan Navy could only muster a portion for offensive operations, not to mention competing plans by overzealous admirals further worsened the situation at Svyturys. Eventually the Liotains achieved victories against the Firoccan Navy with the last naval battle of the war, the battle of Rietvas ending in Anclados relief force to Svyturys being battered by the RLN at a crucial time of the war where mounting pressure on the city forced the garrison’s forces to capitulate. While the Firoccan Navy’s capabilities compared to the RLN were still far superior, the cost of the war and the subsequent loss of the treaty port rendered any further operations moot, and the firoccan government sued for peace, ceding the Port of Svyturys back to Liotain and financial reparations to compensate for the damages. The Liotain Wars were considered to be Firocco’s first great defeat in it’s modern history.

## 1707-1801 "Downfall of Firocco and the Antargentine Onslaught"

The Aftermath of the Liotainian Wars of 1707 led to Firocco's first major defeat in it's modern history severely damaging it's prestige on the global scale. knowing the gravity of the situation and foreign rivals sensing weakness in the Firoccan state, the Admiralty set to work on instilling major reforms on the country's armed forces, the mercenary system that has served Firocco for centuries was to be phased out in favor of a professional army consisting of levies of the colonies and Firoccans themselves, modeled after the Firoccan continental army, Colonial and light divisions of the army were to follow a similar standardized structure to that of the Firoccan army and the Firoccan Army would retain some mercenaries to fill the gaps while gradually replacing them with more levies. The Navy, battered by the RLN was repaired and upgraded while several smaller and faster ships were commissioned to fill in the gaps of the convoy defense.

Their reforms were put to the test when a resurgent Antargentina, recovering from the setbacks of the Independence Wars attempted to capitalize on Firoccan weakness and reclaim their lost territories, they however were too slow to react as the mobilization was done by the outbreak of hostilities, in 1730, the Second Antargentinian-Firoccan War had begun. While Antargentina was able to send blockade runners and hire mercenary privateers to harm Firoccan commerce, the convoy defenses proved to be too formidable for Antargentinian raiders. and the Firoccan Navy blockaded the strait severely harming Antargentinian trade in return. the Antargentinian Army did not fare better either, while Antargentina held it's own against the Firoccan army, neither side could succesfully make a breakthrough on the heavily fortified regions of Fajardo or the Grappa Valley, after 4 years of bitter fighting the war ended in a truce leading many historians to question what was even the point of the war in the first place, except only to further drive a wedge between the two powers. the only actual change after the war was the transformation of the Fajardo Strip into the most heavily militarized border on the planet with fortresses, traps, trenches and artillery lining the river banks and the many bridges being destroyed and rebuilt. the Fajardo bridges almost became a joke to both countries how they end up rebuilding the damn things again and again.

The Antargentinian Revolution of 1790 shocked the ancien regimes of Velravin especially Firocco. Once the governments of Gaboria and Celtica seceded, Firocco intervened to protect her friends from the republican menace. However a young commander by the name of Bonaventura quashed the Firoccan Expeditionary Force in Antargentina in a rout. After his new found succes and prestige, Bonaventura declared a soft coup of the Republic and put himself in charge as Emperor. In 1796, he declared war on Firocco, overwhelming the national defenses in Fajardo and destroying Firocco's Continental Army outside Cartaginesis in a grave disaster for Firocco. Cartaginesis fell on 1797 and the government fled to the island of Baleafornia to continue the war, utilizing Firocco's massive navy and merchant marine to blockade Antargentina. After the Fall of Firocco, Bonaventura advanced into Eirenn, Inoltra and the Rift States, conquering them into vassal states of the Empire and spreading republican, secular and enlightenment ideas to the conquered peoples.

## 1801-1808 "Escalation of the Bonaventurian Wars"

By 1801, Bonaventura's Empire held vast swathes of North Velravin and access to the Western oceans where contact was reestablished with the colonies of Maraguay and Guadujar. Bonaventura then made the fateful desicion to invade Pictfear which caught the ire of the Empire of Celtica. In a stunning victory at the Battle of Champs-Auster where the Celtican armies were defeated by Bonaventura. In this enormous triumph Bonaventura reached the height of his power by acquiring the ceded lands of the Confederation of North Celtica. By 1804 however, Antargentina made a grave mistake. Bonaventura claimed to be the succesor to the old Reman Empire due to his conquests thus attempted at invading Erisia, a former Reman Empire core territory, which drew the intervention of the Kingdom of Liotain and the Empire of Celtica once again to reclaim her lost territories. Bonaventura made initial gains in Erisia but overextension, and the flanking done by the Liotainian-Celtican armies doomed the Bonaventurian forces. At the same time, Firocco launched an enormous naval campaign against the revived Antargentinian Navy while a naval invasion of the mainland was authorized. Firoccan Marines landed in Damlis, Coloso and Bogodan and linked up with resistance groups in the mainland where they formed the provisional Continental Army. Facing counter invasion on all sides and the Antargentinian grand army stuck in Celtica, Bonaventura was captured in 1805 at the Battle of Naxxar and sued for peace. Bonaventura was imprisoned and the territories lost by the major players were returned. Antargentina became a monarchy under an unpopular pretender. In 1806, Bonaventura escaped from prison and returned to Antargentina where he reestablished the Empire. His return prompted a coordinated intervention by Celtica, Liotain and Firocco. The Fifth Coalition War as its known was fought for 2 years and in enormous cost of life for both sides, Major battles like Thuir, Avila, Tergnier, Fleurance, Pedraza, Marle, Fajardo and Tarascon bleed through hundreds of thousands of men. The Battle of Tarascon in 1808 ended in a total Coalition Victory with the recapture of Bonaventura.

After Bonaventura's Defeat, the victorious powers dismantled the Antargentinian Empire and established the "Concert of Velravin" where a delicate balance of powers in Velravin was designed to prevent another destructive major Velravian war. Bonaventura's defeat heralded the independence movements of Guadujar and Maraguay whom immediately declared independence. The Rift states and Pictish states were released from the grasp of Antargentina and made independent nations. But Bonaventura's impact in Velravin's history will forever change the political scene in Velravin. Ideas of the Enlightenment, republicanism, liberalism, secularism, etc. grew roots in the former Antargentinian Empire's territories and beyond. Political unrest became rampant with the depleted and exhausted ancien regimes of Velravin being able to do little to stop the onslaught. The Bonaventurian Wars took a heavy toll on Firocco, its mainland occupied by foreign forces, devastation from the war, infrastructure destroyed, entire cities and towns in ruins, the economic prosperity that brought Firocco to her world power status was over with the threat of bankruptcy and destitution, The Firoccan state was in dire straits after 1808.

## 1808-1895 "The Firoccan Phoenix"

War torn Firocco after regaining her lands and the bloodshed that ensued sent Firocco's empire into chaos. However, the nation already began her path into industrialization. With the war torn countryside, hundreds of thousands were unemployed and destitute. The emerging capitalist class of Firocco took advantage of the massive labor pool and invested in constructing textile factories from the massive influx of cotton in the colonies, By this time mechanization of agriculture was taking shape and extraction of cash crops like sugar were improved. The island of Presidencia's enormous sugar plantations served as the beggining of a highly lucrative rum and sweets industry produced both in the colony and Firocco proper. The Bonaventurian Wars also reshaped the global market in which Firocco was able to exploit with their stable and vast merchant links worldwide. High grade steel with the extraction of nickel and other rare earth materials would be produced in Firocco by 1836. New technologies in armaments, agricultural production, chemistry, fertilizers and machines started a massive population boom in Firocco and extensive urbanization in the Damlis-Cartaginesis Area.

## Geography and Demographics

The Geography of the core region of the Merchant State of Firocco is essentially a eastern peninsula that consists of a distinct geographic region known as the Occidan Depression and four islands close to the coast. The Firoccan geography is mostly hilly with smaller flat lands going into the coast line, some major mediterranean forests are located in the center of the country named the Galecian Highlands move up to the Grappa Valley, overlooking the Occidan Depression south east of the country, where some of the big cities are founded: Cartaginesis and Damlis.

Cartaginesis is near the middle of the bay overlooking the Gulf of Cartaginesis, and the Capital City of Damlis is located near the coastline in the mouth of the channel north of the Tangerian Gulf next to the telegraph line around Isla Baleafornia (the big island on the east) the island south of Baleafornia is Isla Canardia, the island in the middle is Isla Cabo Rojo (or Cape Red Island) the island west of Cape red is named Isla Balagua.

System of Government: (Prior to 1905) Elective Constitutional Monarchy, The King is bound to the Cartaginesis Constitution and the Damlis Courts share powers, Even though throughout the decades, the role of the king as head of state has been diminishing in favour of the secular and democratic Damlis Courts which slowly gained more power over the state’s affairs. (1905 Government): Democratic Federal Republic with the Damlis Courts sharing powers with the President and the Supreme Tribunal.

Political Parties of the Firoccan Republic as of 1905:

"Partido Social Liberal Firoccensis" or PSLF the largest party in the Damlis Courts, an amalgamation of progressive liberal policies, market reforms, buildup of the welfare state and cooperation with the social democrats, but concedes in supporting the Imperial project although elements of the party seek to eventually enact sufrage on the colonies to integrate them to the wider Firoccan system, mostly responsible for the abolition of the Firoccan Monarchy. Holds 32% of the vote

"Partido Ciudadanos del Pueblo or PCP (Citizen's People's Party) is the second largest party, a center-right party that supports conservative secular policies and is the most prominent supporter of the Empire, supports extensive military spending, colonial expansion, economic growth, limiting state expenditures on the Welfare State. holds 28% of the vote

"Partido Socialista Obrero Firoccensis" or PSOF the third largest party, a social-democrat-socialist party that is the most fervent supporter of the Firoccan Welfare State project, interested in expanding and maintaining protections for workers and unions, anti monarchist, the regulation of corporations and private industry, opposition to economic and private monopolies and represents the opposition to the Empire project to much chargin of the PCP they are in a coalition with the PSLF but is forced to tone down the anti-colonialist rhetoric to remain in power, losing support from the more radical anti colonialist elements. holds 16% of the vote

"Partido Reformista del Mercado" or PRM, a market liberal party that is the most fervent supporter of the Market and represents corporate and private businessmen's interests in government, while the government allows corporations to support candidates or parties, they arent allowed to influence the democratic process. they support market deregulation, decreasing government intervention and support laissez faire capitalism hold 10%

Population: According to the 1905 Economic Census, the populations of the core regions are 11,756,757 people with around 47% of the population in Urban dense regions having the highest urban population density in the world at the time Along with a total of 18 million people in the colonies dotted across the world

Major Cities: Cartaginesis: the Cultural, historical and diplomatic capital of Firocco, a true grand world class city, Damlis: the Economic Nexus of the Empire and the country’s largest civilian harbor. Abadon: a major trade center and industrial hub, Bogodan: One of the smallest major cities of the country but has the pride of it being the traditional shipbuilding hub of merchant shipping and civilian boats, Coloso Metro Zone being the host of major Firoccan naval shipbuilding infrastructure and the the location of the Navy’s Headquarters.

## Economy

The greatest source of Firocco’s massive and well developed economy is undoubtedly it’s trade primacy. Enormous amounts of wealth, riches, resources and money are transported, stored, spent and shared in the colossal trade hubs, markets, harbors and stock exchanges in Firoccan Cities dotted around the coast. The practice of Banking and Economic theory were first developed in Firocco, mostly on the old city of Cartaginesis which has become a huge tourist attraction due to its rich history, combination of classical, medieval and modern architecture, and of course, their marketplaces. This trade wealth attracted a lot of immigrants and entrepeneurs to open shop and do business in the bustling urban centers of Firocco, Combined with the relatively stable politics and generally hands-off approach the government has on the economy barring some exceptions to protect the people’s general welfare, made Firocco an attractive migrant hot spot. The influx of migrants from all over the world made the cities of Cartaginesis and Damlis truly diverse metropolitan cities.

That is not to say that it is a paradise however, Such a large influx of cash and resources is ripe for corrupt hands to take hands on especially criminal organizations that recruited the unemployed and the desperate. Unfortunately even though the bureaucracies of the cities work hand in hand with the governments in making sure the resources are not wasted or lost, There is still a major underground corruption problem as criminal organizations like the Palerno Mafia, a notorious criminal gang that has eluded authorities for decades. Cases of money laundering, tax evasion of foreign wealthy individuals who offshore their riches in Firoccan banks to avoid state taxes in their home countries and cutthroat businesses who take advantage of the working poor due to few labor and profit regulations that instigate class tensions. Before the 1905 government, due to the few regulations in the banking sector and stock trading, the economy was prone to a boom and bust cycle depending on world events, trade, or other reasons, Firocco’s economy did crash multiple times in the nation’s past the more severe ones being in 1817, 1848, and 1869, with the last major financial crash being in 1901 a catalyst to the eventual ousting of the monarchy. Firocco’s prominence as a trade giant made these financial crashes resonate through most of the empire and Firocco’s trade partners, Although other nations that have a somewhat cordial trading relationship and are not connected to the Firoccan trade network would not get affected as much, those that do, indeed get affected hard, Like Montserraria, Antargentina, the colonies, Liotain and Fusou are affected by firrocan financial crashes, its intensity depending on many factors, like how tight the network is, how strong was the shock etc. Nevertheless, through time Firoccan bureaucracy have developed systems to counter financial crashes and stabilize the economy to much contempt by the conservative parties.

## Armed Forces

Naval Doctrines:

Firocco is an interesting case of a nation, Founded during the heyday of the Antargentinian Empire as one of the first nation states that seceded from the Empire to chart its own path forward. Born in the crucible of war, the merchant provinces of Occidan united under one banner and one monarch in the vested interest to keep the Antargentinian Empire at bay and secure its commercial interests both domestic and abroad. Trade and Commerce is the lifeline that keeps Firocco stable and secure. Having a small population early on limited the capabilities of the Firoccan state to install colonies and effectively compete with the antargentinians and instead opted for a unique aproach of imperial expansion, promoting the installation of trading outposts, small bases, cities, and small coastal territories across the world, the limit was how far their merchant ships could sail, with their famed Firnao Galleons crossing sea after sea and expanding it's monetary wealth. As Firoccan wealth grew with its trade, so did it's power, and it attracted the attention of many foreign powers, as well as the contempt for the countries the Firoccans held leased territories. with the massive trade fleets returning to home ports, so did the major cities of the empire, Port Cities like Cartaginesis, Damlis, Abadon, Coloso and Bondam became bustling metropolis and major trade hubs and major cities like the aformentioned Cartaginesis and Damlis became important world class cities in similar strength and power to that of the cities of countries like Celtica and the Drackenstaat.

Doctrine of the Firoccan Navy (AMF) translated into Firoccan Merchant Armada from firoccan

Having a overseas empire that spanned thousands of kilometers presented the admiralty with a strategic choice, how best to organize the naval forces of Firocco, the decision was outlined in the 1845 Naval Modernization Plan with a 10 year window per new plan proposed. Fleet combat experiences from the colonial wars, the Liotain Wars, the Fusou Wars, the intervention on Denishu-Astyria as well as their actions with the Antargentinian Navy dictated the need for so called "Garrison Fleets" where the Firoccan Navy would distribute warships evenly across their possesions, the naval prescence of a colony or treaty port depends on the logistical importance, wealth, strategic importance and relationship with the host nation, with smaller colonies and trade outposts only needing a few small ships for defense against piracy to proper defense fleets in major cities, This meant that Firocco numerically had a enormous fleet but effectively could only use their Home combat fleet to exert influence abroad or operations into enemy territory,

The Firoccan Navy was divided along 4 types:

Continental Command: The largest armada of the Firoccan navy tasked with the defense of the Encircled Sea and the Firoccan mainland, with the best equipment and funding. consisting of 8 BB, 6 CA, 8 PC, 6 FF, 12 DD, 8 TB

Lyrian Command: The third largest armada of the firoccan navy tasked with the defense of the island of Lyria which acts as a major supply depot and military base covering half the distance from Firocco to Montserraria, consisting of 2 CDS, 1 BB, 4 PCs, 4 FFs, 2 DDs, 8 TBs, and 1 CL.

Montserrarian Command: The second largest armada of the firoccan navy tasked with the defense of the jewel in the Firoccan Empire, the dominion of Montserraria. Consists of 2 CDS, 4 BBs, 6 CA, 8 PC, 10 FF, 4 DDs, 8 TB.

Cerulean Command: The smallest armada of the 4 and the weakest in strength and maintenance, some of the ships in the fleet here are old and undergoing its last service before it being mothballed but some ships present are modern still a force to be reckoned with due to the recent deployment of  3 CDS, Consists of 3 CDS, 1 BB, 4 PC, 10 FF, 7 DDs

(OUTDATED, THIS WAS FOR 1905)

## Colonies

Dewas

Chi Son

Jack & Presidencia

Sharapur

Marcos Atoll

Lyria

Port of Lushan

Port of Asaka

Port of Karindah

Port of Bai Kong

Port of Abakan

Bermej

Tierras de Gaviotas

Port of Boshtau

Port of Arjaquis

Montserraria

## Diplomacy

Firoccan Diplomacy:

The Firoccan Diplomatic corps are some of the most well funded organizations in the Firoccan Administration, tasked with maintaining and forging the intricate web of treaties, agreements, foreign entanglements, and embassies on every foreign independent nation. The Diplomatic Corps work in tandem with the expansion of Firoccan commerce and an indispensable element of national security. The Headquarters of the Diplomatic Corps being in the Metropolis of Cartaginesis along with the second HQ in the capital of Damlis.

Relationships with the rest of the world: Range: 100 to -100 in opinion.

Antargentina: +20, Antargentina holds disputed territories located in the Fajardo strip and Antargentina claims some of the Firoccan territories as former parts of the Empire. but the relationship is good enough to allow mutual trade and cooperation on foreign threats like border wars in the north or matters of world security elsewhere, The relationship has the potential to improve if a regime friendly to Firocco emerges from the ACW victorious, possibly entering into a permanent alliance.

L'Acqua 0- +25 Neither good nor bad, a normal commercial partnership

Liotain +50  Liotain although was a former enemy and is a commercial rival to Firocco in the Encircled Sea, Diplomacy between each other is strong, Parts of the royal family in Liotain are of Firocco and both countries have communities of each other Liotains in Firocco and Firoccans in Liotains, In the past they cooperated in matters of international security like the elimination of piracy and the likes. Although it has yet to be seen if Liotain is fully onboard with Firoccan expansionism

Denishu-Astyria +20, the Dual monarchy of Denishu Astyria is a major trade partner of Firocco and hosts some treaty ports but rising nationalist sentiment in the dual monarchy is straining their relationship a bit

Arkadyetsyia: -100 Failure of the Porshov Pact, Beggining of the Firoccan-Arkadyetsiyan Great Game

Dengfeng, +35 Being an enormous country with extensive resources, Firocco has a stake in it's affairs, holding some treaty ports in the eastern coast Dengfeng exports to Firocco represent about 12% of its total GDP and Firocco is interested in staying as a permanent trade partner.

Fusou: +25 Being one of the controllers of the key Eastern straits that serve as a bottleneck for eastern commerce, Fusou is the country that is most capable of slicing Firoccan trade routes and disconnecting a large portion of Firoccan treaty ports at least until the celtica canals were built. Taking this into account Firoccan diplomats and strategists keep a close eye on Fusou's affairs. So far after the Firoccan-Fusou Wars prompted the nation to undergo an extensive naval buildup scheme that concerns much of High Command. Diplomatic relationships however were restored to a normal commercial relationship as Fusou is satisfied with bilateral trade. at least for the time being

Tokkaido: +30 Being one of the nations responsible for its sudden independence from the Dual monarchy, Firocco keeps close tabs with Tokkaido, while the island itself is not rich in resources, their human resources are very valuable, as many Tokkaidans enroll in Firoccan Universities, With time less students enter Firocco as Tokkaido invested in their own domestic education.

Celtica: +30 Celtica being one of the foremost major world powers and the closest geographically to Firocco, The Diplomatic Corps make sure to avoid conflict with these giants at all costs but so far not many flashpoints of conflict occurred between the nations, as Firocco is not powerful enough to install a treaty port nor Celtica interested to disrupt it's trade, Both countries enjoy a healthy relationship

The Drackenstaat +25 An emerging world powerhouse, the Drackenstaat is a reliable trade partner of the Firoccans and Diplomacy between the two ensures a comfortable relationship. The positive relationships between the two places Firocco as a mediator role in diffusing tensions between Celtica and the Drackenstaat, but sometimes diplomacy fails...

Kislev: +10 Being a major producer of Silk, Firoccan traders have long chipped away at Kislev's monopoly over it's trade, Having a religious value in their culture, Kislev loathed the Firoccans in their materialistic views of the product but was incapable of doing much to prevent it.

Orsetto: -100 Declared Enemy of the Firoccan State. Anti imperialist rhetoric and invasions of friendly states made raproachment impossible

Laotaosia -100 Firoccan claims in the region, Allied with Orsetto.

Anitkabir: +10 Need reforms however they are doing good.

Eirenn: +100 Allied to Firocco, Declared their independence.

Pictfear: +100 Allied to Firocco, Declared their Independence.

## Top Five Richest Families of Firocco

1. The Infulenzia Family. (Deep pocket inheritance, DM and Dengfeng Trading Companies, Banking)

2.     Carranza Family (Mining, Copper ore, steel, raw material)

3.     House Cartagena (Royalty, owns shares on the trading companies and industry)

4.     Fonalledas Family (Retail, secondhand trade, markets, consumer good and foodstuffs)

5.     Cardenas Family (weapons trade, shipbuilding, automobile industry, radio, and telegraph)

The Cardenas Family, mostly led by the business magnate and patriarch Julian Gerencia Cardenas owns a wide range of Firoccan enterprises focused in the production of weapons, arms sales, shipbuilding. CAFI which is a public-private venture in Firocco and controls the entire Firoccan automobile market is shared 70% of its stocks and profits to the Cardenas Family. Salcono Industries which produces the SMMS infantry rifle and among many different types of weapons is directly owned by the Cardenas. The cardenas also hold dominant shares in the emerging radio and telegraph industries like Radio Baleafornia and Coloso Telegraphs & Co. While the shipbuilding industry the Cardenas Family hold the least off of their sphere in the market they are an emerging force in the production of naval equipment and civilian shipbuilding, increasing in the construction of new civilian infrastructure. The Cardenas Family combined pool hold around 124 million pounds in assets and liquid currency.

The Fonalledas Family, led by Miguel Fonalledas controls basically almost the entire consumer good and foodstuff industry, everything from bottled milk, canned food, packaged grains, packed meat, condiments, fruits and vegetables, candy, flour, bread, fish, you name it, the Fonalledas Family holds leading shares in these industries. To add insult to injury the Fonalledas originally made their wealth in retail and the distribution of consumer goods through malls and markets where traders pay a share of the profits to use their establishments. Fonalledas hold a combined pool of 156 million pounds in assets and liquid currency.

House Cartagena is the most famous or perhaps “infamous” family of Firocco. The now former royalty who ruled Firocco for centuries in their glory days of conquest, commerce and imperial primacy. Ousted after the Bonaventurian Wars, the royal family agreed that in their abdication to the Courts they would be given shares of the lucrative FDATC and FDTC as well as their ability to hold shares in other industries while given lavish lifestyles at Isla Canardia. They accepted. Isla Canardia essentially became the royals’ own private island where the nation’s and perhaps the world’s most extravagant activities are hosted especially at the newly constructed Palacio Cartagena, a 4 square mile enormous palace. House Cartagena holds a combined net worth of 200 million pounds in assets and liquid currency

The Carranza Family compared to the previous 3 is an oddity. Sergio Carranza was originally from a poor Antargentinian family who emigrated to Montserraria in 1849. Carranza worked as a naval communications officer who with his elevated wage purchased shares and investments in the construction of new railroads, oil derricks, and railcars as Montserraria industrialized. He accumulated further wealth in his new job as a stock salesman in the Montserrarian Stock Exchange where he struck big, with this new found money he built Montserrarian Copper and Bronze which exploited the massive Montserrarian copper reserves in a pivotal moment as copper was in high demand and low supply. His booming industry caught the attention of the Infulencias whom agreed to purchase shares in his enterprise which gave Carranza enormous sums of capital. He utilized this newfound capital to expand operations in the Firoccan colonies of Chi Son which exploited deposits of Cobalt, Molybdenum, Tin, and other rare earth metals. Montserrarian Copper Co opened several subsidiaries in the production of high-grade steel which was sold to shipbuilders and industries across the world. The Carranza Family holds an estimated wealth of 324 million pounds.

The Infulencia Family

The Infulencia Family owes their wealth to their ownership of the Firocco-Dengfeng Trading Company and the Firocco Denishu-Astyria Trading Company. The Infulencia Family have their roots in the independence war for Firocco as early industrialists who were responsible for the expansion of the Firoccan Navy and merchant marine. The trading companies were the brainchilds of Juan and Maria Gabriel Infulencia who built a shadow empire of wealth and benefited immensely from Firocco’s rise as a great power. The Infulencias’ very wealth is what gives backing to the Firoccan National Bank, and the Infulencias directly own every major bank in the nation. The FDTC and FDATC and by extension the Infulencias were directly responsible for major wars against the Dengfeng and the DM empires, with their establishment of treaty ports and early monopolization of critical trade like tea, and luxury goods made them immensely wealthy. They exerted soft power over countries across the world that was never seen before by a private conglomerate like theirs. The Infulencias however restrain themselves from entering the limelight of public politics and prefer to keep expanding their wealth safely by any means. The Infulencias hold small shares on every industry of Firocco, partnerships with industrialists to expand economic growth. Gold, Silver mining is directly controlled by the Infulencias and keeps large swaths of the Firoccan bureaucracy under their payroll. Their name influences an enormous part of firocco’s history and power their name echoes the word of “Influence” in firoccan. Firocco understands the dange that exists with monopolists like the Infulencias but surprisingly they have been very compliant with state reforms towards regulation and anti-monopoly practices knowing that the state will inevitably subsidize their losses to purchase more and more continuing the cycle. The Infulencia’s wealth is spread out among its huge family but their combined net worth knocks all competition out of the park at 1.6 billion pounds with assets and liquidity distributed amongst the global market.