Venice in alternate history (meta)

[Strategos' Risk]

For some reason, I get the idea that a powerful Venice is a bit of a cliche in AH. But I can't really think of many examples. In Empty America, they become the Vorta to the Mongol's Founders, helping smooth things over for the hordes' dominion over Europe. They also play a major role in Faeelin's Mustafa the Pretender timeline.

Can anyone think of why exactly is the Venetian Republic so prominent in AH? And why they end up somewhat being like the Mary Sue country?

[Codae]

Even though the Venetians weren't the biggest power on the block, they were still able to put little blue dots all over the place.

Plus, there's Added Republican Spice(TM).