Isa
GA Member
- Nov 13, 2023
- 48
The past three years in Italian history had been interesting. First the election of 2000 led to an all but ungovernable country, with the political landscape fractured and no side being able to unite even a simple majority multiple new elections were called however none produced anything even close to being effective. On New Years Day one of the factions, the Communists, decided to strike and bypass the democratic system. People's Militias had been founded across the country and some of them were even better armed than the Italian Army, and certainly the Italian police forces. With most of the armed forces and the police forces still on holiday leave, the People's Militias struck at the Italian government. Within hours they had secured all Ministries, the Italian Parliament, and the Palace of Justice. Not much later they had secured control of radio and television stations and managed to cut off the internet for large parts of the Italian peninsula. When the Militias also managed to overwhelm the defences of several major Italian military facilities, the fate of the Republic was essentially sealed. With the government barred from their workplaces, with the military hardly functional and internally divided, and with the police forces also unable to coordinate and likewise internally divided the Communist revolution would be concluded within 24 hours. By Epiphany, even the few outliers had surrendered. Over the next year and a half the Communists worked on consolidating power and securing their control over Italy. In doing so however they made more enemies than friends. The military supporters were soon disenchanted by the government's goal to turn Italy into a pacifist country while the extreme repression by the Polizia Popolare alienated more moderate groups that had supported the revolution such as the Social Democratic Party.
By June 2002 the pieces were in place for the final phase of instability. Major Italian business owners and international investors saw their net worth dissipate within days as the Communists nationalized their property and made exporting bank balances all but impossible, the Italian Armed Forces were fighting for their existence, many police officers had been fired by the Communists, the conservatives and the centre found common ground, and the clergy responded with full condemnation as the Communists began their persecution of the Church. All in all the pieces were there, but they still needed a figurehead. Already in early 2000 there had been proposals to return the monarchy to bring stability to Italian politics. However neither candidate, the House of Savoy and the House of Bourbon each representing Italy's most prominent modern monarchies, was interested in being the figurehead of an unstable democracy. Now however there was the potential to radically change Italy's way of government.
Alessio Bourbon was a young man in his early 30's and quite outspoken about events within his country of birth. Exiled to France he continued to agitate against the Communists ever since the New Years Day Coup. Now with the makeshift opposing coalition agreeing to his terms for a powerful monarchy he would return to the country. The fact that he could make it into Naples undetected was quite a reflection on how little the Communists actually still controlled the country despite their best efforts to terrorize the Italians. The counter-revolution would in fact be televised. With extensive funding from capital owners outside Italy, weapons shipped in from wartorn France and other countries, and the supplies of the Italian Armed Forces, they had been able to arm two million Italians spread throughout the country. Once in Naples Alessio would record a message calling on all Italians to fight against the Communists and to take their country back. As soon as hackers working for the counter-revolution had hacked into all major radio and tv stations the message would be broadcast using video and audio.
While they stood no chance of winning, the Communists did not go as easily as the Republicans they had displaced the year prior. Control of most of Northern Italy and Rome was quick, but Southern Italy (ironically the territory of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies which his ancestor had actually ruled) continued to resist. This powerbase of the Italian Communist Party had always been considered the most likely to restore legitimate government to. Over the next few months the Controrivoluzionari would fight the People's Militias to gain control. Sicily and Sardinia were rapidly regained thanks to the Italian Navy and Italian Air Force while the combination of Italian Army, fired police officers and the Guardia Italiana proved impossible to defeat on the battlefield head on. The Communists as such quickly resorted to guerrilla and terrorist tactics. This move while logical from a military perspective, would kill the last remaining support they had among the Italian population.
Now, nearly a year later, Communist cells continued to harass them but the Controrivoluzionari had successfully established the second Kingdom of Italy under His Royal Majesty Alessio of Italy, by the Grace of God and the will of the Nation, King of Italy, King of Two Sicilies, Sardinia, Duke of Savoy, count of Maurienne, Marquis in Italy; Prince of Piedmont, Carignano, Oneglia, Poirino, Trino; Prince and Perpetual Vicar of the Holy Roman Empire; Prince of Carmagnola, Montmélian with Arbin and Francin, Prince bailiff of the Duchy of Aosta, Prince of Chieri, Dronero, Crescentino, Riva di Chieri and Banna, Busca, Bene, Bra, Duke of Genoa, Monferrat, Aosta, Duke of Chablais, Genevois, Duke of Piacenza, Marquis of Saluzzo, Ivrea, Susa, of Maro, Oristano, Cesana, Savona, Tarantasia, Borgomanero and Cureggio, Caselle, Rivoli, Pianezza, Govone, Salussola, Racconigi over Tegerone, Migliabruna and Motturone, Cavallermaggiore, Marene, Modane and Lanslebourg, Livorno Ferraris, Santhià, Agliè, Centallo and Demonte, Desana, Ghemme, Vigone, Count of Barge, Villafranca, Ginevra, Nizza, Tenda, Romont, Asti, Alessandria, of Goceano, Novara, Tortona, Bobbio, Soissons, Sant'Antioco, Pollenzo, Roccabruna, Tricerro, Bairo, Ozegna, delle Apertole, Baron of Vaud and of Faucigni, Lord of Vercelli, Pinerolo, of Lomellina, of Valle Sesia, of the Marquisate of Ceva, Overlord of Monaco, Roccabruna and eleven-twelfths of Menton, Noble Patrician of Venice, Patrician of Ferrara.
Late during the evening on May 14 a message would be sent to all national and international press agencies and registered media outlets, international embassies, and regional Italian leaders that a major announcement was to be made the next day and with an invitation to witness the announcement at the Quirinal Palace. The location was not random as the Quirinal Hill had played a significant role in Roman and thus Italian history. As the largest of the seven hills since Roman times it had serves as an important religious and governmental sight; with many temples built on it as well as villas of the Roman elite. In 1583 the very Palace was built by Pope Gregory XIII as his summer residence and by extension a summer residence of the popes that came after him. Throughout the next centuries it would serve as the residence of thirty popes, four kings, and ten presidents. The Communists were the only ones to reject using it as the centre of their administration. It however was not entirely an easy choice. After all, the Royal Palace of Caserta which had actually been his ancestors' royal residence was an option too. However with Caserta being far enough away from the centre of power in Rome, even though it had served as the headquarters of the Counter-Revolution, it made sense that he chose the Quirinal instead. In his place, his 15-year old daughter Crown Princess Lidia Eleonora would be formally in charge of Caserta even though it would be his co-residence together with the Quirinal and likely his chose home whenever Parliament wasn't in session.
In any case, as soon as it was 10 am on May 15 a large crowd had already assembled on the grounds in front of the Quirinal Palace. Everyone there was invited while around 10,000 Royal Soldiers surrounded the square to protect the King and guests while keeping uninvited out. Another 20,000 Royal Soldiers were positioned among the crowds of civilians who had approached the Palace grounds to see their new King, and as such filled hundreds of nearby streets and squares. Finally 30,000 Royal Soldiers and 50,000 Italian Guards were spread throughout Rome and a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoons were on standby to intercept any aerial threat. At 10 am exactly the doors to the balcony opened at which point King Alessio and Crown Princess Lidia Eleonora stepped out. The former dressed in a black suit and the latter in a red dress. While normally such a ceremony was for a King and Queen, the King's late wife having died in a traffic accident four years prior and with his extremely close relation with his daughter meant she would be the perfect person to join him at this momentous occasion.
As he stopped at an array of microphones that had been prepared for both the loudspeakers and the various media reporting on events he gave his daughter a kiss on her forehead before turning his attention to the people below.
"My people, and my esteemed guests, I come to you today to declare victory. Through your hard work, your literal blood, sweat, and tears, we have drowned the flame of revolution with overwhelming counter-revolution. As the blood is still being cleaned off our streets and cells continue their campaigns of terrorism, some of you may think it is too soon to declare victory. You are correct that work remains to be done, but now it is time for Italy to look forward to her future. And our future is bright. Monarchism has made a return in Europe. First the Poles, then the French and now we the Italians. Globally the forces of communism have been defeated and an era of free thought, enterprise and prosperity has taken hold. We will continue the fight and we will remove all traces of the Italian Communist Party from this nation. In fact as one of my first acts I have formed the Royal Security Force which is tasked with finding, apprehending, and prosecuting the remaining communists. The 10,000 already working for the FSR bring a wide range experience from the police, military, intelligence services and private sector and many more will join their ranks. The 150,000 Communists currently in our prisons will also be transferred to their jurisdiction.
On the future of Italy, for the past year as we fought for our survival we were unable to hold elections. Now that we can hold them safely the Italian Parliament will be re-established. The Chamber of Deputies will be elected entirely by the people of Italy. The Senate will consist of three blocks of seats of equal power. The first block will be voted on by the people, the second block will be appointed by myself and the third block will be voted on by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces. The Supreme Court of Cassation will also resume their duties with the remaining surviving judges. Once the Parliament has been elected one of their first duties shall be to vote on my proposed additional judges. All other courts that have not yet will also resume their duties.
Finally, using the executive powers granted to me I am hereby declaring the acts of the Communist government null and void. The next government will evaluate every decision specifically to judge which ones should continue but from this moment anyone who has lost their property will have it restored, anyone who was imprisoned for political crimes will be released, and the Church shall be restored to the elevated position in Italian society it deserves.
The Communists have done a lot of damage, it will take us years to rebuild. But rebuild we shall. Viva Italia!"
Concluding his speech he took his daughter's hand and raised both his and her hands in the sky as the Italians among them and beyond the Palace grounds erupted into cheer. A scene replicated throughout Italian cities and even larger villages throughout the country.
By June 2002 the pieces were in place for the final phase of instability. Major Italian business owners and international investors saw their net worth dissipate within days as the Communists nationalized their property and made exporting bank balances all but impossible, the Italian Armed Forces were fighting for their existence, many police officers had been fired by the Communists, the conservatives and the centre found common ground, and the clergy responded with full condemnation as the Communists began their persecution of the Church. All in all the pieces were there, but they still needed a figurehead. Already in early 2000 there had been proposals to return the monarchy to bring stability to Italian politics. However neither candidate, the House of Savoy and the House of Bourbon each representing Italy's most prominent modern monarchies, was interested in being the figurehead of an unstable democracy. Now however there was the potential to radically change Italy's way of government.
Alessio Bourbon was a young man in his early 30's and quite outspoken about events within his country of birth. Exiled to France he continued to agitate against the Communists ever since the New Years Day Coup. Now with the makeshift opposing coalition agreeing to his terms for a powerful monarchy he would return to the country. The fact that he could make it into Naples undetected was quite a reflection on how little the Communists actually still controlled the country despite their best efforts to terrorize the Italians. The counter-revolution would in fact be televised. With extensive funding from capital owners outside Italy, weapons shipped in from wartorn France and other countries, and the supplies of the Italian Armed Forces, they had been able to arm two million Italians spread throughout the country. Once in Naples Alessio would record a message calling on all Italians to fight against the Communists and to take their country back. As soon as hackers working for the counter-revolution had hacked into all major radio and tv stations the message would be broadcast using video and audio.
While they stood no chance of winning, the Communists did not go as easily as the Republicans they had displaced the year prior. Control of most of Northern Italy and Rome was quick, but Southern Italy (ironically the territory of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies which his ancestor had actually ruled) continued to resist. This powerbase of the Italian Communist Party had always been considered the most likely to restore legitimate government to. Over the next few months the Controrivoluzionari would fight the People's Militias to gain control. Sicily and Sardinia were rapidly regained thanks to the Italian Navy and Italian Air Force while the combination of Italian Army, fired police officers and the Guardia Italiana proved impossible to defeat on the battlefield head on. The Communists as such quickly resorted to guerrilla and terrorist tactics. This move while logical from a military perspective, would kill the last remaining support they had among the Italian population.
Now, nearly a year later, Communist cells continued to harass them but the Controrivoluzionari had successfully established the second Kingdom of Italy under His Royal Majesty Alessio of Italy, by the Grace of God and the will of the Nation, King of Italy, King of Two Sicilies, Sardinia, Duke of Savoy, count of Maurienne, Marquis in Italy; Prince of Piedmont, Carignano, Oneglia, Poirino, Trino; Prince and Perpetual Vicar of the Holy Roman Empire; Prince of Carmagnola, Montmélian with Arbin and Francin, Prince bailiff of the Duchy of Aosta, Prince of Chieri, Dronero, Crescentino, Riva di Chieri and Banna, Busca, Bene, Bra, Duke of Genoa, Monferrat, Aosta, Duke of Chablais, Genevois, Duke of Piacenza, Marquis of Saluzzo, Ivrea, Susa, of Maro, Oristano, Cesana, Savona, Tarantasia, Borgomanero and Cureggio, Caselle, Rivoli, Pianezza, Govone, Salussola, Racconigi over Tegerone, Migliabruna and Motturone, Cavallermaggiore, Marene, Modane and Lanslebourg, Livorno Ferraris, Santhià, Agliè, Centallo and Demonte, Desana, Ghemme, Vigone, Count of Barge, Villafranca, Ginevra, Nizza, Tenda, Romont, Asti, Alessandria, of Goceano, Novara, Tortona, Bobbio, Soissons, Sant'Antioco, Pollenzo, Roccabruna, Tricerro, Bairo, Ozegna, delle Apertole, Baron of Vaud and of Faucigni, Lord of Vercelli, Pinerolo, of Lomellina, of Valle Sesia, of the Marquisate of Ceva, Overlord of Monaco, Roccabruna and eleven-twelfths of Menton, Noble Patrician of Venice, Patrician of Ferrara.
In any case, as soon as it was 10 am on May 15 a large crowd had already assembled on the grounds in front of the Quirinal Palace. Everyone there was invited while around 10,000 Royal Soldiers surrounded the square to protect the King and guests while keeping uninvited out. Another 20,000 Royal Soldiers were positioned among the crowds of civilians who had approached the Palace grounds to see their new King, and as such filled hundreds of nearby streets and squares. Finally 30,000 Royal Soldiers and 50,000 Italian Guards were spread throughout Rome and a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoons were on standby to intercept any aerial threat. At 10 am exactly the doors to the balcony opened at which point King Alessio and Crown Princess Lidia Eleonora stepped out. The former dressed in a black suit and the latter in a red dress. While normally such a ceremony was for a King and Queen, the King's late wife having died in a traffic accident four years prior and with his extremely close relation with his daughter meant she would be the perfect person to join him at this momentous occasion.
As he stopped at an array of microphones that had been prepared for both the loudspeakers and the various media reporting on events he gave his daughter a kiss on her forehead before turning his attention to the people below.
"My people, and my esteemed guests, I come to you today to declare victory. Through your hard work, your literal blood, sweat, and tears, we have drowned the flame of revolution with overwhelming counter-revolution. As the blood is still being cleaned off our streets and cells continue their campaigns of terrorism, some of you may think it is too soon to declare victory. You are correct that work remains to be done, but now it is time for Italy to look forward to her future. And our future is bright. Monarchism has made a return in Europe. First the Poles, then the French and now we the Italians. Globally the forces of communism have been defeated and an era of free thought, enterprise and prosperity has taken hold. We will continue the fight and we will remove all traces of the Italian Communist Party from this nation. In fact as one of my first acts I have formed the Royal Security Force which is tasked with finding, apprehending, and prosecuting the remaining communists. The 10,000 already working for the FSR bring a wide range experience from the police, military, intelligence services and private sector and many more will join their ranks. The 150,000 Communists currently in our prisons will also be transferred to their jurisdiction.
On the future of Italy, for the past year as we fought for our survival we were unable to hold elections. Now that we can hold them safely the Italian Parliament will be re-established. The Chamber of Deputies will be elected entirely by the people of Italy. The Senate will consist of three blocks of seats of equal power. The first block will be voted on by the people, the second block will be appointed by myself and the third block will be voted on by the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces. The Supreme Court of Cassation will also resume their duties with the remaining surviving judges. Once the Parliament has been elected one of their first duties shall be to vote on my proposed additional judges. All other courts that have not yet will also resume their duties.
Finally, using the executive powers granted to me I am hereby declaring the acts of the Communist government null and void. The next government will evaluate every decision specifically to judge which ones should continue but from this moment anyone who has lost their property will have it restored, anyone who was imprisoned for political crimes will be released, and the Church shall be restored to the elevated position in Italian society it deserves.
The Communists have done a lot of damage, it will take us years to rebuild. But rebuild we shall. Viva Italia!"
Concluding his speech he took his daughter's hand and raised both his and her hands in the sky as the Italians among them and beyond the Palace grounds erupted into cheer. A scene replicated throughout Italian cities and even larger villages throughout the country.
