Conquering the Mediterranean: A Venice AAR
Improved Grand Campaign; normal difficulty settings; all countries available for annexation.
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Part One:
Standing in the middle of Rialto, in plain view of dozens of boats unloading boxes, spices and perfumes, His Majesty Augustino Barbarigo tells me of his plan. I listen, and become frightened. When he is finished talking, His Majesty turns to a soldier behind him and asks for a sword. He tells me to hold out my hand. I comply, and he lays the sword flat on my hand, then grabs my hand in his and bunches my hand into a fist. He lets go, and I begin to bleed. He takes the sword and cuts his own hand, then offers his hand to me.
I close my eyes and shake it.
That night, I send my wife from the dining room and sit alone with my son, Ernesto. I tell him that our charge, and the charge of our family, is to ensure that Venice one day consists of the entire Mediterranean coast - from the shores of Portugal to the beaches of Morocco. My son laughs at me. I tell him that I am not joking. He asks for a reason, and the only thing I can think to say is, "His Majesty commands it."
Thus, our conquest begins....
1492
We start by shoring up our relations with neighboring European countries. We will attack the Arab World before we attack our Catholic brethren. I manage to quickly form an alliance with Helvetica, Thurigen, Baden and Wurtemburg. Austria agrees to a royal marriage. We raise an army of 10,000 in the capital.
1493
We still dominate trade in Venice, but it seems like every country in Europe has sent a merchant to take a small chunk of our monopoly. War breaks out in England; we could care less. Milan joins our alliance. Our armies grow stronger.
1494
Our great General C. Borgia now commands an army of some 37,000 troops. It is time to strike. We feel that it would be foolish to confront the Turks with our small army, so we look elsewhere for a target. Our gaze falls upon the Hafsid Empire. The Hafsid Empire is a somewhat rich land, and it looks to be poorly defended.
Our mighty navy leaves port with Borgia's army inside. Borgia leaves Venice with a skeleton defense - a mere 5,000 troops in the capital and another 10,000 shoring up the east against a possible Turkish invasion.
After months at sea, Borgia invades Tunisia. He easily dispatches of the 9,000 troops based there. But then, in a moment of foolhardiness, Borgia decides to immediately attack Tunisia’s main fortress, instead of waiting and laying siege.
He loses 8,000 of our sons.
Then, chaos. Cyprus has revolted! Followed quickly by a revolt at the Cycledes! We send our navy back to East Venice, where 10,000 troops - our protection against Turkey - boards ship and leaves for the revolting islands. Luckily, our fortresses at the islands do not fall to the rebel scum.
1495
We shore up the flank of our North African army by entering into an alliance with Algiers. Now, there will be no attack on our invading forces from the west.
Tunisia falls!
Our navy engages in a long, fierce battle with the Hafsid Empire's navy in the Ionian sea. We win, and never hear from that navy again.
Our home army lands at the Cycledes and quickly defeats the rebels.
Then, our home army lands in Cyprus, and is defeated! Almost 9,000 troops are killed!
The situation at home is now dire. Only 4,000 troops defend the capital and surrounding provinces from attack. We quickly divert all revenue to the treasury.
1496
More panic! Crete revolts! Will our plans be dashed so quickly!
Finally, Tripoli falls. We quickly annex the Hafsid Empire. Our country is once again at maximum stability. The risk of further revolt has subsided.
Our navy rushes to Tripoli. Before it gets there, our great general Borgia dies.
1497
Most of our North African army leaves Tripoli. Only 4,000 troops are left to defend the land we just conquered.
Our armies land at Crete. Victory! Followed by another victory at Cyprus! Hail Colonel Gonzaga!
Now, we are at peace, with the rebels and the Hafsid Army defeated. But we are also weak. Our armies consist of fewer than 20,000 men, half of whom sit impotently on the island of Cyprus. Turkey and the rest of the Sunni Muslim world are infuriated at us, and relations with Austria continue to sour. I fear that any attack will result in the death of our nation!
Improved Grand Campaign; normal difficulty settings; all countries available for annexation.
-------------------------
Part One:
Standing in the middle of Rialto, in plain view of dozens of boats unloading boxes, spices and perfumes, His Majesty Augustino Barbarigo tells me of his plan. I listen, and become frightened. When he is finished talking, His Majesty turns to a soldier behind him and asks for a sword. He tells me to hold out my hand. I comply, and he lays the sword flat on my hand, then grabs my hand in his and bunches my hand into a fist. He lets go, and I begin to bleed. He takes the sword and cuts his own hand, then offers his hand to me.
I close my eyes and shake it.
That night, I send my wife from the dining room and sit alone with my son, Ernesto. I tell him that our charge, and the charge of our family, is to ensure that Venice one day consists of the entire Mediterranean coast - from the shores of Portugal to the beaches of Morocco. My son laughs at me. I tell him that I am not joking. He asks for a reason, and the only thing I can think to say is, "His Majesty commands it."
Thus, our conquest begins....
1492
We start by shoring up our relations with neighboring European countries. We will attack the Arab World before we attack our Catholic brethren. I manage to quickly form an alliance with Helvetica, Thurigen, Baden and Wurtemburg. Austria agrees to a royal marriage. We raise an army of 10,000 in the capital.
1493
We still dominate trade in Venice, but it seems like every country in Europe has sent a merchant to take a small chunk of our monopoly. War breaks out in England; we could care less. Milan joins our alliance. Our armies grow stronger.
1494
Our great General C. Borgia now commands an army of some 37,000 troops. It is time to strike. We feel that it would be foolish to confront the Turks with our small army, so we look elsewhere for a target. Our gaze falls upon the Hafsid Empire. The Hafsid Empire is a somewhat rich land, and it looks to be poorly defended.
Our mighty navy leaves port with Borgia's army inside. Borgia leaves Venice with a skeleton defense - a mere 5,000 troops in the capital and another 10,000 shoring up the east against a possible Turkish invasion.
After months at sea, Borgia invades Tunisia. He easily dispatches of the 9,000 troops based there. But then, in a moment of foolhardiness, Borgia decides to immediately attack Tunisia’s main fortress, instead of waiting and laying siege.
He loses 8,000 of our sons.
Then, chaos. Cyprus has revolted! Followed quickly by a revolt at the Cycledes! We send our navy back to East Venice, where 10,000 troops - our protection against Turkey - boards ship and leaves for the revolting islands. Luckily, our fortresses at the islands do not fall to the rebel scum.
1495
We shore up the flank of our North African army by entering into an alliance with Algiers. Now, there will be no attack on our invading forces from the west.
Tunisia falls!
Our navy engages in a long, fierce battle with the Hafsid Empire's navy in the Ionian sea. We win, and never hear from that navy again.
Our home army lands at the Cycledes and quickly defeats the rebels.
Then, our home army lands in Cyprus, and is defeated! Almost 9,000 troops are killed!
The situation at home is now dire. Only 4,000 troops defend the capital and surrounding provinces from attack. We quickly divert all revenue to the treasury.
1496
More panic! Crete revolts! Will our plans be dashed so quickly!
Finally, Tripoli falls. We quickly annex the Hafsid Empire. Our country is once again at maximum stability. The risk of further revolt has subsided.
Our navy rushes to Tripoli. Before it gets there, our great general Borgia dies.
1497
Most of our North African army leaves Tripoli. Only 4,000 troops are left to defend the land we just conquered.
Our armies land at Crete. Victory! Followed by another victory at Cyprus! Hail Colonel Gonzaga!
Now, we are at peace, with the rebels and the Hafsid Army defeated. But we are also weak. Our armies consist of fewer than 20,000 men, half of whom sit impotently on the island of Cyprus. Turkey and the rest of the Sunni Muslim world are infuriated at us, and relations with Austria continue to sour. I fear that any attack will result in the death of our nation!
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