Return of the Third League | AAR

[Atilla 'The Hun']

Return of the Third League | AAR
Sultan Tolan




Welcome to my first ever AAR! I've been thinking about writing an AAR for some time now, especially since Emperor released. I will be doing an unusual AAR by playing as a releasable nation. I'm quite interested in the Repubbliche Marinade and in particular the Republic of Pisa. And so... here is my take on it. Please keep in mind that English is not my mother tongue and that I will do my best to keep the grammar as correct as possible. Enjoy reading and thank you.


House Rules
No Ironman
No Save Edits
No Rush

Table of Contents​

Prologue: Etruscans, Romans, and the foundation of the early Repubblica.(500-400 BCE-1406)
Chapter 1 - Nardi, Cosimo, and the Pisan Question. (1406-1443)
Chapter 2 - Pace e onore. (1444-1450)

 

[Nikolai]

Good rules!

 

[Atilla 'The Hun']

Prologue: Etruscans, Romans, and the foundation of the early Repubblica.
(500-400 BCE-1406)

​

During the time of the Etruscan civilization, a new port was founded on the Arno river. This port consisted of a very strategic and maritime acquisition. Based as an island on the Arno river, close to the Ligurian Sea. The port of Pisa, or as the Etruscans would have called it Pise, was a place that was destined to become a maritime city. A few centuries later, during the Roman era. Pisa was already known for being a great maritime city. Notable historians such as Strabo and Marus Servius Honoratus even wrote about it. Strabo for example, referring to his Latin poem, Aeneid. Wrote that Pisa was already popular for being a great center.

Strabo was a Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian who lived in Asia Minor during the transitional period of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.​

The Romans made full use of the strategic located maritime city of Pisa by using its harbors as bases for naval expeditions against the Ligurians, Gauls, and Carthaginians. Even rebranding the city as Portus Pisanus, the new Roman colony under Roman law. Later on, Emperor Augustus fortified the colony and once again rebranded the city as Colonia Iulia Obsequens.

Map of Pisa during the Roman era.

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Slowly but finally the Romans lost grip over Pisa and the city became highly autonomous. For a time, the city strived on its own. It did not decline unlike its neighbors in the north who were ripe for attacks because of all the ongoing chaos by the Germanic and Hunnic invasions. Pisa was at some point conquered and occupied by the famous Viking Björn Ironside. Nonetheless, the city of Pisa was on its way to becoming a center of trade.


The city of Pisa evolved into the Republic of Pisa in the 11th century. The city became a crucial center for trade and it controlled a significant Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy. By trading, sacking other cities and towns, fighting the Saracens on the Tyrrhenian Sea, and even managing to conquer Carthage in Tunisia. The republic became one of the richest in the Mediterranean.

The map of Pisa during the Republican era.

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Defeating the Genoese in 1060, the Republic consolidated its power in the Mediterranean. Seventeen years later Pope Gregory VII recognized the new ‘Laws and customs of the sea” instituted by the Pisans themselves. This led to more power granted by the Papal States and eventually, Pisa got awarded the ownership of Corsica and Sardinia and the title of the archbishopric. Pisa made insignificant gains that eventually paved the way for future crusades to the holy land.

Dagobert of Pisa, the first archbishop of Pisa. Sailing for Apulia, in a ship flying the cross of St George.

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For almost three centuries Pisa held a strong dominance over the Mediterranean, surpassing both the Genoese and even the Venetians for some time. Pisa continued with its ambitions on many business and geopolitical opportunities and made full use of its maritime capabilities. The city grew and the population prospered.

Pisa somewhere during its Republican era.​

Just like the Romans lost their grip on Pisa, so did Pisa lose its grip over its maritime dominance in the Mediterranean. The Genoese navy defeated the Pisan navy on August 6, 1284, which resulted in the destruction of the Pisan navy and Porto Pisano, the main harbor of the Pisan navy. This was a devastating blow to the Pisan Republic and it never recovered from the war. It tried to hold its grip on its sovereignty for a couple of decades but after fifteen years of fighting with the Florentine Republic, Pisa was incorporated into the Republic of Florence. The Pisan era ended and the Florentine Republic started to flourish... for now.

 

[stnylan]

Welcome to AAR writing.

 

[Specialist290]

This looks like it's going to be intriguing

 

[Nikolai]

Somehow, the future is still Pisan. Good start!

 

[Atilla 'The Hun']

Chapter 1 – Nardi, Cosimo, and the Pisan Question.
(1406-1443)

Sidenote
From now on, everything will be an alternative history.



​

It’s been almost half a century since Pisa lost its independence to the Republic of Florence. Pisan rebels, sponsored by Pisan aristocrats, kept organizing protests and rebellions in the city but were time to time fiercely put down by Nardi, a harsh civil guard force solely created to bring an end to the Pisan separatism.

Since the annexation of Pisa, Gonfaloniere Cosimo de’ Medici kept pushing for economic integration between Pisa and Florence by enforcing harsh policies resulting in the creation of Nardi. By taking a step into oppression, Cosimo thought that he could force the Pisans to stop resisting and obey his rule. Little did he know that his policies made his ideas only more unrealistic and in contrast, made the Pisan sentiment for independence stronger.

The insignia of Nardi.



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Nardi was led by, Sanchez Gabriele. A high-ranking Florentine cavalryman who fought in the bloody Battle of San Romano in 1432. He was severely wounded after he fell from his horse that was shot dead by a crossbow while charging the enemy Sienese infantry. Years after recovering, Sanchez wanted to continue his service but was told by the military commander in chief, to retire. This made Sanchez very upset because he felt that he could still offer his service to the republic. After going through all the political struggles, he managed to meet the new ruler of Florence, Cosimo de’ Medici. At first, Cosimo wanted Sanchez to drill the Florentine army for future conquests but with the Pisan tensions rising, he appointed Sanchez as the head of his newly created civil guard, Nardi.

The Battle of San Romano, one of the bloodiest Tuscan battles where Sanchez got severely wounded.



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Meant to be a non-tolerant civil guard with the sole purpose of bringing any Pisan rebellion down as soon as possible and eventually rooting it out. Sanchez took Nardi a step too far. With his disciplined structure, he executed ordinary Pisans left and right and stormed households to filter out possible rebel cells. This made Sanchez the tyrant of Pisa and many people feared his terror. There was no possible way the Pisans could live like this and so the Pisan aristocrats knew that eventually, they had to unite to overcome this madness.

Sanchez Gabriele ‘The Tyrant’ as head of the Nardi.



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The aristocratic houses of the old Pisan Republic gathered in secret for decades. They discussed options to somehow regain independence but many of the discussions led to fallouts between the different families and not much useful came forward. Most of the houses acted alone which led to weak rebellions and terrible defeats against Nardi. One family who joined the meetings at a later stage was the house of Barone. This family is a highly educated, structural, and trade spirited house of which is said to be a descendant of Fibonacci, the famous Pisan Mathematician known for Liber Abaci, popularizing the Hindu–Arabic numeral system in Europe and his Fibonacci numbers.

Coat of Arms of House Barone



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The head of House Barone is Francesco Barone, a 72-year-old man who is well known for being a progressive diplomat, merchant, and marine veteran. He has three sons Damiano, Leonardo, and Enzo. All three of them graduated from the University of Pisa. Damiano followed his father's steps into politics by working with the Florentines on governing Pisa. Leonardo took over the family trading company and lived in Genoa. Enzo became a teacher at the University of Pisa.

Francesco is a successful person who managed to accumulate enough power to make his name recognized as a noble house in Pisa. He held close ties with Cosimo and supported his idea of economically integrating Pisa and Florence but when he found out about the Nardi, Francesco turned its back on Cosimo and decided to take a part in the Pisan conspiracy for independence.

Francesco Barone with his dog Terra, circa 1440.



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Francesco did not go alone to the meeting and went together with his son Damiano. Just as Francesco was upset about the Florentine policies in Pisa, so was his son Damiano. In secret, they met with the other aristocratic families in an ancient Roman barrack just outside the Pisan city walls. The families joined together and put all the possible options on the table. Propaganda, assassination, embargo, and plans for paramilitary wings were some of the options but Francesco didn’t like every single one of them. He knew that any of those actions would spark widespread conflict and that this would result in the destruction of Pisa.

Damiano Barone on his balcony in Pisa, circa 1442​

So, Francesco proposed a diplomatic option. He believed that Cosimo would be open for a proposal of high autonomy in case he was guaranteed by a united Aristocratic front that the economic integration and order in Pisa were plausible under his absolute rule. And so, Francesco called out the families to unite the merchant banners under a new Pisan entity ruled by a council. This council consisted of each aristocratic family participating in the meeting. Each participating family was guaranteed one seat in the council. And since there were only six families participating, the council of six was born. Now that everyone agreed, the independence of Pisa was a step closer…

​

 

[Atilla 'The Hun']

Good rules!

Somehow, the future is still Pisan. Good start!

A returning legacy, who knows.

Thanks!

Welcome to AAR writing.

Thank you!

This looks like it's going to be intriguing

I hope so!

 

[Nikolai]

Going the vassal route at first, then. Less bloodshed.

 

[The Number 9]

Interesting ! Count me in.

 

[stnylan]

Florence will rue the day I am sure

 

[Specialist290]

Great things often have small beginnings. Francesco Barone is wise to take the slow-and-steady approach, carefully consolidating his power and waiting for his supporters to grow.

 

[Atilla 'The Hun']

Chapter 2 – Pace e onore.
(1444-1450)

​

In the name of the newly formed council of six, Francesco wrote a letter to Cosimo about the Pisan question. He asked if the Gonfaloniere was open for a talk with the newly formed council he co-created. The Gonfaloniere was surprised by this initiative and invited the nobles to his villa in Mugello, nearby the city of Florence.


United under a Pisan banner, the council of six traveled to Florence. They met with Gonfaloniere Cosimo and were charmingly welcomed. After discussing for hours, the council and Cosimo agreed that it was time to put stability and prosperity before unrest and chaos. The council pledged their loyalty and support in favor of Cosimo's economic plans, only if they were granted full autonomy to rule over their own city. Cosimo didn't expect anything more than a proposal based on obedience and loyalty and this was music to his ears due to an ongoing political crisis with the duchy of Ferrera. His attention was completely focused on possible mobilization for war and with an unstable economy, unrest, and civil war. Cosimo would not stand a chance against the duchy of Ferrera.

The Medici villa in Mugello.



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The meeting ended with the Treaty of Mugello, signed by all council members and the Gonfaloniere Cosimo himself. Some important notes in the treaty included the recognition of the newly created Pisan Republic as vassalage of the Republic of Florence, the dissolution of the Nardi, and the right for Florentine traders to set up markets in Pisa.

Damiano Barone and his council with Cosimo de ‘Medici.​

Just before leaving Mugello, the council held a vote on which noble house should be the first at leading the new Pisan republic. The vote went smoothly in favor of the Barone family. Francesco was the mastermind behind the meeting that resulted in the Pisan diplomatic victory and so, his house earned the honor of being the first one to lead the new autonomous republic throughout its first years. Francesco, as head of the Barone family, refused to take the title of Doge and instead passed it over to his son, Damiano. He believed that the new generation should direct the course of the republic and his son was the perfect candidate for it. Before arriving back at Pisa, the now Doge Damiano Barone, prepared a conference in the city center. The conference was presented gloriously and the people of Pisa celebrated its new Independence Day with much peace and honor.

Doge Damiano Barone during his first year in power.



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After the glorious celebration upon returning, Damiano immediately organized his government and made sure the republic was functioning correctly. Once the republic was functioning, he turned his attention on the newly formed Pisan trading entity which was, according to Damiano himself, meant to be the core of the Pisan spirit and economy. Damiano's long term goal was recovering the Pisan legacy by countering the Genoese and Venetians. He wanted to reestablish the Pisan network throughout the Mediterranean and let know the mainstream traders know, that the Pisans were back in business. Damiano needed a head for the Pisan entity and without doubt, he invited his brother for a talk. Since the unification of the different Pisan trading entities, Leonardo returned from Genoa so he could take part in the unorganized hierarchy of the newly formed Pisan trading entity. Leonardo was a trade spirited merchant known for being a magnificent dealer and Damiano wanted him as the head of the trading sector. Leonardo was astonished and motivated, he went on to build up a new enterprise that was going to become one of the most competitive entities throughout the Mediterranean.

Leonardo Barone as head of the Pisan trading entity.



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Damiano Barone went on to order the construction of a marketplace and church. He also increased economic output in the production of Pisan resources. The wealth and peace resulted in more trade dominance and population growth leading to even more taxation income. The Pisan Republic was prospering, The reputation went ahead of Damiano Barone, especially in its overlord’s capital, Florence. And still, the population backed the policies and there seemed no way on stopping this ambition.

The focus on domestic development made Damiano Barone very industrious.

The popularity of government policies was widely acknowledged throughout Pisa.



​

These great endeavors by Damiano Barone resulted in his second re-election in 1448. This made the Florentines very nervous. Cosimo ordered one of his spymasters to infiltrate the Pisan government and turn the council of six in favor of Cosimo for long-term absolute rule. Cosimo didn’t like that his vassal was doing better compared to his dominant state in the region and so Cosimo turned against Damiano. This traitorous move by Cosimo would, in the end, make Damiano and the rest of the unbiased council enraged. One of the council families reported to Damiano that the house of Torro was lobbied by Cosimo to counter vote progressive reforms by Damiano and the rest of the council members. This was highly suspected since the head of house Torro went several times to Florence, only to come back with a swift increase in its belongings and change of political mindset. Damiano, with the support of the council of five now, seized house Torro's wealth and permanently banned them from the republic.

Damiano’s industrious mindset resulted in a 5-1 re-election by the council.

The wealth of house Torro was seized and its members arrested and banned from the republic.​

Within the council of five, this traitorous act by the Torro family sparked the beginning of a new Pisan mentality. This mentality would go beyond the government muscles and motivate the locals of Pisa to shout in anti-Florentine protests. This new counter-culture against Florence, caused by Cosimo’s schemes, caved a path towards true Pisan independence. A saying within the council of five became a crucial point for the new political mindset. 'Indipendenza sostenuta dall'estero’ meaning ‘independence supported from abroad’. Without even realizing for a second, Cosimo kept thinking that he had the upper hand but he didn't understand the scale of this upcoming disaster with Pisa. His view would vanish once he was going to find out about the geopolitical crisis he just put himself in with Doge Damiano Barone.

Doge Damiano Barone entered into a treaty with the duchy of Ferrera.​

 

[stnylan]

Well they were never go to rest easy under a Florentine yoke.

 

[Specialist290]

Medici meddling has just given the Barones the perfect justification for finally throwing off the Florentine yoke.