Dalmatia Ascendant
I always say this, but I don't mean to be a bother, but how's life going, Ilu? I hope you doing well with those internal exams you mentioned!
They're done now, thank goodness! I've been doing some planning about where I want the TL to go from here, and I have a clearer picture now. I think I'll take it to the 1250s, and end it around there. But I think I might 'reboot' it at a later date, with improved, better-written and better-researched posts, and also take it up to around 1300. Any thoughts on that?
Posts should resume within the next few days.
If you feel as though that would be the best for the TL, then go ahead! With a TL like this, more research is always welcome!
It's just that I know there's only so much you can write about Middle Ages naval warfare, so I want to be sure that each post has some depth. That might involve eventually consolidating several 'light' posts into one, and focusing a bit more on cultural/economic/social change rather than just border fluctuations. And the only way I can think of to achieve that depth is to research around the time period, for parallels as much as for related facts.
Update! Florence attacks Pisa...
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'The conflict between Pisa and Florence for dominance in Tuscany frequently erupted into open warfare throughout the centuries. Italy was principally a 'playground' for outside powers, chiefly France and the Holy Roman Empire, between the Fall of Rome and the 'Latter Days', and it was this influence which served as the primary driving force behind the internal conflicts of the peninsular. This was certainly true to an extent with regards to the numerous 'Tuscan Wars', which usually took place as a theatre of a larger conflict.
An example of this phenomenon can be found in the Second Haemic War, which became a general war in the Mediterranean in 1213. Pisa and Genoa had been the most powerful maritime republics since the fall of Venice in the Istrian War, and the escalation of their commercial competition had led them to seek allies elsewhere. Not surprisingly, Pisa's most dangerous naval adversary; Genoa; and her most dangerous enemy on land; Florence; quickly aligned themselves together.
Major Florentine involvement in the Second Haemic War began in early 1214. Despite Genoese setbacks at Acre and Corfu, the Florentine rulers were determined to bring the fight to the hated Pisan foe. On the 7th of April, 1214, the army of Florence crossed the Pisan border and swiftly seized the city of Pontedera, surprising Pisan defenders with the swiftness of the assault. With the fall of Pontedera, the road lay open to Pisa itself. The signoria of Pisa, Beltramino Rossi, immediately ordered a withdrawal of most of the soldiers garrisoned in Cecina and Piombino to Pisa. At the same time, part of the Pisan fleet was stood down and the sailors pressed into the army as defenders of the city. On the 15th of April, the Republic of Lucca declared war on Pisa.
The Genoese had long expected and hoped for a Florentine attack on Pisa, and the fulfilment of this hope cemented the Genoa-Florence axis which endured for many long years afterwards. It was decided that a frontal naval assault on Porto Pisano would be too risky because of the lighthouse of Meloria, which could be used to alert nearby Livorno to any approaching Genoese fleet. Instead, an attack on Bastia, Corsica, was considered preferable - with the Pisan fleet distracted, such a base could be used to great effect. A potential seizure of the island of Elba was also discussed.
In the meantime, the armies of Florence reached the village of Calambrone, cutting off Livorno and Pisa's southern cities from the capital and its port. The Siege is recorded to have begun on the 25th of April, though the famed 'Quadratura dei Pisani', quadrangular fortresses of a uniquely Pisan design, prevented any swift conquest of either Livorno or Pisa. On the 29th of April, the town of San Giuliano Terme fell to Luccan troops after heavy fighting.'
Extract from - 'The Italian Wars' (English)
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An update without mention of Zara! Sacrilege!
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'The conflict between Pisa and Florence for dominance in Tuscany frequently erupted into open warfare throughout the centuries. Italy was principally a 'playground' for outside powers, chiefly France and the Holy Roman Empire, between the Fall of Rome and the 'Latter Days', and it was this influence which served as the primary driving force behind the internal conflicts of the peninsular. This was certainly true to an extent with regards to the numerous 'Tuscan Wars', which usually took place as a theatre of a larger conflict.
An example of this phenomenon can be found in the Second Haemic War, which became a general war in the Mediterranean in 1213. Pisa and Genoa had been the most powerful maritime republics since the fall of Venice in the Istrian War, and the escalation of their commercial competition had led them to seek allies elsewhere. Not surprisingly, Pisa's most dangerous naval adversary; Genoa; and her most dangerous enemy on land; Florence; quickly aligned themselves together.
Major Florentine involvement in the Second Haemic War began in early 1214. Despite Genoese setbacks at Acre and Corfu, the Florentine rulers were determined to bring the fight to the hated Pisan foe. On the 7th of April, 1214, the army of Florence crossed the Pisan border and swiftly seized the city of Pontedera, surprising Pisan defenders with the swiftness of the assault. With the fall of Pontedera, the road lay open to Pisa itself. The signoria of Pisa, Beltramino Rossi, immediately ordered a withdrawal of most of the soldiers garrisoned in Cecina and Piombino to Pisa. At the same time, part of the Pisan fleet was stood down and the sailors pressed into the army as defenders of the city. On the 15th of April, the Republic of Lucca declared war on Pisa.
The Genoese had long expected and hoped for a Florentine attack on Pisa, and the fulfilment of this hope cemented the Genoa-Florence axis which endured for many long years afterwards. It was decided that a frontal naval assault on Porto Pisano would be too risky because of the lighthouse of Meloria, which could be used to alert nearby Livorno to any approaching Genoese fleet. Instead, an attack on Bastia, Corsica, was considered preferable - with the Pisan fleet distracted, such a base could be used to great effect. A potential seizure of the island of Elba was also discussed.
In the meantime, the armies of Florence reached the village of Calambrone, cutting off Livorno and Pisa's southern cities from the capital and its port. The Siege is recorded to have begun on the 25th of April, though the famed 'Quadratura dei Pisani', quadrangular fortresses of a uniquely Pisan design, prevented any swift conquest of either Livorno or Pisa. On the 29th of April, the town of San Giuliano Terme fell to Luccan troops after heavy fighting.'
Extract from - 'The Italian Wars' (English)
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An update without mention of Zara! Sacrilege!
I had to drop it because the reality of Sixth Form education suddenly hit me in the face. It was rather discourteous of me not to put a post out explaining what happened; I apologise.
However, I do intend to relaunch a refined, improved version once I get time, in which I'll probably 'mention' all the old readers in case they want to see it.