[hider=Indacissima Republicca Turchina] [b]Nation Name[/b] Indacissima Republicca Turchina The Bluest Republic of Turchina [b]Flag [/b] [img height=100]http://s31.postimg.org/yqj0fp42z/flag.png[/img] [b]coat of arms [/b] [img height=100]http://s31.postimg.org/vgr9ndsrv/coa.png[/img] [b]Nation Overview [/b] Starting out from a number of Villages around the swampy estuary of the River Fiore in Ancient Times, a Trading city took shape after the building of the Grand Bridge. The Blue City grew over time, as her Ships, ever following the Coast, brought in the exotic riches of the Orient. Spices, Gems, Tapestries and Carpets, Silks, but most of all Indigo. The Blue Colour was highly sought after and even though it was beginning to be cultivated in the vicinity soon, none could match the Vibrant blue of Turchinas Indigo. With wealth came the rise of the great families, and soon Turchina sought independence from the Noble Lords, and was granted it. The Republic grew rapidly thanks to the wealth to raise armies and Build fleets of Ships to conquer a few Oriental Coast towns as Trading Posts and Contors. But along the Coast other Cities joined the Republic mostly without bloodshed. [b]Geography[/b] [b]Map Claim [/b] [img]https://s31.postimg.org/fz16xpgyz/Great_map.png[/img] [b]History [/b] [img]https://s31.postimg.org/5q63p1d2j/turchina.png[/img] [b]Society[/b] While steeply stratified between the Noble families of the City, and a mass of unfree workers, most of the Cities populace is free, and quite a big part of the populace does quite well for itself. While there are notable Churches all around Turchinas Domain its people are said to be not quite the most pious, but very worldly in their outlook. Due to the wealth there is no shortage of festivals and balls in Turchina, the most famous of which is the great carnival in spring, with its masque ball. The Architecture shows quite some Oriental influence, and some say this influence and trade relations with the heathen east might have tainted the blue city. While Originally being ruled by a Doge elected by a council of the Noble Families, house Marcellaii has managed to make this office heritable about 120 years ago. [img]http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120909225512/assassinscreed/images/0/03/Grandcanal_conceptart.png[/img] [b]The Council[/b] [img]https://s32.postimg.org/sx8fd4i2t/council.png[/img] The Council of Noble Families, also known as ‘the exalted chamber of the seven peers’ houses the heads of the most influential Families of Turchina. 1. Parri Derived from a minor Branch of the Parrino Family the Parri own the most influential Bank in Turchina. 2. Idoni The Idoni are one of the finest trading families, they own the most ships and are the only family with own holdings and warehouses in all of turchinas exclaves. [hider=The Idonies] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTlySWnLdc]Pierro Idoni, (52) [/url] [img]http://67.media.tumblr.com/488ba01be005a07b7359b0178028eed8/tumblr_mnz07arKTh1qbhp9xo1_1280.jpg[/img]Despite his houses influence and riches very much an able Seaman, and by now Maestro di Marina, commander of Turchinas War Navy, in addition to his houses sizeable own naval force. With Lucrecia Idoni (48): -Laudomia Idoni (32) married - Eldest Daughter -Bianca Idoni (25) married - middle Daughter -Cosima Idoni (16) youngest Daughter, spoilt but fair. [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/e9/ce/7b/e9ce7b5536a210db64a8e2abddcd81fc.jpg[/img] Tomaso Idoni, (49) Pierros younger brother. He sits on the council in his stead when Pierro is absent. [/hider] 3. Parrino Not a influential house anymore, the Parrino own one of the Banks of Turchina and have a few ships and holdings around the exclaves and few trade contacts in other Kingdoms. 4. Marcellaii The House of Butchers, most influential Family of Turchina. It could be argued that they own the city itself, and they are best established in the indigo dye trade, owning plantations in the inland holdings. They also have a sizeable trade fleet of their own and the second biggest bank in the state. [hider=the Marcellaii] -Doge Lorenzino Marcellai (78) The eldery head of state of Turchina, he is too old to actually fulfill his office and most of the time is bedridden and does not even attend the council meetings. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFK0yG8xG5I]-Caterina Marcellai (nee’ Pace) (41)[/url] [img]http://artnc.org/sites/default/files/Allori,%20attributed%20to,%20Lucrezia%20de%20Medici,%2064_35_4.jpg[/img] Widow to Marco Marcellai, Lorenzinos only Son, and currently effectively the ruler of Turchina. Known to be an extremely effective and pragmatic ruler, though she is only accepted grudgingly by most of the houses. Rumour has it that she actually disposed of her Husband herself and somehow is to blame for the mental state of her father-in-law, probably by some kind of poison. On the quiet people call her the 'Dark Dogaressa' -Battista Marcellai (60) Cousin of Lorenzino, as the main line of the House apart of the Doge is extinguished he sits on the Council as head of the Marcellai. For now he is content in insuring the families holdings are save, but he hates Caterina with passion, and might any time try to get rid of her. --about a dozen offspring, most of them are in some capacity controlling the families interest in the Exclaves, while a few are Vecchione or other high officials of Turchinan Uffici in foreign ports. [/hider] 5. Maestri A very influential Family, the Maestri control the slave trade and most of the city states manufacturing. They are not particularly liked especially outside Turchinas sphere of influence. 6. Pace Ironically the family with the biggest household army, and also the one to bring forth the highest number of Turchinan Generals over the past generations. Julio Pace (48), Maestro di Armata 7. Notaro Pontiff Prospero Notaro (45), Maestro di Legge [b]Important Offices[/b] Doge: Lorenzino Marcellai (78) [i](Ruler)[/i] Maestro di Marina: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTlySWnLdc]Pierro Idoni, (52) [/url] [i](Navy)[/i] Maestro di Armata: Julio Pace (48) [i](Army)[/i] Maestro di Moneta: Ottaviano Spinola (39) [i](Coin)[/i] Maestro di Legge: Pontiff Prospero Notaro (45) Prospero is a studied lawyer who by the dark Dogessas Influence became Bishop and later even Pontiff. He himself as a person is more of a puppet, a weak, undecisive man. A quality that helped the Turchinans exert their influence in a way that this far, at least in the City itself and the surrounding lands no pyres have burned so far. [i](Laws)[/i] Maestro di Orecchio: Nicollo Boccanegra (54) [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/d9/4b/d5/d94bd51f0cee931683b34516b4327bdb.jpg[/img] A brooding man who grew up an orphan, raised ins tatus by the Dark Dogaressa. He is a extremely deceptive and able spymaster. His network of spies roots deep into Turchina itself but also spans far and wide through the continent. It can be savely assumed that most information of some importance will end up in Boccanegras hands over time. While a lot of his Topolini are themselves street kids and orphans there are servants even courtiers and coutisans in his service. Boccanegras little Mice are ascuttle in every dark corner. [i](Espionage/Intelligence)[/i] [b]Other noteworthy compatriots.[/b] Bishop Johannes de Gelder Bishop of the northern turchinan exclave Hoogdamm. A raging radical with an iron fist. He is feared far and wide as one of the most zealous witch hunters. Rumor has it that the man himself does in fact posess arcane abilities that he aparently rationalises as devine miracles worked through him. [b]Economy/Industry [/b] Turchina controls most of the Sea trade routes for luxury goods, and mainly spices but also has some agricultural land of its own around its cities. Without its trade it’d be hard pressed to feed itself comfortably though. Most of the small Landmass controlled by Turchina is wooded though and worked as sustainably as possible to ensure enough wood for the ships. As a City State the handcrafts are blooming and the Arsenal could be seen as the greatest Industrial Complex of the Age. Also the city is rich beyond compare, housing most of the big Banking houses of the Continent. What Turchina is lacking is access to own mines for Ores. [b]Military[/b] The Indigo Navy is a sight to behold, with their great number of Caravels and Carracks. Most of the ships are very ornate and quite a few are not used for trade at all, but armed to the teeth to keep the trade routes save. On the Arsenal Island are the great shipyards that, by a very efficient system produce up to one new Ship a day, thus Turchina stands unchallenged at sea. The main City itself is guarded by a professional City Guard. Commissioned Officers wear entirely Blue Uniforms, if they can afford it with a lot of golden Embroidery. Warrant Officers wear white or yellow Uniforms trimmed with blue. The lower Soldiers wear white, grey or yellow Uniforms, Corporals with a blue cravat around their neck. Most of the Noble Families maintain own household guards, sometimes reaching company size that mostly wear their houses colours. As these often incorporate Indigo and Gold their Clothing differentiates in other ways from the City Guards. The smaller Cities and Colonies mostly have less prestigious non professional Guards. To Supplement these a number of Mercenary Companies serve the Republic. Some of them since generations. [/hider]