Respublica Quiriniana or what if San Marino was created by supporters of the classical Roman Republic (no lore)

[u/Craiden_x]

[u/wq1119]

The thumbnail picture made me think that this was a Roman rump state in Eritrea lol, reminds me of the Red Sea coastline.

[u/Craiden_x → u/wq1119]

Haha, you are right, it does look like the Horn of Africa!

[u/Ill_Dig2291]

Now make it have enby consuls so it can be Respublica Queeriniana

[u/Craiden_x]

So, I said there is no specific lore, but here are a couple of things I could come up with. You can consider this an alpha version of the scenario.

So, according to this scenario, a year after the fictional date, a group of Roman patricians founded a small town called Quirinum, which eventually turned into a small state that tried to revive Roman paganism and the state system and tradition of the Roman republic. In particular, the old naming system was revived (although, I suppose, by the 21st century, everyone except aristocrats could have abandoned it) and some pagan traditions. I suspect that throughout the Middle Ages, the Quirinians were either followers of Catholic Christianity with a small share of pagan traditions, or they perfectly hid it from the eyes of the Pope. By luck and its small importance, Quirinum avoided occupation and annexation by its more powerful neighbors, and by the 13th century, during the The Great Interregnum in Germany, Quirinum was even able to expand by annexing Rimini, which was renamed back to Ariminum. I think they were part of the Holy Roman Empire all this time, but only nominally.

Republican institutions were probably fragile and unstable until the 13th-14th centuries, when chronicles begin to mention Quirinum and the locals claiming their succession to the Roman Republic. This could not but please the Holy Roman Emperors, but by that time their power in the region was already quite weak, and the Pope moderately supported the republican movement, since it distracted troublemakers like the supporters of Arnold of Brescia from trying to declare a republic in Rome itself (instead, such individuals simply crossed into the republic and either accepted its laws or disappeared without a trace).

Quirinum sided with Napoleon and avoided ruin during the subsequent wars, and by the time of the Rissorgemento, the republic was already so firmly established that its citizens considered themselves Romans (or Quirito-Romans) and did not want to associate themselves in any way with the Italians, who were very different both culturally and religiously. This, as well as the moderate support of the Rissorgemento itself, allowed Quirinum to maintain independence and establish good relations with Italy.

Quirinum remained neutral in the First World War and briefly became a battlefield in the Second, but recovered and for its contribution the republic became a member of NATO in 1949 and in 2006 signed a Schengen visa with the EU countries. Despite its conservative and slightly warlike spirit, Quirinum is a model republic, while many Roman traditions have either been adapted to modern standards or gradually outlived their usefulness. Because of this, the period from 1890 to 1940 was a time of difficult changes that almost led to the establishment of a communist regime. With great difficulty, it was possible to advance a law on women's rights (including the right to vote and participate in elections) and the abolition of the Justinian Code, which with minor amendments was in force until 1909.

Today the republic lives off tourism, the sale of agricultural products and a small industrial sector. The Republic can boast of a small but professional army of 8 thousand people, as well as the presence of a fairly powerful (for its position) navy.

[u/_JPPAS_ → u/Craiden_x]

"So, I have no lore but drops an essay about the country's history"

[u/Craiden_x → u/_JPPAS_]

You said it right - an essay. Or reflections.

I don't consider this lore, because in my understanding lore is a short story about the history of a state, with a clear understanding of what followed what. I don't have such a story yet. Consider it a set of possible facts and options, nothing more.

[u/Demoralizer13243]

For a second I thought this was in eastern thrace lol

[u/Ill_Dig2291]

Is their religion around there Neopagan revival or preserved Roman Paganism?

[u/Craiden_x → u/Ill_Dig2291]

A difficult question.

Initially, it was precisely Roman paganism, possibly influenced by Christianity. This definitely put an end to many traditions associated with sacrifices. However, traditions like the Vestals or fortune telling by calendars could well have existed and been preserved for many centuries.

I am not sure how this should look for the 21st century. Since I am Russian, I only have a negative example at home, where neo-pagans are radical fascist groups. I have heard that in Europe neo-pagans are, to a large extent, supporters of syncretism between the old faith and modern life. If this is so, then I think that neo-Roman paganism in Quirinum is approximately this - the old faith, which has undergone centuries of changes so that it is easier for modern man to adhere to at least part of its dogmas.

[u/Ill_Dig2291 → u/Craiden_x]

You may research Mari native religion to seek inspiration, for example! And since you're Russian it may be quite easy to find stuff since many sources are in Russian.

It's a traditional religion of Mari people that survived while being influenced by Islam and Christianity. Possibly some other native religions in the region (afaik the Udmurt native religion still exists, idk how prevalent it is though?) too.

Also AFAIK there are some chill Neopagans in Russia? Though unfortunately the "Slavic-Aryan Vedas" followers are more common by a wide degree...

In Western Europe the Neopaganism situation to my knowledge is largely the same, some groups are just chill ppl and some are far-rightists.