Did someone say Venice? Because I think I heard someone say Venice.
Did Someone say Another Chapter?
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People found it strange that the Archbishop wanted a painting to show the glory and power of Salzburg. They found it confusing such a painting would bring about the true spirit of a kingdom. But little did the people know: the Archbishop was an ambitious one. He planned to lead through example for all of Europe to view, vowing to make the principality into an Empire that rivals that of Sweden, or Spain (despite being Muslim). The Archbishop became jealous of word that an Islamic country controls land in a world most countries know nothing about. He felt it was not destiny that Sweden controlled a section of almost every country that were once a great power. That he felt was an outrage to the word of god; that an Islamic country and a country made up of people who once murdered men of god were now large kingdoms (empires in Spain's case) that could crush Salzburg without hesitation.
So the Archbishop came up with a plan so devious and ambitious that no one could have ever guessed what he really meant by "Painting". He invited dignitaries from Venice and Aquileia do watch as the "masterpiece" is unveiled. As they arrived they laughed and joked about Salzburg and other countries and problems going on around them. This time instead of watching from the shadows the Archbishop was fraternizing with the Venetians and Aquileians in order to access the situations. Once it was time to unveil the painting Leopold Anton I took center stage and rose his hands saying, "This beautiful painting will be attributed to the power we all have in God, through tolerance and friendship!" The guests took this with strange looks as they clapped sarcastically. But the Archbishop was not done "You see I have spent the last few years making friends in Europe, getting Military Access from Switzerland and Styria would certainly attribute to this next announcement.With a devilish smile he pulled of the cloth hiding the "painting" to reveal it was basically a declaration of war on Venice. It showed the Archbishop crushing the Protestant country: and in an instant troops entered and murdered the dignitaries from all sides (except German).
Elsewhere troops were already pouring into Venice from Switzerland.
The war started well with the capture of Treviso; this was the perfect time for war as Venice had lost all of it's colonial possessions in the Mediterranean and now was just Two provinces. But what the archbishop didn't expect is the fact Aquileia defied the Archbishop and declared war on Venice as well, taking the Center of trade for themselves. After the Annexation of the Trevisan republic of Venice Leopold Anton I immediately declared war on Aquileia and invaded both of their provinces, annexing the small country in the process.
Austria, Styria and many other countries joined us in this war against the infidel states. Troops from our side poured over the borders taking their home province (with Austrians at our flank guarding the province formerly known as Treviso (Now St Marcus) in the process wiping out their army. Venice was completely undefended except for a small Merc army guarding it from invasion. This would be their downfall as the inferior army of Aquileians was quickly bought off their payroll and dismissed into Sweden (meaning I killed them). We overtook Venice and claimed Aquileia for the Archbishop-ship.