Muslim Italy

When could this happen?

Also what would be the consequences of a muslim Italy, how would it play into the European power games? And what happens to catholicism if Rome is taken?
 
When could this happen?

I don't think you can ever actually get a Muslim Majority Italy, however Italy under Islamic authority is doable in the same way that parts of Iberia were.

That said, sometime between the late 15th century to early 17th century would be the petriod it's possible for Mainland Italy.

However, if we include ALL of Italy, this did happen IOTL, with the Emirate of Sicily (965-1072).
 
I don't think you can ever actually get a Muslim Majority Italy, however Italy under Islamic authority is doable in the same way that parts of Iberia were.

That said, sometime between the late 15th century to early 17th century would be the petriod it's possible for Mainland Italy.

However, if we include ALL of Italy, this did happen IOTL, with the Emirate of Sicily (965-1072).
Well, technically you could have a Muslim majority Italy. Wasn't Iberia 80% Muslim at one point?
 
Wasn't Iberia 80% Muslim at one point?

No, aside from the fact Iberia as a whole was never fully controlled by a Muslim power, their were also likely a significant amount of what I suppose you'd call Crypto Christians, that is Christians who converted to Islam officially for the secular benefits that it brought but remained Christian privately/secretly.

Now, at one point yes, Al-Andalus was majority Muslim, however it was a very uniqe case do to its history and geography, with the Caliphate literally being right next door and Christianity not having taken a strong hold or become a major cultural thing by the time of the Ummayad Invasion of Iberia.
 
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  • Italy was the land of the most wealthy states of late Middle Ages and Renaisance.
  • Italy was probably the most intense populated area of Europe at the same time.
  • Italy's terrain is advantageous for the defender. (remember even the Allies in WWII)
  • Italy is the natural seat of the Pope, and thus the "holy land" of the Catholic Church.
  • Italy is very close to major "reinforcement tanks", like France and Germany.
  • Italy is a long peninsula, and whoever operates there must have the control of the seas. That's not possible for any muslim power- there's no comparison in terms of naval power with the Italian marine states.
  • In order for the Ottomans (I can't see any other with more chances) to get to Italy seriously, they first have to "clear" the Venetian Levant and Malta, and at the same time to "neutralize" Hungary and later Austria. Well, they tried to do that, but it took them so much time (2 centuries), that they missed the smal chance they had to set foot on Italy.
  • Conquering all of Italy, means much more land and a lot of population. The danger of overextension is severe here!
 
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