When Austrian troops threw the French occupation forces out of Italy nervous Venetian marines landed and reconquered her Italian possessions. Finally the war with France ended in a stalemate and White peace. All Venice casaulties had been in vain except for that her Trade in French centers of trade had been protected from infringement. Although very costly the sacrifice had been worth it.
Venice then helped Austria fight rebels in a civil war that reached the gates of Vienna.
Seeing how Venice lagged behind in trade technology and income a bold decision was made. If the Lisboa map chambers werent' properly guarded they should be opened to Venetian scribes by force. No other objective was drawn up for this war. Considering the aid Venice had contributed to the Habsburgs in the last war there was no retribution to be expected from them for this action.
The Venetian navy took the Portugesian counterpart by surprise by a less gentlemanly sneak attack and routed them. Field marshal Bragadin landed and was almost defetead by some token coastal defence force. Damn the low morale of Venetian marine infantry! The ensuing assault failed but was near to carry the fortress.
Spain then declared war and made battle versus the Venetian navy and badly beat it forcing it to retreat to the bay of biscay. Duke of Alba came marching across the border and venetian forces refused to rally from the failed assault. Luckily Bragadin's siege skills carried the day and Lisboa fell and the maps were sercretely couriered to Venice with utmost haste!
So that Venice should be able to defend their newly won knowledge of the new world Spain agreed to a cease fire and the Venetian fleet, the half that remained, returned to the Adriatic from the french harbour where it had seeked refuge. The surviving soldiers from the siege of Lisboa marched across the pyrenees and the Alps through French territory and soon joined in a march of victory in main square of Venice.
Venetian armed forces are heavily reduced but traders are spreading across rich markets and hopefully the income from this will allow a reconstruction of her defense forces.
As it stands poor, poor Venice is without friends and allies in a dangerous world. Her leaders understands that it is imperative to seek friends and now eagerly looks around for partners to discuss the future with.