Socialist Republic of Italy
From Kaiserreich
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[[Image:Italy.JPG|thumb|250px|A divided Italy. The Italian Federation in green to the north, with the Republic of the Sicilies in red to the south.]] | [[Image:Italy.JPG|thumb|250px|A divided Italy. The Italian Federation in green to the north, with the Republic of the Sicilies in red to the south.]] | ||
| - | '''Republic of the Sicilies''' Is a | + | '''Republic of the Sicilies''' Is a country in Southern Italy/Southern Europe. |
Revision as of 21:03, 1 October 2007
Republic of the Sicilies Is a country in Southern Italy/Southern Europe.
History
The kingdom of Naples (‘the Two Sicilies’) had ruled southern Italy up until its annexation into the unified kingdom of Italy in 1860. With the collapse of Italy at the end of the Great War the victorious Central Powers chose to resurrect the nation as part of their 'divide and weaken' plan for the peninsula, setting up a puppet king on the throne. Surprisingly for the Austrians, there was much opposition to this plan from the traditionally conservative peasantry, which was so strong as to result in a series of uprisings. At the same time Anarcho-Syndicalist movements began to grow in the new state, and encouraged by events elsewhere in the world became increasingly aggressive. Before long ‘the Two Sicilies’ were in chaos, a chaos which lasted for the next year and a half. Many Syndicalist leaders in northern Italy, who were unable to do act due to the Austrian occupation, migrated south and served to further fuel the growing Syndicalist groups there, and they encouraged political alliances with the anarchists, which allowed them to increase their power greatly. In February 1921 the Anarcho-Syndicalists felt ready to launch the revolution, which was joined by large parts of the deeply discontent peasantry, who saw it primarily as a chance to rid southern Italy of Austrian influences. After two months of civil war the Anarcho-Syndicalists triumphed, the ‘Republic of the Sicilies’ declared, and an alliance with France forged. With Germany’s refusal to intervene Austria was grudgingly forced to recognise the new regime. In the 15 years since the Republic’s founding it has slowly rebuilt and attempted to industrialise itself, strengthening its economy and military as it plans how best to reunify Italy and once more create a united Italian Republic.
