Suleiman goes after Venice instead of Vienna 1529

Commissar

Banned
For whatever reason, Suleiman decides the Austrians can wait and Venice is the bigger threat.

So he spends the next few years taking Cyprus, Crete, and wiping out Venice.
 
making war to venice is one thing.
achieving some success is possible.
winning is quite another glass of sherbet.
the main reason Suleiman went the way he went is that his fleet could not compete with the venetian one.
 
For whatever reason, Suleiman decides the Austrians can wait and Venice is the bigger threat.

So he spends the next few years taking Cyprus, Crete, and wiping out Venice.

What does "wiping out" Venice mean? An assault on Venice is rather difficult. Suleiman may take Cyprus and Crete, take some harbours in Apulia to block the Adriatic, and repeatedly raid the Terra Ferma, though. Thus, he may break Venetian power and economy.

Nevertheless, supply lines to Venice overland are as long and difficult as to Vienna. And the Ottomans would probably face the same enemies in Italy they faced in Vienna.

Finally, on thing to remember: the French "supported" the Ottomans as a threat against their Hapsburg foes. That does not imply that they accept Ottoman expansion. Ottoman armies in Verona and maybe even Milan will not go well with the French.
 
Kind of late to take on Venice. It would had been feasible to conquer Venice in 1480 just after kicking their mercantile butts out of several territories they owned in the east.
 
They could have taken more Venetian territory if certain events take place, yes.

One thing I can assure is that if the city of Venice itself is taken the beautiful architecture is in no danger unless the people insist on continuous rebellions. The Ottomans would definitely appreciate a place that magnificent.

The sizable Jewish population is going to have a lot more freedom as well, something the Christians Venetians will not like at all.
 
So The Merchant of Venice might have to be written very differently

Well, to be annoying and naggy: No. Because of the Butterfly Affect, it wouldn't be written period.

Still, you are correct. The plot of that play would be impossible in the kind of environment of Ottoman Venice.
 
Well, to be annoying and naggy: No. Because of the Butterfly Affect, it wouldn't be written period.

Still, you are correct. The plot of that play would be impossible in the kind of environment of Ottoman Venice.

Though who knows? An Ottoman analogue to Shakespeare would be cool.
 
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