Piombino

Lu Princêpaletatti da Ppopulogna i Rriotuortu
Principality of Populonia and Riotorto

Image not available. Flag of Piombino
Motto: Summos lhibres.
Subdivision of:	Italy
Cities:
Capital:	Populonia
Largest:	Riotorto
Other:	Baratti
Languages:
Official:	Elbic, Italian
Others:	Corsican, Tuscan
Prince:	Alessandro II
Area:	129 sq. km
Population:	24,000 Piombinans
Established:	1816, Ceded to Carolina Appianni and Gian Gastone Ludovisi-Boncompagnani.

Piombino (Italian; Elbic Piombinnu) is an island and small tract of mainland on the Italian coast north of Elba. Up to the year 1816, it was a part of the Principality of Elba, but after the Napoleonic wars, it was ceded to an Elban noblewoman, Carolina Appianni, daughter of Carlu IV, and her new husband, Gian Gastone Ludovisi-Boncompagnani, an Italian who had been one of Napoleon's generals. They formed the House of Appianni-Ludovissi, which to this day rules Piombino. The official name of the Principality is Populonia and Riotorto (those being the principal cities of the islands), but the common name is that of the island, Piombino.

Administration

Government

Piombino is one of the few modern examples of a direct democracy, albeit one with slight limitations. Each town elects a town council, which in turn elects a mayor. These mayors compose the council of mayors. The Prince of Piombino, also the mayor of Riotorto, and as such directs the council and is required to enact the proposals that are passed during the opinion polls. The council meets triweekly to debate issues and create proposals. These proposals are then presented to the people at bimonthly polls, where each citizen either approves or disapproves of each proposal. Those which receive a three-fifths majority of the vote (14,400 votes) are implemented by the Prince.

The official title of the current Prince is Lu Princêppi Alessandro II Appianni-Ludovissi da Ppopulogna i Rriotuortu.

History

Piombino's history diverges from that of Elba at the beginning of the 18th century and the end of the Napoleonic wars. As a reward for support during the war, Cárolina Appiani and Gian Gastone Ludovisi-Boncompagnani were granted rule over the principality, previously ruled solely by the council of mayors, under the supervision of the Prince of Elba. Their marriage created the House of Appianni-Ludovissi, which continues to supervise the Principality to this day under the leadership of Prince Alessandro II Appianni-Ludovissi.

In 1951, the Elban Appiani family was killed in a freak squall whilst sailing out to observe the Piombino Regatta from Populonia harbor, the premier sailing race in Italy which selects Italy's sailing team for the World Games. Among candidates for the Princeship of Elba considered by Elba's parliament was Gionni Appianni-Ludovissi, younger brother of Prince Alessandro II. However, former Italian president Benito Mussolini won out, becoming Prince Benittu I Mussolinni.

Geography

Borders

Piombino is bordered by: North: Tuscany
West: Piombino Strait
South: Elba
East: Tuscany

Economy

Tourism, various industries including fishing.

Culture

Lus Piombinannus, the people of Piombino, are general a nice group of people. They tend to be well-informed about local issues, as well as issues in Elba, Tuscany, and other parts of Italy. At first glance, not the most fiery or independent of people. On the surface, that is true, but deep down, each Piombinannu has a little bit of the free spirit that gave their island its motto: We are free. Now that Piombino is its own principality, citizens are showing more loyalty to its history, and especially to the Elbic language which distinguishes them from their Tuscan neighbors.

History and Culture

While their neighbors in Elba have been continually passed over by history, the citizens of Piombino seem genuinely frantic to contribute something to world history. Piombino was the Between 1955 and 1969, Princess Luisa I was elected as monarch of Italy, an accomplishment unheard of for an islander (as the citizens of Piombino and Elba are called). More recently, in 1998 and 2004, teams from Piombino finished first in the Piombino Regatta (which itself went from a nearly-unknown race between two boats in 1891 to one of Italy's most-watched sports events), which had not happened prior to that since 1923. Piombino has far and away surpassed all possible expectations for such a small island, and more success seems inevitable for these hearty people.