Ragusa

The Republic of Ragusa, more commonly known as simply Ragusa, is a small nation located in the Ragusan Archipelago.

History
From the 14th century to the 18th century, Ragusa was a powerful trading power in the region, controlling almost all of the trade passing through the Crimea Straits. However, over the late 18th century and early 19th century, Ragusa's power started to decline, culminating in the Ragusan Revolution of 1809, in which the monarchy was overthrown and replaced with a temporary republican government until the Constitution of the Republic was written in 1811. Shortly after, all subjects of the former Ragusan Empire were released. The Constitution was rewritten in 1867, making Ragusa into a directorial republic, giving every member of the National Assembly equal power in running the nation. Neutrality was declared in the same year, and as such Ragusa has often acted as a mediator between larger powers in international conflicts.

Geography
The nation of Ragusa consists of the 12 islands of the Rasgusan Archipelago, as well as several smaller islands, which are mostly swampland. Ragusa has a humid subtropical climate, resulting in hot summers (around 40 degrees Celcius) and mild winters (around 15 degrees Celcius). The tide can cause water levels in Ragusa to rise and fall quickly without warning, therefore buildings in the nation are either built on stilts in the lagoon or on high ground.

The two easternmost islands in the archipelago make up the East Ragusa Nature Reserve thanks to their internationally renowned biodiversity, and are home to several rare species of fish and seabirds.