What went right?

Financial competence backed by military power.

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>>299340
Sounds familiar

>>299357
/thread

>>299340
God tier natural fortification really helped

>>299778
>pacific
>atlantic
sounds familiar

>>299357
Not even close desu

>>299873
Very close. British too.

>>299357
>Sounds familiar
Yes well, it's literally every republic ever.

>>299778
Well, at the earliest beginning maybe, but for most of its time, Venice had to protect territories well outside the lagoon. I mean when you think about it, ever since the capital was moved from the coastal islands to Rialto (aka Venice proper), enemies have only managed to even jus reach the lagoon twice: Carloman's failed siege, and Genoa's failed naval assault of Chioggia's harbour entrance.

>>300562
I meant it more along the lines of not needing to devote nearly as much resources towards urban defense of the capital, thus opening up their use for elsewhere and ensuring the capital was almost always capable of acting.