Well, France isn't going to disturb him because of the 100YW and the HRE is a mess, so external interference isn't likely, but he would have a lot of problems with opposition in Italy proper, even if he subdue Florence, there is still Savoy, Venice and the Pope.Gian Galeazzo Visconti had the ambition to restore the lands of the Lombard Crown. The question is could he have been more succesful? He was winning his war agains Florence when he fell to fever.
Well his wife was Savoyard, so his back against Savoy would be relatively safe, however Venice and the Pope are hurdles to overcome.Well, France isn't going to disturb him because of the 100YW and the HRE is a mess, so external interference isn't likely, but he would have a lot of problems with opposition in Italy proper, even if he subdue Florence, there is still Savoy, Venice and the Pope.
The popes, you should say: since the Great Western Schism is still in full blown, there is a lot of space for him to play between the two (later three) contenders.Well, France isn't going to disturb him because of the 100YW and the HRE is a mess, so external interference isn't likely, but he would have a lot of problems with opposition in Italy proper, even if he subdue Florence, there is still Savoy, Venice and the Pope.
Actually, Gian Galleazzo was supposed to marry Maria of Sicily, if he was able to marry her, he would have more edge to the others..The popes, you should say: since the Great Western Schism is still in full blown, there is a lot of space for him to play between the two (later three) contenders.
Venice at this time has a very limited presence on the mainland, and the interests of the Serenissima are not necessarily in contrast with the aspirations of Gian Galeazzo.
Savoy is not a major player at this stage.
The kingdom of Naples is not in good shape, and Aragon is moving toward a succession crisis and associated civil war in a few years.
If GG is granted another 15 years or so, and plays his cards well, he would be able to consolidate his possessions and groom his sons for the succession.
It is a bit more complicated: Artale Alagona, Justiciar of the kingdom of Sicily and chief among the regents for the underage Queen Maria, offered the hand of Maria to Gian Galeazzo (who apparently showed interest and organised a Pisan fleet to bring the young queen to Northern Italy. The plan went down the drain very quickly, due to the strong opposition of the Aragonese crown. An Aragonese fleet blockaded the mouth of the Arno, and at the same time Maria was kidnapped by the count of Augusta only to be "rescued" by an Aragonese fleet and taken to Sardinia. Here things ended, and IIRC GG never made any further attempt to marry Maria.Actually, Gian Galleazzo was supposed to marry Maria of Sicily, if he was able to marry her, he would have more edge to the others..
Good ideas, I was hoping for more variety in time periods though, any for 1800sish area?
Good ideas, I was hoping for more variety in time periods though, any for 1800sish area?
Both of these were more the expression of liberal wishful thinking than real possibilities.Eugene unites Italy
Murat united Italy
Gian Galeazzo Visconti, given another 15 years to live (entirely possible) is going to create an England - a regional power that nonetheless will dominate the area in the following centuries by virtue of being the strongest country around. Maybe he won't see a united Italy - probably he won't, as sources point out he was going to sit down and reorganize his conquests after the fall of Florence - but his sons, or grandchildren, or grand-grandchildren, probably will.Well his wife was Savoyard, so his back against Savoy would be relatively safe, however Venice and the Pope are hurdles to overcome.
If GG is given another 15 years or so, his task will be to weld together all the Visconti's possessions, and organize on a centralised basis the finances and the taxation (which he had already started to do in the late 1490s). GG was very smart and focused, as well as a visionary: given the favorable political situation of the late 14th and early 15th century, it is quite likely he would succeed in his endeavors. IMHO he would have tried to expand in a limited way his domains (Genoa and Mantua come to mind) but the focus would be on the organization of his possessions. The real question is if he will be successful in grooming his sons for the succession, and even more so if he will refrain from splitting his domains between them (as it happened upon his death IOTL).Gian Galeazzo Visconti, given another 15 years to live (entirely possible) is going to create an England - a regional power that nonetheless will dominate the area in the following centuries by virtue of being the strongest country around. Maybe he won't see a united Italy - probably he won't, as sources point out he was going to sit down and reorganize his conquests after the fall of Florence - but his sons, or grandchildren, or grand-grandchildren, probably will.