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

[Lucius Verus]

The Portuguese Empire

Map of the Portuguese Empire​

Known as the "String of Pearls" for its snaking shape and bounty the Portuguese Empire has made astounding leaps and bounds within the last century bringing prosperity to an otherwise unremarkable backwater. Spearheaded by royal prerogative the kings of Portugal paved the way for Portuguese merchants. With discipline and cannon the Portuguese managed to conquer an chain of ports in Africa, India, and the Indies.

The most recent acquisition of the Moluccas aka the chief source of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon has given the crown a near monopoly on their production forcing Venetians to compete in the saturated markets of India instead. However the wealth comes at a cost of manpower, the journey to the East is long and dangerous and comes at an opportunity cost. Due to manpower constraints and a lack of interest the new lands discovered to the West are little more than academic curiosities and fisheries. Similarly Portuguese control is limited to coastal regions and dependent on Portuguese garrisons as a constant drain on Portuguese manpower.

The dangers of the journey east​

Map of the journeys East
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Departing from Lisbon the Indian Armada is carried by the trade winds south down the coast of Africa with rest stops at the Madeira, the Canaries, and Cape Verde. The first danger lies past Cape Verde, for "doldrums" frequent the equatorial waters leading to the potential loss of days if not weeks due to a lack of wind. Navigation of the equator required immense skill and perception to take advantage of every little breeze and current presented in the calm waters.

Past the equatorial waters the ships must then sail west into the circular Southern Atlantic current and let it carry them to the Cape of Storms. Here in the Southern Atlantic lies the second danger in the journey, unlike one's latitude which can be discerned by star charts one's longitude can only be approximated. The addition of clocks and careful logs can help improve one's longitudinal estimation but clocks are only so accurate and of marginal use to ships that cannot accurately gauge their speed. Unlike the majority of ships at the time, the Portuguese fleet must endure months at sea and wayward ships, cannibalism on stranded ships, and shipwrecks were always on the minds of Portuguese captains.

After restocking at the Cape of Storms the ships must split up (to reduce the chance of total failure) and pass through or around the gauntlet that is Madagascar. By now the ships are in poor shape having been out at sea for months without recaulking or repainting. Going through the Mozambique Channel meant braving violent currents, unpredictable gusts winds, all while avoiding the shoals that exist in abundance. Going around Madagascar meant a long and uncertain journey directly to India straining the ships' endurance with a high chance of getting lost due to uncertainty about longitude. Hugging Madagascar on the other hand meant sailing through equally treacherous and uncertain waters due to the reefs, shoals, and rocks that line the Eastern Madagascan coast.

Once past the channel, the armada would reassemble on the East African Coast and sail the monsoon winds to India. Due to the seasonal nature of the monsoon ship that fail to leave on time must be left behind or risk being stranded by opposing winds for a year. Those that do manage to return will once again have to brave the waters of Madagascar, this time with even more worn out hulls and unwieldy full cargo holds.

Of the entire journey, attrition rates of 1/3 in ships and 1/5 in manpower was the norm and most of those that returned must be refitted due to wear and tear. While lucrative, the journey east is brought with blood and toil.[1]

The comparison with the Venetian journey East​

In contrast to the Venetian route hugs the coast from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf/Red Seas into the Mediterranean. While the Venetian route is subject to more tolls from local authorities it is dependable, faster, yet still competitive. Currently the route is fickle at best, but with the victory of France and Venice over Aragon the Red Seas route is expected to be reopened as Venetian investments pour into the recently conquered Nile valley.

Starting from Venice the venetian cogs and zebecs would make short hops down the Adriatic coast to the Venetian ports on Crete. Provisioned by numerous ports and maintained by the mini-Arsenales in Corfu, Crete, Negropont, Cyprus, Constantinople, and the most recent addition in Rashid the Venice-Constantinople and Venice-Rashid(Egypt) route is secure and routine. Unloading at the Sinai caravans transport the Venetians to the Red Sea to the worn and tested route of Islamic pilgrims. From the Red Sea the Venetians would often use commissioned/hired ships from India to make short hops from Arabia to India and beyond using the naval Silk Road. For the majority of the trip the Venetians are close to land and in well-travelled and charted waters, losses for the most part are minimal and often only consists of the obligatory tariffs and port fees.

The main organizational difference between the Venetian and the Portuguese routes is that the Portuguese efforts are militarily spearheaded by the crown with limited merchant participation and a great emphasis on secrecy. In contrast the Venetians operate between an alliance of trade houses without official backing and rely more on opportunistic entrepreneurs to expand its operations with a strong focus on infrastructure as well as relations; something necessitated by the lack of a military force in the Indian Ocean and the Mesopotamian Valley.

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[1]The journey is just as IOTL, a few bases are different but nothing grand.
[2]The journey is similar to IOTL with a greater Venetian presence.

 

[diestormlie]

Now, of course, the question is that can Portugal sustain this? Shipbuilding, for one. Sailors, for another, or soldiers. An uptick in Piracy off the African Coast (Either, really, or Madegascar) could really harm the entire enterprise. Or the destruction of Mossel Bay/Famine. Hell, they could just get lost, or a freak storm wrecks them. Or the Captains in charge are not so loyal (unlikely, given the importance of the task and thus, in theory, the carefully picked nature of the men.)

Can Portugal sustain the enterprise if a year's fleet just... Vanished?

 

[Lucius Verus]

Can Portugal sustain the enterprise if a year's fleet just... Vanished?

Absolutely, if you look up the early armadas which were commercially and manpower-wise was a giant gaping maw, yet it was sustained since the wealth was just within grasp. The only years were aramadas weren't sent are years when things are happening back in Portugal or when the Portuguese were out competed.

 

[Ceins]

A question, I get why Venice isn't pouring in investments into Constantinople, because they already get what they need out of the place. However, why wouldn't anyone else want the city, enough to actually kick off what seems to be a minor garrison ?

 

[Lucius Verus]

A question, I get why Venice isn't pouring in investments into Constantinople, because they already get what they need out of the place. However, why wouldn't anyone else want the city, enough to actually kick off what seems to be a minor garrison ?

The first thing is that the Bosporus strait requires continuous control along its shores from the Black Sea to the Aegean and thus Constantinople is just one point among many. What 's more important here is diplomacy and things are going well with the Sufis who are more absorbed into theological pursuits and Anatolia which is currently fragmented.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Potential of the Republic
The Women of the Venetian Republic in the 16th century

Before we invented scientific racism there was sexism. Anonymous

It isn't pleasant, but it is mankind's heritage. Rene Levesque, mailman


Women's Education in the Po Valley


With the great renaissance of the 12th century education became a prized and prestigious asset. This came hand in hand with increasing restrictions upon trades in the form of licensing requirements. Many trades such as midwives, herbalists, and healers that were traditionally women's occupations were legislated in favor of educated men to the exclusion of women. Women, starting with less capital and economic means were both less able to afford education, banned, or in the case of Italy discouraged by their family and educators from seeking an education. The common perception of the time was that women were more emotional, less logical, weak willed, promiscuous, and thus less deserving and useful than men for education. Attitudes within the Po Valley eventually hardened like the rest of Christendom to banning women from education all together. Women are only permitted access to education in a few communities and only in Venice are they actively encouraged to do so. Furthermore unlike the Po Valley universities that teaches the humanities favored by clergy and nobles (logic, rhetoric, Latin, etc...) Venetian education tends to be vocational and employable skills (accounting, finance, technical skills, Venetian, etc...). [1]


Venetian Impact


At best the Venetians were paternalistic and patronizing towards their mainlander cousins and at worst disdainfully apathetic. Venetian bureaucrats did not care to intercede in local rulings beyond trade nor did they encourage education in the Po Valley evident in the fact that most of their charities were directed at residents of Venice. But despite their low opinion of mainlanders the Venetian trade houses offered the rare chance for women to be educated, for each hub of the trade is likely to have libraries that are unrestricted to company members with the option of limited and paid access by the public. Those with enough wealth or the willingness to pay their education though the promise of future labour are given access similar to that of their male counterparts in the Po Valley. To the Venetians, the libraries served as a low cost method to improve worker skills, acquire cheap skilled labour in-exchange for education, and perhaps most profitably future craftswomen for there were few in the Po Valley that wished to hire them. The Venetians did not see any merit in charity for the women of the Po Valley but was rather concerned with the profit to be made and the Venetian senate as a cheap way to train more skilled workers. [2]


Women's Wages in the Po Valley


Against the general perception of the more delicate gender there was also the perception that women are supposed to be married and thus automatically supported by men. On average it meant that women received roughly half of their gender counterparts for doing the same work. This practice eventually led to codified laws limiting the wages of women, but even then there were women willing to work for a fraction of the cost (if only to survive) to the scorn of guilds. Unwilling to compete with cheap labour and eager to protect their privilege guilds banned trades outside of guilds forcing women to seek other lower paid work or be forcibly incorporated into guilds and have their profit siphoned from them. Not only were women forced out of the better jobs, the remaining jobs were designed to be so meagre that they often had to seek husbands or a life as a prostitute; the only trade where women earned more than men (of course it was only a matter of time until townships starting siphoning their earnings with fines). In the end women were forced into unpaid positions as servants, labourers, prostitutes, and child-bearers to serve the needs of men. This is where the origin of the term maid came from; for so many maidens served as servants that the term became synonymous. [3]


Venetian Impact


With the Compact of Bergamo, the war-torn and famine stricken Po Valley accepted Venetian aid in exchange for incorporation into the Republic. The Venetians acquire great tracts of land from abandoned warzones or purchased it from hungry peasants and the Po Valley became the land of great estates. Many women which were formerly sustained by family plots were dispossessed and while some found employment upon the great estates as labourers the great efficiency of the farms meant that many more joined the ranks of the beggars.

After the Great Bargain struck by Dogaressa Febe the cities of the Po Valley gained considerable autonomy in-exchange for their support to Venice and their deference to Venice in matters of trade, war, and diplomacy (all of which for an overseas empire that benefitted Venice immensely). While the Venetian Inquisition upheld the law for Venetian citizens the cities of the Po Valley each had their own citizenship as a part of the Great Bargain and took to enforce their local authorities eagerly.

While the influence of the Venetians could be seen in the sprawling roads and canals of the Po Valley and the public decrees made by the judges of the Venetian Inquisition the most impactful influence of the Venetians upon the Po Valley was with its trade houses. For the Venetians did not discriminate against the women of the Po Valley as women, but rather as non-Venetians that are grouped together as the men of the Po Valley. The local authorities were free to enforce their own decrees upon their citizens they had little power over Venetian citizens and as a result the Venetian trade housed set their own wages. While the wages that Po Valley women and men received from the Venetian trade houses would be considered disdainful and barely sufficient in Venice it was a massive boon to the women of the Po Valley for it was the only avenue where they were rewarded for their labour which also offered avenues of advancement. Once again the Venetians only hired women due to the cheapness of their labour compared to their male counterparts and even more so compared to the Venetian counterparts. Yet this simple act of not discriminating based on gender but rather on culture gave 4 of the 9 great Venetian trade houses an undeniable competitive edge. [4]


Women's Property, Dowry, and inheritance in the Po Valley


The people of the Mediterranean Realms tended to operate in kin groups as opposed to the more individualistic habits of the Atlantic realms. Family heads, typically male made the decision for the family as a whole. Primogeniture, the practice of inheritance by the oldest son gradually made its way into the minds of commoners. While the older forms of gavelkind is still common, the rich and powerful preferred the practice of primogeniture because it consolidated family wealth and diminished dynastic disputes. In making primogeniture the preferred mode of inheritance for themselves they also sought unity in their lands so lords, guild masters, and merchants enforced the ruling upon the commoners.

Whereas women in the Po Valley used to received dowries from their fathers the practice of primogeniture meant that they often had to start working from the age of 7-9 to acquire their dowry around age 20, that or their fathers simply forbid them to wed and sent them off to a cloister for the rest of their lives. Due to the pittance paid to women it often meant that by age 20 after more than a decade of work a woman would have some clothes, bedding, and linen to show for her labour. In contrast men were expected to be wealthy and well-off and as a consequence much older and much more likely to leave widows. Considered damaged goods and unable to support themselves these widows join the crowds of destitute brides-to-be in urban squalor making up an average of 20% of urban population in the Po Valley and over half the beggars.[5]


Venetian Impact


The Venetian impact upon the cultural practices of the Po Valley was minimal, while those that can secure employment with Venetian trade houses could earn a sizable dowry non-Venetian citizenship often meant that the dowry was under the control of her husband or should the marriage be broken for any reason reverted back to the eldest man of her family. Those without any male relatives is place under the authority of the church as women were viewed as incapable of managing their own dowry. The practice of a dowry fell out of favor among Venetians more than a century ago as inheritance change to being given to the favored child and women were often equal partners capable of supporting themselves in Venice.

Yet a Venetian woman was able to hold and employ property as she wished and this perk of Venetian citizenship attracted many women to seek lonely Venetian bachelors. Just as well for Venetian boys are taught to strike out on their own to seek adventure and wealth. [6]


Women's Religion in the Po Valley


Starting from 4th century, women were gradually pushed out of the religious realm. While many of the early missionaries and martyrs were women the church soon organized, centralized, and began suppressing what it saw as weak-willed, emotional, and temptation for sin in men. Barred from leadership positions women were restricted to segregated church attendance or participation within convents. But starting in the 12th century convents became increasingly difficult for women for their funding was reduced (partially due to the fact that female donors became poorer as well) and that participation often required them to be able to support themselves and hire two servants. In the end, most women had little choice but to accept the moral and social restriction the church the church placed upon them and silently attend mass.

Marriages among the poor was formerly informal; usually the groom was whoever happened to be with the woman when she realized she was pregnant. After-all the poor had little in the way of property so the legitimacy of the child didn't matter much. But much like the practice of primogeniture among the rich and powerful that was enforced upon the poor the churches of the Po Valley gradually extended their authority to the poor. Under the church marriage was formalized and binding to the advantage of the husband, divorce while nominally legal was never practiced for women. Women were expected to assist their husbands with many obligations such as sex, child-bearing, management of the household, etc… while holding very little autonomy nor legal rights. Conversely this also meant women were more tolerated in protesting; often over food prices for they were viewed as the failure of their husbands to provide, after-all a woman can't be expected to provide for herself. [7]


Venetian Impact


As a part of the solution in dealing with the formerly man-eating Chapel of Lights the authority of religion was delegated back to local authorities from the State Church. As culture was strongly linked to religion and loyalty local authorities zealously expanded church control. Yet for many women of the Po Valley Venetian citizenship allowed an avenue for pious expression and it was often the promise of religious freedom rather than economic advancement that made Venetian citizenship so attractive (and by extension Venetian bachelors) so attractive to women of the Po Valley.

Described by many as a cult of whores and excommunicated by both popes the Church of Magdalene was the brainchild of Dogaressa Febe. Febe, despite being the Dogaressa was restricted from positions of religious by the all-male clergy of the Venetian church to which her response was to destroy the state church by delegating its authority to locals and to legislate tolerance for most faiths so she could found her own church.

Based on her worldview and taking advantage of a lack of original biblical material on the disciple Magdalene Febe founded a church after "the most beloved of Christ's disciples", the first to witness his resurrection, and a wealthy backer of the prophet. Given its context, the name Magdalene could be interpreted in three ways; either as just a name, the name of her hometown, or as the nickname "the rock" as a pillar of support for Jesus. Inferring from a lack of mention of Magdalene after the death of Christ Febe declared that Magdalene "the rock” was not a prostitute as centuries of tradition described her but was actually a mature and wealthy woman who financed Jesus that died shortly after his crucifixion and was thus never mentioned again.

The church believed wealth and ability as signs of god's favor and emphasized intellect, charity, and diligence as virtues. Unsurprisingly humility, temperance in abstaining from alcohol and gambling, and honestly were left out as virtues. In practice the church allowed the participation of women in its clergy and similarly to the old state church favored the rich patrons with prestigious positions. [8]


Women at war in the Po Valley


During the Italian Wars women often accompanied armies as camp followers, healers, prostitutes, and labors. They served as labours for fortifications, porters, and in a pitch skirmishers. Unlike soldiers they could not count on ransoms if they were captured and could expect rape and impressment into servitude and unlike soldiers they did not partake in the spoils of war.


Venetian Impact


The largest Venetian impact was the pacification of the Po Valley, nowadays women do not go to war if simply because war does not occur in the Po Valley. For most foreign wars camp followers have been replaced by the logistic caravans of the Venetian trade houses as they lobbied against camp followers as an unnecessary logistical burden and for the potential profits they stand to gain from supplying Venetian forces. Prostitutes, servants, and healers still accompany the soldiers but as members of trade houses with a level of formal protection.




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[1]Just as OTL, women were shut out of religion and education which often came hand in hand before the introduction of massed printing. By the 16th century women were mostly forbidden from most educational institutions.

[2]Similar to the Combat Engineers and their policy of education for service, the educator got discount labour, the labour got financing for schooling that was otherwise unobtainable, and the government benefited from a larger pool of skilled workers. It was only a matter of time until this practice diffused from retired or demobilized combat engineers.

[3]Just as OTL, women were gradually reduced to unpaid servants. Maids were often expected to keep their virginity to the eldest son and they often served as concubines for the men, all of which was unpaid or paid poorly.

[4]More or less what happened IOTL, in order to compete with English trade and economic dominance in the 17th century the guilds of the republic resorted to employing women in textiles for their low wages? Now ITTL, the gender-egalitarian and apathetic attitude of the Venetians towards their mainland cousins meant that it was employed a lot earlier. Honestly this was perhaps one of the easiest and dumbest improvements for humans; no tech or capital required stop preventing half of the population from working properly, yet even today this potential is being squandered in so many places.

[5]Just as OTL, I'm writing about sexual slavery of kids… Fun Fun history, oh well different morals for different times so it's somewhat pointless to judge.

[6]ITTL the Venetians couldn't care less how the locals practiced their culture as long as it didn't affect the Venetians.

[7]Just as OTL. *Ahem* For a limited time only get your very own Venetian husband here! He comes with a veneer of arrogance, a high tolerance for alcohol, and the ability to own your own property! How romantic!

[8]IOTL There was plenty of biblical traditions about Magdalene, but little original text. Dogaressa Febe's church was a very flawed creation as evident in the numerous schisms within the church of Magdalene that would occur, but for the time it offered women meaningful spiritual participation that they could not get elsewhere.

 

[PhilippeO]

easiest and dumbest improvement for humans

There are reason why most culture don't do this. It would create class of unmarried woman. As many of ten-20% of women would stay unmarried. This would reduce number of available brides for young men, and create class of radicalized poor young man. It will also Reduce birth rate significantly.

My guess is Venice will need constant supply of immigrant to grow.

 

[Lucius Verus]

easiest and dumbest improvement for humans

There are reason why most culture don't do this. It would create class of unmarried woman. As many of ten-20% of women would stay unmarried. This would reduce number of available brides for young men, and create class of radicalized poor young man. It will also Reduce birth rate significantly.

If the number of jobs was static, or if the authorities were actually sociologists sure. There was the perception that a married man has bought into society was certainly there, but forcing women to marry by destroying their economic livelihoods is a destructive way to go about it (not that rulers of time knew sociology or economics). Similarly the average age of marriage is much higher nowadays and in places that like Spain have 50% youth unemployment the men are restless but not violent; they aren't overthrowing the government and slaughtering people. Cultures change.

My guess is Venice will need constant supply of immigrant to grow.

Venice as a pre-modern city always needed immigrants due to a higher mortality rate much like all others, the unique point of Venice was that it had a very mobile population; at any given time the majority of Venetians would be overseas.

 

[Ceins]

Given your focusing on the role of women so much lately, will you show of any downsides to this great liberation ? Societal backlash, greater rifts between Venice and mainland, disdain from foreign nations and nationals. Lack of trust in the ability of women is so widespread so there must be difficulties in gaining successful bargains. If not this specific example, then you still understand where I'm going with this.

Not to just be a naysayer, but simple and productive societal changes don't exist and while I buy the described changes being accepted in Venice, what about the rest of the world ?

Like, the recent chapter contrasted the Po Valley and Venice, but what about the old Terra Firma ?

 

[Sceonn]

Venice has never being accepted in the wider World, it's just too tough a nut to crack so it's left alone. Consolidation of the Kingdoms surrounding it is what doomed them OTL, which will be prevented ITTL as Venice itself consolidates as well.

 

[Lucius Verus]

Given your focusing on the role of women so much lately, will you show of any downsides to this great liberation ? Societal backlash, greater rifts between Venice and mainland, disdain from foreign nations and nationals. Lack of trust in the ability of women is so widespread so there must be difficulties in gaining successful bargains. If not this specific example, then you still understand where I'm going with this.

Not to just be a naysayer, but simple and productive societal changes don't exist and while I buy the described changes being accepted in Venice, what about the rest of the world ?

Like, the recent chapter contrasted the Po Valley and Venice, but what about the old Terra Firma ?

Absolutely, I'm setting up the premise first. Plus I still didn't get to the old Terra Firma
. A rich republic was disdainful enough, a powerful republic invoked the fears of aristocrats, and one inclusive of women threatened the entire existence of feudal Europe. I have already alluded to two excommunications from the rival Popes, several schisms, and one just has to lookup the Cathar crusade to see what could happen.

It's more to do with the new format of the TL, for example in the old one when I about a woman's education, rights, wealth and such it took place over a hundred years and over a hundred updates and people accepted it. This post covers the entire 16th century for the republic and admittedly I should of made that clear. I'm transitioning from a chronological style to a narrative style.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Great Farce
The Holy Roman Empire in the 16th century


Despite its incorrect assumptions the Hungarian victory over the Austrians has long been attributed to the military innovations of Matthias Hunyadi and yet a simple fact check would show that the majority of the "Négyzetek" or simply Hungarian Squares perished along with Matthias' first battles against Archduke Ladislaus' armies. While superior in most aspects the armies of the Holy Roman Empire was constantly hampered by Emperor Bogislaw's goal of subjugating the Archduke leading to several months of delays while they hammered out terms. Ladislaus was demanding the emperor's help, yet unwilling to let the Empire's troops loot his lands nor offer meaningful concessions; a position which stunk of arrogance and entitlement to Bogislaw. In a series of letters between the Emperor and the Archduke tempers flared and various inquiries were made about one and another's parentage, intellect, and personal dalliances with farm animals. Tired of waiting Bogislaw's men decided to indulge in harassing the local populace. By the time an agreement was reached it was already late summer and Matthias' mercenaries had already taken several forts and a major town.

Quickly routing Matthias' inferior numbers Bogislaw expelled Matthias' armies from the Archduke's realm within the span of two months leaving only isolated fortresses to be retaken. Wanting to press on into Hungary to secure a decisive victory and loot to satisfy his bloodied men Bogislaw found to his frustration and fury that with his realm secure the Archduke was neither willing to assist him and seemed ready to reengage on his promises leading to another two months of furious letter exchanges. Finally, as winter set in and the men began to starve Bogislaw realized that he was out of time and risking a pandemic. Trudging through two weeks of snow the men finally made it to winter quarters, by then a third of men were lost to cold and starvation and another third causalities of disease. Dispirited and humiliated in his inability to subjugate the archduke Bogislaw returned to Pomerania in gloom and the archduke was delighted to have beaten both the emperor and his former vassal at little cost to himself. But the Archduke's celebration was short-lived, for Matthias returned three years after at the head of a new army mightier than before. With memories of the Great Farce that was the last imperial intervention the Archduke's pleas for help fell on deaf ears for the emperor had neither the will nor the authority to help.

In the end Matthias did not live to see his success, dying of old age on the campaign trail and it was his son John Hyundai the 2nd who triumphed over the Archduke in regaining Hungary's historic claims. John Hyundai himself will eventually die an early death intervening in the Sufi-Janissary wars leading to an inheritance by the Germanic Celle-Hyundai branch of the family. The Archduke died soon after of gout and the duchy passed to his grandson Albertus von Hapsburg whose reign was embroiled in religious unrest and rebellions in Bohemia. Emperor Bogislaw was never able to recover from the loss of imperial authority for soon the empire lost another war against Burgundian expansion in the Lower Countries and local dukes began to feud once again. Seeing the writing on the wall, emperor Bogislaw devoted the remainder of his life to consolidating the duchy of Pomerania through dynastic marriages with Brandenburg and Mecklenburg. Distracted by immediate events the lords of the empire failed to react to the subtle infiltration of the Grey Cross across the southern empire and the emergence of new sects such as:

• Baptists: those that refused to baptize newborns and instead preferred to unbaptized themselves and baptize again when they feel ready, if ever. Popular among urban populations they find themselves increasingly at odds with their overlords as tribute from towns declines and noble protection of towns dwindles.

• Clementines: followers of the maytr Clement von Villicus who preached that one's place in heaven was predestined, offering many relief over worrying about their afterlife. Clement von Villicus was supposed to have been burned by the Catholic Church, but instead met his end at the hands of an angry Grey mob. This sect is particularly popular in the Rhur valley where Clement met his end and already has the support of several local lords.

• Jacobites: followers of Jacob the disciple (one of the first converts to the Grey Cross) and known as a splinter sect of the Grey Cross. in addition to the Grey Cross' teachings the Jacobites adopted the ancient Pelagian denial of original sin. That is to say that man was not inherently sinful, but rather learns to sin. A teaching which denies the need for an organized religion for salvation as well as the existence of hell.

• The followers of the Blue Cross: unlike the followers of the Grey Cross, which teaches militant uprising of the third estate the Blue Cross preaches similar ideals with an elitist appeal. To the alarm of both the Empire and the Grey Cross missionaries of the Blue Cross has spread with alarming ease through the courts of opportunistic and disloyal lords of the Empire.

• Pacifists: perhaps one of the strangest sects to which if history to be observed, would be only a matter of time until they are put to fire and sword.

• Witchers: Originally little more than roving bands of bandits, rapists, and vagabonds taking advantage of the empire's chaos. Known for their cruelty, the witchers got their name from the numerous "witches" they abducted, raped, and impaled. Galvanized by charismatic doomsayers the Witchers believe that the end is nigh, that god has forsaken man, and the hedonism was the only joy for anyone before an eternity of hell.

• The Marytrs of August: A sect of mercenaries turned missionaries. Originating from the Kingdom of Denmark it is said that the legendary Sufi sword saint August Adrianos came upon a band of mercenaries aimlessly pillaging the countryside and defeated all 30 men with just his sheath. Nursing them back to health August taught them discipline and gave them purpose for battle, to which they interpreted as salvation in martyrdom "for to live outside of Christ is to die, and to die in Christ is to live". Tolerated as mercenaries for their martial powers they are nonetheless one of the most organized and dangerous sects in the empire with an unnerving desire to die in battle. Unyielding and fearless the lords of the empire view them with awe and dread for this chaos cannot last forever and when it ends the Marytrs will run out of enemies to die against.

Like an overheated kettle, the empire is seething at the cracks and threatening to blow.

 

[Sceonn]

Well, a non existent Austro-Hungarian Empire might have just saved Venice a great deal of headache.

 

[Lucius Verus]

Well, a non existent Austro-Hungarian Empire might have just saved Venice a great deal of headache.

Yup IOTL the Hungarians were in the verge of conquest by the Ottomans and Austria stepped in to secure it's own borders. Without the Ottomans there was little destruction in the Danube and little reason for an union as time passed.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Last Crusaders
The Polish-Lithuanian Union and the Crimean Khanate in the 16th century​

The coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Union​

Like dragons of yore, the great lords of the Polish-Lithuanian union rests idle on top of great hordes of treasures. Riding the prosperity of Burgundy and the renewed prosperity of France the Union has become wealthy from the sales of grain & timber through the city of Danzig. Unlike their western neighbours, the lands of the Union are sparsely populated and most lords exist in relative seclusion from their neighbours and unlike the lords of Hungary and France the union does not boast a centralized court. Lacking a stage to display their wealth the lords of the union began to host great festivals for their fellow lords. Prepared months in advance the guests are treated to 11 days and 12 nights of wine and dance with interludes of hunting, jousts, and theatre. As with all festivals and pageants many troubadours, poets, dancers, courtesans, and entertainers are required in such festivities; a profitable prospect for those who can find themselves in the good graces of a noble patron. For the Venetians these balls are an opportunity to muscle out their Flemish competitors from Burgundy and potential markets to expand to. For while the majority of Polish trade flows down the Vistuala into the Baltic the local Venetian Balio is championing the option of a route through the Dniester taking advantage of the fact that despite the enmity between the Khanate and the Union the Venetians are on decent terms with both. (the Dniester runs into the black sea but it is a second choice for commerce due to constant raids that frequent the area)

A grand pageant takes place on the final day, where the lords parade about in the most lavish costumes available. Daughters of age make their debut while the men trade favors and discuss marital alliances. Presiding over all of this is the figurehead monarch of the Jagiellonian dynasty.

It is during these great balls that the ideas of Sarmatianism and "Golden Liberty" are finding fertile ground in the minds of the Union's nobles. Based on the legendary Iranian Sarmatians that supposedly invaded and settled the union Sarmatianism claims that all of the union's subjects share a common ancestor in the Sarmatians regardless of one's culture or language. It is almost as if someone flipped the hourglass and reversed the flow of time for Latin is quickly becoming a popular second language in contrast to its almost universal decline in the rest of Christendom. Of course this is only court language but it is an admirable start. Combined with the noble rights and privileges of the "Golden Liberty" which holds that "each and every noble is to be treated equally to his birthright".[1]

Away from the glamour and pomp of the palaces, the Union is a harsh place to live as a commoner. Burdened by harsh taxes and feudal dues the peasants of the Union ekes out a meagre existence on the great feudal fiefs for the word of their lords are absolute for each lord of the Union can administer their realms with impunity and there is little hope of escape. Only the frontier regions bordering the Crimean Khanate has some semblance of autonomy in its militarized settlements of Cossacks and refugees but its inhabitants must hazard the constant dangers of Tartar raids and slavers. Every year nobles of the Union march into the Khanate's lands with their personal armies hoping for wealth and glory.[2]

As a reflection of their respective societies the armies of the Union consists of a core of heavily armored knights and their personal retinues leading masses of leveed serfs. Riding enormous war steeds, donning the finest armor and armor, and given a lifetime of training the knights of the union are fearsome warriors. With unmatched skill and organization Union knights are able to accomplish feats such as turning as an unit mid-charge, reforming on command in the midst of battle, and maintain close packed formations at full gallop.[3]

In contrast the Khanate operates in clan bands with the wealthier troops mounted while those on foot served as skirmishers and camp followers. Every member of a Tartar band is cross-trained in riding, firearms, and fighting while the slave foot-soldiers are given makeshift weapons to take the blunt of the fighting. While the Tartar bands cannot fight as well as the Union's knights in close combat they are able to form pike squares and perform volleys simply by dismounting and are masters at ambushes, feints, and living off the land.[4]

With the improvements in tactics and armor in the last hundred years, the use of horse archers has declined in favor of dismounted gunners. Like the asymmetrical warfare of old the Khanate would attempt to wear down their opponents through skirmishes over the course of weeks before engaging while the armies of the union endeavors to seize and consolidate key location forcing their enemies to concede the field or fight with a disadvantage.

Slowly and gradually the two sides fight their battles across the great steppes in a war known as the Last Crusade the forces of Christendom grinds away at the Crimean Khanate. In the end the advantage was no military but rather political and economic and by 1582 the last of the Tartars were forced to flee east as having lost the wars due to its own succession problems and the Union's greater population. In its wake the lords of the Union gleefully set about claiming additions to their dynastic fiefs. The Most Serene Republic of Gazara, having lost commercially to Venetian dominance and the demise of their primary client in the Khanate turned on its Tartar allies in 1574 and swore vassalage to the Union in-exchange for guarantees upon its autonomy. The decision was not done without some hesitation as over a century of cordial relations between the Republic and the Khanate has left a substantial Tartar minority within Gazara. Gradually the Tartar minority within Gazara are pressured to leave.

For the Venetians this war was a mixed bag, on one hand war is always good for certain trade houses like Mocenigo that sells war materials and on the other hand the war meant the destruction of a significant amount of Venetian investments in the Khanate. Countless Venetian mines, sawmills, canals and more were lost in the wars serving as an expensive lesson as well as directing more investments towards safer Venetian colonies. [5]

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[1]Similar to OTL Sarmatianism was a popular ideology until the demise of the union
[2]Unlike IOTL the Tartars of the Khanate are more settled due to the lucrative aspects of selling the products of their conquered estates to the Venetians vs. straight enslavement and pillaging, this in turn makes them more lucrative to raid vs. mobile nomads with fewer possessions. But since the settlement is recent, the Khanate still has many horse riders it can draw upon for war.
[3]IOTL wasn't hard to get idle nobles the expensive equipment and mounts, but what distinguished great knights from knights was their training. Great knights can ride saddle to saddle in a charge, concentrating more power into a smaller section of the front and achieve breakthroughs easier. Great knights can turn as a unit slightly faster and hit an infantry formation it just passed through just before they can reform their pike wall. The great knights of the union can achieve a concentration of force and maneuverability that is unmatched on the field.
[4]Most of the Khanate's tactics were learned during the Golden Horde's civil war, where they combined the mobility that suited the region so well with modern weapons brought from Venetians.
[5]IOTL the same thing happened with Italian and later Dutch merchants that invested large amounts of capital overseas. On one hand it was partially responsible for their prosperity and on the other it helped develop their rivals that eventually fought against them.

 

[Lucius Verus]

A note as for the new format of the TL, since I'm going by topical order maps will be either less frequent or limited to the local region of the post so as not to spoil too much. Any suggestions?

Also thanks for the likes, it does encourage me to write more.

 

[Lucius Verus]

The Forge in the 16th Century


Foreshadowed by ominous thunderclouds rolling in the distance thunder and lightning were considered signs of god's wrath since primeval times. Attracted to the path of least resistance streaks of lightning would often strike the tallest buildings, that is to say church bell towers. It was evident that despite the most diligent efforts of bell boys in ringing the church bells god's displeasure could not be sated and lightning continued to strike. As a boy Wout Aslid (Wout covered in ash) so named after the ashes that always caked his features lost both his father and brother to lightning as they hit the village church-tower leaving him to support his sickly mother. While we know him today as a genius of the Burgundian Enlightenment as a great inventor, metallurgist, and entrepreneur he was at his time as a stubborn seen as a blasphemer for his invention and adamant support of lightning rods.

While the blast furnace has been used in the Lower Countries since its introduction in 1465 there was always the problem of fuel for timber had to be shipped in from the Baltics and down the Rhine river. For Burgundy both timber and steel were very much in demand for its constant wars, the navy that its commercial dominance was built upon, heating, and general construction. Coal for all of its abundance in the Lower Countries contained much more impurities than charcoal and often produced low-quality pig iron when used in the smelting process. At the time it was customary the local priest to be called down to the forge to sanctify the ore and pray that it release its "sow".[1]

This is where Wout Aslid made his first breakthrough, much like the process of creating charcoal Wout "baked" coal covered in coal dust to create coke. Coke, when used in the smelting process was discovered to yield iron similar to charcoal. With this invention Wout guaranteed the energy supply of the Duchy of Burgundy allowing it great iron making capacity as well as freeing up timber for construction instead of heating. However being just a child at the time living as a servant for the local blacksmith Wout was denied recognition and compensation for his invention which went to the blacksmith who created a local monopoly. [2]

Barely making enough to feed himself and his mother this would've been the end of Wout's story if not for the wars of duke Francis III and duke Francis IV. During the first Burgundian-HRE war stray bands of German soldiers destroyed the blacksmith along with its owner and burnt Wout with molten iron. Escaping with his mother Wout eventually found Adolf van Houten, an investor willing to finance a coke business and a patent. Wout, half burnt and missing an eye was content with toiling away in the cokeworks away from gawking eyes and crying children. Unfortunately for Wout Adolf was an avid Clementine and in the second Burgundian-HRE war tortured and his property confiscated as the Clementines were seen as the religion of the duke's enemies in the Rhur. Being a partner in the business Wout was tortured along with Adolf and forced to confess the secrets to making coke.

Once again destitute Wout worked for room and board under an ironmaster (master of a blacksmith guild) for five years before finally saving enough for another venture. There was three kinds of iron at the time; low quality pig iron used for common tools, co-fusion iron made from combining pig-iron high-carbon with low-carbon wrought iron to create something vaguely resembling steel, and genuine steel that require weeks if not months of tedious hammering and heating by master smiths. With the demand for steel ever present Wout created a system for mass producing low-quality steel called "coffin steel" so named for its unreliability but also for the countless enemies that perished against Burgundian blades. In this new system charcoal and wrought iron was packed into airtight "coffins" and heated for weeks on end yielding low-quality but mass produced steel. Unknown to Wout, the reason his "coffin steel" was inferior to steel was due to the concentration of carbon near the surface, resulting in a steel that was too brittle at the surface and too soft at the core. [3]

Catching the attention of royal officials Wout was given an advisory position by the war ministry just in time for the "Troubled Decade". As the church weakened in Burgundy more and more of its citizens joined heretical sects and in an effort to consolidate royal power Francis II began prosecutions that led to his overthrow by a cabal of parliamentarians. Wout, being a non-practicing catholic was nonetheless prosecuted by inquisitors of the Blue Cross for being a catholic and an agent of the previous government. In the end he was stripped of his patents and he was killed trying to save his mother from burning at the stake.

Ten years past, weary of the chaos and the parliamentarians' increasingly authoritarian measures, the silent majority of parliament overthrew the government once again and Francis IV; son of Francis was invited back to the throne. By no means benevolent Francis IV nonetheless tolerated heresy in the duchy for their uses and continued to wage war for profit against France and the Empire.

Building on the works of Wout Aslid a certain Wouts of Åslid helped perfect the process of "coffin steel" by remelting the coffin steel in cauldrons and stirring the contents with a stick Åslid addressed the weakness of coffin steel by distributing the carbon-content more uniformly. Called warlock steel as an advertising gimmick and an allusion to the cauldrons they are made from Åslid made a fortune and went on to sponsor the commission of numerous churches. In an unintentional bit of tapestry it was found that the iron decorations of one of his churches attracted and dispersed the effects of lightning; an invention he soon perfected and patented to no avail. For lightning was seen as god's wrath and any obstruction with its natural course seen as defiance against god. Being a Blue believer in good standing Åslid risked his reputation and fought numerous lawsuits against his invention out of a sense of pride and ultimately succeeded in defending his invention but failing to popularize it. [4]

Due to the similarities in their names and the errors of academics afterwards Wout Aslid/ Wout Åslid; the father of metallurgy is commonly thought to have lived 106 years through the Golden Age of Burgundy, and Troubled Decade, and into the Silver Age of Burgundy.








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[1]IOTL they prayed and blessed ores to let go of the "pig" within, after all lacking knowledge of chemistry it feels best to be doing something that might influence the result.

[2]IOTL coking was theorized by Hugh Plat in 1603 and implemented in 1642. By covering coal in coal dust the coal itself is isolated from actual combustion due to a lack of oxygen while the impurities are "baked" out. The end result is high carbon coke, which reacts with iron oxide to form CO2 leaving iron of higher purity behind.

[3]IOTL coffin steel or "cement steel" was invented around the late 1600s. Strong and flexible steel required about 0.3-2% carbon content where as pure iron (wrought iron) was 0.01% carbon and pig iron an average of 8% carbon. By baking charcoal and wrought iron together the wrought iron surface gains carbon from the charcoal and since it was isolated one could control how much carbon went into the surface of the iron and through trial and error find the right timing (not that they knew why, just that it worked). Compared to every other smelting process of the time which was just guesswork the "coffin steel" was vastly superior in creating consistent if low quality steel.

[4]Just as OTL with lightning rods they were feared as insults to god, they were also invented by accident around the 1730s by Russian architect Akinfiy Demidov or I guess Benjamin Franklin if you are an American. IOTL crucible steel was invented by Benjamin Huntsman around the 1740s.



*Note: Things are moving much faster than OTL technologically, about 50-150 years depending on the area of technology. The main reason being that the two richest part of Europe in the 15th century: Northern Italy and the Lower Countries are relatively peaceful compared to OTL.

 

[corourke]

Love the weird little details you throw into these posts. 106 years is a long time!

 

[Lucius Verus]

Love the weird little details you throw into these posts. 106 years is a long time!

Well otherwise its just a game of risk or Europa, conquer this, conquer that, paint the world red. Gets old fast.

I'm aiming for a "let them hate and envy us" theme just like OTL Venice.

Venice did this first! Look how great we are! Seethe in rage at our sneering decadence and your powerlessness.

Conquer you? You're not good enough for my time and effort!

Conquer us? We're blessed with the Alps and the finest navy on earth!

You think you got a great what!? Well we'll make a bigger one!

 

[Lucius Verus]

Crime and the Venetian Republic in the 16th century​

The Administrative Regions of the Venetian Republic by the End of the 16th Century​

Of the 40 or so towns worthy of note in the Po Valley every one of them are built upon ancient Roman foundations and can trace their traditions religiously. With the exceptions of the invasions of the 6th and 10th centuries the only other break in local traditions is the period of time between the Pact of Bergamo that ended the Italian wars and the Great Compromise that restored local authority in-exchange for support in federal and foreign policy.

The Venetian Judicial System in the 16th century

An odd amalgamation of two related but separate entities the Venetian inquisition was the product of the union of the "lancieri" that existed since the earliest days of Venice and the spiritual successor to the defunct Council of Ten.

The Lancieri

The "lancieri" (literally spearmen) were the enforcers of the law which were known for the great plumes that sit on top of their hats and the spears that they keep handy as symbols of authority. Present in different forms throughout the Republic their uniforms and organization varies commune by commune but the majority of them retains the plum for the authority and esteem of seeming taller. Thou known for their spears in practice the lancieri employed clubs and staffs more than spears in their work to reduce the chance of lethal force and the accidental killing of taxpayers. An average day would see the lancieri perform routine tasks such as enforcing court orders, catching petty thieves, and settling bar fights all according to local laws. In more serious situations the lancieri would be beating down rioters and hunting bandits in full war gear. In theory subservient to the Venetian inquisition the lancieri are seldom called upon to act in the Inquisition's name. [1]

Regional Laws

Originally treated as equal citizens under the reforms of Doge Lucifer the resulting judicial system was a bureaucratic nightmare as Venice struggled to scale and adapt a finely tuned city-administration to cover the entire Republic. The Venetian love of anti-corruption measures such as duplicate positions and auditing organizations ran into the triple headaches of lacking enough trained judiciaries, lacking enough universities and certifiers for judiciaries, and local resistance in its attempts to replace centuries of local laws. Gradually the downfall of the new system became evident as the Venetian Inquisition lacked the budget to hire enough judiciaries, many of whom are Venetians trained in Venice and thus accustomed to a high standard of living. Furthermore while the system was successful in its primary goal of providing Venetian merchants with an unified set of laws it was extremely slow and many cases were backlogged years in court. Eventually in many places the Venetian Rector (highest authority within a region; a Patrician appointed from the senate) simply turned a blind eye and allowed local law enforcement to resume their traditions thus cheapening the authority of the Senate.

The system was finally reformed by Dogaressa Febe with the Great Bargain and completed by her successor Doge Biasio de Asolo "l'eterno" (the eternal) as authority and citizenship once again became a local matter. For practical purposes citizenship and laws are divided into one of 13 regions of the Republic, each with their own senate that sets their own laws and customs; while cumbersome it was still an improvement over the pre-Republic times when laws different in each of the over two hundred towns and cities in the Po Valley. Much like the older times the church was once again intimately involved in regional laws as both inspiration, administration, and sanction; despite decades of Venetian attempt to rid the Republic of religious influences in government. Between the regions there were great variations in leniency, the ideas of punishment vs isolation vs repentance, the amount of leeway judges are given in sentencing, and so on… Regardless of whether she was aware of the bureaucratic inefficiencies or not Dogaressa Febe saw the delegation of legal authority as an inexpensive method to buy support within the Republic. But, keeping in mind the original intention of the Venetian Inquisition Febe kept smaller offices open within each region for Venetian citizens only.

Outside of cities and towns in the rural countryside the law is under the jurisdiction of the local bishop, town master, or wise man. As both representatives and administrators of the rural community the local podestà (magistrate) is required to participate in the regional senate and to enforce the edicts the regional senate enacts. In practice, justice in small rural communities was often administered by family groups as everyone knows one and another and are inconsistent at best. [2]

Prisons for the most part were not used as methods of punishment as the common belief of the times was that "Prisons exist only in order to keep men, not to punish them". Yet gradually the concept of innate freedom is coming about along scholastic circles; the idea being that instead of pain, amputation, shame or fines an offender is instead denied the freedom to act in prison as a more humane alternative (that and armless people do not pay taxes). Of course it was not entirely philosophical, for the Venetians time was money and its deprivation carried the utmost premium for many of its affluent citizens. Under this ideal and an attempt at fairness the poor were often given corporeal punishments instead of sentences due to the low value of their time while the rich served time in prison. [3]

With citizenship reverting back to local regions the old problem of Venetian privilege resurfaced; backed by the Venetian Inquisition whose authority overrides any local authority a Venetian has the right to be tried under Venetian law at any time much to the jealousy of local competitors. While Venetian law may or may not be more lenient than their local equivalent it was nonetheless a constant source of resentment to this day.

The Venetian Inquisition

A typical drop box of the Venetian Inquisition meant to preserve anonymity.​

Like many of the inquisitions of Christendom they were ad hoc responses that were temporary and quickly faded into obscurity by the 1400 until they were revived to address the Grey Cross heresy. The only exceptions to this trend was the Castilian, Aragonite, and Venetian Inquisitions. To most the Venetian Inquisition's focus would seem to be the application of law for Venetian citizens and they would not be incorrect for the trials of law and the arcane are some of the Inquisition's most visible duties. Commanding both fear, respect, and envy in equal measure the Venetian Inquisition is known as diligent, inflexible, and incorruptible. For each and every office of any note or power has the trademark Venetian twin as well as the exhaustive audits; both of which are expensive and slow but deemed worth the price against corruption. [4]

Unique in their jurisdiction over cases of maleficio aka witchcraft the Venetian Inquisition is also the safeguard of the Republic's five million souls. Despite the numerous cases of maleficio no one has ever been successfully convicted. Unlike the other inquisition's of the time the Venetian Inquisition was entirely secular and the mystics, clerical, and exorcists that testify in cases of maleficio are considered unreliable compared to the testimonies of physicians. It doesn't help that the majority of mystics, clerical, and exorcists are Franciscans and Augustinians suspected of papal influences.[5]

Finally, the most important aspect of the Venetian Inquisition is its operations against foreign plots. Ever wary of foreign plots since the Battle of Venice in 1379 the Venetian Inquisition has been given a unrivaled authority within the Republic in order to protect the Republic. Held accountable only to a secret cabinet of senators, all of whom are sworn to secrecy the Venetian Inquisitors have the authority to command any part of the republic from entire companies of Knights of Saint George & entire fleets to the most common water fetcher. But such powers are rarely brought to bear for the Inquisition prefers to operate from the shadows with proxies and unaware collaborators. Stories and rumors abound of the grim fates of those that find themselves afoul of the Inquisition. Rumored to drown enemies of the state by binding them in iron chains and tossing them into the lagoon a taboo developed around gifts of iron boots for they were seen as akin to murder threats, much to the puzzlement and misfortune of naive gift givers. Outside of a small group of senators very little is known about the inquisition, no one knows its size, budget, scope, or actions and the continued peace is taken as a sign that the Inquisition has not failed in its duties…

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[1]Most of this was loosely taken from OTL. Marvin E. Wolfgang's Crime and Punishment in Renaissance Florence which offers more details on the day to day aspects of law.
[2]IOTL one of the main failures of the Italian city-states at the time was the inability of many of its institutions to scale, making any attempt at consolidation difficult. IOTL the Venetian standard of living was a competitive disadvantage as time wore on but not as much as other systematic factors.
[3]A logical extension of OTL's time is money ideal behind crime and punishment in an attempt to standardize punishment for crimes.
[4]IOTL only the Spanish inquisition was active at the time, ITTL the Spanish union never occurred due to Aragon's massive success and the House of Barcelona surviving. ITTL while the Venetians were not able to implement their system republic-wide they are insistent on bringing their bureaucracy with their citizens.
[5]Most of this was loosely taken from OTL. Jonathan Seitz's. Witchcraft and Inquisition in Early Modern Venice which focuses on the theological and espionage aspects of law enforcement.