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The Venetians

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May 11, 2008
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Long time Paradoxian gamer, coming back to Crusader Kings after a long hiatus. In looking around for a good country to play, I decided on the Kingdom of Venice... :)

Why Venice you ask?
Its a reasonably tricky and interesting country to play. A rich kingdom, but one without any demesne or vassals so raising any sort of offensive army will be a very expensive proposition in the initial going. No allies whatsoever, which is always a nuisance, and surrounded by an expansive German kingdom who has to be glancing towards Venice with a hungry eye. In terms of expansion, anywhere within shouting distance involves a long process of title claiming and then expensive wars. Sicily and Africa are possibilities, but the costs of a long campaign without smaller provinces to drain of troops or vassals to use as cannon fodder would be fairly prohibitive. The starting leader is old without an heir or a wife, which means that the kingdom could have an infant ruler sooner rather than later.

Game Specifics
Hard/Aggressive
Patched to DV 2.1 Beta
DVIP Full plus addons More Kingdoms and Break Free


House Rules
  • No wars with infant rulers unless already embroiled in one or attacked by another. In either case, have to seek the first available peace that is reasonable. Infant kings tend not to be expansionist.
  • Alliances are prohibited until 1116 (50 years game time) and after that can only agree to an alliance with an immediate neighbor (within 2 provinces distance with a sea zone counts as a province). Not allowed to seek out an alliance. This should force a careful consideration of Bad Boy, allowing for a slow and steady imperial policy as well as forcing diplomacy into play.
  • Have to always choose the catholic revolt option when it pops up. Those heathen provinces have to know their place... :)
  • Claiming titles can only be done on provinces immediately adjacent (within 2 province distance with a sea zone counting as 1 province) to current lands.
  • Vassals have to be adult family members. If not, then they have to be removed at the earliest opportunity. To avoid the reputation spiral of death, this can be delayed until rep is slightly tarnished or better. Bishoprics are excepted from this rule unless there is a family member available. Vassals of vassals can be outside the family.
  • Lands can only be given to immediate family members. If there are less than 2 bishoprics in the kingdom, can use someone outside the family, but they have to replaced as soon as a family member becomes available regardless of reputation.

The Kingdom of Venice
Venice was modded to be playable as a feudal kingdom using information taken from here.


Chapters will be posted on the weekends (occasional mid-week posting as well, depending on playing time availability). Chapters will be the sum of each ruler's time on the throne, so the length of each will run the gamut from a brief entry ("He lived, he died. Nothing to see here") to a sweeping tale of treachery and ambition with a cast of thousands. Ideally the Kingdom of Venice survives long enough to be ported into EU3. Not quite sure on the format (first person narrative, third person historical, straight forward recapping) but there will be pictures galore when possible.


Comments, criticisms, suggestions, feedback - its all good and appreciated.


**************************************************

Chapter List

I. Domenico Contarini (1066-1088)
 
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*Subscribes*
 
Sounds like it should be an interesting ride. Welcome to AAR writing :)
 
Why, that sounds interesting. In my last game Venice got conquered by Egypt, random fact... Wellwell, will try to follow. :)
 
Is Venice underpowered in DV? Because in vanilla CK, Venice is an asskicker.
 
Jestor said:
Is Venice underpowered in DV? Because in vanilla CK, Venice is an asskicker.
Click to expand...

I am not sure.

Its been a while, but I seen to recall Venice not doing a hell of a lot other than sitting there and going after their historic claims along the Adriatic. Or by 1150 they are part of the German or Italian or Hungarian empire or something along those lines.
 

The Birth of an Empire
1066-1070

venice000.jpg


What prompts a man to aspire to become a king? A middle aged man to boot, one who was seemingly happy in his station as the elected Doge of Venice (the 30th of the line, and in power since 1043). It has been said by many that he desired more for his beloved Venetian people, for a place in the sun for them. Others have expressed the view that he was just a vain man who desired membership in the exclusive club of kings and queens who ruled the world. Whatever the cause, Domenico Contarini radically altered the constitution of Venice and declared to the world that the Venetians would be a force to be reckoned with.

But would they?


venice001.jpg


Opportunities for expansion were limited at best. The Kingdom of Germany dominated central Europe and Venice faced German Counts and Dukes on all sides. To the east, the Kingdom of Croatia lay, sitting on top of lands that were historically Venetian. To the south lay more German lands, and then an expansive Ducky of Apulia, which had an eye on the throne of Sicily.

Across the Mediterranean lay the island of Sicily and beyond that, Africa, but to ship troops from the port of Venice to a far flung battlefield would be an expensive proposition.


venice002.jpg


On top of all this, Domenico was a middle aged man with no heirs or even a wife to give him one. That was easily solved with the marriage to a Navarra princess, Jimena Jimenez, whom the former Doge had spotted while the King was touring the papal lands a few years previous. Now 16, and blessed with fertile genes, she surely would be able to fill the role of Mother of an Empire.

Venice was blessed with one thing going for it as a new kingdom - there were no historical hostilities or conflicts to deal with. The vast German empire had more than its fair share of disgruntled Counts and Dukes, and Domenico had heard many tales. He instructed his advisers to keep their ears open for any opportunities that may arise, and soon enough a few ripe apples fell into the Venetian laps.


venice004.jpg


On March 3, 1067, the impoverished island of Corsica accepted a vassiliation offer. Then in quick order, so did Arborea (May 24) and Cagliari (July 23). Each was motivated to join the fledgling empire for fear of being swallowed up whole by either the Germans or the Muslim threat to the south. The warm Venetian bosom offered safety from being cherry picked off, one by one.

The biggest prize came on January 12th, 1068, when the Duchy of Tuscana asked for sanctuary. Having just broken free from the grasp of the Germans, they were eager for a new home, but Domenico was wary about offending the German juggernaut. In the end, the Tuscan provinces were brought into the fold, but were told that the Venetians could offer no military assistance in their struggle. When the fighting was over, then they would step in, but until then they could do nothing. This message was repeated to the German envoy - Venice would not interfere until the fighting was over.

venice008.jpg

The Death of the Duchy of Tuscany​

On March 19th, the Count of Urbina, also at war with Germany, asked for safe harbor, which was granted under the same terms as that which Tuscany agreed to. That day was a bittersweet one for Venice, as while it cheered the addition of the Italian province, it mourned the loss of Jimena, who died in childbirth. A male child, the heir to the throne was also lost.

venice010.jpg

A week later, Domenico married 16 year old Toda de Ribagorza from Aragon.

In June, Germany swallowed Tuscany and Urbina without so much as a burp, ending the Venetian dreams of any Italian provinces for the time being. Claims on all the provinces taken were registered, a move that would cause serious reputation problems later on.

The aggressive moves by Germany and the stirrings of imperialism in Apulia prompted the Count of Salerno to enter the Venetian family (August 17) and soon after the Duke of Salerno (count of Napoli) came in as well. The Duke made his move after Apulia swallowed up Capua and then laid claim on the land of Napoli as well. The Venetians had their Italian provinces, safe from the greedy hands of the German empire. At least for now.

On June 2nd, the last independent county along the Adriatic, Ragusa, accepted vassilisation, a move which allowed the Venetians to give serious thought towards reclaiming their historic lands along the sea. Up until this point, the thought was moving towards taking the island of Siciliy and then establishing an African base. The move of Ragusa allowed notions of control of the Adriatic, a move that would be very useful for rapid expansion later on into the Grecian territories or even along the Italian coast. As any Venetian knew in their heart, those who control the Adriatic control their destiny.

Thoughts of an overseas empire were soon drowned out with the birth of an heir to the throne on July 22, 1069 - Cassio would be the one to take the Kingdom of Venice to greater glory, and Domenico himself would tutor the young heir when the time came. For now, though, Domenico put aside thoughts of military muscle flexing and indulged in the joys of fatherhood.

venice014.jpg

But, and there always is a but when such happiness is concerned, opportunity came knocking in the form of Croatia moving to war with the Tribe of Pomeranians, along the Baltic Sea. Why Croatia wanted to go to war with an enemy the length of Europe away from them is a mystery, but perhaps the King eyed the potentially rich northern lands and envisioned one day taking Poland from both ends. Who knows. All throughout the fall of 1069 word came that Croatian troops were embarking on the long march, virtually emptying the Croatian lands of any worthwhile defense. Domenico saw an opening to address an old wound, and preparations for war with Croatia were made.

venice015.jpg

On June 12, 1070, Venetian troops entered the Croatian lands at the same time the Croatian envoy was told that his country was at war. With almost their entire army thousands of miles away, the campaign was not expected to last long. The County of Veglia declared war in defense of their Kingdom, and a quick claim on their title was registered to allow for a proper response. On October 10th, Veglia surrendered and became part of the Kingdom of Venice. By May 7 of 1071, Croatia was completely overrun, and the King agreed to a surrender which cost them their Adriatic provinces.

Having won the war, Venice now faced the prospect of losing the peace. Rumblings of discontent were being heard among the vassals - the Kingdom of Venice was supposed to be a safe harbor from the toils of war, and yet here an aggressive campaign had been waged. These grumblings soon became a roar.


venice017.jpg


venice020.jpg
 
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Just so long as Germany does not decide to take advantage of you - if they do you might be in a spot of bother.
 
Very nicely done. I wonder if the Emperor will respond to the threat you pose to his Italian posessions?
 
Treppe - thanks. Need to build shipyards and a lot of them to reduce troop shipping costs and then can get troops to where they are needed much quicker.

Stnylan and Fulcrumvale - goal is to remain best friends with Germany as long as possible. Hopefully he will be busy with internal revolts or eyeing the heathen lands along the Baltic coast to bother looking south.

TheConqueror - Croatia is in a difficult position, with Byzantium to the south and Hungary to the north. A very weak kingdom as well - ripe for the taking.
 
just edit your badboy back to zero... I hate badboy effects!
When having a huge empire and after conquering some land from enemy, the badboy revolts... you just can't stop them... :(

But keep going!
Maybe for Alexandria?
 
Enewald said:
just edit your badboy back to zero... I hate badboy effects!
When having a huge empire and after conquering some land from enemy, the badboy revolts... you just can't stop them... :(

But keep going!
Maybe for Alexandria?
Click to expand...

Nah, cant edit BB... that would be wrong... :)

This isnt my first kick at the can - there are ways to deal with BB... mostly involve selective breeding to and SSC to ensure that your heirs have very high intrigue to deal with the provinces coupled with a high piety to drive it down. Helps being friendly with the neighbors too... :p
 
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