The City of Water:A Venetian TL (Discontinued: See V2 in Industrial Progress: A Story Of Venetian..)

Status
Not open for further replies.
The City of Water: A Venetian TL


Flag.png

The flag of the Most Serene Republic of Venice


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------



"Never in Venetian history was there so traumatic an event as those of 1380 in the very heart of the city, events which historian s will later describe as redefined the fundamental character of a city" History of an accidental nation, 4th edition. Faber Press. Venice, 1984.


"Founded in Northern Italy on sinking islands amidst a muddy lagoon, rivalled by countless city states, surrounded by the German Emperors to the north, the Franks to the West, the Sultans to the east, and the Papacy to the south the story of Venice is one of endless struggle." History of an accidental nation, 4th edition. Faber Press. Venice, 1984.


"From its humble origin of a few thousand lagoon dwellers the Venetian language has come to be known and spoken by millions across borders both political and geographical . Such a feat is a testament to Venetian economic might." Introduction to European History, 6th edition. Negro Press, Venice 2004.


"No other state at any time can compete with the unbroken record of over millennia of social stability and civil governance as that of the Most Serene Republic." Introduction to European History, 6th edition. Negro Press, Venice 2004.


"The emporium of Europe is a must as a destination of any proper Renaissance man. For it is only in Venice that one can find oneself surrounded by such a staggering variety of creeds, knowledge, and vice. From a stroll in the docking district one could encounter any kind of outlanders from the followers of Jan Hus to clerics from the lands of Prestor John. Scholars, journeymen, and wanders frequent the various universities in the Verona countryside from the pagan warlocks of the north to the alchemy schools of the east. And it is only in the Venetian Bazaar that one is able to find all of the world's luxuries, riches and creatures." From the memoirs of Antonio Gritti, Bailo. 1622


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​

Hello ladies, gents and bots. Historically, despite being at the forefront of manufacturing, finance, and entrepreneurism during the late Middle Ages, the Most Serene Republic of Venice stagnated and fell into relative decline with the rise of neighbouring nation states, meeting its end at the hands of Napoleon in 1797. The basic premise of this timeline is a POD that reverses the political ossification of Venice starting in the 14th century that which leads to the relative decline of the Most Serene Republic and its eventual demise. The key factor would be a reversal of the Serrata of the Great Council which closed off entry into the Venetian political class and therefore creating a stagnant hereditary ruling class. I intend to focus on the economic and social aspects of Venice and see how it goes.

A general background on the Serrata can be found on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Council_of_Venice
As well as a general background on the Most Serene Republic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Republic_of_Venice
There is also an excellent TL on Venice by Franciscus Caesar, currently on hiatus here.
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=288436
 
Last edited:
Chapter 1

"It has not been since the days of Emperor Pippin has an intruder sailed into the lagoon, for soon we shall bit and bridle the horses of St. Mark . " Pietro Doria, Battle of Venice 1379


Background


It was the climax of over a hundred years of rivalry , for the merchant Republics of Venice and Genoa have been embroiled in bitter competition for supremacy within the Mediterranean . The most recent bout of conflict started with the contention over Tenedos, a fort on the southern mouth of the Bosphorus strait which controlled trade with the Black Sea. The conflict quickly shifted westward as the two republics fought in Italy and her surrounding seas. Genoa, allied with Louis I of Hungary and Francesco I da Carrara of Padua both of whom shared ambitions on Venetian territory while Venice allied herself with a Milan eager to subjugate Genoa.

By the summer of 1379 Dalmatia has been conquered by Louis of Hungary, while Francesco I da Carrara of Padua seized Venetian possessions on the mainland . The allied Milanese have been defeated by the Genoese and could not be counted on to help the republic, Venice was on her own.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​


May 7, 1379: Vettor Pisani , admiral of the Venetian fleet in the Adriatic engages the Genoese fleet headed by Luciano Doria at the port of Pola off the Dalmatian coast. Outnumbered, the Venetian fleet is destroyed with only six ships of twenty managing to flee, Luciano Doria is killed in the fighting. Upon his return to Venice Pisani is imprisoned for cowardice, realising that her remaining fleet led by Carlo Zeno is months away in the East the Venetian senate decides to sue for peace.

August 6, 1379 : Pietro Doria the Genoese appointed admiral arrives off the shores of Lido with an additional 47 galleys. The reinforced Genoese fleet storms the town of Chioggia at the southern end of the lagoon. The Venetian garrison of 3000 are all lost within the week and the only unblocked channel in the lagoon is in the possession of the Genoese. The banners of Hungary, Padua, and Genoa flutter in the lagoon.

August 7, 1379: The senate of Venice, bowing to popular demand reinstate the charismatic Vettor Pisani, with no hope of immediate reinforcements the residents of Venice resolve to fight to the end. A forced loan is imposed on all Venetians of wealth in addition to massive donations of wealth. A new fort is rushed at Lido while residents of the city wall up its perimeter. Work continues continuously in the Arsenal by torch-light and galleys are prepared at a rate of two a day.



Divergent Paths

Map_of_lagoon.jpg

A map of the Venetian Lagoon

August 14, 1379 : In a heated debate with fellow captains, Pietro Doria having been spurred on by accusations of cowardice and femininity abandons his more cautious plan to blockade Venice into submission and relents to the sailors' desire to storm and loot Venice. (In OTL, the Genoese resolved to blockade Venice due to the sheer stakes involved as every bit of asset and manpower of Genoa was devoted to this endeavor. This pause gave the Venetians time to fortify and counter-attack by sinking barges in the entrance to the lagoon, trapping and eventually starving the Genoese.)

August 16, 1379: Joined by a detachment of 4000 Hungarian soldiers from Padua the Genoese fleet attacks Lido. In its defense Pisani drafts every abled bodied man of Venice with the exception of the workers of the Arsenal. The newly-built fortifications and ship-borne cannons at Lido exact heavy tolls on the Genoese. Despite heavy losses the Genoese press on, capitalizing on their superior numbers the Genoese rotate soldiers from and to their base at Chioggia. By the night of the 17th after a continuous battle of over 30 hours the bloodied and exhausted defenders of Lido retreat across lagoon into Venice.

August 17, 1379: With the last line of defense of penetrated Vettor Pisani plans his last battle; the city itself does not possess any defense except for erected barricades, he has lost a good deal of men in Lido, and the mutinous mercenaries are only sated with the promise of triple pay.

September 8 ,1379: In a display of ingenuity the Genoese finishes disassembling its fleet outside the lagoon and reassembles them within the murky water of the lagoon within the span of three weeks, bypassing the barricades blocking the entrance to the lagoon.Despite great progress Pietro Doria privately laments about causalities . With the knowledge that there are no reserves left in the Republic of Genoa Pietro Doria confers his last meeting with his captains.


0891.jpg

The flags of Genoese in Lido,across the lagoon from Venice.


September 9, 1379: Pietro Doria orders a general assault on the city itself.
 
Last edited:
Suspense! How will Venice get out of this sticky situation? Wait and see I suppose...
It's well written and has an interesting pod, subscribed!
 
Ever since La Serenissima went on the coat-hanger I've been waiting for another Venetian TL. Keep it up!

On the update, either Venice will manage to scrape a narrow victory or the Genoans will. Either way, looks like it's gonna be bloody.
 
Crescendo

September 9, 1379:

Norwich_Venice_1400.png


A map of Venice, by Norwich


At the crack of dawn the Genoese fleet sails for Venice. In their way are a Venetian fleet of 46 galleys and various private crafts , as a testament to Venetian manufacturing skill the workers of the Arsenal were able to finish three new galleys by mid-day. Despite outnumbering the Venetians, the heavier Genoese ships are at a significant disadvantage in the shallow and murky waters of the lagoon, knowing this Pietro Doria chooses a direct assault at Saint Elena whose surround waters are within range of Genoese bombards situated in Lido.

Instead of engaging the Genoese within range of Lido's bombards Vettor Pisani opts to conserve his galleys in the Giudecca Canal preferring instead to fight the Genoese on land at the southern edge of Venice. Given the courage of cornered animals every house is fiercely contested by every Venetian man ,woman, and child. The murky waters of the lagoon steadily accumulate debris and corpses.

Frustrated by the slow progress and the lack of loot the Genoese sailors take it upon themselves to attack the rich district of San Marco directly. While galleys battle in the canal the fighting in San Marco quickly subsides as most of the Venetian defenses are situated in the south, all semblance of command disappears as the Genoese and Hungarians soldiers busy themselves to loot. Leading the fight personally Pietro Doria is unaware of the extra assault, the forces he leads reaches the walls surrounding the Arsenal by early afternoon. Stalled by the walls of the Arsenal, Pietro Doria gives the signal for the second wave of reinforcements from Lido.

Upon receive word of the Genoese at San Marco and the arrival of reinforcements Vettor Pisani realises that he is out of time and begins his last gamble. Hidden among the narrow passageways under Venice, a group of swimmers armed with intimate knowledge of the city silently swim towards their assignments while the battle rages on above. Were the Genoese not engaged in battle or fixated on valuables to loot they might have noticed the residences of Saint Elna and Saint Pietro di Castello have been stripped of valuables and stocked with an excess dry wood and oils . In the late afternoon, a great conflagration consumes the districts of Saint Elna and Saint Pietro di Castello, while some Geonese were able to escape the majority are caught between the Venetians and the approaching flames.


Fire_Venice.jpg


The great fire of Venice


Meanwhile across the Guidecca Canal in Saint Giorgio Maggiore a battery of 6 wooden and iron bombards assembled from melted tools and repurposed wood .Despite their lack of durability the bombards were fixed on carts to allow rapid rotation and chained to the ground to compensate for recoil. The Geonese and Venetian fleets both suffer great causalities but the Venetians achieve their goal, Venetian losses can be replaced by the Arsenal while the Genoese loses cannot be replaced .

The last of the fires are extinguished by nightfall, fortunately for the Venetians the canals that run through Venice serve as both formidable defenses as well as firebreaks . Vettor Pisani takes note of his loses, 14 galleys sunk, 20 damaged, a fifth of Venice burned to the ground, the district of San Marco sacked , and an unknown number of casualties. For now, the existence of Venice is safe.
 
Last edited:
Aftermath

Winter 1379

In the weeks that followed the battle of Venice it became increasingly obvious that the Venetian navy is ascendant. A stalemate develops between the Venetians supreme in the lagoon and Padua's forces occupying the mainland. Using superior knowledge of the lagoon Vettor Pisani organizes and launches night time raids against the Genoese fleet sinking supply barges, burning shelter, and retaking the Lido. Despite his success he knows that he has no way to retake the mainland territories nor Dalmatia and he contents himself with having done his best as a military commander , now it is time for the diplomats to do their part.

The incumbent Doge, Andrea Contarini dies from a combination of battle wounds and shock upon the steps of the Doges' Palace. For the horse of St. Mark have been ransacked, despite furious diplomatic correspondence it appears the only thing everyone can agree upon is that the Horses of St. Mark were taken, but neither the Hungarians nor Genoese claim to their possession. The suspicion is that the Horses of St. Mark now lie with a Genoese wreck in the murky waters of the lagoon.


Treaty of Turin 1381

Mediated by Count Amadeus VI of Savory, the terms of the peace are as follows:

Padua

Realising the danger of a hostile Padua controlling the mainland avenues of trade the Venetian senate decided to offer Treviso to the Duke of Austria. Despite Carrara's protests the stronger duke of Austria easily intimidates Padua and accepts the free territories. This will not be the last of Carrar's ambitions for he has seen how easy it was to invade the Venetian mainland. Only the immediate surroundings of the lagoon remain in Venetian hands.

Hungary

Powerless to contest Dalmatia the Venetian senate recognizes the expansion of Hungary, privately Louis remarks on how cheap it was to expand his dominion to the Adriatic.

Genoa

Genoa was to be granted the island of Tenedos as per the original agreement between Byzantine Emperor Andronicus and the Genoese backers that installed him on the throne. The peace is bittersweet as there are no longer enough Genoese sailors ,ships, nor wealth to capitalize on the acquisition of Tenedos. As with the trend of internal strife and despotism in Italy, there would be 10 coups within the next five years.

"Respublica superiorem non recognoscens"
"The republic that recognizes no superior" will not recover.

Venice

The Republic has suffered greatly, a third of all Venetians perished from fighting, hunger, and disease. The Patricians of whom vowed to defend the Republic to the last, originally 1400 in number are diminished to a mere few dozen and the distinction ceases to have any meaning beyond a badge of honor. A new senate would need to be chosen in due time. The districts of Saint Elna and Saint Pietro di Castello would need to be cleared of debris before any rebuilding begins. The palaces of San Marco are looted and the horses of St. Mark lost. Nonetheless, despite shortages of basic commodities such as food Venice still retains great wealth, the salt works of the Adriatic, private sugar plantations on Crete and Cyprus, her merchant fleet, her skilled workforce ,and her extensive trade network.

Roger_Central_and_Eastern_Med.png

A map of relevant players in the Peace of Turin 1381 , note that the map does not include merchant quarters.


As peace returns to the Serene republic, dark clouds are forming on the horizon.

In the East, the sons of Mohammed lead by Murad I "The Sovereign" advances ever westward into the lands of Christendom.

Meanwhile in the heart of Christiandom, the advance of the Turks are barely noted amidst the Great Schism as both Pope Urban VI and Pope Clement VII of Avignon gathers allies for eventual confrontation.

End of Chapter 1

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------​


As with OTL the silent advantage of stable government cannot be overrated, the lack of internal which troubles Venice in an era among the rise of despotism in Italy is quite the anomaly. Genoa in OTL had 10 coups within 5 years after the war and eventually fell to French orbit. With the exception of the casualties and the Genoese acquisition of Tenedos all the terms written are the same as OTL, not much has changed except for the intensity of the fighting. In OTL Andrea Contarini dies of old age in 1382.
 
Last edited:
treaty says Venice got Cyprus, not painted blue in the map though
Will we see the establishment of an 'Italian' state in the Crimea? :D
 
treaty says Venice got Cyprus, not painted blue in the map though

No, until formal annexation in 1468 it was just merchants of Venice running private plantations in Cyprus, sorry should have been more clear-sometimes I forget that not everyone is familiar with the Republic of Venice. Originally it just so happened that the monarchy of Cyprus was in debt and some entrepreneuring Venetians took advantage of that, Venice still meddles in its affairs but there is no profit in direct control. On the other note Crete was in Venetian hands at the start of the war.

Will we see the establishment of an 'Italian' state in the Crimea? :D

Tsk! Tsk! Wait and see, hunger is the best spice.
 
Last edited:
Top
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top