Built on a land in the Xavier family for generations, the original mansion was
built by one of the family founders, a Dutch Sea captain, on the shores of
Breakstone Lake.
The island is located off the east coast of Africa and boasted a high standard of living, an excellent economy, and freedom from the political and racial turmoil that characterized neighboring nations. However, Genosha's prosperity was built upon the enslavement of its mutant population. Mutants in Genosha were the property of the state and children who were positively identified with the mutant gene were put through a process developed by David Moreau, commonly known as the Genengineer, stripped of free will and made into mutates (a Marvel term for genetically-modified mutants as opposed to those who developed mutant powers naturally). The Genengineer was also capable of modifying certain mutant abilities in order to fulfill specific labor shortages. Citizenship in Genosha is permanent and the government does not recognize any emigration. Citizens who attempt to leave the country are tracked down and forcibly brought back to the island by the special police force known as Magistrates, and mutant problems are handled by a special group known as the Press Gang.
The foundations of Genoshan society has been upset in recent years due to the efforts of outside mutant interests. In the first storyline to feature the nation, some members of the X-Men (Wolverine, Rogue, and their ally Madelyne Pryor) were kidnapped by Genoshan Magistrates, under the order of the Genengineer and former X-Factor ally turned mutant hater, Cameron Hodge. Later, in the multi- issue, multi-title X-Tinction Agenda storyline, the X-Men and their allies rescued their teammates, Storm and Wolfsbane, from Genoshan brainwashing, toppling the government and presumably killing Cameron Hodge in the process. A new Genoshan regime that promised better treatment of mutants was put in place. A period of general turmoil and a number of attacks by superhumans, including Magneto's Acolytes who were unwilling to forgive the former Genoshan government for its crimes against mutants, followed.
The United Nations ceded the island nation to the powerful mutant Magneto, after he demanded an entire mutants-only nation. Magneto and his Acolytes managed to reestablish a modicum of peace and stability only briefly until civil war broke out between him and the remaining human population on the island led by the Magistrates. Magneto defeated the magistrates and restored order to the island.
Recently, the entire island was reduced to rubble and its mutant population was slain by Sentinels ordered by Cassandra Nova. Magneto and Xavier have since then joined forces to rebuild the island nation. A few survivors and newly arriving mutants that wish to help with the rebuilding process remain on the island.
After Major damage to the complex, it was rebuilt with the aid of alien (Shi'ar)
technology, giving it a level of capability an order of magnitude greater than
before.
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