In venice you had the council of ten, a secret deep state as a the maniging aperatus for the republic.
In the late 16th century, Venice was split. The Vecchi (old) wanted to stay Catholic and Mediterranean-focused. The Giovani (The Young) wanted to pivot.
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The Strategy: The Giovani realized that Venice was physically trapped in the Adriatic. To survive the “Laws of Motion,” they needed to move their capital and influence into the rising Protestant powers (the Dutch and English) who were the enemies of their enemies (the Spanish Habsburgs).
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The Link: Venetian diplomats and bankers began moving their “syndicate” techniques—double-entry bookkeeping, maritime insurance, and intelligence networks—to Amsterdam.