Part 5, The First Light of the Dawn
November 11: Fearing French interference in Italy once again, Ferdinand II of Aragon joins the alliance with France. The terms are that the two nations will split Naples amongst themselves.
January, 1501: Doge Agostino Barbarigo seeks peace with the Ottomans. Although the war was costly for both sides, the small republic has far more to lose than the mighty empire. Asides the military losses suffered, while the war raged Sultan Bayezid II began to give more favorable trade conditions to the Florentines, who are rivals of the Venetians. Venice has long been the favored trade partner with the Ottomans, and Barbarigo can’t allow that to change. The peace agreement is simple, and states that Venice recognizes all Turkish gains. Some territory, as well as goods confiscated during the war, is returned to Venice, but most importantly trade resumes. Barbarigo is exhausted, and his health is failing.
By March, the 12 galleys slated for immediate completion last August are finished. Barbarigo’s health is in terrible condition, leaving his Vice-Doges to run the country. Given the climate and recent events in the region, they decide to follow on the Dodge’s previous order and continue with naval expansion. 6 more galleys will be finished immediately.
Mid- 1501: French and Aragonese armies seize Naples.
September 20: Doge Agostino Barbarigo dies. The bells atop the clock tower in Piazza San Marco, which he laid the foundations for, play a special hymn for him.
October 2: Leonardo Loredan is elected Doge of Venice with the minimum sufficient number of votes for the election.
1502: The two kings now quarrel over the division of the spoils; Ferdinand's insistence that he be recognized as king of both Naples and Sicily soon leads to war between France and Spain. Venice sides with the French against Spain.
February: the Arsenal finishes 6 more galleys.
Doge Loredan is an intelligent man. Born into wealth, he spent his formative years studying politics and commerce, eventually becoming a successful businessman. Part of his political acumen stemmed from his business prowess, and ability to read people and situations and capitalize on them. He reasons that Venice will soon cease to be successful while it is surrounded by powers that make the entire peninsula shake with fear of their every move. The Ottoman poaching of Venetian lands, and the repeated threat of French meddling in Italy, as well as Spain, leads the Doge to conclude that a political agenda set on maximizing Venice’s power projection as a nation is the appropriate measure for his tenure as Doge. The fate of the Serene Republic no longer rests solely in the hands of its economic power, slowly eroding at the hands of the Ottomans and Portuguese. Instead, its fate rests on its ability to defend its dominions effectively in order to keep trade flourishing. (i)
Leonardo resolves that the expansion of the navy put forward by his predecessor will be continued. Since he does not possess great military knowledge, this decision is greatly prejudiced by the influential Andrea Loredan. Andrea discusses with the Doge countless times about the battles fought at Zonchio. He describes them as if Venice didn’t lose the battles, and blames “the outcome” on a lack of a bigger fleet. (ii)
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(i) Its fitting to have this paragraph on Loredan, as this is the point where the old TL really begins. This was my original first PoD (Venice starts expanding its navy)
(ii) Anrdrea Loredan lives ITTL thanks to actions taken by Maranazzo at Zonchio. He was a respected member of Venetian society, and his scewed opinions of the greatness of the Venetian fleet will have a direct impact of the Doge’s decisions.