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

[diestormlie]

Two things, until the invention of the telegraph navies were more or less blind and most navy warfare was either at arranged locations or port-focused. After-all it was the telegraph IOTL that stopped the Barbary corsairs. There is also the convenient natural harbour of Genoa, complete with its only shipbuilding industry much to the annoyance of the Venetian Arsenale.

Malta might be useful to use against Sicily and Tunis but Arborea is dead center in the Aragonite empire. Malta is also a desolate island that requires power-projection to keep and operate, whereas Arborea has ports to project power from straight into the heart of Aragon. The Venetian navy in Arborea can't consistently intercept ships, but it doesn't need to if it has the basing to raid the ports and coastal villages Aragonites live in.

Interesting. I didn't realise how late Barbery Piracy ended. Ok, that makes sense. I had also forgotten how much infrastructure Genoa had (you know, it being it's own Merchant Republic and all.)

And what do the Genoans on Corsica think on all this? How have they been doing since their retreat?

 

[Lucius Verus]

Interesting. I didn't realise how late Barbery Piracy ended. Ok, that makes sense. I had also forgotten how much infrastructure Genoa had (you know, it being it's own Merchant Republic and all.)

And what do the Genoans on Corsica think on all this? How have they been doing since their retreat?

The Genoese on Corsica are involved in a bitter sectarian tug of war with the native Corsicans. Reinforced by exiles from Genoa during the Italian Wars the population of the Genoese in Corsica increased from a few hundred to four thousand. With regards to the Corsicans, there has not been a proper census but they do outnumber the Genoese. Supported by Aragon the Corsicans strive for independence while the Genoese; having lost their prestige, wealth, and nearly their lives to Milan are resolved to resist all threats to their power. The biggest threat however seems to be emigration to the most Serene Republic of Gazara, which shares many blood and cultural ties to its parent-city Genoa. Every year the number of Genoese dwindle mostly due to emigration. Meanwhile everyone with the exception of Aragon is content to go about their business.

IOTL the Geonese delegated the island to the Bank of Saint George which restored peace to the island, ITTL the influx of weary Genoese refugees made direct administration the only possible outcome.

 

[diestormlie]

The Genoese on Corsica are involved in a bitter sectarian tug of war with the native Corsicans. Reinforced by exiles from Genoa during the Italian Wars the population of the Genoese in Corsica increased from a few hundred to four thousand. With regards to the Corsicans, there has not been a proper census but they do outnumber the Genoese. Supported by Aragon the Corsicans strive for independence while the Genoese; having lost their prestige, wealth, and nearly their lives to Milan are resolved to resist all threats to their power. The biggest threat however seems to be emigration to the most Serene Republic of Gazara, which shares many blood and cultural ties to its parent-city Genoa. Every year the number of Genoese dwindle mostly due to emigration. Meanwhile everyone with the exception of Aragon is content to go about their business.

IOTL the Geonese delegated the island to the Bank of Saint George which restored peace to the island, ITTL the influx of weary Genoese refugees made direct administration the only possible outcome.

Thanks!

 

[Ultima Ratio]

I think fixing those Austrian-Hungarian borders is long overdue. I expect we will be seeing the Hungarian tercios in action shortly?

 

[Lucius Verus]

1507


Surprisingly, the Venetian war against Aragon has quickly faded into the backdrop of routine life. Despite the initial excitement the war against Aragon has become underwhelming with the departure of the fleets and the lack of major victories or defeats. In a war of raiding and pillaging only the coast of Liguria has felt the blunt of the conflict as the eastern Mediterranean is safely shut out by Venice's extensive chains of ports and forts. Perhaps the biggest change in the Po Valley is the scarcity of "stovar dé Mùmia" (mummy dust) as the war with Aragon has cut off Egyptian supplies. Proscribed by several of the day's foremost apothecarist as an elixir for good health and longevity. Going at one bottle for three month's wage the elixir's demand is insatiable and the current lack of supply only serves to aggravate costs.[1]

The Grey Cross of Grau Enolf. Salvation in Baptism, Eucharist, and Faith.​

No stranger to foreign creeds a group of "Grey Cross" missionaries arrives in Milan from the Holy Roman Empire. In contrast to previous preachers these missionaries were not warned to desist nor jailed when they refused, but merely told to obey the law. To their disappointment the missionaries discover that there is very little enthusiasm for their ideals in Milan and to their chagrin they find themselves assigned the nickname of "Ultramontanists". Traditionally used in the French and German language for those that supported the papacy beyond the mountains and by implication not very patriotic the missionaries of the "Grey Cross" are quite irritated by the label. Unlike their German counterparts the churches of the Po Valley do not paid tithes to the Pope, perform their service well (they were in a perverse way the recipient of German tithes), and perhaps more importantly had the ideals of the "Grey Cross" discredited by earlier missionaries from the Tuscan hills. Perhaps such ideas would have found purchase had the original preachers not have been so antithetical from the "New Jerusalem" (Pisa). It seems for the most part the churches in the Po Valley are more absorbed into adjusting to the newly localized churches according to local customs. With regards to wealth, it is a common practice for wealthy patrons the symbolic positions of ceremony and honor. For the rank and file of the clergy admission still requires education from a seminary as well as some experience. Whether out of genuine concern for quality, exclusive disdain for the poor, or a cynical desire to encourage larger contribution by limiting the supply one cannot buy any but the most expensive and largely symbolic roles in the church.[2]

In the age old tradition of hypocrisy, the theft of holy relics is considered a matter of the utmost treason against both secular and ecclesiastical authorities… That is unless the theft was to bestow the relic to the most faithful. Two bandits and con-artists, Augustin and Angelica of Chioggia have returned to Venice in triumph for recovering a papyrus codex containing "Él Fiàba dé Mary Magdalene" (The Tale of Mary Magdalene). Originally discovered by Aragonites looting through Egypt the codex eventually found itself in the possession of the Canton of Basel (former Prince-Bishopric 1501). But by the account of the Chioggias the codex was just left sitting there… by an open strongbox… in a unlocked room… behind some dead guards. Confirmed by Greek and Coptic specialists from Milan as dating from the early Christian church (200AD-300AD). Published in a time of great religious change on a saint whose reputation is mysterious in biblical texts and mostly the result of catholic authors throughout the ages the texts are described as "more stimulating than coffee" for debate.[3]

Hoping to return in time for Easter diplomats from the Swiss Cantons depart in haste to deal with the theft of holy relics from the Canton of Basel.

Suppressed during the reign of Peter de Barcelona the various issues of the Catalan merchant communities and the peasant elected Cortes (senate) are surfacing. Sensing royal weakness with the absence of the monarch the merchants and peasants are threatening to withhold war contributions least their issues are resolved. Surprising, intern regent Gabriel de Barcelona (brother) was more than willing to listen and even called for a convention of the realm's estates. Among the many issues the two most prominent are the taxation of the merchants for the various wars of Peter and agricultural competition from the conquered lands of Tunis and Egypt. Perhaps there is a silver lining to this war.[4]

Like an omen of doom, the Black Army marches clad in their trademark dark armor. The Hunyadis are coming.

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[1] Just as it was IOTL there was a medical mummy dust craze verging on necrophagism. I don't understand it but that's occult.
[2] IOTL the Italian church was more prepared and better serving to the Protestant reformation. In addition the Protestant reformation was seen as a German thing and unlike Germany the Italian inquisition had ample warning to prepare. ITTL things are happening faster, but at the same time the Po Valley was given an earlier inoculation by the wailers of Pisa.
[3] IOTL the Codex of Mary was discovered in the 19th century in Nag Hammadi library but its publication was delayed by two world wars, when it was finally partially published in 1938, 1983, 1955. For the most part the Catholic church has decided to declare the text as non-canonical.
[4] ITTL while the original conquest of Egypt was favored by the merchants and lords for land and trade to the East the inability of the Aragonites to secure the route to the east meant that only the lords benefited from new agricultural estates, especially noble-dominated estates without peasant cortes. With regard to peasant cortes in Aragon, the problem is that it is difficult to compete against slaves and serfs.

 

[Yanez de Gomera]

university of Milan

Sorry to nitpick and maybe I forgot you mentioning the rise of a university in Milan, but historically the most important academic center in Lombardy, which served as university for Milan, was the University of Pavia, Actually there wasn't a university in Milan proper until the second half of the XIX century.

 

[Lucius Verus]

Sorry to nitpick and maybe I forgot you mentioning the rise of a university in Milan, but historically the most important academic center in Lombardy, which served as university for Milan, was the University of Pavia, Actually there wasn't a university in Milan proper until the second half of the XIX century.

Thanks for catching that, a quick search revealed that I was mixing it up with the Milano school of historic thought on the Renaissance. This TL is getting on in age and unwieldy.

 

[Lucius Verus]

Like a mirage a tent city has appeared across the desert landscape. Dressed in the loose the mundane drabs of the arabs men walk thorugh the camp going about their duties. Drawn out by incessant raids these Aragonites strayed too far into the desert and were reduced to surrender by thirst and starvation. Their horses no match for the stamina and strength of camels, their masterwork plate mail nothing but invitations for heat strokes, and their honor and courage poor substitutes for flexibility of the Knights of St George. [1]

As water is more valuable than gold in the desert it was decided to kill those whose ransoms (if they had any) could not justify the risk of thirst. Those that remained were chained, placed under guard, and left to suffer from heat and thirst. In contrast to the miserable conditions of the soldiers the noble's jail area was relatively pleasant, water, shade, and furniture was made available. Nobles played cards, discussed literature, and were allowed to keep their arms provided they swore an oath not to escape or hinder their captors-if it weren't for the guards it would've been hard to describe the area as a jail.[2]

Sitting at the center of the jail, Peter de Barcelona strains to relieve his tedium. Being told to make ready for visitors, Peter is genuinely surprised to discover that his visitor was a woman, the first he has seen in three months.

It was Peter who spoke first "I must congratulate you on your victory Febe dé Mocenigo , the day is yours"

Febe " And I your swordsmanship Peter de Barcelona. Although it wasn't much of a fight, you chased our raiders until you ran out of supplies. Surely you had known of the great distances involved."

P "And what of it? It has been three years of doing little but fending off raids. A true man could not camp idle while his brothers fought valiantly, honor demanded it of us."

"Well" said Febe smiling "I for one see no need to fight as a "True man". Despite the admirable intention we Venetians frown upon squandering the men under our employment, even if for honor"

"Then perhaps that is why you Venetians are winning" remarks Peter bitterly.

Unwilling to dwell upon an unpleasant topic Peter decides to indulge his own curiosity. "Why are we at war exactly?"

"Why to protect our merchants from harassment" replies Febe innocuously.

P "Don't give me that, you and I both know that's just an excuse. We could've engaged in a discussion but you Venetians skipped right to war, why?"

F "Very well. Tell me, what did you did you make of the Nile Valley in your campaign?"

P "A desolate land full of heathens and a threat to the holy cities. A land which we sanctified in the name of Jesus Christ."

F "And you have done a marvelous job of that, Saint Mark thanks you. But where you see desolation I see potential. As it was for the Arabs, the Roman Remnant (Byzantines), and the Romans before them the Nile was the breadbasket of the Mediterranean. I intend to restore it in the name of the House of Mocenigo ."

P "The Nile is a wasteland devastated by war and plague without many peons or much of value. It'll take ages to reclaim."

F "We'll get it done in ten years."

P "So that's it, a war for mere merchants?"

F "A war for merchants by a merchant Republic. You may not hold us in high esteem but it is the very same merchants that are conspiring with the peasant cortes in Barcelona to install your brother in your place. Win or lose, soon there won't be a kingdom for you to rule at all."

P "Gabriel would not dare-"

F "Well then I guess you wouldn't mind waiting with Gabriel in Barcelona." and with that she leaves Peter to ponder his fate.

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[1] Known by the nomads as "ships of the desert" camels were able to carry several-fold the weight of a horse and could survive ten days off of internally stored water. Also some contrast for European warfare and desert warfare.
[2] Nobles in general are treated with consideration in war, against among nobles and commanders. Asides from cultural and class reservations nobles are generally able to pay large ransoms and are needed to influence the post-war situations.

 

[fsponholz]

So Venice expands again, if they manage to recuperate Egypt there would be hardly a risk of famine in the Republic. And Food is always in high demand.

 

[Lucius Verus]

So Venice expands again, if they manage to recuperate Egypt there would be hardly a risk of famine in the Republic. And Food is always in high demand.

That'll be covered in a later post on the climate and geography of the Nile. Also it's a matter of opportunity cost. Austria, France, Central Italy, and the Balkans are too well defended to fight, especially one that requires offensive action on land. Given the Republic's decision to focus on fortifications over a standing army there isn't much choice except for naval action, something which suits the commercial interests of Venice just fine.

 

[Lucius Verus]

1508

After recovering from their initial shock the Aragonites repays the favor. With a speed that surprised observers Gaberial de Barcelona has managed to enact a series of laws and edicts addressing most of the concerns of the merchants and peasants to the slight of the kingdom's nobles. Taking advantage of the martial might of the kingdom's noble Gaberial decides to force the Venetians to fight on land. Banking on the knowledge that discovery at sea is a miniscule possibility Gaberial de Barcelona manages to take to the sea to the ignorance of Venetian sentries by avoiding the major ports and setting sail from dozens of fishing villages. The plan was not without risk, for the same difficulty in communicating across open waters that blinded the Venetians also hampered the Aragonite ships sent from dozens of villages. In the end only about 2/3rds of the ships were able to make it to the fleet in a timely fashion and it was decided to proceed anyways least they are discovered. About 16,000 men are transported to Arborea under the command of a trusted noble and while this was no doubt detected the men are able to survive through forage. The control of the Eastern Mediterranean is at stake. Unknown to the Aragonites, there are only about fifteen hundred garrisons and engineers on the island.

With most of the Sardinian coast swampy and sparsely inhabited the only way the Venetians are able to host a large fleet for an extended duration is due to the floating dry docks operated by Arsenale crews. In contrast to the previous routine of raids, scouting, and counter-raids the naval activity blooms in the Eastern Mediterranean as the Aragonite army on Sardinia presents a focal point for naval activity. It was soon realized that the sparsely populated island of Sardinia would severely limit the mobility of an army forced to travel on its stomach. Slowly but surely the amount of Aragonite supply-runners and raiders grew to rival the increasing Venetian commitment. [1]

The "Universalis Cosmographia, a map with a surprisingly accurate portrayal of the Portuguese New World.​

German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller publishes a map called the "Universalis Cosmographia" as a homage to the famous Dutch explorer Jan Caboto. It is noted as the oldest surviving Christian map of the New World (but Venetian born, as the Venetian historical journal insists). Lost along the various other cartographic publications of the time the map is meet with shock by the Portuguese crown for it offered surprisingly detailed mapping of Portuguese discoveries in the New World, something which should be a state secret. Lacking the manpower and wealth of larger kingdoms secrecy was the only way for the sunny kingdom to maintain its monopoly. The Portuguese consensus was simple, find the leak and remove it.[2]

In a regrettable episode the triumphant Neapolitan army losses all discipline and sacks Rome. Despite the commendable discipline of the more professional Neapolitans in protecting the important religious authorities the city was sacked and Pope Felix V was whisked away by French galleys. In contrast the Neapolitan nobles were careful not to damage the most sacred areas such as St. Peter's Basilica nor did they engage in mindless looting. Like the discerning thief the nobles carefully removed the most expensive and prestigious artifacts of Rome among which also included a talented artist and architect by the name of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni. More commonly known as "Il Divino" (the divine one) Michelangelo had always believed that he held noble blood and eagerly agreed to Neapolitan patronage when the addition of a titular title was offered. [3]

The last Venetian link to the East is severed in the chaos of the Aq qoyunlu and Timurid disintegration. Hoping to nurture potential future friendships a list of potential warlords are selected for diplomatic efforts. Until the day that peace returns to the Persia and Mesopotamia the road to the east is inconsistent at best. Still the Mediterranean market for eastern goods is not under threat for it seems that the Portuguese are unable to ship enough tonnage to expand from its markets in the Atlantic. [4]

Personally keen students of history the Swiss diplomats arrive during the Venetian festival guided by a local tout. Discretely and quickly directed to an inn to rest for their audience the diplomats have wisely chosen preparation and a discrete approach. After-all the theft of holy relics are a serious insult to the piety, culture, and prestige the Cantons. After serving tea and running a bath the diplomats drift off into the realm of dreams never to wake again. The bodies of the diplomats are discovered the next morning with the word "màçar" (murder) carved on their foreheads. It was concluded by the authorities that the tout the Swiss diplomats hired was probably a man who lived in the Po Valley and sought revenge for whatever injury was dealt by Swiss mercenaries during the last French invasion. Still without much to go on except the description of the disinterested innkeeper the authorities are left with the more pressing concern of murdered diplomats.

In their first trial the Black Army discovers numerous faults in its new "Négyzetek" tactics. Among the many faults the most pressing concerns were that the pike squares had a small front compared to simple line formations and that attacks required time-consuming formation reforms and made the pikes vulnerable to flanking. Another major concern was the insufficient impact of firearms, for the skirmishers around the squares are often outnumbered and outgunned against massed fire from defensive formations. Taking stock of the faults it was clear to the Hunyadis that the formation was better at endurance than offense. Despite all of the faults big and small the sheer endurance of morale that the squares offered ensured victory, while they may have suffered more causalities during battle the majority of casualties were inflicted on the routing Austrians. News of the defeat has casted Ladislaus von Hapsburg into a world of dread and gloom and it was with great personal reservation that Ladislaus decided to ask his Holy Roman Emperor for help.[5]

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[1]IOTL the population of Sardinia was about 140,000-180,000 at the turn of the 16th century and minimal compared to densely populated regions such as the Po Valley. The island itself is mostly hilly and mountainous and poorly suited for intense agriculture and the coastal regions tended to be difficult salt marshes.
[2]Similar to OTL, but instead of dedicating the map to Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci who is not an explorer due to the poor fortunes of Florentine banks one of which he works for in the last few decades Jan Caboto is chosen instead.
[3]IOTL Michelangelo had always believed that he was a descendant of "Matilde di Canossa" (Matilda of Tuscany), one of the great figures of the her age. historians however do not have evidence of his claim. ITTL, he is apparently a noble now.
[4]Similar to OTL, the route around Africa is deadly, long, and attrition prone.
[5]Until the latter half of the 19th century warfare lacked the lethalness to inflict mass causalities, battles between similar numbers were won through morale for which battle causalities were only a factor among many.

 

[Lucius Verus]

Why the youth of Doges and Dogaressas?

Throughout history the practice of ultimogeniture (inheritance by the last-born) was one of the rarer forms of inheritance. Generally speaking elder siblings would have more time to gather resources and were able to disregard the inheritance or simply take it. But within the microcosm of the Venetian Senate youth was seen as one of the more important attributes of a ruler as a younger Doge/Dogaressa can mean decades of additional power over an older candidate. Politics within the senate can best be described with the old adage that "there are no permanent alliances, just permanent interests" for each senator owes their allegiance to the city, nobles, or trade houses that elected them. Since electors are chosen by random lot influencing an election becomes absurdly expensive as there is no guarantee of results even if one buys out a majority of senators. As a result most of the focus in the election process is channeled into local regional politics, for it is much easier to influence a city or county that sets its own election rules than the Venetian Senate.


Is the Venetian Republic an actual republic?

By definition a republic is a rule by representatives of the enfranchised with a certain degree of equality between the enfranchised. In an unique quirk of Venetian history the right to representation was never codified and a Venetian would have a vote in the city Venice after 15 years of residency but not the city of Friuli. The Venetian senators of the 16th century were selected based on their local elective/appointing/dynastic structures which makes the Venetian Republic more akin to a federation of disparate political entities than a true republic.

But then where does the Doge/Dogaressa fit into this? Since the beginning of the Nationalist Revolutions in Europe the term republic has gained its modern connotation of a democracy without a monarch which leaves the Venetian Republic in an odd spot. Since the Doge/Dogaressa is non-hereditary the Venetian Republic does not fit with the definition of a constitutional monarchy. By the process of elimination the only remaining category is elective monarchy. So for the purposes of this course the Venetian Republic shall be classified as a federated elective monarchy.


Study notes from Venetian History 202

 

[Lucius Verus]

1509

In a display of both competence and incompetence two killers for hire are dispatched by the Portuguese crown to interrogate Martin Waldseemüller and to destroy all information that might threaten Portuguese discoveries. Silently and discretely the two killers managed to kidnap Martin and whisk him away to a secret hideout only to discover that they accidentally kidnapped the apprentice. Regrettably killing the apprentice to maintain their cover the killers sought to cover their tracks and bury the body. While trying to burying the apprentice a hunter stumbles upon assassins panics and flees with the assassins giving chase. Upon dragging the hunter back to the burial site, the assassins discover to their annoyance that a scavenger took the corpse of the apprentice leading one assassin on a trail of paw prints and the other trying to conceal the fresh corpse. Carried by a group of dogs the apprentice was retrieved back to their proper owner, the local count and sparking a local manhunt. Eventually the assassins were caught as they ran out of funds and resorted to theft. In the end the Portuguese crown denied all involvement and the local count was unable to do much against a distant kingdom.

Portuguese explorer Diogo Lopes de Sequeira "discovers" the Sultanate of Malacca and quickly sends word back to Portugal; the source of the spice is finally within reach. Using a contact through a Chinese merchant Diogo is able to setup a warehouse in Malacca provided that he pays tribute and follows the sultan's laws. Many of the Bengali merchants are however less than pleased by the prospect of more competition and are already hatching schemes in the Sultan's palace. The local Venetian detachment notes with some alarm the prospect of the Portuguese gaining control of the source of the spice. While Portuguese shipping capacity is insufficient to supply even Northern Europe a monopoly would surely drive up the cost of spices and force Venetians to buy from the Portuguese. [1]

A quite rumbling seizes the legacy of Emperor Constantine in the darkness of night. Like a mad composer the rumbling builds to a shattering cacophony as the abandoned remnants of the Byzantines comes tumbling down. In two months as the aftershocks pass the residents will return to discover a breach in the great walls that ringed the former metropolis. Not that it mattered to the returning Venetians as they discover their star fort to be intact behind the walls. From a former height of 500,000 inhabitants the queen of cities has shrivelled to a port and Arsenale of 1,200 protected by a star fort built on the ruins of Constantinople. Lacking a natural source of fresh water the only value of the city is in its strategic location and convenience for storage. [2]

For all the success of his new "Négyzetek" the victories over the Austrian duchy still came at a heavy price as Matthias is forced to resort to mercenaries to replenish his ranks. The new troops, while capable cannot substitute for soldiers in a "Négyzetek" formation as only Matthias' soldiers are drilled with its tactics. Weary of further battles with heterogeneous forces, Matthias nonetheless rides his momentum by continuing to lay siege to Austrian strongholds.

In the first time in living memory the full might of the Holy Roman Empire takes to the field. Consolidated by Emperor Bogislaw X the heterogeneous armies of the empire marches under the banners of the two headed eagle. Assistance to the Austrian archduke comes at the price of obligations and integration into the budding centralized HRE. Yet the archdukes of Austria are pound, for they hold considerable holdings within the Empire and come from a long line of illustrious Emperors. Still given the choice of bowing to a former vassal or an Emperor the Austrian duke choose the later, after-all he can always regain his autonomy through influence he regains his power whereas lands lost to an enemy would take wars to reclaim.

In the royal halls of Barcelona a merchant named Enrico is given an audience with the king. Armed with intimate knowledge of the Serene Republic from his travels as a merchant Enrico brings a detailed and dire lamination of impending doom. Despite the seeming shift of the war in Aragon's favor Enrico's facts reveal they are little but temporary gains made in a naval war against a shipbuilding giant which can strike at Aragon's shipyards with impunity from its Adriatic shipyards that Aragon cannot reach. As the merchant continues a slow sense of dread rolls over the court but much to their relief Enrico offers salvation in the form of a Neapolitan strike at Venice's Adriatic shipyards and Corfu; the fortress that controls access to the Adriatic. It appears that the nobles of Naples are quite disturbed at the thought of a Venetian Mediterranean.





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[1]Just as OTL, while there was also spices grown in the Indian subcontinent Portugal simply could not be expected to hold land in the Indian interior with its resources. Instead just as OTL, the Portuguese sought out islands where their naval power could be brought to bear to compensate for their lack of manpower.
[2]The earthquake is just as OTL, even before the Venetian takeover of Constantinople the city had shrunken to several villages housed within its walls. The trend continued with the Venetians that only saw the economic and military potential of the city and did not hold the city as a political center of an empire.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Hospitaller tongues.


Whatever their original intent of the Hospitallers, they had lost it by the 14th century becoming naval mercenaries that would gladly fight fellow Christians for coin. Given wealth, privilege, and sovereignty the Hospitallers had lost their way raiding both Christians and Muslims alike. It was then perhaps fortunate that the Hospitallers lost Rhodes, for it started a chain of reaction that revitalized parts of the organization. Throughout Europe the Hospitallers maintained a considerable number of chapters throughout Holy Roman Empire, France, Castile, Aragon and Portugal; most of which decided to quietly distance themselves from a centralized organization upon news of the man-eaters in Venice. Most chapters decided to organize into kingdom-sized units called tongues and went their own separate ways as mercenaries for hire, renewed holy orders, or suffered dissolution. Two particular tongues however took their own unique paths under the leadership of visionaries took the shock as a sign to repent and return to their roots.[1]

The first is the Hospital Order of Saint James(1271-1336), based in the Kingdom of Aragon the order sought to return to their roots of caring for pilgrims to Jerusalem. Surprisingly this order is given sanction by both rival popes in a rare occurrence of non-partisanship. The order enjoys the same reputation throughout Christendom as the Hospitallers did during the 12th century as the preferred charity of choice in its lands. [2]

The second is the Knight Order of Saint James or as he is known in Castile Santiago(?-44), based in the Kingdom of Portugal and Castile the order sought to evangelized the vast lands that the Portuguese have explored; a goal which the Portuguese crown had always aspired to but could not due to the strain of maintaining an empire for a kingdom of meagre means. The order offers an outlet for the vast ranks of Castilian warriors left idle after the conquest of Granada as they seek prestige and wealth overseas. Distinguishing themselves through their disciple, martial powers, and emphasis on literacy the order is backed by the seafaring abilities of Portuguese captains. Despite the bad blood between the kingdoms the order manages to combine Castilian manpower with Portuguese naval acumen. Sanctioned by Pope Paul II in-exchange for Portuguese support the order was originally meant to provide missionaries solely for the faithful Portuguese overseas but eventually grew to encompass all overseas missionaries. Pope Felix V on the other hand having been backed by the Duchy of Burgundy; a kingdom with minimal interest in the new lands condemns the enslavement and exploitation of the heathens as amoral and counterproductive to their conversion.[2]





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[1] IOTL the Knights Hospitallers underwent a moral and organizational decline hiring themselves as naval mercenaries against fellow Christians directly contrary to their original intent against heathens. ITTL, two have found new purpose and reinvigorated their fervor.
[2] Named after Saint Elizabeth of Aragon (1271-1336) who was known for her piety, charity to the poor and pilgrims, and less so for her stateswomanship ? (boy that sounds weird). IOTL she was canonized in 1526, ITTL she was canonized much earlier as homage to reclaiming the holy land.
[2] Named after Saint James, one of the 12 apostles and the first missionary to preach in Iberia the order is one of the few aspects of cooperation between the Iberian Kingdoms.

 

[fsponholz]

Very nice to see this updated again. About the chapter I think it's very sad that Constantinople fell to ruin like that, especially considering the history of the place.

 

[Lucius Verus]

There will be a shift in the format of the TL due to a disconnect between my interest and the TL. As I have stated at the start I wanted to focus on the cultural and economic aspects of the Venetian Republic. Over the course of the last two years writing this TL I have come to learn much about writing, planning, as well as my interests. Economic , technological, and cultural events are rarely single year events and often span into decades in contrast to the world inclusive year by year format of the current TL, a format which also has me breaking up small arcs into awkward chunks and creates temptation for a military focus. So with that in mind I'm speeding up the pace of the TL which at its current pace would take 10 years to finish.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Lion of the Mediterranean. A Cultural & Industrial Venetian TL

The flag of the Most Serene Republic of Venice


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Fertile land, great access to waterways, and resting on surface seams of coal and iron the topic of English industrialization is one of great interest among counter-factual historians to this day. Yet for all of its advantages the English did not industrialize quickly. In-fact the English were not even among the first few having narrowly beaten by the Venetian Republic; a Republic which lacked any native source of iron or coal. Elisas Norton, adjunct professor.

As a republic ruled more often than not by women the Most Serene Republic has been known by many playful nicknames; the Most Serene Pornocracy, the Most Cantonese Christians, the Most Pompous Missionaries, among other slurs. Almodis D'Ancy, French Courier.

Aggregated the cultural spending of the Venetian cities rivals that of the military budgets of the mightiest empires in existence, perhaps that explains the cultural resilience of even the smallest town within the Republic which have kept their traditions alive throughout the centuries. Agnieszka Oliver, Polish film director.

Perhaps it was the dull bureaucratic nature of the Venetians, perhaps it was their system of governance, or perhaps it was just dumb luck but the Venetian Republic was the only realm within Europe with which the taint of nationalism did not reach. Zhou Zi Luon, Imperial Cartographer.

It was a sad and common sight, our kids would rather learn speak Venetian than their native Amharic. They are wearing their risque sotocòtołos and watching their smutty films. But its the only way to get a good job nowadays, so I'll accept it. Caleb Bekele, Concerned Parent.

We don't know what we're doing, but we know what you're doing. Zeno de Riveria, Venetian Inquisitor.​

 

[Lucius Verus]

Very nice to see this updated again. About the chapter I think it's very sad that Constantinople fell to ruin like that, especially considering the history of the place.

Depends, it might down the line as a safe haven for commercial activity around the Black Sea. But that's imperialism at the time, if it wasn't valuable or useful then it will be abandoned.

 

[The Undead Martyr]

It's good to see another update.

Constantinople depends on what happens in the Balkans and Black Sea. Russia seems to have been averted or at least postponed due to the Crimean Khanate, but sooner or later I think someone is going to emerge as a major power in Anatolia and/or Greece, and Constwntinople, however weak and pitiful it might be, is still a prize.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Franco-Venetian Alliance.

Undeniable in its power and glory the position of Dogaressa was viewed as inferior to its noble analogues due to its non-hereditary status. Therefore it came as a massive shock to everyone that Dogaressa Febe Mocenigo announced her marriage to prince Thomas de Foix, nephew of French king Lothaire de Foix. At the age of 30, Febe left much to be desired as she married late for a woman and even more later as a Patrician. Yet for all intents and purposes Lothaire de Foix only saw his relatives as liabilities, potential usurpers to the throne and targets to be removed so that only his bloodline; even if bastards were left as the sole heirs. For a noble there were a few fates worse than a matrilineal marriage, for it meant the end of Thomas' bloodline as a noble and an extremely harsh example to other the lords in the French court.

While the de Foix family has managed to expand and consolidate dynastic borders at the cost of Brittany, Provence, and Savoy the expansion has also carried the family closer to its rivals, in particular Brittany and Savoy. For the duchess in-exile of Brittany is the de-facto regent of Burgundy and the buffer that the duchy of Savoy served erased. Surrounded on all sides by hostile the Burgundians, the Aragonites, and the Venetians only the Swiss and English were neutral. Of the two neutral realms the English king was weak and rumors abound of his subservience to his Burgundian backers while the Swiss owed their allegiance to the coin and both were considered undependable.

Yet Lothaire saw the Venetian focus on fortifications over its army as less of a threat and more of an opportunity. For since the time of Charlemagne the French kingdom has had the problem of defending two coasts in different seas and the Venetian naval power compliments the French army splendidly as a threat to its rival Aragon.

Unknown to all but a few, the Franco-Venetian alliance prevented the entry of Naples into the war. For while a Neapolitan and Aragonite-Venetian war had a great chance of success, the prospect of taking on the might of France as well seemed doomed to failure and the armies of Naples were quietly disbanded.

Besieged at sea and on land, the god given luck that gave Aragon its Mediterranean empire is now nowhere to be found.