Saint Marina

**Saint Marina** is one of the city states in Europe within the Italy region, bordering the Bay of Biscal

**Economy:** Being a port City, Saint Marina relies heavily on trade and has many large trading companies within its walls. Also being in the Italian region, its famed for its Coffee growing and its auto industry, supplying Cars to all three nations from lavish sports cars to simple family cars made by such companies as Ferrari, Alfa Romero and Fiat. Lavazza dominates the Coffee industry

**Climate:** Saint Marina can be classed into a Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate, characterised by very Hot Summers and mild yet Wet Winter months.

**Government:** The Government of the City is a Principality. In the beginning the then Prime Minister of the country took charge of the city and established a Monarchy. The Prince rules with a council of Earls known as the City Earls but they only exist in an advisory capacity. The Title of Earl can be bought and even sold but for a substantial price so very few can afford it. The Prince makes all decisions

**Armed Forces:** Like most coastal city states, Saint Marina has a strong Navy but also a decently sized army and is has a mandatory Military service to all men between 18 and 20 years old. Career paths are open for any who wish to remain but most leave the service to begin College or employment but all those who have served can be called up as reserves in a time of war

**History:**

**The Prince**

Like most of the city States, Saint Marina was born of the compromise of Maurice Soult, within the Italian Region. But since the Italian region had a King, the title taken was Prince, making Saint Marina a Principality. The first Prince, Claudio Mirto, chose a small council, granting them the title of Earls and became known City Earls. In the beginning, the Earls were a political force that kept the Prince check and vice versa. But Claudio was becoming frustrated with the Council holding up his proposed Legislation. Claudio decided to do something about it

**Buying Titles**

5 years into his reign, Saint Marina was seeing immense growth due to Companies setting up shop within the city. Claudio began to make behind closed doors deals with some company owners. Claudio even hired assassins to kill several of the council members. By the time the remaining Earls had figured out what had happened, Claudio had them all arrested. All matters were kept quiet but Claudio knew he couldn't rule alone. He offered the title of Earls to the richest men and women in the city and reformed an advisory council. Most of the Earls were happy to advise and in turn were granted favours and leniency on laws. Claudio began to settle well into his new rule

**Stability**

Claudio died in 2056 and left his son, Enzo took the throne. He was a little different than his father. He believed he was the only man capable of ruling the city and relied less and less on the City Earls for council. Enzo was not stupid by any means, but he often made uninformed decisions, such as printing the city's own currency and banning the Euro, almost causing an economic collapse, or when he spent too much money on forming a Navy, pulling resources from the growing Auto industry that threatened the economy. Enzo ruled for 8 years before he was deposed by the Earls. The Earls formed a ruling council for 5 years, until Enzo's son Alassandro came of age at 18 years old. The Council made it clear they would not be sidelined like his father had done to them.

**Something to shout about**

It was 2061 when Alassandro became Prince. He began to see the growing Auto industry and gave grants to some of the Earls to fund an increase in production of more quality cars and set about making trade deals with the other nations, even Africa and the Americas. They was churning out cars at an extreme rate, shipping them as far as Moscow in the North. Alassandro also relaxed Business Taxes. This did not go over well with the population but the effects couldn't be denied as more businesses saw the attraction of the city. By 2075, Saint Marina was the fastest growing economy in all the nations along with a swelling population

**The Whispering Voice**

Alassandro did a great job in making Saint Marina a powerhouse of a City State. He was succeeded by his son Athos, in 2085. Athos was not as sharp as his father was and was considered by many as oblivious to scope of his job. At first Athos was uninterested in ruling, leaving the Earls to rule for  him, but the Earls were unable to come to terms of any form of policy. Athos was continuously hounded to make decisions, something that irritated him to no end. Athos finally decided to abdicate in favour of his younger brother Filipino in 2088. Filipino was not much better suited to the job, but he did make decisions based on the advice of the Earls. He relied heavily on them as he was a naturally shy man and always sought approval before making almost any decision. It was at this time, the most powerful Earl, Bonito Pella began to privately consult with the Prince, influencing policies as well as his own agenda, even going so far as to recruit a private force of Kemiya's who became known as the Segreto, all the way up for 2100.