lawkeeper said:A CoT doesn't indicate a trading power, but a 'place' controlling the trade of the environs. Venice and Genoa were controlling the trade of the north-eastern med, hence the reason why they have CoTs to start with. The OE got the option to have a CoT in Thrace to represent the closing of the straits towards the Black Sea. Alexandria represents the trade going on in that region, wich was a major trading center for eastern spices and silks.
All italian cities were trading powers, but they don't have a CoT.
the position of dubrovnik. in early medieval times dubrovnik had a monopoly on trade routes into the western balkans, specificaly bosnia. this had put the foundations of its antagonism against venice. after the ottomans occupied the region dubrovnik came under their protection. and dubrovnik had exclusive rights to trade with ottoman empire in western balkans. thats why venetians hated them, but could not do anything against them since dubrovnik was neutral and under protection of both OE and the Pope(it was a base of operations in the balkans with many monasteries, but that is another story)
so, it is a historic fact that trade from adriatic to western balkans had to go through dubrovnik. not venice.
as for monarchs.cro, i'll do it soon