Venetian Romance: TL Help

I want to create a TL in which Venice remains independent and does not seek to unify Italy, or at leats just the north and also have its territory expand at leats to modern day albania and must incorporate Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia etc.

And have these regions be less lavic and much more Italic whilst also having an Italian state co exist with and be peaceful with the Venetians.

Any way that this can be succesful and survive until today, POD is 1400
 
The best way I think it could happen is if the Ottomans are annihilated by Timur in 1402 leaving no Ottoman invasion of Europe. This means Venice, far stronger than Byzantium, can move into the Balkans.
However, the main problem is that Venice doesn't have much inland power projection. She'd ned either an ally or a mercenery force to conquer places like Slovenia.
Venice's maritime empire collapsed because of Ottoman aggression and Portuguese competition in the spice trade (with her Indies colonies). With no Ottomans she can hold onto the E. Mediterranean and those colonies are far richer than Dalmatia. Also, even if she did pursue an expansionist policy (as she did in OTL) it would be in Italy, which is far richer, culturally closer and far closer than the Balkans.
If, however, she desperately needed woo (for a large fleet, maybe for defence or something) then she could be persuaded to fortify Istria and the large forests there. Having a foothold inland would mean she could expand north.
If she conquered Ragusa then she could bring parts of Albania into her empire, however Ragusa had a strong town identity and probably wouldn't go down without a fight.
Also, we have Serbia to contend wirth. Under her legendary king (I can't remember his name sorry Serbs but I acknowledge his awesomeness) they almost conquered Constantinople. If Venice began nibbling away at her rear (don't be so immature) they'd be sure to put a stop to it (no means no).
The fact is is that Venice was a mercantile society- any venture had to have a potential profit (consider the 4th crusade etc.) and taking windswept mountains has no profit incentive.
But it would be fun, and what else are we alternate historiographers but tinkerers in time nad space, seeking to remake history under our own auspices. We're like generals, statesmen and Emperors who can't be bothered and have internet access.
 
What if Venice took on a more militaristic approach knowing that the would need to gain more land that would allow them more trade and stronger links with their neighbours.

Would Serbia ever have allied with a Venetian state to conquer and divide land, wiht Serbia doing the lions share of the dirty work for Venice to pay them off with money dure to their obvious mercantile culture?

I wouldlike to see a surving Byzantine state but with obvious limitations being that they are stuck in the Greek peninsula and the immediate shores of Anatolia with some territory in Pontus and the Ionian islands.

An Ottoman Turkey that is happy with Anatolia and has no designs on Europe whatsoever, thus it seems killing of the spread of Islam through the Balkans (Nothing against Islam folks).

Any other avenues someone can suggest?
Also I have been looking for this Venice thread. Although mine will have a similar vein with an obvious Venetian Wank but I am going to read that thread and see what has been written.

Thank you for the link.
 
Also a Milanese expansion that is friendlier to Venice and doesnt threaten her lands until many many many years down the line.

Basically imagine the Italian Penionsula being carved up peacefully and when everyone is happy.

BANG!

War between Sicily, Milan, Genoa, Venice & the Papal States
 
ATM THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR COMPLETION

my proposed europa and its nations, need inout and advice off you all.

Italia is a patchwork of states. Milan, Genoa, SAN MARINO!!!! Venice, Papal Statesm Naples & Sicily.

Also other nations include Byzantine Empire which I have brought back from the brink, Serbia, Bosnia, HRE, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland & Bulgaria... also a more Bohemia centric Asutria-Hungary-Bohemian state

I know its not brilliant. But I am still a beginner with TL's and making maps. so please bear with me.


HHDA5.png
 
I want to create a TL in which Venice remains independent and does not seek to unify Italy, or at leats just the north and also have its territory expand at leats to modern day albania and must incorporate Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia etc.

And have these regions be less lavic and much more Italic whilst also having an Italian state co exist with and be peaceful with the Venetians.

Any way that this can be succesful and survive until today, POD is 1400
Cannot see Venice annexing all that, it seems to do best as an Island/Naval/Commercial power.

Now hauling all these territories in as economic appenages with strong cultural ties....

HTG
 
First of all. The Ottomans can't be destroyed. They were a Balkan-based state by the 1300s and had a big enough pool of Turkic Muslims and local Slavic and Greek Muslims as manpower already. No Timurid invasion is going to annihilate the Ottoman Turks by this time. The best you can have is to for the empire to remain disunited for a longer period of time [maybe a century max] and have the Byzantines and the other local Balkan states play each Ottoman faction off. I think then you can have the Venetians make their way and conquer these coastal towns one by one.
 
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