The Mediterranean Conflict

The Mediterranean Conflict was a brief dispute between Holland and Malta that began and was resolved on November 17, 2020. The primary focus of the conflict was over the future use of the Mediterranean Sea. The Treaty Over the Mediterranean was eventually signed, granting roughly half of the Mediterranean Sea to both involved nations.

Plans for Atlantropa and Holland City
Ian Major of Malta had decided to drain the Mediterranean Sea to put a forested ecosystem in its place where the ocean floor would have once been, an ecosystem he referred to as Atlantropa. As EXDF was new to the server, he did not know about this plan and began constructing his new nation of Holland on top of the sea. Naturally, these plans between the nations conflicted, and Holland promptly declared war on Malta, looting Valletta with only a wooden sword. This was later deemed unlawful by CardinalCyrusXV (Nick) and EXDF returned all stolen items to Malta. Holland gained the passive support of Constantinople as the latter faction planned to utilize maritime travel between Jerusalem and Valletta in the future, which the Mediterranean Sea's existence allowed.

First and Second Compromise of the Mediterranean
Ian Major and EXDF eventually agreed on the terms of the First Compromise of the Mediterranean that, facing Jerusalem, Holland would lay claim to the left side of the Bridge to Valletta, and Malta would lay claim to the right. On the appropriate sides for each nation, the leaders and belligerents of the nations may do whatever they please to their stretch of sea uninterrupted. However, Ian Major soon decided that Malta should also gain ownership of a square-shaped piece of sea near the tower in Valletta and the Bridge to Valletta for easy access into the soon-to-be Atlantropa. EXDF agreed to these terms under the condition that Malta provide Holland with 20 iron ingots. Malta agreed, and the Second Compromise of the Mediterranean was reached, much to OneClassyCookie (Sean)'s dismay.

Aftermath
Holland City and Atlantropa were both allowed to exist under the Second Compromise of the Mediterranean. Ian Major and OneClassyCookie (Sean) held a Maltese council in which the compromise was upheld. This began a period of uneasy peace between the two nations, triggering the construction of the Holland City Skyscraper, a tower built with the sole purpose of being taller than the tower in Valletta. A blatant intimidation tactic, this magnificent structure would serve as nothing more than farmland.

Trivia

 * While Holland declared war on Malta, Malta did not recognize this declaration of war. Therefore, it is known only as a dispute, not a war.
 * The support from Constantinople to Holland led to discussions of a possible alliance between the two factions.
 * The Second Compromise of the Mediterranean was not a unified decision amongst Maltese officials.
 * While both nations achieved their goal, Holland was the decisive winner due to the fact that they initially had no official claim over the Mediterranean, and ended up with both an expansive official claim and iron ingots.