Caparetta

The Kingdom of Caparetta (Laurentian: Royaume de Caparetta; Geinic: Königreich Caparetta; Aquitan: Royame de Caparetta) is a sovereign state in western Brigidna. It is bordered to the west by Nerysia, to the south by Gehenna, Gein Lochland, and the Laurentian Kingdom, and to the north by West Kaljurand. Caparetta is nominally an absolute monarchy ruled by King Leopold IV of House Ladislaus, although the king's authority is limited by the influential aristocracy and parliament.

History

Laurentian Empire

In the 4th and 5th centuries, the Laurentian Empire came to rule much of eastern Geinland. Much of the population of eastern Geinland were ethnically and linguistically related to the Vallish, and some Laurentian settlers settled in modern day southern Caparetta. During their rule, the Laurentian language came into widespread usage, eventually subsuming several native languages.

Fall of the Laurentian Empire

In the mid-5th century, nomadic invaders from the east, led by the Kubanizan warlord Borslav the Terrible, took the Laurentian Empire by surprise, and much of the empire was lost to the invaders, who raped and pillaged their way across Brigidna. Only the Vallish homeland in the south, around the capital of Lauren was left untouched thanks to the defensive actions of Vallish forces. The invaders were defeated a few years later in the Battle of Argen by a Sentrite army. The Laurentians were never able to recover their empire, and so their former territories in the north were left independent, though ravaged by the nomadic invaders.

Government

Caparetta is nominally an absolute monarchy, but in reality the king's authority is limited by Parliament and the aristocracy.

Parliament

Parliament is made up of two houses: the Chamber of the Commons and the Chamber of Royal Deputies. The Chamber of the Commons is elected by the general populace in quadrennial elections. Every adult citizen aged 25 and older may vote for a representative according to his electoral district. The Chamber of the Commons was created as a concession by the monarchy and aristocracy to the common people, who had demanded more effective representation in the government. The Chamber of Royal Deputies is chosen by the aristocracy, almost always from among themselves (although there have been rare exceptions in the past). Many seats are inherited and passed down among families.

Royal Council

The Royal Council is the executive cabinet of the government. It contains twelve seats, eleven of which are the head ministers of the government and are chosen by Parliament or by the Crown. The Crown Prince fills the twelfth seat. The Crown chooses three of the eleven ministers, the Royal Deputies five, and the Commons three, so that in theory the monarchy controls four members of the Royal Council, the aristocracy controls five, and the common people control three.

According to tradition, the king himself does not deal directly with the Royal Council, but does so through his representative the Crown Prince, his heir.

Office	Chosen by
Minister of Defense	Crown
Minister of Foreign Affairs	Crown
Minister of Culture	Crown
Minister of Mercantile Affairs	Royal Deputies
Minister of the Interior	Royal Deputies
Minister of Justice	Royal Deputies
Minister of Immigration	Royal Deputies
Minister of the Treasury	Royal Deputies
Minister of Agriculture	Commons
Minister of the Curriculum	Commons
Minister of Health and Human Services	Commons

The Crown

The current King of Caparetta is Leopold IV. The Crown Prince is Frederick. Historically, much of the king's influence depends upon the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince is too young to fill the role expected of him, a First Minister is appointed by the king to represent him.