Formal Name: The Marbal Empire

Casual Name: Marbal

Government: Presidential Republic

Constitution: Yes (adopted in 1950)

Population: 100,000,000

Currency: The Duran

Geographic Location: At its peak in the 1800’s the empire stretched across the whole of Europe and had colonies throughout the world. However, it now is contained within the Balkan Peninsula

Capitol: Istra, located centrally in the nation

Language: English, German, Serbian and Italian though many other unofficial languages are used

Major Religion: Roman Paganism 

Culture: The people of this republic are very proud of their heritage. The tales of their former glory instill them with a sense of entitlement and ancient racism still permeates the nation. Recent history has led to a politically dispassionate public, who choose to ignore reality and still behave as they did when they were an empire. The public is so dispassionate about politics and reality that for ten years nobody has voted in the presidential elections.
Living above their means the public obsess over fashions and styles, maintaining the lifestyles that were once enabled by the enslavement and colonization of foreign lands. The massive public sector dominates daily life, with a government providing free services to their people. 
The government is seemingly always in a state of crisis, due to its low taxes and high expenses the government has been borrowing greater and greater debt to support their people’s lifestyles. They have even began selling national treasures such as the crown jewels.

History: Founded in the 1400’s the Marbal Empire united the Balkan peninsula under a single monarch Emperor Hugo the Great. In 1514 the nation invented the world’s first factories and steam technology. This propelled them onto the world stage and allowed them to become the world’s dominate superpower. At its peak under Empress Victoria in 1830 the empire covered all of Europe and had colonized much of the world. During this time the people of the colonies were worked and taxed to death to provide those in the homeland with the highest standard of living in the world and social programs that were financed on virtual slave labor. In 1900 the colonies began to revolt, as the nation buckled under its own weight. The loss of the colonies led to massive revolts and riots back in Europe, and from 1915 (the year the last colony was lost) to 1950 the continent was a bloodbath as the nation suffered endless coups and civil wars. It was not until 1950 that an uneasy peace was reached, with the introduction of a constitution and electoral government.
In fear of new coups the government showered the populous with public gifts and money, and cut taxes to the bare bones. The war weary public gladly accepted the bribes and began a new golden age, allowing the nation to view itself cone again as a world power, though it is now fighting for second place in reality.

Strengths: It is geographically strategic for trade and has massive wealth saved from its days as an empire

Weaknesses: Large public debt, depleted natural resources, pollution and a small army.

ECT: The population is very racist and elitist. The nation is so polluted that they can not grow enough food to feed their population. They rely heavily on imports. Their businesses have been moving overseas to areas with lower taxes and lower pay rates.