Italy

It has been conquered!

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Italy
Italy's Location Properties
Continent	Europe
Italy's Properties
Required XP	0
XP Multiplier	1x
Releasables	Current: Austria (Trentino-South Tyrol) Emilia Friuli Liguria Lombardy Naples Piedmont Romagna Sardinia Sicily Trieste Tuscany Valdosta Venetia Considered: South Tyrol
Demonym	Italian
Italy's Base Statistics
City Count	57
Square City Count	5
Capital	Rome
Population	22,239,830
Consumers Required to Upkeep	22.23
Income ($)	$1,678,028
Manpower Capacity	444,797
Starting Conscription Law	Volunteer
Starting Ideology	Non-Aligned
Formable Details
Can Form	Roman Empire Italian Empire European Union Patria Italiana
Required to Form	Ostrogothic Kingdom Roman Empire Kingdom of Lombards Carthage European Union Italian Empire Patria Italiana Frankish Empire
Italy's Natural Resources
Gold	2.21
Oil	11.51

Italy is a Tier IV nation situated on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe .

Italy is widely renowned for its significant attributes that greatly bolster its national influence. It boasts a considerable amount of major cities, fostering substantial economic and military development opportunities, enjoys direct access to resource-rich areas like Northern Africa and the Middle East, and effectively leverages its rugged natural geographic advantages to deter ground invasions.

Background

The following is taken from Wikipedia which is licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0. You can view the article it was taken from here.

Italy (Italia), officially known as the Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana), is a country located in Southern and Western Europe. Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, it comprises a peninsula bordered by the Alps and is surrounded by several islands. Italy shares its land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Vatican City, and San Marino, with a territorial exclave in Switzerland (Campione) and an archipelago in the African Plate (Pelagie Islands). Covering an area of 301,340 square kilometers (116,350 square miles) and with a population of approximately 60 million, Italy is the tenth-largest country in Europe by land area and the third-most populous member state of the European Union. Its capital and largest city is Rome.

History

Thousands of ancient artifacts have been found in Monte Poggiolo, dating back as far as 850,000 years. Neanderthals lived in Italy around 200,000 years ago, and modern humans appeared about 40,000 years ago at Riparo Mochi. Some notable archaeological sites from this period include Addaura cave, Altamura, Ceprano, and Gravina in Puglia. Before the Romans, various Indo-European peoples inhabited pre-Roman Italy, such as the Umbrians, Latins, Volsci, Oscans, and more. Some non-Indo-European groups included the Etruscans, Elymians, Sicani, and Sardinians, who gave rise to the Nuragic civilization. There were also other ancient populations with undetermined languages, like the Rhaetians and Cammuni. Ötzi the Iceman, a well-preserved natural mummy, was discovered in the Similaun glacier of South Tyrol and is about 5,000 years old (from the Copper Age). The Phoenicians were the first foreign colonizers, establishing colonies on the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia. Greeks later established colonies in the 8th and 7th centuries BC, creating Magna Graecia. The rise of Rome began around 753 BC, transitioning from a monarchy to a republic in 509 BC. Rome expanded and eventually became a massive empire, dominating Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. This period saw the emergence of Roman culture and its far-reaching influence on Western civilization. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Italy experienced a series of invasions and fragmentation, with various tribes and kingdoms vying for control. Eventually, Charlemagne incorporated northern Italy into the Frankish Empire, while city-states gained independence in the central and northern regions. The Papal States also formed in central Italy. Italian city-states like Milan, Florence, and Venice played key roles in banking, trade, and cultural development during the Middle Ages. Maritime republics, including Venice and Genoa, dominated trade routes with the East. Italy underwent significant economic and political changes during this time, leading to the Renaissance. In the south, Sicily was ruled by Arab Islamic emirates before being conquered by Italo-Normans. Southern Italy saw various rulers until becoming unified under the House of Aragon in the 15th century. The Black Death pandemic in 1348 had a devastating impact on Italy, killing a significant portion of the population. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or if you'd like me to take any specific actions with this information.

During the 1400s and 1500s, Italy played a central role in the Renaissance, a period that marked the shift from the medieval era to the modern age in Europe. This transition encompassed both economic and cultural revival following the crises of the Late Middle Ages. During this time, Italy transformed into a collection of regional states governed by influential leaders, essentially becoming early modern states distinct from feudal monarchies and multinational empires. The rulers of these Italian regions, often from political dynasties or wealthy merchant families like the Medici in Florence, the Visconti and Sforza in Milan, the Doria in Genoa, the Loredan, Mocenigo, and Barbarigo in Venice, the Este in Ferrara, and the Gonzaga in Mantua, wielded significant influence over trade, administration, and culture. This Renaissance period in Italy was a result of the prosperity amassed by Italian merchant cities and the patronage of powerful families. It left a profound impact on European art and science for centuries to come, with luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giotto, Donatello, and Titian, as well as renowned architects such as Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, Andrea Palladio, and Donato Bramante. After resolving the Western Schism in favor of Rome at the Council of Constance (1415–1417), Pope Martin V returned to the Papal States, reestablishing Italy as the heart of Western Christianity. During his journey, the Medici Bank became the official financial institution of the Papacy, establishing significant connections between the Church and the emerging political dynasties of Italy. The Popes' role as elected monarchs transformed conclaves and consistories during the Renaissance into political contests among Italian courts for dominance in the region and access to the vast resources of the Catholic Church. In 1439, an agreement was reached at the Council of Florence, hosted by Cosimo de' Medici, which reconciled the Catholic Church with the Orthodox Church, strengthening Italy's position in European politics. However, in 1453, Italian forces failed to defend Constantinople from the Ottomans, resulting in the city's fall to Sultan Mehmed II. The capture of Constantinople led to the migration of Greek scholars and texts to Italy, sparking a resurgence of Greco-Roman Humanism. Humanist rulers like Federico da Montefeltro and Pope Pius II established ideal cities where human values were paramount, founding Urbino and Pienza, respectively. Pico della Mirandola's "Oration on the Dignity of Man" became a manifesto of Renaissance Humanism, emphasizing the significance of human free will. Leonardo Bruni, a humanist historian, divided human history into three periods: Antiquity, Middle Ages, and Modernity. The fall of Constantinople also marked the beginning of the Age of Discovery. Italian explorers and navigators from powerful maritime republics sought new routes to the Indies, bypassing the Ottoman Empire, and played a pivotal role in launching the Age of Discovery and European colonization of the Americas. Notable figures included Christopher Columbus (Cristoforo Colombo) for Spain, John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) for England, Amerigo Vespucci for Portugal, and Giovanni da Verrazzano for France. After the conclusion of wars in Lombardy, a defensive alliance called the Italic League was formed, comprising Venice, Naples, Florence, Milan, and the Papacy. Lorenzo de' Medici, known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was a prominent patron of the Renaissance and supporter of the Italic League. However, the military campaign led by Charles VIII of France in Italy brought about the end of the league and initiated the Italian Wars between the Valois and the Habsburgs. During the High Renaissance in the 1500s, Italy became both the main European battleground and the cultural and economic epicenter of the continent. Popes like Julius II and Paul III fought for control over Italy against foreign monarchs, while the Medici popes Leo X and Clement VII opposed the Protestant Reformation. In 1559, following the French invasions of Italy and the Italian Wars, northern Italian states remained part of the Holy Roman Empire, indirectly under Austrian Habsburg rule, while southern Italy and Milan were under Spanish Habsburg dominion. The Papacy remained influential and launched the Counter-Reformation, with key events including the Council of Trent, the excommunication of Elizabeth I, the Battle of Lepanto, and the work of figures like Galileo Galilei. The Italian economy declined during the 1600s and 1700s, as Italy was excluded from the rising Atlantic slave trade. After the European wars of succession in the 18th century, the south came under Spanish Bourbon rule, and the north fell under the influence of the Habsburg-Lorraine of Austria. During the Napoleonic era, the Italian tricolor was adopted as a national flag by the Cispadane Republic in 1797, reflecting the ideals of national self-determination that emerged during the French Revolution. This tricolor was significant in Italian history and celebrated on Tricolour Day. The colors first appeared on a tricolor cockade in 1789, seven years before the Lombard Legion adopted the green, white, and red Italian military war flag in 1796. In the wake of these historical events, Italy continued to experience political upheaval in the 19th century, marked by the resurgence of the ideals of the French Revolution.

The birth of the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century was the culmination of efforts by Italian nationalists and monarchists who sought to unite the Italian Peninsula under a single kingdom. This period of Italian unification, known as the Risorgimento, was characterized by rising Italian nationalism, along with various social, economic, and military developments that led to political upheaval. The Risorgimento movement aimed to unify Italy by consolidating the different states of the peninsula and liberating them from foreign control. Key figures in this movement included Giuseppe Mazzini, a patriotic journalist and founder of the political movement Young Italy, which advocated for a unitary republic and a broad nationalist movement. Mazzini's prolific propaganda efforts played a significant role in keeping the unification movement active. In 1847, "Il Canto degli Italiani," the Italian national anthem, was publicly performed for the first time. Written by Goffredo Mameli and set to music by Michele Novaro, this anthem is also known as the Inno di Mameli or Fratelli d'Italia. Giuseppe Garibaldi, a renowned revolutionary and general, led the drive for Italian unification in Southern Italy, while the House of Savoy, ruling the Kingdom of Sardinia in Northern Italy under the leadership of Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, also aimed to establish a united Italian state. In 1848, during the wave of liberal revolutions in Europe, Italy declared an unsuccessful war of independence against Austria. In 1855, the Kingdom of Sardinia became an ally of Britain and France in the Crimean War, which legitimized Cavour's diplomatic efforts in the eyes of major European powers. In 1859, the Second Italian War of Independence was launched with the support of France, resulting in the liberation of Lombardy. As per the Plombières Agreement, Savoy and Nice were ceded to France during this time. In 1860–1861, Garibaldi led the Expedition of the Thousand, which aimed to unify Naples and Sicily. Simultaneously, the House of Savoy occupied central Italian territories, except for Rome and parts of the Papal States. A pivotal meeting between Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II, the King of Sardinia, took place in Teano in 1860, where Garibaldi acknowledged Victor Emmanuel as the King of Italy, effectively sacrificing republican aspirations for Italian unity under a monarchy. The Sardinian government declared a united Italian kingdom on March 17, 1861, with Victor Emmanuel II becoming the first king, and the capital was relocated from Turin to Florence. In 1866, Victor Emmanuel II allied with Prussia during the Austro-Prussian War, leading to the Third Italian War of Independence and the annexation of Venetia. Finally, in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, as France withdrew its garrisons from Rome, Italian forces took over the Papal States, completing Italian unification. Italy's capital was subsequently moved to Rome. This period saw the rise of key figures in the unification process, including Victor Emmanuel, Garibaldi, Cavour, and Mazzini, who are often referred to as Italy's Four Fathers of the Fatherland. In the years following unification, Italy became a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. However, political power remained concentrated among the propertied and educated classes, excluding many from the political process. As Northern Italy rapidly industrialized, the South and rural areas of the North lagged behind, leading to mass emigration abroad and the emergence of a substantial Italian diaspora. Italy also expanded its colonial empire in Africa, taking control of Eritrea, Somalia, Tripolitania, Cyrenaica (later unified as Libya), and the Dodecanese islands in the eastern Mediterranean. Male universal suffrage was adopted in 1913, marking an important development in Italian politics. Italy entered World War I in 1915 with the aim of achieving national unity. The Italian intervention in the war is also considered the Fourth Italian War of Independence. Italy was initially allied with the Central Powers but later switched sides to join the Allies. Italian forces played a significant role in the conflict, contributing to the victory of the Allied powers. The war had a profound impact on Italy, resulting in economic difficulties and heavy casualties. After the war, Italy gained territories through treaties like the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Treaty of Rapallo. However, the promised territorial gains outlined in the Treaty of London were not fully realized, leading to the concept of a "Mutilated victory" and fueling Italian imperialism. The post-war period also witnessed the rise of the Italian Socialist Party. During the interwar period, Italy pursued an expansionist foreign policy under the leadership of Benito Mussolini's fascist regime. Italy aimed to establish a "New Roman Empire" and held control over the Mediterranean as a key goal. Mussolini's regime engaged in military interventions in places like Ethiopia, Albania, and Spain. Italy eventually entered World War II in 1940 as part of the Axis powers. World War II saw Italy's involvement on multiple fronts, including North Africa and the Balkans. The country's eventual defeat led to the fall of Mussolini's regime in 1943, and Italy signed an armistice with the Allies. However, Germany occupied northern and central Italy, while Mussolini led the Italian Social Republic in the north. Italy became a battleground in the later stages of World War II, with the Resistance movement fighting against German forces and Mussolini's Republic. The war ended in 1945 with Italy's surrender and the execution of Mussolini by Italian partisans. The post-war period brought significant challenges, including reconstruction, political divisions, and the eventual establishment of the Italian Republic in 1946. This historical overview covers the foundational moments in Italy's path from fragmentation to unification, through periods of monarchy and fascism, leading to the establishment of the modern Italian Republic.

The history of the Italian Republic is marked by significant political, social, and economic developments. After World War II, Italy transitioned from a monarchy to a republic following a 1946 referendum, and it adopted its Republican Constitution in 1948. Here are some key points in the history of the Italian Republic: Transition to a Republic (1946): Italy became a republic on June 2, 1946, following a national referendum in which the majority of Italians voted to abolish the monarchy. This marked the end of the House of Savoy's rule, and Victor Emmanuel III's son, Umberto II, was forced to abdicate and go into exile. Adoption of Republican Constitution (1948): Italy's Republican Constitution was approved on January 1, 1948. This constitution established Italy as a parliamentary republic with a president as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. Territorial Changes: After World War II, as part of the Treaty of Peace with Italy in 1947, Italy underwent territorial changes. Istria, Kvarner, most of the Julian March, and the city of Zara were annexed by Yugoslavia, leading to the Istrian-Dalmatian exodus of ethnic Italians from those regions. Additionally, the Free Territory of Trieste was divided between Italy and Yugoslavia. Economic Miracle (1950s-1960s): Italy experienced a period of sustained economic growth known as the "Economic Miracle" during the late 1950s and 1960s. The country's economy was revived with the help of the Marshall Plan, and Italy became the world's fifth-largest industrial nation. European Integration (1950s): Italy was one of the six founding countries of the European Communities. It played a role in the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, the European Economic Community (common market) in 1958, and the European Atomic Energy Community. Years of Lead (Late 1960s-1980s): Italy experienced a period of political turmoil and social conflict known as the "Years of Lead." This era was characterized by economic crises, terrorist activities carried out by extremist groups, and political violence. Notable events included the assassination of Aldo Moro and the Bologna railway station massacre. End of Christian Democrat Rule (1990s): The early 1990s brought political challenges, including a massive corruption scandal known as Tangentopoli ("Bribesville"). The scandal implicated major parties, including the Christian Democrats, which had ruled for decades. The political landscape underwent significant changes. Shifts in Government (1990s-2000s): Italy saw a rotation of governments led by both center-right and center-left coalitions, including leaders like Silvio Berlusconi and Romano Prodi. Economic challenges, high national debt, and political instability persisted. Mafia-Related Terrorism (1992-1993): Italy faced terror attacks in the early 1990s perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia in response to anti-mafia measures. These attacks included bombings and assassinations. Recent Political Developments: In recent years, Italy has experienced political changes and coalitions, often characterized by the rise of populist parties. The country has also faced challenges related to immigration and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mario Draghi's Government: In 2021, Italy faced a government crisis due to political disagreements within the majority. Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, formed a national unity government supported by major political parties to address the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. Giorgia Meloni's Government (2022): In October 2022, Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister. Her right-wing government includes the Brothers of Italy party, the far-right League, and Forza Italia, led by Silvio Berlusconi.

Base Statistics

Economy

Italy starts off with a moderate income generating $1,553,476 revenues from tax collection, while the remaining $124,552 roots from natural resource production. However, due to its starting home guard of 120,000, it raises its national expenses through increasing military upkeep by $240,000, which in turn, decreases its final balance to $1,438,028.

Resources

Italy begins with minimal deposits of crucial resources such as Oil and Tungsten, however, it produces one Titanium in the city of Genoaper 5 days, which is considered a rare and important material.

Resources of Italy

Gold	+2.21
Oil	+11.51

Military

Italy begins with the Volunteer conscription law, which maximizes its manpower capacity to 444,797, with a limited manpower gain of around 2,270 per 5 days.

Italy starts with a single home guard division comprised of 120,000 infantry, located in Rome.

Base Manpower Capacity of Italy per Conscription Law

Disarmed [1% RP]	222,399
Volunteer [2% RP]	444,797
Limited [5% RP]	1,111,992
Extensive [10% RP]	2,223,983
Required [25% RP]	5,559,958

Geography

Italy's terrain

Terrain

The terrain of Italy is split into two distinct parts: the north and south. In the upmost north, the area mostly comprises of rugged Mountainous topography, while descending towards the south, the elevation decreases into Hilly landscapes, with the exception of lowlands surrounding the entirety of Rome and most of San Marino. In the south, it is vastly covered in hilly, including the island of Sardinia. The most southern points on the eastern coast is not embodied with any special terrain.

Italy during winter

Biome

Italy does not experience any natural biomes, however, during the months of December and January, northern Italy temporarily transitions to Mild Winter.

Borders

Italian Tiles

Italy shares an international border with 5 countries being

• Austria
• France
• San Marino
• Slovenia
• Switzerland

Cities

Italy begins with a total of 57 cities with only 5 of them surpassing the one million population milestone. Italy's top three most populous cities are: Rome, its capital and most populated city, with a base population of 3,339,000 people, Milan with a population of 2,945,000, and Naples with a population of 2,250,000.

Tiles

Italy contains a total of roughly 35 Tiles.

Politics

Ideology

Italy starts on the Non-Aligned ideology.

Formables

• Territory of the Roman Empire
• Territory of the Italian Empire
• Territory of the European Union

1/3

Italy with all releasables released.

Italy can form 3 formables; with those formables being:

• European Union
• Italian Empire
• Roman Empire

Releasables

Italy consists of 14 cored releasables. Those releasables are:

• Austria (South Tyrol breaks away from Italy into Austria)
• Emilia
• Friuli
• Liguria
• Lombardy
• Naples
• Piedmont
• Romagna
• Sardinia
• Sicily
• Trieste
• Tuscany
• Valdosta
• Venetia

Threats

• Germany and France requires to annex the entirety of Italy in order to form the Frankish Empire
• France requires several Italian cities to form the Napoleonic Empire.
• Spain is considered a maritime threat due to it being one of the strongest nations in the region. Spain will usually launch a naval and amphibious invasion in order to successfully capitulate and conquer Italy, for the expansion of land or to solely form the European Union.
• Turkey may establish a foothold in the Balkans or Northern Africa, giving them a decisive advantage to invade Italy through multiple fronts.
• Any European countries wanting to form the European Union.

Strategy

Starting Moves

• The first thing you should want to do is put 2 Electronics factories, 1 motor factory, and 1 steel factory. Buy the materials you need from foreign nations to sustain your factories, and once you have electronics, sell them to make extra income.
• It is better not to form Italian Empire right away, but instead start expanding elsewhere first. Going to northern Africa, Greece, and other nearby lands may do you better in the long term rather than jumping down deep into Africa at the start. Do not ally anybody that you need to form the Roman Empire (if you are looking to form the Roman Empire).
• If somebody wants to ally you and they are powerful, you should probably accept it. However, if you need their lands later on you should toss them aside you don't need them.
• Making submarines might be a good idea if a nation tries to attack you. Make tanks (not advisable late-game), air-force, navy, and infantry (only advisable for late game) if you are able. If you're going to form Roman Empire you're going to need full power in every arm and leg. If you are going against a powerful enemy you want a at least strong air-force and navy.

Keep your positioning in mind, as in early game it only gives you access to small nations. However in mid-game it might be your savior, as the terrain that surrounds you is mainly mountainous and serves as a natural shield against your northern enemies.

Expansionist Italy: The Road to Rome

Italy is one of the more difficult European countries to play right, and without good allies it can be very difficult to accomplish the ultimate goal of most Italian players: restoring the glory of the Roman Empire. On one hand, you are much closer to the resource rich lands of North Africa and the Middle East than neighboring countries like France and Spain, and can get a head start on securing the area. However, your position is also a vulnerability as Europe and the Middle East are usually quite populated and the site of many early game wars. As a weaker country, you must balance securing as much land as you can with avoiding player conflicts as much as possible until you are ready. Even then, fighting player wars will both slow your expansion and delay your economic growth in the long run, so ideally you should try to defeat your enemies as fast as possible with as few losses as possible and fight other players only when absolutely necessary. This strategy will take a high level of skill in micro and nation management, precise timing, and not a little bit of luck. However, with high risks come high rewards, and an Italy with this strategy has the potential to go toe to toe with more powerful neighbors such as Germany, Russia, and even superpowers such as China in the mid to late game.

Early Game Rush

Most Italian players will aim for Libya first then sail through the Suez Canal to conquer the Horn of Africa for the Italian Empire formable, give or take a few Balkan nations. This method is actually one of the most inefficient ways to build up Italy, as the 10% stability boost and the small pool of resources that you get from these territories far outweighs the time, men and resources wasted in fighting in the mountains of Ethiopia and the desert wastelands of Libya. Instead, rushing Egypt is one of the most reliable ways to gain control over the Middle East. Egypt has a large population and vital titanium mines, making it a very high value target. Unfortunately, a player Egypt will be a bit of a wildcard, given that any halfway decent player can finish your army before the invasion begins. Ideally, you should only go in if it is an AI, but some players will be new or inexperienced enough to be a pushover regardless, especially if they join too late to stop you from taking Cairo. If it seems too risky, you can try again on another server or go for North Africa first, dealing with player Egypt later. After rushing Egypt, you should either already have motor factories fully supplied or have them ready within a few months, and should now expand in a logical order across the Middle East and North Africa. Turkey, an expansionist European nation, or possible wildcards like the United States and India will be your main concerns. In order to reduce the risk of a long and drawn out war, try to ally yourself with a powerful faction or get alliances with the superpowers, given that they aren't in the way of your expansionist plans. Below is the general build and capture order you should follow for the first few years of the game, and should be adapted to your situation.

• Immediately justify on Egypt and Greece as soon as you enter the game. Spend your starting money and manpower on tanks instead of infantry as in this stage of the game tanks allow you to invade enemies relatively quickly. If Egypt turns into a player, it is advisable to instead invade other nations until you have the treasury to sustain a proper fleet to defeat Egypt.
• Merge all of your infantry and send it to Egypt with an escort a month before your justification. Keep your infantry near Malta until you can declare war to avoid getting your declaration blocked. Land at Alexandria, allow the Home Guard to march into your army, with your escort in range, and then capture Cairo. Queue up tanks as soon as you can make them and send all your tanks to Egypt to speed up the capturing process. After every justification is ready, make sure to not forget justifying on your next set of countries!
• Make sure to invade Greece at the same time as Egypt, this goes with every nation you invade (unless your war-exhaust gets too high) as it will ensure you will expand rapidly.
• Justify on either Saudi Arabia and Syria or Algeria and Tunisia if anyone else is planning to take it. All your money and manpower should go into producing tanks. Make sure you have enough oil to support your tanks, or you will lose them from deficit!
• Finally, get 3,000 tanks and a proper fleet (1 battleship, 2 destroyers, 1 submarine) as support and invade Turkey. Make sure to overwhelm them by rushing tanks at an undefended or poorly defended border to finish the war quickly.

In general, finding a way to capture most if not all of the nations listed above will give you an efficient and stripped down "mini Rome" powerful enough to defeat the remaining countries needed for the formable. Given that Middle Eastern and North African nations are common picks, this capture order can be modified to suit your needs (for example, getting rid of AI Turkey instead of dealing with an aggressive player Egypt at the start of the game). Do not forget to secure alliances with Russia, China, India, Iran and any other neighboring powers that could be looking to expand into the Middle East. Negotiation and diplomacy is almost always preferable to wasting your money and manpower in a drawn out war with a superior or near equal enemy.

Securing the Empire

Although you will be in a powerful position for the mid-game, making it this far does not mean a guaranteed victory. Italy will still have issues with a weak economy and low stability, which require careful development to overcome. Confronting your more powerful neighbors and the super powers in the mid to late game will not be an easy task. Your first priority is taking some time to build the factories you need to get consumer goods. Usually this should take around 1-2 factories depending on the policies and ideology you have. By this time there should be enough political power saved up for you to take socialism and 1-2 policies if absolutely necessary. Do not take nationalism or spend political power on any useless policies as you should be saving up your political power for communism at this point. Mines are a good investment to boost titanium and tungsten production, but not worth it for other resources unless the city produces a large amount of it. Any excess resources should be sold to AI or friendly players in need for extra income. Try to solidify your position by inviting some of your neighbors into a common defense faction, which will be a useful deterrent against invaders. For events, focus on maximizing political power output, stability, and research point gain. Try to spend money on events with a large stability/research boost event if it puts you somewhat into debt, and keep government and research spending as high as possible. Deficits and debt that are not too large should not be an issue as you can make a steady stream of income by conquering the remaining smaller AI nations around you in the Middle East, the Balkans and Africa. The Italian Empire will be helpful for a stability boost but don't make Ethiopia a priority, as other areas such as Uganda (which produces tungsten) are more productive. Once you have reached a decent stability level and stored up a good warchest of around 1 billion to 2 billion dollars, you can be ready to expand once more.

Roma Invicta

Smashing through the remaining European nations should be an easy task if no overwhelmingly large empire has made their claim already. Try to expand your foothold into Europe by taking Greece and the Balkan nations if you haven't done so already, as it provides a good buffer zone against Russian or Chinese armies from the east and can be used to threaten Germany's underbelly. However, your main entry point into Western Europe should be from Iberia, which is only separated from France by a small strip of mountains and from you by the Strait of Gibraltar. If Spain isn't an AI already, a quick naval invasion along the Mediterranean coast backed up by a half decent navy should be enough to batter them into submission, assuming they aren't in a faction. From Spain, punch through France's lines before they redeploy their forces and take Paris, after which you can split your tanks and overrun the country entirely. If the British are an easy target, take them down before facing Germany, but leave them alone for now if their navy and defenses seem like too much trouble. After overwhelming Germany, finish Britain by sending whatever ships you can muster to distract their navy. With careful micro and artillery support, you should be able to move straight into London. Tanks are sometimes not ideal depending on if they have AT infantry, so if you can, bring trained infantry deathstacks to clear out London while using your tanks to chase away any artillery or newly spawned divisions. If you aren't at war with any super powers, finishing Europe should be a simple task by now, but if you are, you should make some additional preparations before starting the war.

Handling Multiple Fronts

Here is a typical scenario for unfortunate European players in the late game: you and your allies have been swiftly taking out your neighbors and are ready to unify Europe, when suddenly from the depths of Russia or across the sea a massive horde of American or Chinese troops arrive, sometimes simultaneously. What should you do in this situation? Don't panic! Facing a superior enemy can be intimidating, but with strong defenses and careful planning you can not only survive, but achieve victory. Unfortunately, given how the game is balanced, this scenario is far from rare, so you should always have the possibility of having to fight one of the more likely superpowers (China, India, Brazil, Russia, United States) in mind. Before you start invading Europe, you should have set your nation on a war footing in terms of policies and tech. A fully researched research and political power tree is almost a necessity late game, as well as Communism, Forced Labor and other powerful stability/economic policies, and a few generals with good traits. Unless you desperately need money, your research efforts should focus on infantry and support first then improving tanks rather than economic improvements. Once you unlock these tech upgrades, the tactical roles of military units undergo a fundamental shift, which you should keep in mind. In general, infantry are best used as the workhorse of the army for initiating pushes and holding defensive lines, with artillery and planes bringing the firepower behind them. Tanks are regulated to breaking through weakly defended areas, capturing swathes of undefended land, sniping artillery or scouting out enemy forces. Common sense tells us that an all infantry army would be far more useful than an all tank army, so keep only a small strike of 3,000 to 5,000 tanks to grab land once you've defeated an enemy force and switch what you don't need to infantry. For defense, many players don't recognize that terrain and climate provides a critical role in deciding an engagement. Instead of placing your smaller army on the border where they can be overwhelmed by numbers, site out mountainous areas to entrench your infantry and let artillery eat away at the enemy death stacks. High attrition areas like deserts and jungles are also a great natural barrier that will decimate any enemy army that tries to march through it. In the worst case scenario where there are only plains in good weather, such as Germany, build lines of forts, entrench and have plenty of reserves to slow down the enemy. Depending on your situation, set up three defensive fronts in Iran, Eastern Europe from Poland to Romania, and along the Sahara in North Africa. Build forts and highways if necessary with plenty of artillery. In North Africa, where the attrition is high, pull back to the coast where your navy is and let the enemy come to you. However, do not abandon Ethiopia to ensure that you don't lose the advantage of mountain fighting or let Egypt's resources fall into enemy hands. Overall, even if heavily outnumbered, good defenses will allow you to wear the enemy down and destroy his army through attrition warfare, eventually giving you the upper hand. However, all of these strategies only applies to land warfare. Dealing with a naval invasion is quite a different matter...

The War On the Waves

As for most European empires, the Atlantic provides a large, vulnerable flank for enemies to dig their teeth in. France, Spain, Britain, and Morocco are all quite open to naval invasions, which are almost a certainty if you are facing the United States or Brazil in the late game. Here, land defenses should be your last resort, and the best way to stop the enemy is by winning on the waves. As detailed above, Italy is quite an underdog when it comes to naval fights. Even with the entire Roman Empire, a regular US or Brazil will surely economically overwhelm you in the long run. However, your goal isn't to destroy their navy entirely, but to ensure that they never gain complete naval superiority. Looking to history, the German Navy during both World Wars managed to contest the superiority of the Allies through submarine warfare. Although there are no merchant ships that you can sink, intercepting troops on the ocean will do the same economic damage and wear out your opponents. Naval management will require intense micro, and is better left to an ally, but can be an effective way to delay or halt naval invasions entirely if done with skill. However, without a surface fleet there would be nothing stopping the enemy navy from running roughshod over your seas, so a mixed fleet is required. The majority of the submarines should be spread out in 4-5 ship wolf packs across the Atlantic. Place them close to the predicted path of enemy convoys then strike once the enemy is distracted to sink the enemy As submarines are cheap compared to big stacks of tanks and infantry, you can lose a lot of them and still trade effectively. Alternatively, if they decide to send a massive amount of poorly escorted convoys in a headlong rush toward your land, form a line across the Atlantic to intercept and destroy as many as possible. The rest should be too small to overwhelm any troops you send to stop them on the beaches. While your submarines are frustrating the enemy and sniping convoys, your main surface fleet should be sheltered in the Mediterranean. Even with a limited economy, you can still build a powerful task force centered around 1-2 battleships, which will be the heavy hitters of the fleet. Always produce as many destroyers as possible, as they will be your screens that save your battleships from getting torpedoed. A small stack of submarines should be kept separate from the main fleet and sent in only after most of the destroyers have been finished. Even a huge stack of 10 battleships will find that fighting a few submarines without escorts will be nothing short of a death sentence, and a costly loss for the enemy. Try to build up a large amount of artillery near Gibraltar and force the enemy fleet through the Straits, as they will be bombarded from both sides. By combining land and naval defenses, you can deal a crippling blow to even massive battleship navies that super powers like the US will field. Once again, by employing attrition and careful defenses, a powerful enemy force can be defeated easily and quickly.

Afterwards

Although the Roman Empire is quite a difficult formable one of the weakest regional powers around in the Mediterranean, Italy's unique starting point only a few hundred kilometers from the Middle East gives it a good chance to quickly expand into a major contender for world domination in the late game. Despite how underwhelming Italy seems, the flexibility and potential in terms of game play that it brings makes it one of the most underrated and fun nations in the game.

Trivia

• Italy is one of Western Europe's newer countries, despite its extensive historical background. Italy only became a unified nation in 1861.
• Rome, the capital of Italy, boasts a history of over 2,000 years. It was founded in 753 BC, and the Roman Empire, one of the most influential civilizations in history, came into being in 27 BC, reigning over Europe and parts of North Africa until 395 AD.
• Italy experienced a period of dictatorship that lasted for 20 years. Benito Mussolini established this authoritarian regime in 1925, leading the country until 1945.
• Following World War II, Italy transitioned into a republic, and its last king, Umberto II, had a brief 36-day reign from May 9 to June 12, 1946.
• Italy as well as the United Kingdom are the only nations in-game that have a core of a foreign starting nation, (South Tyrol Having a core of Austria)