A major event in the East Mediterranean during the late 15th century was the Greco-Venetian war. The Greek goal was to reconquer Crete, and , if possible also to seize Cyrenaica. The Venetians on the otherhand wanted to make their own playground in the East Mediterranean basin. To achieve this, they would try to disembark in Morea, and build foritfacations on the Isthmus of Corinth, while also try to persuade Bulgarians to attack from the North and Turks from the East.
On the other hand, the Rhoman Empire was looking for allies willing to attack Venice: Hungary to attack Dalmatia, Serbia to seize Cattaro (which would also have to deal with Bulgaria, though), Egypt to seize Venetian holdings in Lower Egypt. In the terrafirma, it was Milan who would employ most of Venetian armies.
When the war began in 1452, Venice had the upper hand on the sea, and managed to occupy a large part of the Peloponessus, while occupying many islands in Aegean as well. The Copts managed to take over Damietta and Rosetta, while the Cyrenaica (ruled by the disowned Latinate former monarchs of Egypt) sided with Venice, and helped defend Alexandria. Meanwhile, a large Greek force was busy defending western Anatolia from the Turks, and unfortunately , their defences on the Halys proved weak.
A large Bulgarian force also marched southwards into Upper Thrace, seizing Phillipople, and towards Hadrianople. This seemed to be a dirct threat to the capital itself. To deal with the problems, Serbians were called, and marched from Niš towards Sofia.
Meanwhile Milan and Venice crushed in Italy, enabling Hungary to take control of the Dalmatian hinterland on behalf of the Kingdom of Croatia, which has been in personal union with the Crown of Saint Stephen for a couple of centuries.
In Africa, the Copts left the siege of Alexandria be, and rather attacked Cyrenaica. In northern Anatolia, it was decided that all who could be spared from the garrison of the coastal towns in Pontus , should march southwards and try to attack the Turkish forces from the rear- this proved to be a brilliant idea, as their forces were gathered in southwestern Anatolia.
Not long afterwards, Hungarians marched to Istria and were ready to continue towards Aquilea. In the Balkans , Serbs and Greeks were fighting the Bulgarians. Both Byzantium and Venice were in a bad shape. Ultimately, the result was more-less status quo,
with:
- Stalemate in Italy
- Hungary taking the Dalmatian hinterland, and Venice keeping the islands , Zadar, Split and Trogir
- Venice keeps Cattaro, Shkoder, Durres, Cephalonia, Zakynthos, Crete
- Venice takes Peloponessus and Naxos.
- Serbs take Vidin, Byzantines take Sofia.
- The war in Anatolia continues, ultimately the Turks are defeated and integrated into the Empire.
- In Africa, Alexandria remains a merchant republic, enclaved in the Coptic kingdom