Post by Romano on Jul 2, 2010 15:03:15 GMT -5
Nation: South Italy
Name: Lovino Vargas / Romano
Gender: male
Appearance of Age: 22
Hair Color: brown
Eye Color: green
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 70kg
Appearance:
Personality:
There are many you could ask about Romano and the females would talk about a more 'pleasant' and 'charming' person while most others would tell you that he's very 'grumpy', 'moody' and will call you names as well as insult you all the time.
Not someone you would like to spent your time with~
All of those are parts of him but there is also more:
Yes if you're not a girl he'll be rather unfriendly and even hostile towards you. He'll complain alot and it won't be easy to please him.
He wouldn't even want to be around you in the first place.
But theres also a nicer side to him of which the people close to him can tell you. In these rare moments he'll act calmer, less mean and may even tell that he liked something. He won't show this side of himself that often - he feels vulnerable if he does, something he isn't comfortable with.
But even around those close to he's his usual 'grumpy' self most of the time.
If you're called Spain he may get violent in the form of punching you. But that shouldn't be something new after all the years they lived with each other.
So his behaviour depends on the people he's with.
Things that wont change though are his cowardice, jealousy and the fact that he's easily offended.
His self-esteem isn't the highest either and he isn't comfortable in sharing or received affectionate gestures like hugs and the likes.
He would never say so but his family is very important to him and he always likes to get attention. (even if he acts like he couldn't care less)
But if you want to know more why asking others when you could as well talk to him yourself?
Likes:
+ tomatoes
- He'd been a little wary of them when Spain brought them back with him from one of his trips but changed his mind as soon as he took a bite of them for the first time. He loved them ever since~
+ pasta & pizza (italian food in general)
- Especially since he dislikes foreign food. He's a good cook!
+ siesta
- You should never wake him up while he's sleeping.
+ his brother Feliciano
- Even so he's usually a little mean to him he cares for him alot!
+ Spain
- He'd never admit it but he's one of the most important people in his life!
+ Italian art & music
- Even so he has no talent in drawing or for music he knows how to enjoy both of them. Listening to good Italian music calms him down.
Dislikes:
- cheese
- except Italian ones!
- potatoes
- they remind him of Germany!
- foreign food in general
- Germany
- mostly because his little brother likes him so much. So yes he's jealous...
- France
- He usually tries to stay as far away from his as possible - he hated the times he lived with him or had to ask him for help!
- when someone wakes him during his siesta
- It will only to put him in a bad mood!
Fears:
~ War/Fights
since he isn't very strong on his own and needs to rely on others for help!
~ France
he never wants to be under his rule ever again and doesn't wants to be victim to his perverted actions
~ to loose the people close to him / his family
even so he usually act as like he didn't cared at all~
Strengths:
+ He can act tougher than he really is
+ He is a rather good pickpocket
+ He knows how to charm women/girls
+ He's a good cook
+ He's a fast runner and knows how to flee from a battle...
Weaknesses:
- He isn't very strong
- He's a coward and instead of fighting his battles he would rather hide or run from them.
- he fails at housework
- his bad mouth? since he swears all the time and uses alot of insults
- Jealousy
History:
Middle Ages
Byzantines
After the fall of the Roman Empire the Byzantines took hold of Sicily (and much later also Naples and other parts of southern Italy).
535 the byzantinian general Belisarios landed in Sicily and conquered the Island with almost no efforts.
It's said it was because of the hopes of the sicilians for a better ruler.
Sicily had been used as a base for the Byzantines to conquer the rest of Italy, with Naples, Rome, Milan and the Ostrogoth capital Ravenna falling within five years.
Byzantine Emperor Constans II decided to move from the capital Constantinople to Syracuse in Sicily during 660, the following year he launched an assault from Sicily against the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, which then occupied most of southern Italy.
In 826 Euphemius a commander of the Byzantines killed his wife in and forced a nun to marry him. Emperor Michael II caught wind of it and ordered that general Constantine end the marriage and cut off Euphemius' head. Euphemius rose up, killed Constantine and then occupied Syracuse - then was defeated and forced to go to North Africa.
It took over a century for Byzantine Sicily to be conquered. Syracuse held for a long time, Taormina fell in 902, and all of Sicily was eventually conquered by Arabs in 965.
Arabs
The Arabs rules 965-1072.
By the 11th century, mainland southern Italian powers hired Norman mercenaries, who conquered Sicily from the Arabs.
South Italy under Norman rule
The Norman Kingdom was created in 1130 by Roger II of Sicily.Roger united the lands he inherited from his father Roger I of Sicily. These areas included the Duchy of Apulia and the County of Sicily.
In 1136, the rival of Anacletus, Pope Innocent II, convinced Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor to attack the Kingdom of Sicily with help from the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus. The two armies were united at Bari, from where in 1137 they continued their campaign. Roger offered to give Apulia as a fief to the Empire, which Lothair refused after being pressured by Innocent. At the same period the army of Lothair revolted.
Then Lothair, who had hoped for the complete conquest of Sicily, gave Capua and Apulia from the Kingdom of Sicily to Roger's enemies. Innocent protested, claiming that Apulia fell under papal claims.
Roger spent most of the decade, beginning with his coronation and ending with the Assizes of Ariano, enacting a series of laws with which Roger intended to centralise the government, fending off multiple invasions and quelling rebellions by his premier vassals: Grimoald of Bari, Robert II of Capua, Ranulf of Alife, Sergius VII of Naples and others. It was through his admiral George of Antioch that Roger then proceeded to conquer the Mahdia in Africa (Ifriqiya), taking the unofficial title "King of Africa". At the same time Roger's fleet attacked the Byzantine Empire, making Sicily the leading maritime power in the Mediterranean Sea for almost a century.
Hohenstaufen kingdom
The accession of Frederick, a child who would then become also the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1197, greatly affected the immediate future of Sicily.
The Hohenstaufen's grip on power, however, was not secure. Walter III of Brienne had married the daughter of Tancred of Sicily. She was sister and heiress of the deposed King William III of Sicily. In 1201 William decided to claim the kingdom.
The Hohenstaufen rule in Sicily ended after the 1266 Angevin invasion and the death of Conradin, the last male heir of Hohenstaufen, in 1268.
Ruled by Anjou
In 1266, conflict between the Hohenstaufen house and the Papacy led to Sicily's conquest by Charles I, Duke of Anjou.
Opposition to French officialdom and taxation combined with inciment of rebellion by Aragonese and Byzantine agents led to the Sicilian Vespers insurrection and successful invasion by king Peter III of Aragon in 1282. The resulting War of the Sicilian Vespers lasted until the 'Peace of Caltabellotta' in 1302, dividing the old Kingdom of Sicily in two.
Sicilian Vespers
In 1268, Charles of Anjou became King of Sicily but the Sicilian people came to resent the Angevin rulers since he didn't shared the same interest as his people.
On 'Easter Monday' 1282 the Sicilian people took matters into their own hands. A large crowd of Sicilians where gathered outside a church near Palermo awaiting Vespers. They were joined by a group of French troops who didn't knew the meaning behind the gathering. When one of the French tried to pull a woman away from the crowd he was stabbed to death. The french troops trying to help their fallen comrade where attacked and killed by the crowd.
As the church bells rang for Vespers the people of Palermo called for an uprising. The Sicilians slaughtered the French, took hold of Palermo and declared their independence.
The revolt spread throughout the island. Cities and towns declared their independence, and the French fled or where massacred.
King Charles came to Sicily with troops to reconquer the island but failed.
Italian Wars (1494-1559)
War over Naples
Also known as the second italian war. (i skip the first 'Italian War' because it doesn't includes South Italy. Only during the Second war France and Spain decide to launch an attack on South Italy. I'll alsp skip mot of the following wars since they don't directly include South Italy.)
The 'Second Italian War' of 1499–1504 starts the year after the first one ended. Louis XII of France wanted to claim Mian and Naples his. In 1499 Louis XII invaded Lombardy and seized Milan.
In 1499, Louis concluded an alliance with the Republic of Venice and the Swiss (in form of Swiss merchanaries) and invaded the Duchy of Milan.
The Treaty of Trente was signed on October 13, 1501 between Louis and Maximilian of Austria. Based on the terms of the agreement, Austria recognized all French conquests in the northern territories of Italy.
But this wasn't enough and he set eyes on the Kingdom of Naples. On November 11, 1500 the Treaty of Granada was signed by Louis XII of France and Ferdinand I of Spain in which they formed an alliance to invade Naples and split the lands between them.
In 1501, French and Aragonese armies seized Naples. The two kings now quarreled over the division of the spoils; Ferdinand's insistence that he be recognized as king of both Naples and Sicily soon led to war between France and Spain.
This led to the wars of Cerignola and Garigliano where the spanish troops defeated their french enemies and forced them to withdraw back to Lombardy.
Ferdinand I of Spain claimed Naples his.
The Italian War of 1521–26
Also known as the 'Four Years' War' in which France tried to conquer Naples/get it back from Spain in the end.
Following this war came the 'War of the League of Cognac' in which the Siege of Naples took place. (As well as the so called 'Sack of Rome')
Siege of Naples (1527)
The destruction of Rome prompted frantic action on the part of the French. On 30 April 1527, Henry VIII and Francis signed the Treaty of Westminster to combine their forces against Charles. Francis, having finally drawn Henry VIII into the League, sent an army through Genoa to Naples, where it proceeded to dig itself in for an extended siege.
16th Century
Aragonese rule
The Aragonese rule left its impression on Italy and the Renaissance through such figures as Alfonso the Magnanimous. With the unification of the crowns of Castile and Aragon in the late 15th century, southern Italy and Sicily ceased to have a local monarch and were ruled by viceroys appointed by the Spanish crown.
17th Century
Palermo Revolt
Revolt of 1647 the first revolt of many against spanish rule.
The protests were started by peasants and criminals deeply affected by the spread of the famine.
The spanish troops as well as the nobles were helpless and it was only because of the maestranze that they had been able to break te rebellion.
Naples Revolt (1647-1648)
The Neapolitans - in protest against a new taxes - rose in revolt. The rebels took up arms, turned upon tax collectors, nobles, besieged the Spanish garrison.
The rebellion spread to the countryside.
In October 1647 a Spanish fleet failed to reestablish Spanish rule; the rebels proclaimed a republic. Meanwhile the nobles in the countryside had raised a force and blockaded the city.
On April 6th 1648 the rebels agreed to a return of the Spanish garrison.
The Messina Revolt (1672-1678 )
In 1672, the artisans of Messina revolted against patrician rule and took control of the city, a social revolt which did not question Spanish rule.
In 1674 a patrician force overcame the rebel force; the patricians retook control of the city, drove the Spanish troops out of the town and called for French aid.
France, since 1673 at war with Spain went to aid Messina during their revolt. Messina held out until the end of the war; when peace was negotiated in 1678, the French withdrew their support, and the Spanish reestablished control.
It's said the people of Messina welcomed the spanish troops with open arms - happy to get the french troops out of their town again!
18th Century
War of the Spanish Succession
Naples and Sicily fell into the vicissitudes of the War of the Spanish Succession.
In the Treaty of Utrecht it was decided that the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and Sardinia would belong to Austria; Sicily and parts of the Milanese to Savoy; and Gibraltar and Minorca to Great Britain.
War of the Polish Succession
During the War of the Polish Succession the spaniard Karl III. was able to win back Naples and Sicily.
French Revolution
1799 South Italy fell into the vicissitudes of the French Revolution. The Neapolitan Republic was formed in the Kingdom of Naples. The People of Naples started an Anti-Revolutionary movement and where able to bring their own king back on the throne.
19th Century
Napoleon
The Kingdom of Italy was founded in Northern Italy by Napoleon, and ended with his defeat and fall.
When Napoleon abdicated to both the thrones of France and Italy on April 11, 1814, Eugène de Beauharnais was lined up the Mincio River with his army against the German invasion, and he attempted to be crowned king. The Senate of the Kingdom was summoned on April 17, but the senators showed themselves undecided in that chaotic situation.
Eugène surrendered on April 23, and was exiled to Bavaria by the Austrians, who occupied Milan on April 28.
Finally, on May 25, the Supreme Imperial Commissioner Count Heinrich von Bellegarde took all the powers in Lombardy, and former monarchies in Modena, Romagna and Piedmont were gradually re-established; on May 30, the Treaty of Paris was signed, and the remains of the kingdom were annexed by the Austrian Empire.
The Mafia
The Mafia (also known as "Cosa Nostra") was found in sicily.
"The Mafia is oppression, arrogance, greed, self-enrichment, power and hegemony above and against all others. It is not an abstract concept, or a state of mind, or a literary term... It is a criminal organization regulated by unwritten but iron and inexorable rules... The myth of a courageous and generous 'man of honor' must be destroyed, because a mafioso is just the opposite."
-- Cesare Terranova, Italian Magistrate murdered in 1979
Triple Alliance
In 1879 Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance. This alliance of peace and friendship became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 it was expanded to include Italy. The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia.
One of the chief aims of the Triple Alliance was to prevent Italy from declaring war against Austria-Hungary, towards whom the Italians were in constant dispute over territorial matters.
Although regularly renewed up until the outbreak of war in 1915, the Triple Alliance was essentially ineffective with regard to Italy's participation, for in 1902 Italy reached an understanding with France that each would remain neutral in the event of an attack upon the other.
Il Risorgimento (1815-1871)
Also called 'Italian independence Wars' describes the process that would finally lead to the Italian Unification (the 'Risorgimento'). The Italian Independence wars were three wars fought against Austria between 1848 and 1866 and ended with the conquest of the whole Italian territory)
First Italian War of Independence
The first independence war was declared by the Savoy's kingdom of Sardinia, in 1848, with the alliance of other Italian states. (like the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
After an initial successful campaign, with the victories at Goito and Peschiera del Garda, the pope recalled his troops, soon being followed by the other allies.
After the invasion of Lombardy the interests of Savoyards became quite evident, and - remained alone - Piedmont was defeated by Austrians at Custoza and forced to accept an armistice.
Rome was attacked by French troops, but Giuseppe Garibaldi's forces prevailed; the republic would have however soon surrendered.
Second Italian War of Independence
The second independence war was declared by the kingdom of Sardinia, in 1859 this time allied with France.
Napoleon III and Camillo Cavour signed a treaty of alliance against Austria: France would help Sardine to fight against Austria and Sardinia would give Nicea and Sabaudia to France.
In the same year Austria started a war with Sardinia. French and Sardinian armies defeated Austrians in several battles of Montebello, Magenta and Solferino and took Milan.
German states forced Napoleon to stop the war, so he signed a amistance with Austria.
Rebellions started in northern Italy.
In 1860 a revolution statred in the Kingdom of the two Sicilies.
Giuseppe Garibaldi took troops and sailed to Sicily where defeated the army of the sicilian king.
Naples and Sicily to ally with Sardinia.
Third Italian War of Independence
The third independence war was declared by the kingdom of Italy in 1866, with the alliance of Prussia.
In 1866 Italy signed alliance with Prussia against Austria. During the war, Albrecht Hapsburg defeated Italian forces in the battle of Custozza, but thanks to Prussian victory over Austria Italy gained the Kingdom of Venice . The peace between Austria and Italy was then signed in Wienna.
In 1870, when Prussia destroyed the French Empire, Italian forces overtook the Papal State and declared Rome their capital.
Modern History
World War 1
In the years that led up to World War One, Italy had sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance. In theory, Italy should have joined the two nations when war broke out in August 1914.
I didn't though.
What Italy did was wait and see how the war progressed. On April 26th 1915, Italy joinedo the war on the side of the Triple Entente with Britain, France and Russia.
Many socialists had supported the governments in keeping Italy out of the war. The nationalists, however, were horrified. To start with, Mussolini was against the war.
But he changed his mind in 1915 because of the secret Treaty of London. Britan offered him large sections of territory in the Adriatic Sea region – Tyrol, Dalmatia and Istria. Such an offer was too tempting for Italy to refuse.
So in 1915 they finally joined the war.
But Italy's experience in World War One was disastrous.
Between 1915 and 1917, Italian troops only got 10 miles inside Austrian territory. In 1917 came the 'Disaster of Caporetto' In this battle the Italians had to fight the whole Austrian Army and 7 divisions of German troops.
Though the Italians had a victory at Vittorio Veneto in 1918, the psychological impact of Caporetto was huge. The retreat brought shame and humiliation to Italy.
Pact of Steel
Formally known as the 'Pact of Friendship and Alliance between Germany and Italy'.The pact was an alliance between the two in the event of either being invaded. Also it went one step further to state that neither side would make peace unless the other agreed. The pact was intended to last for ten years.
Secret clauses in the pact urged both nations to increase the level of cooperation in war planning and war production and to coordinate propaganda efforts.
World War 2
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Following this event, Mussolini would change his mind repeatedly as to whether or not he intended to enter the war. The British commander in Africa, General Wavell, was correct in arguing that Mussolini's pride would ultimately cause him to enter the war. Wavell would compare Mussolini's situation to that of someone at the top of a diving board, "I think he must do something. If he cannot make a graceful dive he will at least have to jump in somehow; he can hardly put on his dressing-gown and walk down the stairs again."
But despite Mussolini's description of the German-Italian alliance as an "Axis of Blood and Steel", his response to the German invasion was to declare that Italy was neutral.
Then when Mussolini felt the war was coming to an end he declared war on Britain and France.
Within a week of Italy's declaration of war the British had seized Fort Capuzzo and in an ambush east of Bardia the Tenth Army's Engineer in Chief was captured. Mussolini ordered Marshal Graziani, commanding the Tenth Army in Libya, to attack into Egypt. Graziani wondered how he was possibly expected to succeed, but tried it anyway.
The initial Italian assault would carry through to Sidi Barrani, around 95km inside the Egyptian border before the attack came to a halt. At this time there were only +30,000 British troops available to defend against +250,000 Italian troops.
However, Graziani did not know how weak the British were and in addition he lacked faith in the strength of the Italian miltiary.
In October 1940, Italy invaded Greece. After 3 weeks, the Italian force was repulsed.
In 1943 American troops invaded Sicily.
Wholesale deportations of Jewish communities began when Germany occupied Italy in 1943. Italian units switched sides and began fighting against the Germans.
Mussolini controlled less and less of Italy as the Allies made bitter progress up the Italian peninsula. Rome fell on June 5, 1944.
With so many losses on all fronts, Germany could not adquately supply its Italian stations, and they pulled back into Germany.
Afterwards Mussolini and his entourage were executed and hung by their feet for public display.
Miracolo economico
Or 'boom economico' was the italian economic miracle in 1950/1960.
After the second world war Italy was a poor and underdeveloped nation - compared to others in europe.The 'boom' was the modernization and development into one of the world's major economies during that time. Most of it was of the discovery of methane and hydrocarbons which allowed the rebirth of the Italian steel industry.
Italy also began to stabilize its inputs and outputs.
ECSC & EEC
The ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) and later the EEC (European Economic Community) were found by Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
European Union
In 1993 the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht. The founding Members were Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Financial crisis
2008 Italy was hit by the Financial crisis like many other nations.
The economy of Italy was in early 2008 the seventh-largest economy in the world, based on nominal GDP comparisons, and the fourth-largest in Europe.
BEIJING, March 11 2009 (Xinhua) -- Italy, which has long suffered from low economic growth due to lingering traditional obstacles, has plunged into an economic downturn since the contagious financial crisis broke out last year.
Analysts say the current downturn may last for a considerable period in the country as it battles against traditional old obstacles that impede its development while trying to pull through the economic crisis.
...
“What the 21st century will be like depends on whether we learn the lessons of the 20th century and avoid repeating its worst mistakes..." -Mikhail Gorbachev
Allies: North Italy, Spain (except the times he fought against him), France, Austria & Hungary ( just for a while), Germany & Japan (mostly during WW2), Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Russia, Prussia
Enemies: France, Turkey(Ottoman Empire) , Germany (mostly because he hates him), Austria, Spain (during his revolts~), Prussia, Great Britain, America, Russia
For both:
Depends on the time~
It's something that changed alot over the centuries...
Sample Post:
I just took a post from a different rpg forum where i play Romano hope that's ok~
"Everybody follow with me,
It's the awesome me! "
Did you read the rules? Yes i did!!!
Name: Lovino Vargas / Romano
Gender: male
Appearance of Age: 22
Hair Color: brown
Eye Color: green
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 70kg
Appearance:
Personality:
There are many you could ask about Romano and the females would talk about a more 'pleasant' and 'charming' person while most others would tell you that he's very 'grumpy', 'moody' and will call you names as well as insult you all the time.
Not someone you would like to spent your time with~
All of those are parts of him but there is also more:
Yes if you're not a girl he'll be rather unfriendly and even hostile towards you. He'll complain alot and it won't be easy to please him.
He wouldn't even want to be around you in the first place.
But theres also a nicer side to him of which the people close to him can tell you. In these rare moments he'll act calmer, less mean and may even tell that he liked something. He won't show this side of himself that often - he feels vulnerable if he does, something he isn't comfortable with.
But even around those close to he's his usual 'grumpy' self most of the time.
If you're called Spain he may get violent in the form of punching you. But that shouldn't be something new after all the years they lived with each other.
So his behaviour depends on the people he's with.
Things that wont change though are his cowardice, jealousy and the fact that he's easily offended.
His self-esteem isn't the highest either and he isn't comfortable in sharing or received affectionate gestures like hugs and the likes.
He would never say so but his family is very important to him and he always likes to get attention. (even if he acts like he couldn't care less)
But if you want to know more why asking others when you could as well talk to him yourself?
Likes:
+ tomatoes
- He'd been a little wary of them when Spain brought them back with him from one of his trips but changed his mind as soon as he took a bite of them for the first time. He loved them ever since~
+ pasta & pizza (italian food in general)
- Especially since he dislikes foreign food. He's a good cook!
+ siesta
- You should never wake him up while he's sleeping.
+ his brother Feliciano
- Even so he's usually a little mean to him he cares for him alot!
+ Spain
- He'd never admit it but he's one of the most important people in his life!
+ Italian art & music
- Even so he has no talent in drawing or for music he knows how to enjoy both of them. Listening to good Italian music calms him down.
Dislikes:
- cheese
- except Italian ones!
- potatoes
- they remind him of Germany!
- foreign food in general
- Germany
- mostly because his little brother likes him so much. So yes he's jealous...
- France
- He usually tries to stay as far away from his as possible - he hated the times he lived with him or had to ask him for help!
- when someone wakes him during his siesta
- It will only to put him in a bad mood!
Fears:
~ War/Fights
since he isn't very strong on his own and needs to rely on others for help!
~ France
he never wants to be under his rule ever again and doesn't wants to be victim to his perverted actions
~ to loose the people close to him / his family
even so he usually act as like he didn't cared at all~
Strengths:
+ He can act tougher than he really is
+ He is a rather good pickpocket
+ He knows how to charm women/girls
+ He's a good cook
+ He's a fast runner and knows how to flee from a battle...
Weaknesses:
- He isn't very strong
- He's a coward and instead of fighting his battles he would rather hide or run from them.
- he fails at housework
- his bad mouth? since he swears all the time and uses alot of insults
- Jealousy
History:
Middle Ages
Byzantines
After the fall of the Roman Empire the Byzantines took hold of Sicily (and much later also Naples and other parts of southern Italy).
535 the byzantinian general Belisarios landed in Sicily and conquered the Island with almost no efforts.
It's said it was because of the hopes of the sicilians for a better ruler.
Sicily had been used as a base for the Byzantines to conquer the rest of Italy, with Naples, Rome, Milan and the Ostrogoth capital Ravenna falling within five years.
Byzantine Emperor Constans II decided to move from the capital Constantinople to Syracuse in Sicily during 660, the following year he launched an assault from Sicily against the Lombard Duchy of Benevento, which then occupied most of southern Italy.
In 826 Euphemius a commander of the Byzantines killed his wife in and forced a nun to marry him. Emperor Michael II caught wind of it and ordered that general Constantine end the marriage and cut off Euphemius' head. Euphemius rose up, killed Constantine and then occupied Syracuse - then was defeated and forced to go to North Africa.
It took over a century for Byzantine Sicily to be conquered. Syracuse held for a long time, Taormina fell in 902, and all of Sicily was eventually conquered by Arabs in 965.
Arabs
The Arabs rules 965-1072.
By the 11th century, mainland southern Italian powers hired Norman mercenaries, who conquered Sicily from the Arabs.
South Italy under Norman rule
The Norman Kingdom was created in 1130 by Roger II of Sicily.Roger united the lands he inherited from his father Roger I of Sicily. These areas included the Duchy of Apulia and the County of Sicily.
In 1136, the rival of Anacletus, Pope Innocent II, convinced Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor to attack the Kingdom of Sicily with help from the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus. The two armies were united at Bari, from where in 1137 they continued their campaign. Roger offered to give Apulia as a fief to the Empire, which Lothair refused after being pressured by Innocent. At the same period the army of Lothair revolted.
Then Lothair, who had hoped for the complete conquest of Sicily, gave Capua and Apulia from the Kingdom of Sicily to Roger's enemies. Innocent protested, claiming that Apulia fell under papal claims.
Roger spent most of the decade, beginning with his coronation and ending with the Assizes of Ariano, enacting a series of laws with which Roger intended to centralise the government, fending off multiple invasions and quelling rebellions by his premier vassals: Grimoald of Bari, Robert II of Capua, Ranulf of Alife, Sergius VII of Naples and others. It was through his admiral George of Antioch that Roger then proceeded to conquer the Mahdia in Africa (Ifriqiya), taking the unofficial title "King of Africa". At the same time Roger's fleet attacked the Byzantine Empire, making Sicily the leading maritime power in the Mediterranean Sea for almost a century.
Hohenstaufen kingdom
The accession of Frederick, a child who would then become also the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1197, greatly affected the immediate future of Sicily.
The Hohenstaufen's grip on power, however, was not secure. Walter III of Brienne had married the daughter of Tancred of Sicily. She was sister and heiress of the deposed King William III of Sicily. In 1201 William decided to claim the kingdom.
The Hohenstaufen rule in Sicily ended after the 1266 Angevin invasion and the death of Conradin, the last male heir of Hohenstaufen, in 1268.
Ruled by Anjou
In 1266, conflict between the Hohenstaufen house and the Papacy led to Sicily's conquest by Charles I, Duke of Anjou.
Opposition to French officialdom and taxation combined with inciment of rebellion by Aragonese and Byzantine agents led to the Sicilian Vespers insurrection and successful invasion by king Peter III of Aragon in 1282. The resulting War of the Sicilian Vespers lasted until the 'Peace of Caltabellotta' in 1302, dividing the old Kingdom of Sicily in two.
Sicilian Vespers
In 1268, Charles of Anjou became King of Sicily but the Sicilian people came to resent the Angevin rulers since he didn't shared the same interest as his people.
On 'Easter Monday' 1282 the Sicilian people took matters into their own hands. A large crowd of Sicilians where gathered outside a church near Palermo awaiting Vespers. They were joined by a group of French troops who didn't knew the meaning behind the gathering. When one of the French tried to pull a woman away from the crowd he was stabbed to death. The french troops trying to help their fallen comrade where attacked and killed by the crowd.
As the church bells rang for Vespers the people of Palermo called for an uprising. The Sicilians slaughtered the French, took hold of Palermo and declared their independence.
The revolt spread throughout the island. Cities and towns declared their independence, and the French fled or where massacred.
King Charles came to Sicily with troops to reconquer the island but failed.
Italian Wars (1494-1559)
War over Naples
Also known as the second italian war. (i skip the first 'Italian War' because it doesn't includes South Italy. Only during the Second war France and Spain decide to launch an attack on South Italy. I'll alsp skip mot of the following wars since they don't directly include South Italy.)
The 'Second Italian War' of 1499–1504 starts the year after the first one ended. Louis XII of France wanted to claim Mian and Naples his. In 1499 Louis XII invaded Lombardy and seized Milan.
In 1499, Louis concluded an alliance with the Republic of Venice and the Swiss (in form of Swiss merchanaries) and invaded the Duchy of Milan.
The Treaty of Trente was signed on October 13, 1501 between Louis and Maximilian of Austria. Based on the terms of the agreement, Austria recognized all French conquests in the northern territories of Italy.
But this wasn't enough and he set eyes on the Kingdom of Naples. On November 11, 1500 the Treaty of Granada was signed by Louis XII of France and Ferdinand I of Spain in which they formed an alliance to invade Naples and split the lands between them.
In 1501, French and Aragonese armies seized Naples. The two kings now quarreled over the division of the spoils; Ferdinand's insistence that he be recognized as king of both Naples and Sicily soon led to war between France and Spain.
This led to the wars of Cerignola and Garigliano where the spanish troops defeated their french enemies and forced them to withdraw back to Lombardy.
Ferdinand I of Spain claimed Naples his.
The Italian War of 1521–26
Also known as the 'Four Years' War' in which France tried to conquer Naples/get it back from Spain in the end.
Following this war came the 'War of the League of Cognac' in which the Siege of Naples took place. (As well as the so called 'Sack of Rome')
Siege of Naples (1527)
The destruction of Rome prompted frantic action on the part of the French. On 30 April 1527, Henry VIII and Francis signed the Treaty of Westminster to combine their forces against Charles. Francis, having finally drawn Henry VIII into the League, sent an army through Genoa to Naples, where it proceeded to dig itself in for an extended siege.
16th Century
Aragonese rule
The Aragonese rule left its impression on Italy and the Renaissance through such figures as Alfonso the Magnanimous. With the unification of the crowns of Castile and Aragon in the late 15th century, southern Italy and Sicily ceased to have a local monarch and were ruled by viceroys appointed by the Spanish crown.
17th Century
Palermo Revolt
Revolt of 1647 the first revolt of many against spanish rule.
The protests were started by peasants and criminals deeply affected by the spread of the famine.
The spanish troops as well as the nobles were helpless and it was only because of the maestranze that they had been able to break te rebellion.
Naples Revolt (1647-1648)
The Neapolitans - in protest against a new taxes - rose in revolt. The rebels took up arms, turned upon tax collectors, nobles, besieged the Spanish garrison.
The rebellion spread to the countryside.
In October 1647 a Spanish fleet failed to reestablish Spanish rule; the rebels proclaimed a republic. Meanwhile the nobles in the countryside had raised a force and blockaded the city.
On April 6th 1648 the rebels agreed to a return of the Spanish garrison.
The Messina Revolt (1672-1678 )
In 1672, the artisans of Messina revolted against patrician rule and took control of the city, a social revolt which did not question Spanish rule.
In 1674 a patrician force overcame the rebel force; the patricians retook control of the city, drove the Spanish troops out of the town and called for French aid.
France, since 1673 at war with Spain went to aid Messina during their revolt. Messina held out until the end of the war; when peace was negotiated in 1678, the French withdrew their support, and the Spanish reestablished control.
It's said the people of Messina welcomed the spanish troops with open arms - happy to get the french troops out of their town again!
18th Century
War of the Spanish Succession
Naples and Sicily fell into the vicissitudes of the War of the Spanish Succession.
In the Treaty of Utrecht it was decided that the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and Sardinia would belong to Austria; Sicily and parts of the Milanese to Savoy; and Gibraltar and Minorca to Great Britain.
War of the Polish Succession
During the War of the Polish Succession the spaniard Karl III. was able to win back Naples and Sicily.
French Revolution
1799 South Italy fell into the vicissitudes of the French Revolution. The Neapolitan Republic was formed in the Kingdom of Naples. The People of Naples started an Anti-Revolutionary movement and where able to bring their own king back on the throne.
19th Century
Napoleon
The Kingdom of Italy was founded in Northern Italy by Napoleon, and ended with his defeat and fall.
When Napoleon abdicated to both the thrones of France and Italy on April 11, 1814, Eugène de Beauharnais was lined up the Mincio River with his army against the German invasion, and he attempted to be crowned king. The Senate of the Kingdom was summoned on April 17, but the senators showed themselves undecided in that chaotic situation.
Eugène surrendered on April 23, and was exiled to Bavaria by the Austrians, who occupied Milan on April 28.
Finally, on May 25, the Supreme Imperial Commissioner Count Heinrich von Bellegarde took all the powers in Lombardy, and former monarchies in Modena, Romagna and Piedmont were gradually re-established; on May 30, the Treaty of Paris was signed, and the remains of the kingdom were annexed by the Austrian Empire.
The Mafia
The Mafia (also known as "Cosa Nostra") was found in sicily.
"The Mafia is oppression, arrogance, greed, self-enrichment, power and hegemony above and against all others. It is not an abstract concept, or a state of mind, or a literary term... It is a criminal organization regulated by unwritten but iron and inexorable rules... The myth of a courageous and generous 'man of honor' must be destroyed, because a mafioso is just the opposite."
-- Cesare Terranova, Italian Magistrate murdered in 1979
Triple Alliance
In 1879 Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance. This alliance of peace and friendship became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 it was expanded to include Italy. The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia.
One of the chief aims of the Triple Alliance was to prevent Italy from declaring war against Austria-Hungary, towards whom the Italians were in constant dispute over territorial matters.
Although regularly renewed up until the outbreak of war in 1915, the Triple Alliance was essentially ineffective with regard to Italy's participation, for in 1902 Italy reached an understanding with France that each would remain neutral in the event of an attack upon the other.
Il Risorgimento (1815-1871)
Also called 'Italian independence Wars' describes the process that would finally lead to the Italian Unification (the 'Risorgimento'). The Italian Independence wars were three wars fought against Austria between 1848 and 1866 and ended with the conquest of the whole Italian territory)
First Italian War of Independence
The first independence war was declared by the Savoy's kingdom of Sardinia, in 1848, with the alliance of other Italian states. (like the Papal States and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies)
After an initial successful campaign, with the victories at Goito and Peschiera del Garda, the pope recalled his troops, soon being followed by the other allies.
After the invasion of Lombardy the interests of Savoyards became quite evident, and - remained alone - Piedmont was defeated by Austrians at Custoza and forced to accept an armistice.
Rome was attacked by French troops, but Giuseppe Garibaldi's forces prevailed; the republic would have however soon surrendered.
Second Italian War of Independence
The second independence war was declared by the kingdom of Sardinia, in 1859 this time allied with France.
Napoleon III and Camillo Cavour signed a treaty of alliance against Austria: France would help Sardine to fight against Austria and Sardinia would give Nicea and Sabaudia to France.
In the same year Austria started a war with Sardinia. French and Sardinian armies defeated Austrians in several battles of Montebello, Magenta and Solferino and took Milan.
German states forced Napoleon to stop the war, so he signed a amistance with Austria.
Rebellions started in northern Italy.
In 1860 a revolution statred in the Kingdom of the two Sicilies.
Giuseppe Garibaldi took troops and sailed to Sicily where defeated the army of the sicilian king.
Naples and Sicily to ally with Sardinia.
Third Italian War of Independence
The third independence war was declared by the kingdom of Italy in 1866, with the alliance of Prussia.
In 1866 Italy signed alliance with Prussia against Austria. During the war, Albrecht Hapsburg defeated Italian forces in the battle of Custozza, but thanks to Prussian victory over Austria Italy gained the Kingdom of Venice . The peace between Austria and Italy was then signed in Wienna.
In 1870, when Prussia destroyed the French Empire, Italian forces overtook the Papal State and declared Rome their capital.
Modern History
World War 1
In the years that led up to World War One, Italy had sided with Germany and Austria-Hungary in the Triple Alliance. In theory, Italy should have joined the two nations when war broke out in August 1914.
I didn't though.
What Italy did was wait and see how the war progressed. On April 26th 1915, Italy joinedo the war on the side of the Triple Entente with Britain, France and Russia.
Many socialists had supported the governments in keeping Italy out of the war. The nationalists, however, were horrified. To start with, Mussolini was against the war.
But he changed his mind in 1915 because of the secret Treaty of London. Britan offered him large sections of territory in the Adriatic Sea region – Tyrol, Dalmatia and Istria. Such an offer was too tempting for Italy to refuse.
So in 1915 they finally joined the war.
But Italy's experience in World War One was disastrous.
Between 1915 and 1917, Italian troops only got 10 miles inside Austrian territory. In 1917 came the 'Disaster of Caporetto' In this battle the Italians had to fight the whole Austrian Army and 7 divisions of German troops.
Though the Italians had a victory at Vittorio Veneto in 1918, the psychological impact of Caporetto was huge. The retreat brought shame and humiliation to Italy.
Pact of Steel
Formally known as the 'Pact of Friendship and Alliance between Germany and Italy'.The pact was an alliance between the two in the event of either being invaded. Also it went one step further to state that neither side would make peace unless the other agreed. The pact was intended to last for ten years.
Secret clauses in the pact urged both nations to increase the level of cooperation in war planning and war production and to coordinate propaganda efforts.
World War 2
Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Following this event, Mussolini would change his mind repeatedly as to whether or not he intended to enter the war. The British commander in Africa, General Wavell, was correct in arguing that Mussolini's pride would ultimately cause him to enter the war. Wavell would compare Mussolini's situation to that of someone at the top of a diving board, "I think he must do something. If he cannot make a graceful dive he will at least have to jump in somehow; he can hardly put on his dressing-gown and walk down the stairs again."
But despite Mussolini's description of the German-Italian alliance as an "Axis of Blood and Steel", his response to the German invasion was to declare that Italy was neutral.
Then when Mussolini felt the war was coming to an end he declared war on Britain and France.
Within a week of Italy's declaration of war the British had seized Fort Capuzzo and in an ambush east of Bardia the Tenth Army's Engineer in Chief was captured. Mussolini ordered Marshal Graziani, commanding the Tenth Army in Libya, to attack into Egypt. Graziani wondered how he was possibly expected to succeed, but tried it anyway.
The initial Italian assault would carry through to Sidi Barrani, around 95km inside the Egyptian border before the attack came to a halt. At this time there were only +30,000 British troops available to defend against +250,000 Italian troops.
However, Graziani did not know how weak the British were and in addition he lacked faith in the strength of the Italian miltiary.
In October 1940, Italy invaded Greece. After 3 weeks, the Italian force was repulsed.
In 1943 American troops invaded Sicily.
Wholesale deportations of Jewish communities began when Germany occupied Italy in 1943. Italian units switched sides and began fighting against the Germans.
Mussolini controlled less and less of Italy as the Allies made bitter progress up the Italian peninsula. Rome fell on June 5, 1944.
With so many losses on all fronts, Germany could not adquately supply its Italian stations, and they pulled back into Germany.
Afterwards Mussolini and his entourage were executed and hung by their feet for public display.
Miracolo economico
Or 'boom economico' was the italian economic miracle in 1950/1960.
After the second world war Italy was a poor and underdeveloped nation - compared to others in europe.The 'boom' was the modernization and development into one of the world's major economies during that time. Most of it was of the discovery of methane and hydrocarbons which allowed the rebirth of the Italian steel industry.
Italy also began to stabilize its inputs and outputs.
ECSC & EEC
The ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) and later the EEC (European Economic Community) were found by Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
European Union
In 1993 the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht. The founding Members were Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Financial crisis
2008 Italy was hit by the Financial crisis like many other nations.
The economy of Italy was in early 2008 the seventh-largest economy in the world, based on nominal GDP comparisons, and the fourth-largest in Europe.
BEIJING, March 11 2009 (Xinhua) -- Italy, which has long suffered from low economic growth due to lingering traditional obstacles, has plunged into an economic downturn since the contagious financial crisis broke out last year.
Analysts say the current downturn may last for a considerable period in the country as it battles against traditional old obstacles that impede its development while trying to pull through the economic crisis.
...
“What the 21st century will be like depends on whether we learn the lessons of the 20th century and avoid repeating its worst mistakes..." -Mikhail Gorbachev
Allies: North Italy, Spain (except the times he fought against him), France, Austria & Hungary ( just for a while), Germany & Japan (mostly during WW2), Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Russia, Prussia
Enemies: France, Turkey(Ottoman Empire) , Germany (mostly because he hates him), Austria, Spain (during his revolts~), Prussia, Great Britain, America, Russia
For both:
Depends on the time~
It's something that changed alot over the centuries...
Sample Post:
I just took a post from a different rpg forum where i play Romano hope that's ok~
Lovino hadn't been doing much over the last few days.
He had decided to stay at his own small house near naples after their soccer team had lost. He'd been staying inside most of the time - to sulk and only went out to buy some food.
The reason why he'd decided to do it in his own home had been his brother. Shortly after he had arrived came the first phone call with a crying and sobbing north italian on the other end of the line. And he had been close to tears himself...
This had only been the first of many phone calls he ad recived over the last few days. He had also gotten some from spain - that bastard had cheered for his own team the whole time and ruining Romano 's mood even further.
He was glad he was down here - as far away from Veneciano as possible. He knew otherwise his brother would have visited him to cry and whine even more ... and he wasn't in the right mood to comfort him seeing as he himself felt more than devastated after their loss.
Yes he was pretty much disappointed with their team. The champion of 2006 not even getting to the round of 16. Really the only thing that comforted a little had been the fact that the french team was also out. Hah served them right!
Another reason why he stayed at his own house was that he now secretly cheered for the spanish team. He would never be able live it down if anyone found out though!
Right now he was browsing through his mail when his eyes fell on a small envelope coming from russia. What could the other nation possible want from him? (besides asking Romano to become one with him!). He looked at the envelope for a few minutes before shrugging and finally opening it and quickly read the content of the letter inside.
So Ivan invited him to a party?
Further more a party for all the fifa loosers?
How lame was that ... he would never go to such a party! Not if it meant to admit their defeat and the fact that they had failed ... hard.
A few hours later he found himself sitting on a flight to russia. Really he hadn't wanted to go but after a very long and annoying call from his brother he had given in and agreed to come. He couldn't remember how it had happened only that he had shouted something along the lines of "Fine i'll come now leave me alone!" and slammed the receiver down.
As much as he hated to admit it but his brother was good at persuading people - he could be very persistent if he wanted to and more often than not he hismelf had been on the recieving end of it.
Another few hours later and he found himself on the way to Ivans house already seeing some other nations standing infront of his door.
Really ... why had he agreed to come here again?
He had decided to stay at his own small house near naples after their soccer team had lost. He'd been staying inside most of the time - to sulk and only went out to buy some food.
The reason why he'd decided to do it in his own home had been his brother. Shortly after he had arrived came the first phone call with a crying and sobbing north italian on the other end of the line. And he had been close to tears himself...
This had only been the first of many phone calls he ad recived over the last few days. He had also gotten some from spain - that bastard had cheered for his own team the whole time and ruining Romano 's mood even further.
He was glad he was down here - as far away from Veneciano as possible. He knew otherwise his brother would have visited him to cry and whine even more ... and he wasn't in the right mood to comfort him seeing as he himself felt more than devastated after their loss.
Yes he was pretty much disappointed with their team. The champion of 2006 not even getting to the round of 16. Really the only thing that comforted a little had been the fact that the french team was also out. Hah served them right!
Another reason why he stayed at his own house was that he now secretly cheered for the spanish team. He would never be able live it down if anyone found out though!
Right now he was browsing through his mail when his eyes fell on a small envelope coming from russia. What could the other nation possible want from him? (besides asking Romano to become one with him!). He looked at the envelope for a few minutes before shrugging and finally opening it and quickly read the content of the letter inside.
So Ivan invited him to a party?
Further more a party for all the fifa loosers?
How lame was that ... he would never go to such a party! Not if it meant to admit their defeat and the fact that they had failed ... hard.
A few hours later he found himself sitting on a flight to russia. Really he hadn't wanted to go but after a very long and annoying call from his brother he had given in and agreed to come. He couldn't remember how it had happened only that he had shouted something along the lines of "Fine i'll come now leave me alone!" and slammed the receiver down.
As much as he hated to admit it but his brother was good at persuading people - he could be very persistent if he wanted to and more often than not he hismelf had been on the recieving end of it.
Another few hours later and he found himself on the way to Ivans house already seeing some other nations standing infront of his door.
Really ... why had he agreed to come here again?
"Everybody follow with me,
It's the awesome me! "
Did you read the rules? Yes i did!!!
