PART III - Reconciliation and Revenge
And here we go, exactly the same way the previous part.
"January 10, 1543 : England joined the war on the same side as Bohemia, Scotland, Würzburg, Papal States and Croatia in their war against Venice."
England made a very ugly thing, that made Venice not only don't worry more with the evident english colapse, but work for it to happen even faster. (I hate when someone do this above!!!) But not now, a ruler can't let the feelings speak higher. Just remember Andrea and the disaster this behavior caused. Just add the english to the revenge queue and, for now, accept white peace with them. (You will see that they will REALLY pay)
"July 24, 1543 : We have lost control over Isle Royale to England."
"July 27, 1543 : England have burned our tradingpost in Isle Royale!"
Venice decided that it was time to put an end to the outrageous behavior of the pope and some minor allies of Bohemia. Croatia was easily ocupied and annexed later. But, first Papal States...
Veneto, One day before Leonardo went with the soldiers to fight Papal States
Marco: "I can't believe the pope did it again. The greatest representant of catholics before God, fighting in the same side of HERETICS, that are just trying to destroy us and the faith himself is LEADER! Please tell me my friend Leonardo, there's a possibility God will not be on our side?"
Leonardo: "I'm sure God is very angry with him. He shall certainly have his punishment. And I AM THE PUNISHMENT."
Marco: "Very well, my friend. Then let's put Rome in the place it should never stay out: in the Roman Republic."
Leonardo: "Oh Yeah!!" (And made the rock n' roll sign with his hand).
"November 4, 1543 : We captured the province of Roma from Papal States"
"November 4, 1543 : Papal States accepted our generous peace offer. (Annexation! Now I'm the only Italian piece on board)"
When the pope were surrounded by venetian troops, he was obligated to recognise Marco Barbango and all the dogi, after and before him, as Saints. He promised that, when he dies, his bones would be blessed but not burried under the recently build Sistine Chapel, for the St. Mark Cathedral was then recognised as the center of the catholic world. Some religious proposed to move the Vatican to Veneto, but the venetian people didn't like the idea. And also, St. Mark, patron of Veneto, was proclaimed also patron of all the lands under the new roman republic, and also became the most important saint of the church and the people.
Before the war ended, the engineers of Veneto managed to construct a Shipyard in the city.
And, after Croatia fall, after some time eventually Bohemia accepted white peace.
"September 6, 1545 : Croatia accepted our generous peace offer. (Annexation. Now I'm also the only Slavonic player in the game.)"
"April 28, 1546 : Venice accepted peace with Bohemia on the following terms : Return to Status Quo."
Then begins the reconciliation with France. The Maggior Consiglio realised that, having a big neighbour, where there was no more claims, as ally would be a good deal. Then an extensive (and expensive) diplomatic campaing begun working. We must consider the desire the Doge had for a french princess that was the priority of the Doge in that moment.
"June 22, 1547 : Honorable Lord, our State Gift has enormously improved our relations with France. They should be regarded as our enemies."
"July 26, 1547 : We entered a Royal Marriage with France."
Note another interest behind this reconciliation. France had two cots: Ile de France and Flanders. And, in the middle of this process (reconciliation), the old friends weren't forgot.
"June 10, 1556 : Austria entered our Military Alliance."
"June 10, 1556 : Helvetia joined our Military Alliance with Austria"
"June 18, 1556 : Bavaria joined our Military Alliance with Austria and Helvetia"
"July 1, 1556 : We now have a trade agreement with France."
And, the final objective achieved:
"April 1, 1559 : France joined our Military Alliance with Austria, Helvetia and Bavaria" .
The venetian people then got a feeling of safety never had before. But this feeling was wrong. France only brought instability to the alliance, instead of stability.
"March 17, 1562 : France went with French Moderates in War of Religion in France. "
"July 1, 1563 : The people of French Catholics declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Huguenots declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Brittany declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Netherlands declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Strassburg declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Luxembourgh declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Cologne declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Baden declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of Kleves declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The people of The Palatinat declared independence from France."
"July 1, 1563 : The government of France has fallen."
In England, another superpower, there were also many troubles. It was the vengeance venetian people very wished. The rebel leader of the Puritans was even invited to an award in Veneto, but he refused the medal because 1) It was to be given by a catholic and 2) He knew that the venetians used to drink wine as fat old pigs after the awards.
"November 1, 1563 : Civil War in England"
"November 1, 1563 : The people of Puritans declared independence from England."
"November 1, 1563 : The people of Hessen declared independence from England."
"November 1, 1563 : The people of Navarra declared independence from England."
"November 1, 1563 : The people of Turkey declared independence from England."
"November 1, 1563 : The government of England has fallen."
But the doge wasn't still satisfied, and after some years,
"July 2, 1570 : Venice declared war upon England."
"July 2, 1570 : France joined the war on the same side as Venice, Austria, Helvetia and Bavaria in their war against England, French Catholics, Bourbonnais and Navarra."
Austria made his part and went out.
"March 20, 1571 : England accepted peace with Austria on the following terms : Orleanais to Austria."
Venice took Oporto and used it as base to the troops going to England ressuply. Also easily took the turkish province still controled by England.
But unfortunately the frence rebels were much more wild...
"February 1, 1573 : The people of Provence declared independence from France."
"February 1, 1573 : The people of Savoy declared independence from France."
"February 1, 1573 : The people of Flanders declared independence from France."
"February 1, 1573 : The government of France has fallen (again)."
When London was taken, a lot of maps were seized. The venetian soldiers went to the center of london, and shouted in a very clear english: "Burn Mother... ...er!" The english had no alternative but to offer his colonies hoping that the revengefull venetians went home.
"April 3, 1573 : Venice accepted peace with England on the following terms : Antsirana to Venice, Ambovombe to Venice, Massachussetts to Venice, Mahe to Venice, Belle Isle to Venice, Gaspésie to Venice & Cape Verde to Venice."
The vengeance feelings of the venetians were then fully satisfied, when an incident in Tripoli made them upset again. The merchatilist spanish, seeing the wave of merchants flowing to its new trade center, took (wrong) providences.
"January 1, 1577 : A new Center of Trade has opened in Tripolitania."
"February 5, 1577 : Our merchants successfully expanded our trade in Tripolitania."
"February 5, 1577 : Our merchants successfully expanded our trade in Tripolitania."
"February 5, 1577 : We have competed for trade in Tripolitania and Spain lost a merchant."
"February 5, 1577 : Our merchants successfully expanded our trade in Tripolitania."
"February 5, 1577 : Our merchants successfully expanded our trade in Tripolitania."
"February 6, 1577 : Spain refuses our merchants access to their Centers of Trade!"
The venetian merchants became very angry and went to speak with Marco. That was the behavior that made the republic work. Merchants talking about money in Venice, that's the law.
Merchants: "We know they are a big power, but something has to be done."
Marco: "I doubt we can convince these narrowminded of something... specially WE, talking about TRADE with SPAIN, who we refuse trade!."
Merchant: "If we provide funds, do you agree to write a declaration of war on them?"
Marco: "As you wish."
"March 5, 1577 : Venice declared war upon Spain."
"March 5, 1577 : Georgia joined the war on the same side as Spain, Novgorod, Ethiopia, Portugal and Eire in their war against Venice."
In principle, it was hard to beat the joint portuguese-spanish navy, but when the portuguese went out (not before burning the trading post in Mahe (later colonizated by Turkey), but they will not be avenged, since they are already weak enough, having not even his most obvious province, Oporto), things begun to change.
The two italian islands were fully ocupied. Forces were sent to Iberia, and managed to conquest Catalunya, Aragon, some other provinces and the capital, Madrid, revealing many unknown lands of the new world. Spain offered a lot of colonies for peace, but Venice didn't wanted it (they could easily retake the colonies...). Venice wanted what was her. Venice wanted to realize the dream of a unified Italy with capital in Veneto. And the venetians wanted to trade in Tripolitania. The spaniards had to give in from his italian lands and from the embargo, although the embargo from Venice against them continued.
"October 27, 1581 : Spain accepted our generous peace offer. (Sardinia, Sicily and Messina to Venice. Now the whole Italy is finally unified under venetian flag!)"
And this part ends here, now that there's no more things to avenge.