Summary
Lucius Verus
Banned
Summary: The story of Venetian suffrage as the Patricians of Venice blunders unintentionally toward equality and industry. This TL is written so that no background knowledge is required to enjoy the TL. Q&A in the post below. The focus is on social change in the aristocratic police state that is the Republic and its people.
Background: Coming from the height of the demographic and economic boom that was the 12th & 13th century the early signs of liberalism sprung up within the Italian Peninsula. Cities were founded, the people prospered, the arts flourished, and republican forms of government crept into the city-states of Italy. But there was still a long way to go towards equality for most of the city-states had limited franchises, were plagued by infighting, and upheld a strong sense of nativism that led to more powerful cities oppressing weaker cities.
As the 14th century came in what historians called the beginnings of the Renaissance; "a flourishing of aristocratic art, literacy, and political thought" equality was gradually being eroded as economic growth slowed down and those in power accumulated wealth at the expense of the people. All along the peninsula lords called signore took power, often at the invitation of infighting factions, the displaced nobles slowly crept back into power, and the bourgeois revolutionaries that displaced the tyrants of generations past quickly became the new aristocracy as they consolidated power and wealth at the expense of the "others" within their city-state.
There was however one exception, a most unlikely champion of liberalism called Venice.
A People's History of Venice. 1864, Negro Press. Verona.
Of all the city-states of Italy, Venice was unique as in its political stability. For unlike the tumultuous city states of the mainland the oligarchs of Venice shared a sense of equality, rule of law, and a willingness to compromise within the ranks of the oligarchs. Unlike their divided mainland cousins the Patricians of Venice (merchant-nobles) were unified as a class and they were able to build an effective meritocratic police state that maintained their power and stifled internal opposition. Yet by the mid 14th century the once adventurous merchant-warriors of centuries past had become complacent and rent-seeking. The spirit of meritocracy was stained as the Patrician ranks was closed to new blood, their merchant drive lost to the easy allure of easy government handouts, and their vigor lost as the Patricians began to shun commerce & war for politics. The Venetians were well on their way to a decadent Byzantine decline if it wasn't for the actions of one man. Like ripples radiating from a rock thrown into a stagnant pond Vettor Pisani showed that a single individual can accomplish great things.
Untangling Legends From Facts: A Biography of Vettor Pisani. 1920, Faber Press. Venice.
POD: Pietro Doria, the commander of the Genoese fleet in the most recent Venetian-Geonese War decides to storm the city of Venice in 1378 instead of blockading the city. The Patricians of Venice, complacent after centuries of success are reeling from the shock. IOTL the blockade led to Venetian victory as it gave time for the Venetians to fortify and counter-attack.
The story begins.
"May god forgive for the sins we are about to commit."
Last recorded words of Andrea Contarini, 59th Doge of Venice. 1379
Background: Coming from the height of the demographic and economic boom that was the 12th & 13th century the early signs of liberalism sprung up within the Italian Peninsula. Cities were founded, the people prospered, the arts flourished, and republican forms of government crept into the city-states of Italy. But there was still a long way to go towards equality for most of the city-states had limited franchises, were plagued by infighting, and upheld a strong sense of nativism that led to more powerful cities oppressing weaker cities.
As the 14th century came in what historians called the beginnings of the Renaissance; "a flourishing of aristocratic art, literacy, and political thought" equality was gradually being eroded as economic growth slowed down and those in power accumulated wealth at the expense of the people. All along the peninsula lords called signore took power, often at the invitation of infighting factions, the displaced nobles slowly crept back into power, and the bourgeois revolutionaries that displaced the tyrants of generations past quickly became the new aristocracy as they consolidated power and wealth at the expense of the "others" within their city-state.
There was however one exception, a most unlikely champion of liberalism called Venice.
A People's History of Venice. 1864, Negro Press. Verona.
Of all the city-states of Italy, Venice was unique as in its political stability. For unlike the tumultuous city states of the mainland the oligarchs of Venice shared a sense of equality, rule of law, and a willingness to compromise within the ranks of the oligarchs. Unlike their divided mainland cousins the Patricians of Venice (merchant-nobles) were unified as a class and they were able to build an effective meritocratic police state that maintained their power and stifled internal opposition. Yet by the mid 14th century the once adventurous merchant-warriors of centuries past had become complacent and rent-seeking. The spirit of meritocracy was stained as the Patrician ranks was closed to new blood, their merchant drive lost to the easy allure of easy government handouts, and their vigor lost as the Patricians began to shun commerce & war for politics. The Venetians were well on their way to a decadent Byzantine decline if it wasn't for the actions of one man. Like ripples radiating from a rock thrown into a stagnant pond Vettor Pisani showed that a single individual can accomplish great things.
Untangling Legends From Facts: A Biography of Vettor Pisani. 1920, Faber Press. Venice.
POD: Pietro Doria, the commander of the Genoese fleet in the most recent Venetian-Geonese War decides to storm the city of Venice in 1378 instead of blockading the city. The Patricians of Venice, complacent after centuries of success are reeling from the shock. IOTL the blockade led to Venetian victory as it gave time for the Venetians to fortify and counter-attack.
The story begins.
"May god forgive for the sins we are about to commit."
Last recorded words of Andrea Contarini, 59th Doge of Venice. 1379
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