Nation/Romano-Germanic Empire

Founding

In the late 900s during the chaos of the Dark Ages the people of the Italian peninsula looked to the ruins of Ancient Rome. They drew inspiration from these crumbling structures and banded together, re-creating the Roman Republic. However, it was less of a grand republic, and more of a city-state. However, after several centuries of warfare, the Romans controlled most of the Italian peninsula. But all was not well. The senate had grow too large and too corrupt, and was now more concerned with lining their own pockets than the welfare of the Republic. This led to several uprisings and great hardship. Seeing a great rival in distress led France and several German nations to invade in the mid-1400s. The floundering republic crumbled under all the internal and external stress. For the next 500 years Italy was under the control of the German occupiers (the French had withdrawn in 1465 to fend off an English invasion). This occupation led to a great cultural melding and a slightly modified version of Latin was produced, combining both Latin and German. Recently the Romano-Germanic Empire was born. With nobles coming from across Italy to vote a senate into being. The senate then elected one of their own to the office of Emperor. The Emperor then became a benevolent dictator, assuming sole control over the military, police, foreign relations, the courts, and some domestic issues. The senate retains control over most of the domestic issues (excluding law), and basically serves as the emperors advisers and cabinet members. They also have the power to declare the Emperor an enemy of the state, but only if the vote is unanimous. The Romano-Germanic Empire presently controls the city of Rome and the surrounding area. They have control in all but name, of the entire Italian peninsula.