Grand Duchy of Vercelli
From SCJU Wiki
| |||||
| Motto: Beauty through Prosperity | |||||
| Anthem: Bione Parchi | |||||
| |||||
| Capital | Prato | ||||
| Largest city | Niccosa | ||||
| Official language(s) | Grecco, French, Italian | ||||
| Government Grand Duchess
| Democracy Franca Sozzani | ||||
| Democratic Grand Duchy Unification Civil War re-unification | 1618 1723 1734 | ||||
| Area • Total • Water (%) | 49,932 km² (131) 2% | ||||
| Population • 2005 est. • 2000 census • Density | 9,832,123 (89) 9,456,764 189.39/km² (66th) | ||||
| GDP (PPP) • Total • Per capita | 2008 estimate 256 Billion (37) 26,543 (35th) | ||||
| HDI (2003|2007) | 0.944 High – Density | ||||
| Currency | Unio (u)
| ||||
| Time zone • Summer (DST) | GMT+2 (UTC-3) (UTC) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .com.ver | ||||
| Calling code | +912
| ||||
The Grand Duchy of Vercelli (Greek: -) (Grecco: -) is a small Grand Duchy located on the southern peninsula of Atlantica Alba and consists of over 400 small islands, most of which are uninhabited. The Grand Duchy shares borders with Buesti and Ravoi, Monte-Beausoleil , Movia, and is separated from Bernica by only 8 km. The nation is host to just over 9,000,000 citizens, and follows a strict caste system of Royals, Aristocracy, Marketeers, and Proles. The Government is headed by Grand Duchess Franca Sozzani and her court.
The Grand Duchy is rated as a top travel destination by magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic and Travel + Leisure. Vercelli is a world renowned center for the arts, fashion, and music, and is host to many weeks of culture, namely the Prato Fashion Weeks and the Niccosa Film Festival. The Grand Duchy is also host to some of the strictest criteria for obtaining visa's, and is known for its impossible courts regarding work visa's and citizenship. The nation has also raised some eyebrows by only allowing natural born citizens to vote, and their is movement in some of the poleis' to change this as the population slowly becomes more foreign based. Because of this the nation has had less appeal to low-cost European travelers and especially to Americans, but has seen a massive growth in the high class tourism sector.
The caste system of Vercelli has become of the most studied portions of the nation, and has been in effect since 1565. Movement is possible through the lower three classes, but it is impossible for a Royal to lose their title, or for someone of non-Royal blood to obtain a title. The nation is divided into 11 Poleis's, and each is headed by a Duke/Duchess. Each of the 11 Poleis' are independent, but loosely tied together by the voting in of a Grand Duke. In the past this had caused international relation problems, as nations may have had ties with some Poleis', but been on tense terms with others or had no relations at all. The formation of the Grand title has eliminated these problems, with all nations working with this government instead of the individual poleis'. The Grand title is voted on by each of the 11 duke's, has no set time limit, and can be ended by only death or retirement. Citizens directly vote in their duke's, and host citizen assembly's for government representation. Only members of the Royal caste can hold office above a citizens assembly, however all citizens can take part in their own city government.
Contents |
Etymology
The origin of the term Vercelli is uncertain but many historians agree that the term comes from the tribes located on the landmass before the Romans colonized the Vercellian Basin. The term may be the combination of the Niccosian words Verc meaning fertile and Elliknos meaning "yellow" in an attempt to translate the fertile yellow plains of the Vercellian basin and surrounding areas.
The term Vercelli until the 20th century actually applied to the entire peninsula, and not until the dictatorship that took hold in Buesti did the term then only apply to the nation.
History
The Grand Duchy's history can be divided into three major sections (Ancient Vercelli, Middle Ages, Modern), and into eight sub-sections. Spanning over a time period of 4000 years, experts know little of the first 2000 years of life in Vercelli.
Ancient History
The first signs of human existence in Vercelli are dated to about 4,000 years ago, however scientists know little about life up until about 900 B.C. when hieroglyphics were first introduced by the Pomezia people. Experts can agree that life was similar to the Greeks, who first talk of ancient Vercellian culture in the 5th century B.C. Many speculate that the area was first colonized by the Greeks in the late 6th century either by accident or by rebels escaping mainland Greece. The first signs of civilized life in Vercelli are dated to around the 6th century, however it is noted that the civilization that existed up until around 600 B.C. did not use any written form of language. In 2008 a group of researches found a buried temple that dated back to the 5th century B.C., but research is still being conducted on the temple to see if any more knowledge on these mysterious peoples can be learned.
Recorded history in Vercelli begins with the society of Pomezia around 900 BC, located in the modern day province of Ciampino. At its height the city was home to just under 200,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world. Pomezia's economy was mainly based on trade with the Greeks and agriculture, and was able to build a sizable reputation through this. The city held sizable control over much of the Alban Peninsula, and even held military accords with a few smaller society's in the area. In the year 549 B.C. the city was visited by a rouge rebel group from Atlantis, and worshiped the space travelers as Gods. The rebel group held control over the city until 501 B.C. when the Pomezia peoples revolted against the travelers, upon which the group killed all but 11,000 of the city's inhabitants and sank the city. The 11,000 were then broken into the eleven tribes that now make up the current 11 duchies of the nation.
The destruction of the city now constitutes the legacy of Atlantis the lost city, upon translation the names Atlantis and Pomezia were mixed when survivors told Greek officials of the city's destruction. The city was deemed lost until 1784 when Vercellian citizens noted that pottery not known to have existed started washing up on shore. This brought much attention to the area from those that believed in the story of Atlantis, and in 1909 divers confirmed that a city had once inhabited the area that had now sunken 400 feet under the water. It was further confirmed when the Galactic Empire of Atlantis first made contact with Earth, and were able to identify some old equipment that was found at the site.
There were three other recorded tribes in the region, however none were as powerful as the Pomezian. The small Delphi tribe in Southern Vercelli are credited with the origin of the Grecco Vercellian religion, their capitol city of Poi was located at the base of Mt. Physus. All three societies eventually merged into the eleven tribes, and ushered in a new era of Vercelli.
The Eleven Tribes
Middle Ages
Alban Renaissance
Unification
The Civil War
Reunification
Modern Times
Government and Politics
Government in Vercelli has for long been built off the combination of Ancient Roman and Greek government. The Government is currently headed by Grand Duchess Franca Sozzani of Colle, after Grand Duchess Anna Wintour was killed in a car wreck last year.
Each of the 11 Duchy's inside the Grand Duchy are independent from one another, therefore making the majority of power in the government at the Duchy level instead of at the National level. The National government was introduced first in 1618, but a civil war over how the power should be delegated broke out and divided the nation until 1734 when the northern Duchy's reunified the nation and declared that each Duchy would be in control over its own territory, but still be regulated by a Central government whose capitol would be Prato. In the simplest terms Vercelli is a large union of small Duchy's, unified under one national government.
The National Governments main purpose is to make contact with each of the 11 duchies much easier, and also allows for a greater economic impact on the region. The National government allows for order to be allowed in the region, and for free trade and travel to be possible. It also allows for contact from the International world to be much easier, with only one government instead of 11 being contacted to have any business done. Only those born within the Grand Duchy can vote in elections, however there have been movements in the past to allow all Vercellian citizens to vote.
National Level
The National Government of Vercelli is headed currently by Franca Sozzani, with Mario Borsha leading the national Senate. The National government is very weak in its ruling power of the 11 Duchy's of Vercelli, but holds enough power to conduct international affairs. The government is divided into four Courts under the Grand Duke and the Senate, the Court of International Affairs and Economic Development, the Court of Military, the Court of Education and the Court of Healthcare. The Court's of Education and Healthcare provide a set standard for all Duchy's to follow, with International Affairs being the voice of the 11 duchies to the outside world.
The Vercellian senate is made of of six senators from each Duchy, allowing for a equal voice from each. Senators are considered the final word of their respective Duchy, and also mandate that Duchy's choice on issue's. The National senate is the only body that can declare war, and the only body that can make laws. The Grand Duke is the only person that can execute those laws, and has the ability to veto any law s/he do not deem fit.
Only those who are considered to be in the Royal Caste can hold a position of importance in the National Government, however jobs like secretaries, speech writers and such can be done by any caste level.
Duchy Level
The Duchy level of government is the most powerful part of the Vercellian government system, holding control over almost all aspects of life. Each Duchy is ruled over by a Duke who holds the same power in their Duchy as the Grand Duke does in the Grand Duchy. Each duchy also has a senate, however the number of senators range in number. Because each Duchy is basically independent from the other, they hold considerable power over how they manage certain portions of government. Each Duchy must meet the basic requirements set by the national government in the fields of Education and Healthcare.
Only those who are considered to be in the Royal or Aristocracy Caste can hold a position of importance in the Duchy Government, however jobs like secretaries, speech writers and such can be done by any caste level.
City Level
The City level of government is made up of two bodies, the Senate in which only Royal Caste members can be apart of, and the Citizens Assembly which any caste member can join. The Citizens Assembly hold the power of city ordinances, and the Senate is the body that deals with Duchy-City affairs.
Military
Army
Navy
Air Force
Mionte
Economy
Administrative Regions
Transportation
Road/Rail
Air
Sea
Religion
Religion is an important part of Vercellian culture and has shaped much of its history and how the nation is ruled today. The nation is largely influenced by its two largest religions, Grecco Vercellian and Judaism. Grecco Vercellian has been dominate in the region since the revolution from Rome and has changed little since its founding. Followers today usually associate with one of the Nine Dies along with one Madre and one Padre and worship those for good health and life, but will still keep up and call the others Gods as well. Unlike most other religions Grecco Vercellian is less about how to live your life and more about how to make it better, allowing woman and homosexuals to advance quite high in the ranks of the religions hierarchy from the beginning. Grecco Vercellian is the official religion of the nation (being followed by the Royal Family), however all religions that do not spread hate or intolerance are allowed to worship as they please in the nation.
Judaism has only been namely present since the second World War (although a small number fled the Spanish inquisition to Vercelli) but has quickly become sensible in Vercellian life. Synagogues are now the second most present houses of worship in the nation with almost two synagogues to every church but are still quite behind the number of Oracles. Jewish Kabbalah has also been rise in recent years with an almost double number of attendees to their houses of worship in the past 5 years.
Christianity and Islam are smaller religions in the nation, both living mainly in the northern portion of the nation with pockets in majors cities in the south and along the Buesti & Ravoi border. Both religions pit themselves against Grecco Vercellian but have since the early 1800's been relatively peaceful.
Grecco Vercellian
The Grecco Vercellian religion is a complicated polytheistic religion followed by more than half the population of Vercelli and with large pockets of followers around the world. Cities like Austin, Athens, London, Paris, Portland, Seattle and Tokyo all have large followings of the religion which focuses on spiritual body and mind in harmony with nature and the human world. There are Nine Dies (Gods) within; Nicosa, Messina, Avola, Hermes, Eros, Vesta, Ceres, Dionysos, and Minerva along with Six Madres; Gaia, Rhea, Libya, Europa, Ionia, Athknios and Six Padres; Cratos, Eos, Horae, Leto, Morpheos, and Nike.
The Gods are the fourth generation following the Titans and Olympians of Greece, followed by the Roman Gods who were finally killed by the Greccoians to take control of Mount Olympus in Greece and Mount Physus in Vercelli; the two most sacred places in the Grecco religion. Mount Physus is located in Southern Vercelli and is the highest point in the nation, those who climb the mountain are said to be forever blessed by the gods in the life afterward and each year receives a large exodus of people who come during the summer months.
There are also nine Main Oracles situated throughout much of Vercelli and two of them being located in the nation of Buesti and Ravoi. Each of the Nine Dies have their own main Oracle, however almost every city and town in Vercelli has a smaller oracle that is used for worship and prayer. Main Oracles host three Rheas who can supposedly communicate with the said gods, however scientists view this stage as a more hallucinatory stage from the gases that enter through the floor. Like those in Greece, Oracles in Vercelli were built upon fissures in the earth that emit gas, and scientists agree that the gas gives off an LSD type high that the three Rheas then use. It is still believed that they have been selected by the Gods and still to this day are the most sought after ways of redemption.