Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology - Chapter 848

Chapter 848: Declaration of Unification 1671 (2/2)
Giovanni drank a sip of water, as his throat had become parched by the roar. But he did not get down from the stage. Instead, he took out a document carefully from a metal container locked with heavy keypads and showed it to all the people present.

“This, gentlemen and ladies, is the Declaration of Unification: Federazione Italiana 1671.”

“This is the sacred mandate of the nation, and I am honoured to read its contents to you all.”

Taking a deep breath, he started to read the preamble:

“We, the sovereign powers of the Italian peninsula, mindful of our shared language, culture, commerce, and the need to present a united front against foreign dominion, hereby ordain and establish the Federazione Italiana, to endure in perpetuity under a single Federal Magistracy, elected from among our rulers and ratified by the leading elites of our lands.”

“The name of the policy brought forward by this document will be called the Unification Bill: Federazione Italiana 1671.”

“Its purpose is to maintain internal peace and mutual defence, promote commerce, science, and the arts throughout the peninsula, and preserve the sovereignty and customs of each member state under a common federal framework.”

He took a look at multiple people out of the corner of his eyes, who were all the leaders of the states, and continued:

“The following states are listed as permanent members and enjoy equal standing in federal councils: Republic of Venice, Duchy of Milan, Duchy of Savoy-Piedmont, Republic of Genova, Duchy of Parma, Duchy of Montua and Montferrat, Duchy of Modena, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Duchy of Urbino, Duchy of Sardinia, and finally the Republic of Corsica.”

“The federation will form a Federal Assembly of Rulers, which will be composed of sovereigns and, where appropriate, their duly appointed plenipotentiaries of each permanent member. The Assembly convenes annually to deliberate on matters of war and finance. The Federal Assembly of Rulers convenes a Federal Electoral Congress every 5 years to oversee the election of the Imperatore Federale.”

“A body of one hundred and twenty electors, drawn from the highest ranks of nobility, senior military officers, and leading intellectuals across the peninsula, will form the Federal Electors. Electors serve five-year terms and vote in the Federal Electoral Congress to elect the Imperatore Federale.”

“The supreme officer of the federation shall be titled Imperatore Federale or Federal Emperor. Any ruling sovereign or their heir of a permanent member state is eligible for election, even if they rule multiple territories.”

“Candidates must be nominated in the Federal Assembly of Rulers. The Federal Electors vote by secret ballot in the Federal Electoral Congress. A two-thirds majority is required for an election. The new Imperatore Federale serves a five-year term, renewable once. The Imperatore Federale shall be the chief executive and the symbolic guardian of Italian unity, presiding over the Federal Council and representing the Federazione Italiana in all foreign affairs.”

“I proudly declare, due to the pivotal role played by the Republic of Venice under my leadership, which forged this union, the inauguration Imperatore Federale will be humbly accepted by me, Giovanni Morosini, Doge of Venice, as the first Imperatore Federale of Federazione Italiana. And I also declare my resignation as the Doge of Venice.”

“As for the seat of power, the best location is undoubtedly Rome. However, since it is under the control of the corrupt Papal States, the land we are standing on now, on the banks of the River Po, will be the temporary centre of power due to its close proximity to multiple capitals and its central geography. This place will henceforth be called the Distretto Federale di Concordia. Within the Concordia shall stand the Palazzo Federale, housing the Federal Assembly, the Office of the Imperatore Federale, and federal ministers. No member state shall exercise jurisdiction within the District of Federal Concordia, ensuring absolute neutrality and autonomy for federal governance.”

“Each member state shall remit 10% of all collected taxes to the Federation Treasury. The reserve funds will be used for maintenance and provisioning of a permanent Federal Army under the unified command of the Imperatore Federale, as well as for administration of federal institutions and diplomatic missions.”

“All private armed forces within the territory of the federation are hereby banned, ensuring the federation’s monopoly and legitimate use of force.”

This was a very contested point of the bill, since taking away the privilege of training their own army from the nobles was unheard of. He knew that it would cause widespread resistance to the rule, but Giovanni did not want to take out the rule from the bill. Instead, he suggested the nobles establish their own private security companies, since security companies can be considered as private businesses and not armies.

He could have simply removed this rule and allowed for the nobles to have their own armies, as it wouldn’t make any difference, but still he did not want to do it. Because if in the future he had enough power, he could directly morph the rule in such a way that security companies could be turned into private armies, since the definition of security companies is broad and can be open to his interpretation.

He moved on.

“The Federal Army shall be the sole military force, organised into legions contributed by each member in proportion to its population and resources. Military command falls under the Imperatore, advised by the Federal War Council.”

“The Federazione Italiana holds executive authority over external diplomacy and treaties. Member states retain freedom to conduct internal legislative and judicial affairs, provided that they do not contravene federal law.”

“Member states may enact their own laws on civil, criminal, fiscal, and social matters, but laws that are deemed draconic, excessively harsh, or oppressive must be ratified by a joint vote of the Federal Assembly of Rulers (one vote per state), Federal Electors (one vote per elector), and a simple majority in each body is required for enactment.”

“In order to encourage innovation in this land, the federation will enact and enforce one unified law called the Law of Intellectual Property, under which all the states will follow the copyright, patent, and trademark laws of the federation. No member territory or state may dilute, challenge, or oppose federal intellectual property statutes.”

“Finally, I am honoured to declare that this Declaration of Unification is enacted on the 12th of June, 1671. It takes effect immediately upon the affixation of the official seals of each permanent member below.”

Saying that, he turned over to the final page to show the seals and signatures of all the member states. He wasn’t foolish enough to give these rulers opportunities to wait, so the moment they showed weakness or agreed to the existence of Federazione Italiana, he had already taken their signatures, and now it was only brought up to make it feel ritualistic.

“Myself, Giovanni Morosini, representing the Republic of Venice as its Doge, wholeheartedly sign this Bill of Unification.”

“His Highness, Duke of Savoy, Charles Emanuel II, and I, Doge of Venice, representing the Duchy of Milan, have signed this Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” Charles Emanuel II took two steps forward, and he raised his hand in agreement

“His Highness, Duke of Savoy, Charles Emanuel II, representing the Duchy of Piedmont, has signed this Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” Charles once again repeated, without stepping back, a hint of pride could be seen in his tone because the size of his territory almost doubled in the span of six months, how could he not be happy

“His Excellency, Doge of Genoa, Andre Durai, representing the Republic of Genoa, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur,” Andre Durai spoke out loud as he came forward. The way he became the Doge was very unusual. The previous Doge, Francisco Maria Sauli, wanted Genova to take the lead in the Federazione Italiana, but when the Venetians did not give him the opportunity to wait, in a fit of rage, he wanted to side with the Spanish. It was then that the Venetians contacted the Durai family, willing to support his family to become the Doge if they supported and joined Federazione Italiana as one of its member states. Before, the family of Durai was completely focused on naval affairs, and since the navy of Genova had gotten pretty weak, so did their family.

So when an opportunity was given to reach the highest position in Genoa in one step, which was previously unimaginable to him, after a long time of torment, he agreed and joined hands with another family who similarly received a different offer from the Venetians to take out the previous Doge. Standing on the banks of the River Po, accepting the Bill of Unification as the supreme ruler of Genoa was surreal for him.

Giovanni Morosini did not care about the complicated emotions of Andre Durai and continued to declare.

“His Excellency, Duke of Savoy, Charles Emanuel II, and I, Doge of Venice, representing the Duchy of Parma, have signed this Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” Everyone looked at Charles Emanuel and Giovanni, who nonchalantly represented themselves for the third time, for the third state, with a hint of jealousy. If there was anyone who made the most of the unification of Italy, then it would be the Venetians and the Savoys.

“His Excellency, Doge Francis Canosssa, representing the Republic of Montua and Montfeirrat, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” It was his Canosssa family who took the lead in putting an end to the tyrannical Duke Ferdinando Carlos Gonzaga Nevers, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat. After eliminating the House of Gonzaga Nevers with the help of the Venetians, he joined hands with the Castiglionis, Arrivabenes, and Cavrianis to form the Republic of Mantua and Montferrat.

“Her Excellency, Duchess Regent Laura Martinosi, representing the Duchy of Modena, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“On behalf of my son, Duke Francisco III Este, I did, and I concur.” The only woman among the leaders came forward without much expression on her face. In her hand was a small child, and it was none other than her son, Duke Francisco III Este. The House of Este had ruled Modena for centuries and had been loyal to the Papal States. However, when rebellions broke out from several rich merchants and the Templar Knights couldn’t reinforce Modena—because Urbino had suddenly risen up, cutting off the Templars from entering Modena—and due to the Medici family of Tuscany having their own problems, she made the tough decision of signing the unification bill to preserve the duchy. Although she still did not like the circumstances under which she had to sign the bill of unification, she thinks that in the long run, this cannot be a good thing. But at least for now, it looks like she has made the right choice, especially after hearing about the elimination of the House of Gonzaga Nevers.

“His Excellency, Duke Francisco Maria III de la Rovere, representing the Duchy of Urbino, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” Francisco Maria III della Rovere came forward and declared proudly. Among all the people who were present, he might have been the only one who was wholeheartedly happy about the unification of the Italian Peninsula. Because if not for the federation that was being formed, he would not have had the chance to avenge his father, who was unjustly assassinated by the Templar Knights and whose duchy was occupied. Now, with the help of the Venetians—who provided him with necessary military supplies and intelligence—and using his own connections to put together an army of men still loyal to his family, he was able not only to take back Urbino but also to cut off the Papal States’ influence from spreading northward, thereby preventing the Templar Knights from interfering further in the northern wars.

“His Excellency, Duke of Savoy, Charles Emanuel II, representing the Duchy of Sardinia, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” When Charles Emanuel came forward the fourth time, no one was even jealous anymore—instead, they felt regretful. They, too, had this opportunity, but they missed it.

“His Excellency, Doge Carlo Delli Piane, representing the Republic of Corsica, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.” His Delli Piane family was the second family the Venetians contacted when the Doge of Genoa, Francisco Maria Sauli, decided to side with the Spanish. In the deal brokered by the Venetian Republic, the Andre family would receive support in Genoa, while the Delli Piane family would receive support in Corsica, which had previously been part of Genoa. But now, both Genoa and Corsica were independent states, ruled by two different republics.

He did feel a little regretful about how things had ended, but being from a family that heavily focused on trade and finance, of all the families in Genoa, theirs had been the most supportive of and actively lobbying for the unification of Italy in economic terms. Their family, which had focused on trade and finance for centuries and had also been financiers for the Spanish Empire, now had a chance to rise even further. And this time, they would not have to hold back their ambition, since they would have Federazione Italiana to protect them from outsiders, unlike before, when Genoa couldn’t do anything if the Spanish imposed unreasonable demands.

“His Excellency, Grand Duke Cosimo III de Medici, representing the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, has signed the Bill of Unification.”

“I did, and I concur.”

Cosimo’s expression was complicated. When he first began to notice something wrong with the Venetians a couple of years ago, he had taken precautions. But when the Venetians’ plans were put into action, it caught him by surprise as he realised they had been planning far longer than he had ever discovered.

His Medici family was one of the oldest in Europe and had a heritage unlike any other family in Italy. But unfortunately, due to his father, Ferdinand II de Medici, who only sought to marry into royal families, the once-glorious lineage had been reduced to only a handful of people.

Now, in Cosimo’s era, he was the only remaining male heir of the family. So, he didn’t want to take any chances in case the Venetians had something up their sleeves that he didn’t know about. It wasn’t that he lacked confidence in his own position—speaking strictly of defending his Grand Duchy, he was confident he could manage it by drawing on the full heritage of his family.

But he didn’t want to take unnecessary risks, especially since his wife was already pregnant. For a family that stood on the verge of extinction, he had no desire to fight to the death with the Venetians, especially when they didn’t even want to rule or occupy his Grand Duchy in the first place.

“Maybe a few decades of peace will allow the family to be rebuilt. After that, perhaps the connections we’ve formed can be used once again,” he thought to himself with a sigh.

“With that, I conclude: *Federazione Italiana* is officially established as a union of eleven member states. God bless Italy.”

“God bless Italy.”

“God bless the Federazione Italiana.”

“God bless the Federazione Italiana.”

P.S. This arc is done. For those confused, I’ll write a briefing next chapter