History of Foamtopia

Bateau des Imbéciles (1719 - 1834)
The small island of Foamtopia remained uninhabited and undiscovered until the latter part of the 18th Century, when a small group of French colonists were shipwrecked on the island in 1719. The ship, known as Bateau des Imbéciles, was part of a convey of 3 ships that set sail from mainland France in 1716, on a mission to repopulate the entire country of France in a new land after claims that the entire continent of Europe was about to sink into the ocean due to over-population. The French Government proposed to send all of the population in 3 groups at a time. The first group being the politicians, the Monarchs, the Noblemen, and Priests; the second group (who sailed on the Bateau des Imbéciles) being the Bourgeoisie - the aristocrats, philosophers, mistresses, party planners, artists, and musicians; and in the third ship went the workers and traders, the people who got stuff done.

Not long after fleeing France in the Bateau des Imbéciles, the Bourgeoisie lost contact with the other 2 ships and continued sailing happily into the oceans, despite the apparent absence of a map, compass, or any kind of knowledge of where they were going. After 3 long years sailing together (while writing songs, painting pictures, and dedicating celebrations to sailing), the ship finally crashed on a small island in the Southern Ocean on September 22nd, 1719. The Bourgeoisie, however, had no idea that this was just a tiny island and not the promised New World, and promptly set up a bar & tavern to celebrate. The Célébration d'Atterrissage (Celebration of Landing) lasted an amazing 2 years before anyone thought to set up other facilities such as houses, farms, and common infrastructure. Without the Monarchs to deal with all the governing and the Workers to actually get it all done, the Bourgeoisie were relatively slow at developing their new colony and very little got done in the first decade after landing. Apart from the Montmartre (the first tavern built), the colonists built Moulin D'Île (the Island version of the Moulin Rouge) for dancing and debauchery - common activities in early Foamtopian history.

By the end of the 18th Century, the Bourgeoisie, had managed to get the necessities of living worked out - often at a slow and very relaxed state. Liquor production was the main resource in the colony, thanks to the generous helping of Sugar Cane fields found in the Southeast region. It wasn't until 1792, however, that someone (while drunk and taking a break from painting), suggested that they name their new region. At this point, the Bourgeoisie had comfortably forgotten that they'd seen nothing of the other 2 ships supposedly about for near 80 years, and put the whole situation down as being far too un-fun to bother thinking about at length. Eventually, after years of discussing and planning celebrations around the discussions, a name was suggested after one plucky Bourgeoisie travelled to the far West of the island and saw how the ocean washing onto the jagged cliffs here created soap suds in the water. The Bourgeoisie promptly returned, got drunk, and forgot all about the soapy suds in the ocean for another 5 years before remembering it in a dream one night after a rather heavy celebration. The name went through many variations during the 19th Century, though most were variations of Suds, Foam, Soap, Froth and Bubbles with "topia" or "land" added at the end.

Influence & Change (1835 - 1985)
The small island first received outside contact in 1835, when settlers en-route to Australia stopped by in Foamtopia for two decades. The settlers brought news of a stable and vibrant Europe, adding that the continent had not, as yet, sunk into the ocean. The situation caused some concern through some of the sober people, who wondered if they would be better off heading back home so they could invite some friends back for dinner and, of course, drinks. The visitors told them not to bother as most of the outside world wasn't much fun and they were onto a good thing here. The Bourgeoisie agreed and returned to celebrating the fact that they were celebrating. Not long after that first ship of settlers had left, another passed through, and a few years later more followed them. Sick of having to walk all the way out to greet people, a few Bourgeoisie built a Port in the Northern ridges of the Island to welcome passing ships. The Port Bienvenu soon became a vibrant Sail-Thru Wine Shop as the island sold vast quantities of alcohol to passing settlers, developing their first trade export.

Finally, after many decades of passing ships, the small island was visited by a French vessel, sent by the French Government to find out exactly what the island had been up to for the past 150 years, arriving on June 6th, 1869. The French Connection, as it was nicknamed, inspected the island and was largely pleased with the Geographical position the island held. It was The French Connection who discovered the vast and plentiful Gems embedded in the North West Caves, setting up a Mining industry to begin exporting the precious jewels back to France. Soon the Bourgeoisie became uncomfortable with the French Connection's over-progressive and generally pushy attitude. They didn't want to have jobs or responsibilities. The entire island had been built on a total lack of regulation and formal Government, and they'd been happy for 150 years. To prevent the French Connection officials from ruining their paradise, the Bourgeoisie invited them all to a Thank You Dinner one evening at the Moulin D'Île, where they proceeded to get the officials blind drunk and surrounded by pretty dancing girls. In the morning, the officials found themselves back on their boat drifting in the middle of the ocean, left wondering if their trip to the island had all been a drunken dream. Upon returning to France, the officials could give no such official report on the Bateau des Imbéciles, unable to remember what exactly had happened.

At the celebration of 200 years since the Bateau des Imbéciles crashing, the Bourgeoisie broke with tradition and decided that, in case anyone else came by trying to organise them, they would go ahead and do it themselves, setting an unbelievable 100 year time-frame of completion. As such, they set up the first kind of Government on the island on July 14th 1919, known as the Service de Faire, in order to finally decide on a name, a basic list of things to do, and formalization of themselves as an independent country. Having all agreed on the idea to do so, the group promptly forgot the whole business for another 20 years while they decided they'd done enough work on it so far. During this time, the sugar-wine and Gem trades continued at a relaxed pace and society continued as normal. Land consumption grew as population grew. The original Tavern founded on the island 200 years earlier, Montmartre, became the official Capital City and headquarters of Service de Faire, but no work was established until 1942. The only reason work began one day during 1942 was due during the 24 hour Wine Shortage, thanks to a screw up with the wine delivery, and the entire island went without wine for day. During that day, a general agenda, Government drinking game, and naming process was establishing - all of which was forgotten the day after then wine was flowing again.

During the latter half of the 20th century, the small island began to find their Sugar crops growing abundantly well, and soon they began to offload it to the passing ships at the Port, along with their precious Gems, which were also used to make costumes and sets in the Moulin D'Île. The two resources boomed to become their main and only source of income, and kept the island liquored up well and proper. During one celebration in 1984, it has been claimed, the name Foamtopia was official adopted as the defacto island nation name after one landscape painter won a drinking contest with a philosopher over who had the better ability to name the island. Soon, Foamtopia became the only name the island referred to themselves as, and has since been accepted as the official name. The Celebration of the Naming in 1984 is the estimated time in which the future leader of Foamtopia, Ouvrière de Classe (Working Class Ruler), was conceived. In 1985, the would-be ruler was born and like all births, was celebrated in a fortnight-long party.



The Rise of Foamtopia (1985 - 2008)
The rise of Ouvrière de Classe to lead the Service de Faire was simple and easy. After growing up as a Sugar-taster in the Central Plains of Foamtopia, de Classe decided that previous notions of formalizing the Government in Foamtopia was no-doubt a smart idea. He became the first person to leave Foamtopia in 2004, travelling to near-by Valroy to establish a Sugar Trade Agreement. While visiting, he learnt much about Government and structure - the many things that the Bourgeoisie had been unable to teach and pass down - and remained sober long enough to write it all down. Upon returning to Foamtopia, de Classe worked on establishing official recognition with Planet Bob in order to have his country listed as an official, independent nation in the world.

Official recognition of Foamtopia came nearly 300 years after first settlement of the island, with Foamtopia becoming a sovereign nation on September 22nd, 2006. Under official documents, Ouvrière de Classe was required to sign his own name as Ruler of the country, though remains as much as an ordinary citizen as every other Foamtopian. With the recognition of their country, Foamtopia was able to establish firm trade routes with neighbouring nations and quickly developed friends in the region. Life in the small island remained, unchanged, however, as parties, extravagance and luxury remained Foamtopia's only goals in life. Ouvrière de Classe, meanwhile, went to work periodically to ensure people were buying their precious gems and sugar, and also placed the Nation within the Mostly Harmless Alliance - an organised group of nations that fitted the relaxed, carefree attitude of Foamtopia. For this efforts as Ruler, Ouvrière de Classe is celebrated in a weeklong party every month of the year.

Foamtopia enjoyed success and protection from the Mostly Harmless organization, sending and receiving aid from other nations within the alliance and hosting many celebrations within the country for fellow nation rulers. It was Foamtopia's association with Mostly Harmless that involved them in the epic Third Great War, which commenced on March 19th, 2007, with the Mostly Harmless Alliance sending troops into the conflict on March 22nd, a date that has been commemorated in a national holiday. Foamtopia's part in the war was that of financial aid and encouragement, with the leader of Foamtopia away boosting morale and delivering aid packages to war-torn nations. Hostilities ceased on April 14th, 2007, much to the excitement of the Nation. Foamtopia assisted the rebuilding of fellow nations through generous supplies of finances, alcohol, and dancing girls - marking the first time in history that it involved itself with the outside world.

Life returned to peaceful paradise after the War, though Ouvrière de Classe had become more involved internationally and made far more frequent trips oversees. The citizens of Foamtopia held celebrations each time he left and each time he arrived back home. However, unbeknownst to them - a fellow Nation Ruler had taken an envious, hateful dislike to Ouvrière de Classe and Foamtopia, mostly due to the island's success is being virtually a paradise. As such, this Ruler, Yablecki or Petit Garçon d'Imbécile (Little Fool Boy) to the Foamtopians, launched attacks on the Foamtopian Island in August, 2007. Thankfully, Yablecki was inept and unskilful in war and Foamtopia was missed by all of his cruise missiles, bombings, and ground troops - most of his attacks landing stupidly in the ocean. Foamtopians mocked and laughed at Yablecki's inability to even fire one direct hit, calling him a foolish child without the intelligence or knowledge to attack properly. Such mockery was increased when Yablecki fired several Nuclear weapons at Foamtopia - all of which missed the island nation and did little damage to Foamtopia. Thanks to aid from the Mostly Harmless Alliance, Foamtopia quickly recovered from the "attacks" and Yablecki was destroyed.

War once again ravaged the rest of Planet Bob through The Unjust War, though Foamtopia was prepared with shipments of cash, dancing girls, and exotic gems, remaining free of any such conflict. Each morning, a small group of Foamtopians held a celebration on the beaches of the island as they watched passing Mostly Harmless ships carried troops and tanks to the front line. Once the MHA's contribution to the war was over, Foamtopia celebrated as usual and life went back to usual. The island nation continued to grow and attain new heights, including a 100% literacy rate and enourmous growth in Strength and Infrastucture. Their tourism industy boomed, thanks to the general "Short Stay" policy set out by Ouvrière de Classe to ensure that visitors only stayed for a couple of days, meaning interest in the island met with availability demands. Foamtopia's reputation as a party-nation grew throughout the world and began to host many international events, including the Education Conference, Mostly Harmless Day, and it's massive New Year's Foam parties.

Foam For All (2008+)
Foamtopia continued to grow throughout the New Year, though the island's leader, Ouvrière de Classe was increasingly absent from the nation due to growing commitments in the Mostly Harmless Alliance. He was appointed Triumvir of the MHA in December, much to the celebration of Foamtopians, and had been focusing entirely on the position. However, his increase in position brought an increase in popularity for Foamtopia, with the island's notorious parties becoming infamous throughout the world. Many heralded the nation for it's wild celebrations, bringing notoriety and attention to Foamtopia. Island population grew, along with, for the first time ever, a strong Military presence to ensure the island remained safe. This new period of success and popularity heralded a bright future for Foamtopia indeed.