Crowned Republic of Senarica:
Located between the borders the regions of Abruzzo and Lazio in Italy, Senarica and the neighboring village of Poggio Umbricchio were, at the time, on the border of the Kingdom of Naples and the Papal States. In 1343 Queen Joanna I of Naples granted the area independence due to the inhabitants' fierce resistance against hostile troops from Milan under the command of Lord Ambrogio
Visconti --- this was part of a larger struggle between the Kingdom of Naples and its northern Italian rivals.
Upon independence the rulers of Senarica looked to the Republic of Venice for inspiration as to the formation and structure of their government. As a result they adopted a similar republican government with an elected doge as head of state. For many years the republic did not have a coat of arms or a flag. At first the idea of adopting a flag that resembled Venice's flag, with a lion prominently displayed, was proposed, but the idea was dropped in favor of another design. Inspired by murals and reliefs carved into the church of the town of Poggio Umbricchio, the flag eventually displayed a crowned white eagle on a black shield attempting to grasp a laurel, all on a golden-yellow flag. The eagle with the crown is thought to have been the local inhabitants' interpretation of the Eagle of St. John and meant to represent the region's catholic roots. The eagle is seen grasping a laurel, representing the regions desire for peace, but a firm determination to defend their lands. This heraldry was adopted due to Senarica's firm resistance against invading troops from Milan, which ensure their independence.
Over the centuries Senarica's independence remained intact, its size and relative unimportance to its larger neighbors ensuring it a level of security despite is violent founding years in the wake of Joanna I's wars with Milan. Its economy mostly revolved around agriculture, especially in wine, chestnuts, and tobacco. The revenue generated from wine and tobacco crops allowed the republic to gain a hefty sum of money to invest into its infrastructure and economy, allowing it to grow steadily over the years. It was able to build a jail and even a small barracks, which allowed for the creation of the republic's "army". Due to its past, the leaders of Senarica put great emphasis on the readiness of the nation's defense. Along with the formation of a small constabulary, Sernarica once again took inspiration from Venice and formed its own militia force from the local inhabitants. Usually hiring individual mercenaries to help train the town militia, these citizen soldiers of Senerica were a fairly well motivated despite never having to engage in combat for most of the republic's history.
The republic would survive into the 19th century, with is militia engaging in small skirmishes with brigands and Italian nationalists attempting to unify Italy. As a self proclaimed ally to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the region that gave Senarica its independence, it would eventually be annexed into the Kingdom of Italy by force in the 1860s.
^^^ --- Flag of the Crowned Republic of Senarica.
) was lacking, so I redesigned it.
