The Grand Ducky of Panormia
Granducat ed Panòrmia
Motto: Ex Unitate Vires
Capital: Rhegium (1,041,996 ab)
Other cities: Plaisance (821’314 ab), Spina (579’135 ab)
Official language: Lombard
Government: Federal Constitutional Monarchy
Grand Duke: Redolf IV d’Arcata
Prime Chancellor: Lodovigh Pravesin dal Ciòs
Population: TBD
GDP (pc): TBD
Currency: Panormian florin
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Etymology
The name Panormia derives from Ancient Greek pan ormos, meaning “all the ports”. The ancient via Panormia stretched in fact from east to west and it used to connect all the coastal towns and cities of the region, later giving its name to the whole land.
History
Since antiquity, the lack of natural borders made so that Panormia was repeatedly invaded by multiple populations, each contributing to shape the country’s cultural identity.
The Etruscans and the Celts longly contended the fertile plains east and west of the Nisa river, while the Greek colonies along the coast thrived thanks to the many natural harbours and the merchant routes that connected the north west to the south east.
The Roman Empire brought the via Panormia, a road connecting the originally Etruscan city of Spina (todays Spèina) to the Roman city of Placentia (nowadays Piaśeinsa or Plaisance) through the Greek city of Rhegion or Rhegium, strategically placed at the mouth of the Nisa river. The road fostered land trades together with the naval ones, and influenced the development of the region to the point that it even took the road’s name.
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the Lombards, a Germanic population, migrated from the north and conquered Panormia creating the homonym kingdom. The capital was set in Rhegium, richer and easier to defend thanks to the river providing it with a natural defence, and the kingdom was split in multiple duchies.
Lombard Panormia however didn’t last long as a united state, and already by the beginning of the 11th century it collapsed shattering into its many autonomous smaller states. These little entities fell prey to the neighbouring powers until in 1130 the alliance known as the Panormian League between Rhegium, Plaisance and Spina brought to the creation of three areas of influence. By 1250 the three areas had turned into three larger duchies with the Duchy of Spina as the leading power.
However, in 1348 the Black Death coming from the east devastated the country; one third of its population died, Spina’s growth was brought to an abrupt stop and Rhegium took advantage of it to rise as the main power under the Arcata dynasty.
XV century marked the beginning of the Renaissance in Panormia. By 1496 a long succession of wars and dynastic politics brought Galeazz I d’Arcata to be crowned Duke of Rhegium, Plaisance and Spina, hence proclaiming the Grand Duchy of Panormia.
Under his and his successors rule the country knew an exceptional economic, cultural and artistic development becoming a beacon of civilization for the following century.
The baroque era brought Panormia to a certain stagnation due to religious turmoils that hindered scientific development.
To be continued