Genovia

The Enchanting Seaside Kingdom

Genovia - based on the country from the Ann Hathaway film, The Princess Diaries. A beautiful, sparkling kingdom by the blue seas. Like a Mediterranean paradise. White sand beaches, charming greco-roman style whitewashed stuccoed villas. Beautiful, floofy, raven-haired maidens with sun-kissed tans. Tall, handsome, greco-italian men with dark and flashing eyes and dazzling white smiles.

A nation of fishermen and Shepherds and italian-style Mountaineers. The best of Greece and Italy in a nation of friendly, passionate, hard-working folk.

A sort of French Riviera / Monaco / Ibiza type of kingdom. And Isle of Malta like place. Mixed with a South of France style culture. Mixed with a South of Spain Barcelona, Andalusia-Region style place.

Structure

Genovia is a Hereditary Monarchy. It is a Vassal Kingdom of the Empire of Westphalia. Withing the nation of Genovia, the Peerage are ranked thusly:
King / queen The highest sovereign title, only looking up to the Westphalian emperor.
Prince / princess Prince, is a general term for a monarch, for a member of a monarchs’ or former monarch’s family, and is a hereditary title in some members of Westphalia’s highest nobility.
Duke / Duchess Duke’s lands are called a duchy. Dukes are the closest and highest ranking peers of the king. Dukes were usually relatives of a sovereign family.
Marquess / Marchioness Marquess was the ruler of a frontier area called a mark or march. Marquess was responsible for defence of border lands, he had more men at arms than other nobles.
Earl (Count) / Countess Earl was often an honorary title given by a monarch for services rendered, it could also be given as a title with no feudal estate. Those counts who were granted land, were usually given a small area called a county or countship, although some counties rivaled some duchies for size.
Viscount / viscountess viscount was the deputy of a count or a vice-count, however it later was considered a courtesy title reserved for the heir of a marquess or count. Early viscounts were the equivalent of sherrifs and were therefore appointed by the monarch, however, the title eventually became hereditary. Each viscount was responsible for an area that was either known as a viscounty, a viscountship or a viscountcy which was essentially their jurisdiction.
Baron / baroness A baron was often a vassal who held a barony that was granted to him directly from the monarch, usually for their loyalty to the king. Originally anyone who was given land from the king for military service, from counts or earls all the way down were considered barons. A barony was created either by letters patent or by a writ of summons that invited someone to Parliament.
Baronet / baronetess A title usually given to a commoner, a baronetcy is unique in that it is a hereditary honor but unlike other titles within the nobility a baronet is not entitled to a seat in Parliament. It is also not considered an order of knighthood but ranks above all knightly orders. The female title of baronetess is a rare one as there have only ever been four.
Knight
Esquire Originally squire – an assistant of knight (shield bearer), eldest son of knight or sons of peers.
Gentleman A man with an income derived from property, a legacy or some other source, and was thus independently wealthy and did not need to work. Someone who could not claim nobility or even the rank of esquire.

Assets

Rich maritime resources in the form of fertile estuaries and abundant coastal fisheries. Gold and silver mines. Shipwrights.

History

A nation established since the rise of Man. Tracing its peoples back to the earliest days. A people with a love of the sun and the sea since time immemorial.

Totum Corpus Laborat

Type

Geopolitical, Kingdom

Demonym

Genovian

Leader

Queen Regina Clarisse Marie Renaldi, Grand-Mere of Genovia

Related Ethnicities

• Ruritanian
• Westphalian