Giuzza

Ducato di Giuzza Duchy of Joos
Conventional short name:
Local:	Giuzza
Ingallish:	Joos
Data codes:	JI, JIL
Languages:
Official:	Joosian
Others:	Mixtuptecan, Mauretanian
Cities:
Capital:	Joostown
Other:	Refugio
Government type:	De jure semi-autonomous principality of the Empire of Mauretania under Ordlandic Protection. De facto overseas province of Ordland.
Duke:	Don Federico di Villagrán
Population:	700.000 Joosians

Map of Joos and surrounding area.

Joos, also spelled Gius (Joosian: Giuzza), officially the Duchy of Joos (Ducato di Giuzza), is an island located in the Cislendian Ocean, off the eastern coast of San Patricio.

History

(See also: Gius Island colony)

Originally inhabited by native peoples, the island was used between 300 to 150BP by Longerathian privateers. The island was settled by Samuelonian Papaists in 128 BP under Lord Hugo de Gius, who founded the Gius Island Company. The settlements of Giustown, Refuge Bay and King Francisco Bay were founded and flourished as integral trade stops.

As contact with Longerath mostly ceased during The Plague, Samuelonian control lapsed and actual political power devolved to local landed aristocrats, who established their own patchwork of neofeudal domains, occasionally warring against each other over control of trade and land.

The island was conquered by the expanding Empire of Mauretania in about 70 AP. Despite being governed as part of the Province of Zab from Nova Luxa, Joos had a varying ammount of autonomy under Dukes of the local noble houses.

On June 299, following the Mauretanian War of 299, Joos became a constituent part of the Empire of Mauretania under Ordlandic Protection - despite opting-out of the protectorate on the 26th of August 299, joining Morania as the province of Gius, and rejoining the protectorate in October. Since then, Joos has been in practice governed as an overseas province of Ordland.

On June 300, there were serious protests in Joos, after Ordland imposed an Ordlandic Army officer, John Glideswell-Oliveira, as the new Duke of Joos, following a local succession crisis.

Starting on December 313, Joos has been claimed by the nearby Burovian dominion of Uudangwuu - although no actions have been taken to assert these claims.

Government

Don Federico, the Duke of Joos.

As part of the Ordlandic Protectorate, Joos is not a completely sovereign nation. Foreign affairs, defense and certain economic matters are under responsability of Ordland. Excessive meddling by Newton on local Joosian affairs occasionally lead to protests.

A direct-elected governor (since 314, Osmar Totò, of the Agrarian Centre Party) oversees most of the internal matters of Joos, together with a 14-member Chamber of Deputies.

Most political parties from mainland Orland have branches in Joos, although some local parties also exist, such as the National People's Front of Joos, the Worker's and Peasants League, the Liberal Party of Joos and the Independence Party.

The Duke

(See also: List of Dukes of Joos)

The Duke of Joos, oficially the Head of State of the island, has since 299 been relegated by Ordlandic authorities to mostly ceremonial functions. Historically the ducal crown has belonged to a number of local noble houses, such as the Gonzaga and the Fiume and, since 271, the Villagrán family.

The current (since the 12th of November 316) Duke is His Grace, Don Federico di Villagrán, a strong advocate for increased autonomy for Joos.

Geography

Joos is located in the Cislendian Ocean, to the east of San Patricio and north of the Burovian Realmsdominion of UudangWuu. The Duchy comprises one main island, the Island of Joos itself, as well as several nearby islets, rocks and reefs, such as Isola Veneda, Isola di Sal and the Timogli-Mogli archipelago.

Administratively, Joos is divided in ten Circumscriptions (Circoscrizioni) and more than one hundred Communes (Comuni), each comprising one main city and, in certain cases, nearby minor villages.

The communes of Joos - click to enlarge.

Circumscriptions - click to enlarge.

Economy

The island's economy is primarily pastoral. The House of Villagrán owns more than 40% of the fertile and pasture areas in Joos, which has also attracted criticism from several pressure groups and popular movements which advocate for land reform.

The economy is complemented by a small ammount of ecotourism and gambling establishments - the cassinos in nearby Nova Luxa attract much more tourists every year, however. Most of the beaches, despite being too rocky, are a worldwide-known paradise for surfers and scuba diving.

The historical city of Refugio is an important harbour and ferry terminal, with several daily passenger services to Nova Luxa, Gran Puerto Petrolero (San Patricio) and Izmith City (Uudangwuu). The island's only major airport is located in the capital, Joostown.