Venice AAR

[nalivayko]

Expanding 'terra firma' 1492-1528.

Note: This aar is written with an idea to cut on numbers and details and concentrate more on strategic and politic side of the game. Difficulty: hard/aggressive

In 1492 Venice was on defensive. The days of its former glory still shone through the clouds of troubles, but with a mighty Turk on the border it was easy to forget about the past.
Augustino Barbarigo, a doge of Venice, had defined two most important strategic objectives for Venice: to enlarge city’s “terra firma”, and to expand overseas, first in Mediterranean, and later to India. It was decided by him to conquer only Christian provinces to gain a support from the clergy and to give some kind of justification to future wars. Catholics were given a slightly better preference over Orthodox, while tolerance to Islam was between none and zero. Bailiffs were only promoted in Catholic provinces, since they were the only ones who can be trusted in times of troubles.
The decision of overseas expansion did not come easy. But while there was certainly some room for expansion close to home, it was clear that such big neighbors as Turkey, Hungary and Austria wouldn’t let Venice have its way easy. For superpowers like Spain and Turkey expansion comes naturally. Left alone they generate enough extra cash to develop technologically and geographically almost with no difficulty. They are like a tropical lake after a rainy season, colonists leaving the country for overseas like a flood. New colonies, in turn, generate more cash, which pays for new waves of expansion. Venice was not like them.
For Venice the expansion was the matter of survival. Its original provinces could not support big enough army and fleet to protect the country and help the technology development at the same time. In order to compete with major countries it should expand rapidly, using every chance to obtain extra territory.
Since Venice’s land forces would probably prove not up to the task of protecting the growing republic, the reliance on the navy increased greatly. Thus, the decision was made to try to limit the conquest to the provinces with access to the sea. This was the strategy with two clear advantages. First, access to the sea would allow Venice to transport her troops quickly to the theatre of operations. Second, a far-flung empire, divided by water would force a potential enemy to spend more money on fleet and less on army. Enemy fleets, as it was reasoned by the doge, could be easily handled by supreme Venetian navy.

Venice in 1492.
”Terra firma” – Catholic provinces of Illiriya, Mantua, Istria and Venice.
Overseas possessions: Orthodox provinces of Crete, Cyprus, Cyclydes and Corfu.

First Turkish War. 1502-04

In 1502, while the Ottoman empire was indulged in its war with Mameluks and Persia, the decision was made to recover Morea from Turks. Venice, currently being in Austrian alliance, called on Austria, Hungary and Bohemia for help. Only Hungary accepted. This division brought signaled a beginning of a long and bloody conflict between Christians n the Balkans. The war with Turkey, however, went smoothly enough. Hungary took on itself the might of Ottoman armies, and was even able to strike back at Turkish allies, Moldova and Wallachia. Venetian army avoided Turkish armies and helped to take those Hungarian provinces that were taken by Turks. Another contingent was transported by sea to Morea, and took it after a year-long siege. Venetian navy fought two battles against Turks off the shore of Corfu, and won both, sustaining heavy casualties in the last one. However, it was able to keep the transfer of reinforcements to Greece, without which, undoubtedly, Morea would not be taken. At that point Venetians besieged Belgrade, which fell shortly after. Ottomans settled for peace ceding Morea to Venice.

Before and after the war the fortification campaign progressed throughout the republic, all strategically important fortresses upgraded, and the ones less fortunate put on a list. Navy lost a significant number of galleys, but the number of warships increased, due to the generous donations from republic’s merchant elite. The truly bad news was the loss of the Fine Arts Academy to fire in Venice.

First Austrian War 1505-1509

Hungary had barely enough time to recover from Turkish onslaught, when Austria seizing an opportunity, declared war, bringing along Bavaria, Milan and Bohemia. Hungary appealed for help, which is granted. Venice wouldn’t be ungrateful to the only country that answered her pleas for help in times of need. However, her humble armies weren’t able to stop the disaster in Hungary. Hungarians bravely met the enemy on a battlefield, but alone they weren’t able to match combined German armies. Bohemian troops, hiding behind the backs of its allies, captured Bunat and Ruthenia, and received them in exchange for peace. Austria captured Croatia and Pest, Bavaria settled for indemnities. Meanwhile, Venetian army managed to avoid the defeat from Milanese and capture Milan after a long siege. It also captured the fortress in Styria, although the costs imposed by winter on Venetians significantly reduced the size of the army. Milan agreed to pay 250 ducats in tribute. With Austrian allies out of the picture, it was her against Venice, with latter one being in a disadvantage, having no good generals to lead the army. Venetians fought bravely, but lost constantly to inferior in size, but brilliantly-led Austrian armies. Ferdinand of Austria became to Venice what Hannibal was to Rome. His threat was solved alike Hannibal’s as well. The army of Venice, reinforced on Milanese money and a loan taken from a Venetian bankers, concentrated on Austrian reinforcements, which never reached Ferdinand. Excellent siege training of otherwise average Venetian generals proved itself irreplaceable in the war of attrition that followed. Finally, a 13,000 strong force besieged taken Vienna and, taking it in a surprisingly short amount of time, forced the emperor to make peace with Venetian republic ceding a rich province of Styria, which gold mines played no small role in increasing city’s yearly and monthly incomes as well as the rate of inflation.

Hungary attacked Austria a year later, thirsty for revenge. This time, however, Venice stayed out of the war, being too exhausted to help its ally. The alliance was broken, and new allies had to be sought. Venetian diplomats went abroad, but they only received a warm welcome in Hansa, which at the time had the strength of Poland, Brandenburg, Pommerania, Hanover, Teutonic Order and England behind it. Surprisingly, Hungary did well, getting back Ruthenia from Bohemia.


Second Austrian War 1525 - 1528

After the alliance with Hansa had expired, Venice again started looking for friends, this time closer to its homelands. Hungary joined the alliance, as well as Brandenburg and Saxony. The emperor in Vienna felt his power threatened and took obvious measures. In 1525 the declaration of war was delivered to Vienna. Helvetia, Milan, Bavaria and Bohemia had chosen to ally with the emperor and fight along Austrian troops.
Once again Venice faced Milanese army. Veterans learned to respect it during the First Austrian War, and were determined not to give any chances to this serious enemy. Milan, on other hand, came to war totally unprepared. Its initial army, determined if not numerous, moved to Mantua only to be annihilated by some 30,000 Venetians. Quickly raised new conscript army was routed at the gates of Milan, and the city fell shortly after. A series of negotiations took place with the city’s elite, and Milan agreed to join the republic. Certain privileges would be granted. For one, the defense of Milan should be among highest priorities of the Venetian republic. The promise was broken almost immediately, once famous Swiss infantry appeared from the north. Venice retreated its troops to Istria, while Helvetians besieged Milan. During the following year, the city endured several assaults, the usual slaughter after its capture, and a popular rebellion, which was suppressed by Helvetians. The doge decided to use the army elsewhere. Carnolia was taken only to be lost a year later, while the army was busy liberating Styria.
In 1528, feeling a prize such as Milan is sufficient enough for fighting this war, the Venetian republic agreed to return to status quo with Austria. Several months later it made peace with Wurtemburg and Bohemia. The latter one was already reduced to two provinces by combined forces of Saxony, Brandenburg and Hungary. Hungary also managed to bring back Pest from Austria, leaving only one Hungarian province – Croatia, in enemy’s hands. However, Vienna’s diplomats had another ace up in their sleeves. As soon as the war was over Bohemian nobles, bought with Austrian gold, announced their great desire to join Austrian empire.

At 1528 Venice celebrated its second victory over Austrian Alliance. Its “terra firma” had grown to 6 profitable provinces, and its income had increased significantly due to Styria’s gold and aggressive trading policies. It stood at the head of a strong military alliance, which checked the advance of seemingly invincible imperial armies, and it looked east in hope of more loot and greater glory.

Elsewhere in the Old World:
Spain lost two provinces to France, but managed to annex Holstein and Naples. The latter one proclaimed its independence soon enough, and Spain was left with only Romagna in Italy, which was previously captured by Naples forces from Papal States.
Russia annexed Kazan, Golden Horde and Astrakhan and is not very likely to stop at that. Ryazan', its faitfhful ally and not very faithful vassal, conquered Voronezh. Pskov held Tambov, before it agreed to join the growing empire. Turkey, Georgia, Hafsids and Algiers continue to eat away Mameluke khalifat. Georgia is the owner of Lebanon, which is Venetian next objective. Persia holds Trabizond.

[Savant]

I like this style of AAR. Your narrative is more personal and reads like a story and so it is more than a list of details. This is well done.