Intermediate
Mediterranean
Venice EU5 Guide
Master the Serene Republic's unique trade mechanics, cabinet dynasty system, and maritime dominance. Control the Mediterranean and unite Italy under Venetian rule.
Trade Republic
Maritime Dominance
~250 Year Timeline
Why Play Venice?
Venice is one of the most unique nations in EU5, offering a trade republic experience with mechanics found nowhere else in the game. You'll manage family dynasties, stack trade capacity bonuses to absurd levels, and build a maritime empire that dominates Mediterranean commerce.
Venice's Core Strengths
- •+75% Stacking Trade Capacity: Council of 40 (+25%), Council of 10, and Merchant Republic (+50%) combine for massive trade bonuses
- •Perfect Trade Location: Bridge between Eastern goods and Western markets—the historical trade superpower
- •Unique Buildings: Piazza San Marco provides +0.01 monthly development—permanent passive growth
- •Historical Flavor: Marco Polo events, League Against della Scala historical war, family dynasty politics
- •Three Loyal Subjects: Ragusa, Trieste, and Candia provide immediate expansion capacity and integration targets
Key Challenge: Venice's republic privileges (Libro d'Oro, Libra d'Argento) reduce promotion speed. You start at only 9% promotion speed—maintaining 70+ stability is essential to counteract this penalty.
Starting Situation (1337)
What You Start With
- • Government: Merchant Republic with Council of 40 (+25% trade capacity)
- • Leader: Francesco Dandolo (79 years old—will die soon, don't assign cabinet yet)
- • Subjects: Ragusa (Dalmatia), Trieste (buffer), Candia (Greek islands)
- • Main Rivals: Verona, Aquilea (natural early targets)
- • Value Drifts: Humanist, Innovative, Capital Economy—excellent positioning
- • Technology Priorities: Organized Religions, Guilds, Connections
Republic Mechanics Overview
Unique Government Reforms
Council of 40: +25% trade capacity (you start with this)
Council of 10: +stability investment, +tradition decay reduction
Merchant Republic: +50% trade capacity, +25% trade income (stacks with Council!)
These three reforms combine for +75% trade capacity—one of the highest stacking bonuses in the game.
The Promotion Speed Problem
Venice's republic privileges—Libro d'Oro (Golden Book) and Libra d'Argento (Silver Book)—severely reduce population promotion speed.
- • Starting Promotion Speed: Only 9% (compared to 30-50% for most nations)
- • Solution: Maintain 70+ stability throughout your campaign—stability boosts promotion speed
- • Late-Game Option: Revoke these privileges, but costs ~172 stability for burgers alone—save for very late game
Opening Setup & First Moves
Day 1 Priority: Set up your economy and wait for your leader to die before assigning cabinet. Your opening month determines your economic trajectory.
Opening Checklist (First Month 1337)
Set Rivals: Verona and Aquilea (your first expansion targets)
Technology Focus: Organized Religions, Guilds, Connections
Cabinet Tasks: Strengthen Republic + Increase Stability (after leader dies)
Wait for Leader Death: Don't assign cabinet members until new Doge elected
Employment System: Set to Infrastructure → Most Profitable
Take Key Privileges: Development Grants, Religious Administration, Noble Navy
Improve Relations: Start improving relations with all 3 subjects immediately
Building Rush (First Year)
Spam Marketplaces in Venice: Target 16 marketplaces in your capital (100% profit buildings)
Market Villages Everywhere: Build market village in every rural location
Recruit 1 Armored Horseman: Single regiment for your army
Assign Family Commander: Put a family member in charge of your army for +Republican Power
Maritime Trade Strategy
Maritime Presence Requirements
- • Target: 100 maritime presence in Adriatic, Aegean, and Greek Isles
- • Fleet Size: Need 50+ standing fleet (mix of galleys and light ships/barks)
- • Fleet Configuration: Enable food gathering and distribution for fleet maintenance
- • Priority Research: Maritime Trade Advantage technology for even higher trade bonuses
Trade Income Scaling
~15
Starting Trade Income
100+
Mid-Game Potential
Location Advantage: Venice sits at the bridge between European markets and Eastern goods (silk, spices, luxury items). This natural geographic advantage compounds with your +75% trade capacity bonuses.
Expansion Strategy
Phase 1: League Against della Scala (1337-1345)
- • Historical War: Venice has a mission/event chain against Verona (della Scala family)
- • Primary Targets: Padova, Treviso, and Verona itself if possible
- • Warning: Milan will try to take Verona—if you want it, act fast
- • Separate Peace: Take your objectives and peace out before Milan takes everything
Phase 2: Consolidate Venetia (1345-1360)
- • Core Targets: Beluno, Feltre (Venetian culture provinces)
- • Casus Belli: Use Guelfs vs Ghibellines CB against opposing faction members
- • Subject Strategy: Create small vassals rather than direct integration—republics integrate slower
Phase 3: Aquilea & Friuli (1360-1380)
- • Alliance Check: Watch Aquilea's alliance network—avoid Hungary!
- • Alternative Path: If Aquilea is too protected, attack Ferrara first to bypass their allies
- • Goal: Connect your Dalmatian holdings with core Venetian territory
Phase 4: Contest Naples (1380+)
- • Strategic Threat: Naples becomes a major regional power if left unchecked
- • Alliance: Form an alliance with Milan—you share interests against Naples
- • Vassal Swarm: Create small vassals from conquests (Mantova, Bologna, Rimini)
Economy & Building Priorities
Libraries First (Literacy Rush)
- • Build libraries in all towns and cities as early as possible
- • Libraries create book demand → causes book shortage → spam Scriptoriums to fill gap
- • Higher literacy = faster promotion speed (helps offset your republic penalties)
- • Prioritize Venice capital, then Padova, then other urban centers
Hospital Rush (Pre-1346): Build hospitals in ALL towns and cities before the Black Death arrives. This is non-negotiable—Venice's urban population is your economic engine.
Production Chains
- • Carpenters Guild: Creates furniture demand—luxury goods for trade
- • Tailor Guilds: Produces fine clothes—another high-value trade good
- • Paper Makers: Already present in Venice—supplies your Scriptoriums
- • Focus: Urban production chains that leverage your trade capacity bonuses
Urbanization Push
- • Piazza San Marco: Unique building providing +0.01 monthly development—build immediately
- • Parliament: Use "Promote Urbanization" debates for development bonuses
- • Target Provinces: Chioggia (~55k pop), Treviso (~70k)—urbanization candidates
- • Strategy: Focus development in high-population provinces for maximum returns
Black Death Preparation (1346)
Critical Warning: The Black Death will devastate Europe starting around 1346. Venice's urban population makes you especially vulnerable—prepare early or lose half your economic engine.
Pre-Plague Checklist (Complete by 1345)
Hospitals in all towns and cities: +10% disease resistance, +5 character life expectancy
Venice and Padova highest priority: Your two largest urban centers
Save stability: You'll lose 20-30 stability during the plague
When the Plague Arrives
- • Segregate the Infected: Costs stability but grants +15% disease resistance during outbreak
- • Isolate the Cities: Reduces plague impact in urban areas by ~80%
- • Move Court into Hiding: Protects your leadership from infection
- • Present Scapegoats: Helps with stability recovery afterward
Expected Outcome with Preparation:
~200k deaths instead of 400k. Venice's urban population survives and your economic engine remains intact.
Values, Privileges & Parliament
Target Values
Innovative
Not Traditionalist—faster tech adoption
Capital Economy
Not Traditional—urban economic focus
Plutocracy
Fight Aristocracy drift—republic synergy
Naval
Stack with privileges for maritime dominance
Key Privileges
- • Development Grants: +monthly development, +innovative push
- • Religious Administration: +communalism, +stability
- • Noble Navy: +naval push, +5% satisfaction = more taxes
- • Burger Road Rights: Satisfied burgers build roads for free
- • Dedicated Merchant Courts: Plutocracy push
- • Guild Investment: Innovative + capital economy push
Parliament Laws
- • Favor the Ruler: +crown power (essential for trade income)
- • Virtues of Politeia: +2.5 estate satisfaction for all estates
- • Consilio Maggior: Unlocks 3rd cabinet seat (costs peasant satisfaction)
Subject Management
Starting Subjects
- • Ragusa: Dalmatian culture, use to expand into Croatia. Feed conquered Croatian provinces here
- • Trieste: Venetian culture, loyal buffer state. Eventually integrate but not urgently
- • Candia: Greek islands, tends to convert to Venetian culture over time. Strategic for Aegean trade
Vassal Swarm Strategy
- • Mantova: Has cores on Modena—useful for expansion claims
- • Bologna & Rimini: Create from Ferrara annexation
- • Let Subjects Integrate: Republics integrate slower—let subjects handle cultural conversion
- • Feed Low-Value Provinces: Give subjects non-Venetian culture provinces to manage
Key Insight: As a republic, creating vassals is often more efficient than direct integration. Your subjects handle the slow cultural conversion while you focus on trade and core provinces.
Campaign Timeline
| Period | Goals |
|---|---|
| 1337-1345 | Verona war, consolidate Venetia, spam marketplaces, build hospitals |
| 1345-1350 | Complete hospital rush, survive Black Death, maintain stability |
| 1350-1370 | Friuli/Aquilea conquest, Ferrara annexation, vassal creation |
| 1370-1400 | Contest Naples, build vassal swarm, maximize trade income |
| 1400+ | Italian unification path, Renaissance institutions, late-game dominance |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assigning Cabinet Before Leader Dies
Francesco Dandolo is 79—wait for him to die before assigning cabinet members or you'll waste dynasty bonuses.
Ignoring Maritime Presence
Your trade income depends on maritime presence. Build fleets early and maintain sea patrols or your economy suffers.
No Hospitals Before 1346
The Black Death will kill half your urban population without hospitals. This is non-negotiable.
Letting Milan Take Verona
Milan moves fast in the della Scala war. If you want Verona, peace out separately before Milan takes everything.
Direct Integration as Republic
Republics integrate slower than monarchies. Use subjects strategically—let them handle cultural conversion.
Revoking Privileges Too Early
Libro d'Oro costs ~172 stability to revoke. Save this for very late game when you have massive stability reserves.
