Italy

The Kingdom of Italy was a state created in 1861 as a result of the Thousand Expedition. the Kingdom still lacked of important italian territories such as Veneto which was later incorporated into the kingdom in 1866 as a result of a referendum approved with 99.99% of voters being in favour of the unification and the Papal state's region of Latium later annexed in 1870 thanks to the franco-prussian war. after that the kingdom soon began to focus into colonialism especially in africa conquering territories in Eritrea and Somalia. they also aimed to annex abyssinia (Ethiopia). in 1911 Giovanni Giolitti's government agreed to invade the province of libya under Ottoman control.

During this time Italy allied with Germany and Austria to form the Central Power a defensive alliance aimed to protect eachother and to counter the recent alliance that had been formed between the French and the Russians.

World War I
When World War I brokeout in Europe, Italy decided to be neutral as the Austrian had declared war on Serbia and therefore they were not forced to join on the Austrian Side. this neutrality soon ended in 1915 after the secret Pact of London was signed a pact that promised to Italy the land of Istria, Dalmatia and South Tyrol, unfortunatelly at the end of the war this pact wasn't entirely fullfilled as the land of Dalmatia was given to the new born kingdom of serbs croats and slovenes. this event was called by the Italians "Vittoria Mutilata" in english: Mutilated Victory. this feeling of "defeat" made the way to nationalists party such as the "Partito Nazionale Fascista" led by Benito Mussolini which soon took the power in italy after the March on Rome (1922).

Fascist Dictatorship
During this period the country was reformed into a fascist totalitarian dictatorship led by Benito Mussolini the country was still de iure a Kingdom with the sovereign being Victor Emmanuel III but most of the monarchist institution were reformed into fascist one. Mussolini also managed to annex ethiopia in 1936 and due to this aggression the kingdom was sanctioned by the global empires. Mussolini also proclaimed the Italian Empire crowning Victor Emmanuel III as Emperor of Ethiopia. Italy also invaded Albania in a short campaign, the country was occupied and joined Italy in personal union.

World War II
Italy joined the war as part of the axis power in 1940, as the French Third Republic surrendered, with a plan to concentrate Italian forces on a major offensive against the British Empire in Africa and the Middle East. Mussolini also invaded Greece in a somewhat questionable invasion this was known as the "parallel war" the greek managed thanks to the british aid to counterattack the italians even conquering land in Albania. this all ended when the germans came in rescue of the Italians on Jul 9, 1943 the allied troops landed in Sicily, King Victor Emmanuel III reacted by arresting Mussolini and appointing the army chief of staff, Marshal Badoglio, as Prime Minister. Meanwhile the German untrusting Badoglio began to mobilize troops into Italy invading the country and forming a puppet state known as the Italian Social Republic led by Benito Mussolini. The dictatorship lasted until 1945 when Mussolini was finally captured and killed by the partisans

Italy later became a republic in 1946 after an institutional referendum wanted by Umberto II pressured by the threat of another civil war which saw the victory of the republic with a 54% approving it.

Ingame Description
the descendant of the great roman empire who shaped modern day europe have made their first step on becoming the empire like what the roman republic did in 264 BC. Will the italian rise up to shape europe and the world again or will it crumble before reunite the great empire again?

Forming Description
Ever since the Italian peninsula was plunged into the Dark Ages the Italian people had been split into multiple identities. Let us bring about the Risorgimento, no longer fractured but united as one. United we stand, divided we fall.