Italy Megacampaign: Part 10: 1560-1574: Emperor and the Senate of Rome

Government of Venice was controlled by grand doge elected for life by lottery. At least in principle, there's been frequent rumors of corruption, and nephews of previous grand doges had uncanny amount of luck. Behind the scenes, aristocratic, trader, and guild factions tried to influence the government.

Soon after capital moved to Constantinople, Senate got restored, representing Italian and Greek aristocracy. For a while now grand doges claimed imperial status, but their claim was not treated seriously abroad due to questionable way they were elected, and trading not being respectable pursuit of royalty.

Moving capital to Rome led to new reforms. Senate officially abolished the lottery, and in grand ceremony presided jointly by Orthodox patriarchs of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch, grand doge Leonardo Erizzo Borromeo was proclaimed Emperor of the Romans. His successor would be chosen by the Senate.

Some provinces were granted seats in the Senate. In others local burghers and clergy established their local power. Influence of old factions was negligible. Aristocracy of the Empire was still more focused on making money than in other European countries, but it was now balanced by other concerns. Newly developed central bureaucracy was focusing more and more on colonial affairs.

In terms of mechanics (picked using console commands):

• Power Structure: Elective Monarchy - enables the whole elective monarchy system, -30 absolutism, -1 unrest, +2 max states, +25% income from vassals
• Noble Privileges: Strengthen Bengali Traders (relabelled): +1 merchant, +10% trade efficiency
• Bureaucracy: Colonial Outlooks (from missions extended): +30% colonial range, +15 settler growth
• The Administrative Cadre: Meritocratic Recruitment: -10% advisor cost
• Deliberative Assembly: Parliamentarism: enables Parliament, disables noble estate, -1 unrest

International response was highly positive. It looked like now every king in Europe was now interested in dynastic alliances, and in convincing Senators that their nephew or cousin would be a great next emperor.

To celebrate it I order flagship San Guiseppe built - with +1 blockade, +1 speed, and +1 trade power per ship in fleet. So basically now all my spare galleys and transports can act as weak light ships during peace time.

I had a small colonial war to expand my West African company. Then a minor border correction in Piedmonte. It was a fun trick - I attacked Savoy who was guaranteed by Provence whom I couldn't cobeligerent. So I got them to return land to Savoy, then took it all from Savoy. It cost me some extra mana, but massively reduced AE. I diplovassalized Orthodox Samtstkhe in Caucasus, and conquered for them what was left of OPM Georgia.

Of course all that was just a prelude to another great crusade against the Mamluks. I took just the coastline and Jerusalem, but started giving Cyprus some Anatolian hinterland too.

Somehow one of my 3 missionaries disappeared. I says I have 3, but only 2 actually exist. That's the first time I'm seeing this bug.

During last years of the war emperor Leonardo died, and he was succeeded by his son Ferdinando I Boromeo.

Now that Jerusalem and all 5 patriarchal seats are in hands of the faithful, Ferdinando called for great ecumenical council of all 7 Christian denominations.

Hopefully attending all 71 Christian countries:

• Catholic - 30 countries including Spain, Poland, France, Burgundy, France, Denmark, Scotland, England, even Kongo somehow etc.
• Orthodox - 17 countries including Italy, Russia, Hungary
• Reformed - 17 countries including elector of Brandenburg, and a lot of North HRE minors
• Protestant - 3 countries - Sweden (overran by Protestant rebels) and two minors
• Coptic - 2 countrie - Ethiopia and Mahra
• Anglican - 1 country - The Isles
• Hussite - 1 country - elector of Bohemia

I'll write some narrative, and maybe roll some dice, as to what might be the outcome of this. Mostly in religious terms, but also future of HRE, administration of liberated holy lands, and fate of some failed states like England .

Oh and New Italy CN finally spawned, with capital in Delaware. I'll probably tag switch to them at some point, but not really anytime soon.

There's also a bit of a coalition against me, a bunch of annoying countries like Hungary, Austria, Genoa, might get joined by Sunni minors, and that would be quite awkward.

Beyond this narrow strip of coastline live barbarians.

With Orthodox recovery of all holy sites, Reformed success in HRE and Sweden, not to mention smaller Hussite, Protestant, and Anglican movements, Catholic moral authority is gone.

Nobody takes the "Pope" in Upper Guelders seriously.

Great Ecumenical Council of Jerusalem will convene to resolve religious and possibly also political conflicts of the modern age.