Part 43: Venice Part 7: Lomellini's Venice (1642-1672)
Venice Part 7: Lomellini's Venice (1642-1672)
Enzo Lomellini puts a number of pivotal actions into motion in 1642. Preparations are made for an getting a foothold in Japan, while at the same Venice's continental armies are readied for an attack on Champagne. Diplomats are dispatched on behalf of the Doge to negotiate with neglected Christian powers in northern Europe as a precursor to invitation to the trade league. The only stumbling block appears to be the novice naval minister Teodoro Vittorio who is responsible for excessive delays in the construction of new vessels for far east adventures. Modern shipbuilding techniques are ushering in a new age of designs, and Vittorio is incredibly cautious and careful to select only the best and most viable models to be commissioned for service.
War is declared on Champagne on behalf of our ally, Burgundy. Champagne still holds Burgundian possessions that they were unable to retrieve during peace talks after their last conflict.
The size and skill of Champagne's army is a close match to Venice's, but Venice's troops are slightly more modern and employ more advanced tactics and equipment. This advantage provides Venice with a series of military victories in northern Champagne that ends with the decimation of their armies.
England takes advantage of Champagne's position and seizes several of their American colonies.
With their armies gone, Champagne is unable to stop nether a Venetian advance or the rebel uprisings in their countryside. They quickly sign a peace with Venice and cede a few provinces so that they can focus on restoring order.
And like the good merchants we are, we negotiate a fair price for our services with Burgundy.
Styria has become the homeland of the Austrians since Austria's fall. They have quietly stewed over Venice's control of the Austrian populations of Gorz and Krain for years, and when they finally get a chance to manipulate the Papacy, they take it. Doge Lomellini is excommunicated at Styria's urging. Relations with Bohemia and Burgundy are tarnished slightly, but Lomellini quickly regains their adoration.
England seems to pay no heed to the news either, and they gladly renew their Trade League membership. England has been a seasonable member of the Trade League for centuries. They'll leave for a while, only to return a few years later. With no centers of trade of their own, and none in the new world, all of their colonial goods are shipped into the Venetian trade center of Liguria.
The addition of England's overseas trade goods causes Liguria's economy to boom, and it becomes the largest center of trade in the world just above Venice.
Doge Enzo Lomellini takes his faith seriously. He views his excommunication as a gross example of corruption within the Papacy's bureaucracy. The only solution to this can be to purge the corruption from Rome by force. In 1646, the armies of Venice march on Rome. Naples alone rushes to the aid of the Papal State.
The city of Rome along with all of its cultural and religious centers falls into Venice's hands. The Pope, the cardinals, and most of the church bureaucracy flees the city and takes up residence at secluded Papal holdings - small keeps and manors that are still owned by the Church.
The Doge is begged to reconsider his actions and restore the city's status as a Papal holding, but he declines without a second thought.
Naples is occupied and then vassalized under Venice. Urbino now remains the only Italian state on Terra Firma not under Venice's direct control.
Burgundy's ally, Augsburg is invated by Bavaria and we are asked to intervene. The Doge accepts their request for aid, and Venice enters the war against Bavaria and Styria.
Bavaria's armies are lead by brilliant generals, and it proves to be difficult to push into Bavarian territory. Most fighting takes place in the mountains of Styria.
The Venetian armies are battered, but in a lucky stroke they are able to encircle and wipe out a Bavarian army that was exhausted from recent action.
The fighting in Styria continues with no clear victor until Burgundy makes peace and forces the release of a Bavarian vassal state.
During the war with Bavaria, Teodoro Vittorio finally settles on new standard warship designs for the country. The proposed vessels would outmatch anything else currently on the sea. Shipyards all along the Italian coast become a flurry of activity as new modern ships are constructed for the fleet.
The older war galleons and flytes are still more than capable of duty, though. Venice's old main battle fleet is re-tasked to the conquest of Japan while the newer warships will remain in the European theater. In 1651, a Venetian army created for the sole purpose of service in Japan is loaded onto transports and sent on a long journey to the far east.
In the same year, Urbino is conquered and annexed by Venice. This action places the entire Italian Peninsula under the control of Venice. Sardinia and Corsica are now the only remaining independent Italian states.
After several months at sea, the Venetian invasion force arrives off the coast of Japan. War is declared against the Emperor, and all of the states of Japan come to war against Venice.
A gigantic force of traditional warriors meets the modern Venetian army in the province of Kii. The Japanese have no experience with the style of warfare the Venetians are waging against them. The disparity in losses between the two sides is drastic.
Every armed person in Japan was thrown against the Venetian invasion force at once in Kii, and the results were catastrophic for the Japanese.
An advance towards Kyoto leads to peace, and the annexation of a small bit of land on which the Venetians can rest and recover from their long ocean journey and bloody battles.
The Holy Roman Emperor, Hesse, becomes the senior partner in a personal union with Poland. Only time will tell if they are capable of maintaining it.
Burgundy moves to strengthen its North American colonial position by annexing the bordering Flemish territories.
In 1664, Seville declares the state of Iberia, uniting all of the people of the Iberian peninsula in a culture union under an Iberian Sultan.
Another war is declared against Japan in the same year.
The Venetian army advances on Kyoto immediately, and it evokes much the same response as the initial landing. Japanese warriors charge the Venetian lines and are cut down by musket and saber.
Burgundy comes under attack by several powers, most notably Champagne and Bavaria. Venice responds immediately, dispatching armies to remove the invading armies of Champagne from Burgundy's territory.
Champagne's forces are struck hard, and Burgundy signs a quick white peace with the large enemy. During the short time spent repelling Champagne, Bavaria had scattered troops through northern Venice and laid siege to several provinces. A Venetian army returning from the front in Burgundy is repelled by a Bavarian force in Savoy at first, until reinforcements arrive to rout the Bavarians.
Burgundian armies trek through Northern Venice and meet the Bavarians at Treviso and Friuli. Venetian armies follow, after resupplying.
As the counterattack against Bavaria just begins, the second war in Japan draws to a close. Three more provinces are annexed in central Japan. The advance is slow, as differences in culture along with extreme terrain hinders expansion.
With a majority of its provinces being overseas now, Venice can finally proclaim rule by sea. The benefits of Thalassocracy will make Venice the undisputed ruler of the waves.
The final Bavarian invaders are turned back at Treviso as Burgundy advances into Styria. Burgundy signs a white peace with Bavaria shortly thereafter, bringing an end to this terrible war.
Bohemia continues to expand its borders in the Balkans by annexing Bosnia.
Europe in 1672
Bavaria, Bohemia, Burgundy, Champagne, England, Iberia, and Venice. Europe has become dominated by large powers over the past century. Hesse has the potential for significant growth as well, being the Holy Roman Emperor.
The world in 1672
edit: Added an easter egg