To Let Slip The Dogs of War (Milan)
You are the duke of Milan. For nearly half a century peace has prevailed on the Italian peninsula. Your father had been helped to the Milanese throne by the Medici of Florence, Venice had agreed to the peace of Lodi and the Pope wished for stability to strengthen his hold on the Romagna. But now You receive reports that King Charles VIII of France has dug up an old claim to the throne of Naples, inherited from one of his Angevin ancestors. The Trastamara dynasty now ruling Naples is unlikely to simply give up their kingdom and Charles is considering war. However, the seas around Italy are teeming with Tunisian Corsairs and he cannot risk a maritime voyage with the entirety of his army. Thus, he will be forced to take the land route. While the Pope has already signalled that he does not wish any quarrel with the French for now and will grant free passage, northern Italy is still closed to the king. His envoys keep urging You to comply and offer an alliance with the French, while the Neapolitan emissaries are doing their best to keep You and the republic of Florence further south on their side.
Naples has been expanding its hold on the entirety of southern Italy and the French might be helpful allies, as the relations to Venice are becoming more and more difficult. The doge is relentlessly expanding their inland territories and has set a greedy eye on Your part of Lombardy. The French themselves, however, are ambitious, too. The king might simply invade Lombardy, if he was denied safe passage and the consequences for the fragile balance of power resulting from a full invasion are unforeseeable.Will You conclude an alliance with France to help You against Venice or side with Naples and risk a war with France?
To Let Slip The Dogs of War (Milan)
You are the duke of Milan. For nearly half a century peace has prevailed on the Italian peninsula. Your father had been helped to the Milanese throne by the Medici of Florence, Venice had agreed to the peace of Lodi and the Pope wished for stability to strengthen his hold on the Romagna.
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