France has a long and glorious history of getting its' shit kicked by Italians, leading back several hundred years the the Milanese capture of Paris and the Venetian capture of Toulouse. Well, all that is about to come to a head. Weakened by wars with Spain, Milan, Venice and by frequent excommunication, France sat in a precarious position. To the northeast sat the English holdings of Bruges and Antwerp. To the east sat the formidable HRE, weakened by war with the Mongol hordes, but still more than a match for the pathetic remnants of France. Which leaves us with Frances greatest threat: Venice. Venice has been expanding for the last 100 years, following the collapse of Hungary. Venice has already taken many French settlements, to the point that France is down to three major holding; Caen, Paris and Rheims. A mighty Venetian host has besieged Caen for several years, and the food supplies have run out. Without hope of reinforcements and on the brink of starvation the forces surrender.
This does not spare them, they are executed and the people are put to the sword. The army rests briefly to allow supply lines and the like to solidify, and then moves east, against the two remaining French cities.
While north of Paris the army locates a French force camped near a small village.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
Only a few managed to form up before the rout.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
They were defeated without much fuss, do to every possible advantage laying firmly in Venetian hands.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
The destruction of the army left the poorly defended city of Rheims open to attack. France has pulled all its' forces back to defend Paris, leaving only a bare bones garrison to defend it. The Venetians bring their same massive army, resistance was futile.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
Resistance melted away as soon as it was met.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
This left France in no doubt as to just how precarious their position was. In fact, it could be argued that their position wasn't precarious, they were already falling to their doom. They quickly agreed the the Venetian demand that they swear fealty.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
This brought about some rather odd things.
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
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zrk2 at 2011-03-26
These ceasefires brought about a peaceful period for Venice, its' traditional enemies had all been placated through their alliances with France extending to Venice, and the Papal restrictions on fighting between Spain and Venice.