A lecture on Vettor Fausto's Quinquereme

 I have been preparing another lecture on galleys, which will comprise two parts. The first part is devoted to Vettor Fausto's quinquereme, i.e., a vessel with five oars on each bank. It is based on my article 

https://www.academia.edu/117426402/Vettor_Fausto_s_Quinquereme

The second part embraces several topics: nocturnal voyage, operational range, speed, and crew watering. It is based on yet unpublished parts of the article "The Early Light Galleys." 

In the meantime, I continue familiarizing myself with the events of the War of Chioggia (1378-1380), my next target. I want to check the situation in Tenedos (an island at the entrance to the Dardanelles) and Tana (Azov), the northmost Italian trading station at the mouth of the Don River. These locales are associated with the struggle between Venice and Genoa for domination in the Eastern Mediterranean. They are mentioned in the Treaty of Milan (1380), which sealed the war. I started developing ideas and collecting images. 

During my research, I stumbled upon intriguing data about rare collisions between galleys and sailing ships. While these events are uncommon, they are certainly worth mentioning. I am still deliberating whether this topic belongs to the early or later galleys, but it seems to have been overlooked by scholars. 

I am thrilled to share that my audience on Academia has just reached a new milestone--12,000. The last contribution is gaining significant traction, and I am proud to be part of this engaging community.   

 https://www.academia.edu/121984361/_Galley_Slaves_

The Fall of New Rome (6)

https://www.geschichtsforum.de/thema/die-quinquereme-von-vettor-fausto-die-groesste-galeere-aller-zeiten.24504/ 

It took me about a week after my return to complete the initial draft of "The Fall of New Rome." I collected numerous notes which I will review while going through the paper. I plan to add illustrations and a conclusion. However, the work is now finished and needs to sit for a while. I have started gathering data for the last chapter of Part III, which is about The War of Chioggia. This was the final clash between Venice and Genoa in their struggle to maintain a trade monopoly with the East. Additionally, I have worked on a magazine version of my first article, "Galleys in the Medieval Mediterranean." I have adjusted the style to make it more accessible to the general public and informal.

I recently renewed my membership as a patron of the Scribd online library, which allows me to borrow entire books for my research. Unfortunately, not all books can be borrowed due to a court decision. For instance, Thomas F. Madden's "Venice, A New History" is only available as an extract on Google Books.

I reviewed the version of "Galley Slaves," an article written for a chapter about Later Galleys (16-18 centuries) and uploaded it on the Academia site:

https://www.academia.edu/121984361/_Galley_Slaves_

My research focuses on the diverse individuals who rowed galleys in the Early Modern Mediterranean. I specifically examine the category of rowers known as “galley slaves,” a term that accurately applies to a distinct group of rowers from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Towards the end of the Age of the Galley, the number of rowed warships plummeted, and slave traffic sought other destinations to achieve their nefarious objectives.

I translated to Russian another article, "Vettor Fausto’s Quinquereme,"

https://www.academia.edu/117426402/Vettor_Fausto_s_Quinquereme

as a preparation to a future lecture. It is a very short paper and needs additional materials on other topics to create a meaningful background.

 The article focuses on a sixteenth-century experiment to build a massive galley that was rowed alla sensile, with five oars per bench. Vettor Fausto proposed the idea of a colossal warship armed with a powerful cannon, which later became part of a successful strategy that led to the creation of the galleasses of Lepanto.

The Fall of New Rome (5)

 I will leave for some time, so this post says goodbye. 

Writing of a new draft goes smoothly. I completed parts 1 and 2, and have started part 3. 

 

Part 1: The Rendezvous at Venice

A: The Untimely Arrival

B: The Treaty of Venice

C: Mustering the Army

D: In Dire Straits

Part 2: The Sack of Zara  

A: The Elegant Exit from the Mess

B: The Departure from Venice and the Capture of Zara

Part 3: The Siege of Constantinople

A: A New Development

B: Leaving Zara   

On June 3, I will deliver a Zoom lecture based on my article, "Latin Galleys, Horse Transports, and Purpose-Built Oared Craft: Medieval Advanced Technology in the Wine-Dark Sea." I am eagerly looking forward to sharing my insights with a broad audience.

https://www.academia.edu/116455561/Latin_Galleys_Horse_Transports_and_Purpose_Built_Oared_Craft_Medieval_Advanced_Technology_in_the_Wine_Dark_Sea 

Follow me on Wattpad, where I uploaded two shortened versions of my stories: 

https://www.wattpad.com/1441661576-the-monster-galley-vettor-fausto%27s-quinquereme

https://www.wattpad.com/1448521855-rowing-a-scaloccio

This is the exact text as on Academia but without notes. 

When I return, I plan to conclude the draft of "The Fall of New Rome" and upload another story on my Academia page. I will also continue delivering recorded lectures that are  available for a wide audience. 

The Fall of New Rome (4)

Image: The Full-Scale Siege of a Fortified Town

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Crusade#/media/File:Crusaders_attack_Constantinople.jpg

I am currently engrossed in the draft of a new research project titled "The Fall of New Rome." It took me three versions to achieve a breakthrough. The complexity and extensive research on the topic initially made me uncertain about the value of my contribution.

After completing a third version, I became more self-assured. It is possible to write a final draft, even with minor discrepancies. I have nearly finished re-writing Part I: The Rendezvous at Venice, which consists of four sections: The Untimely Arrival, The Treaty of Venice, Mustering the Army, and In Dire Straits. As you probably know, this is a three-part account centered on Venice, Zara, and Constantinople.

I also uploaded a new article called "Rowing a scaloccio." It discusses a new rowing technique developed by sixteenth-century Mediterranean galleys and its impact on the recruitment and status of rowers in different fleets. https://www.academia.edu/119225233/Rowing_a_scaloccio

On June 3, I will deliver a Zoom lecture based on my article, "Latin Galleys, Horse Transports, and Purpose-Built Oared Craft: Medieval Advanced Technology in the Wine-Dark Sea." I am eagerly looking forward to sharing my insights with a broad audience.

https://www.academia.edu/116455561/Latin_Galleys_Horse_Transports_and_Purpose_Built_Oared_Craft_Medieval_Advanced_Technology_in_the_Wine_Dark_Sea

In the same speech, I will address the issues of seaworthiness, functions, and the constraints of the sailing season--the last topics are taken from another article.

https://www.academia.edu/111701661/Early_War_Galleys

Researchers should develop their ideas based on a pool of facts, which is constantly expanding.

New Updates: April 2024

Dear readers, 

I am deeply grateful for your unwavering interest in this blog, even during my occasional lapses in diligence. Your support has been instrumental in the blog's success, with over 20 K views. Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Since our last interaction, I have been diligently active, contributing several insightful articles to my page on Academia. These pieces delve into various aspects of naval history, shedding new light on our understanding of the past. I am excited to share these notes with you. 

 https://www.academia.edu/111701661/Early_War_Galleys

The following article provides detailed information about a particular craft, covering its dimensions, design, and displacement. Additionally, it comments on the craft's functions during times of warfare, peacetime, and limitations during sailing seasons. The article also discusses the craft's ability to steer at night, its operational range, speed, and how the crew is provided with water. Lastly, the paper concludes by providing notes on coastal shipping, beaching, life expectancy, and visibility.

https://www.academia.edu/114642803/Byzantine_Contribution

The article delves into the development of East Roman warships, tracing the evolution of naval tactics and technological advancements that led to the construction of formidable fleets.

https://www.academia.edu/116455561/Latin_Galleys_Horse_Transports_and_Purpose_Built_Oared_Craft_Medieval_Advanced_Technology_in_the_Wine_Dark_Sea

The article examines the advancements that enabled Latin galleys to dominate medieval naval warfare between the 12th and 15th centuries.

https://www.academia.edu/117426402/Vettor_Fausto_s_Quinquereme

The article discusses a significant historical experiment from the sixteenth century, which involved building a super-large galley that was rowed using a unique technique called "alla sensile." This technique was based on five oars per bench. Vettor Fausto suggested building a colossal warship that would be equipped with a powerful cannon. This idea eventually became part of a successful strategy that led to the development of the galleasses of Lepanto.

 The first three articles are part of Chapter 1, which is about early medieval war galleys. These ships played a significant role in shaping naval warfare during that period. The last article is part of Chapter 2, which is dedicated to late medieval war galleys. The introduction of gunpowder artillery on warships was a watershed event that impacted naval strategies and tactics.  

Additionally, I'm working on the chapter that describes the Fourth Crusade. I've divided the narrative into three parts to report the events that took place in Venice, Zara, and Constantinople. As I'm working on part 3, I find myself constantly checking my sources and focusing the plot on maritime affairs. This process is challenging but rewarding, and I hope I will be through in a few weeks.

Fall of New Rome 3

Currently, I am meticulously filtering the data for a new chapter, where the insights of Geoffrey of Villehardouin and Robert of Clari play a pivotal role. 

Villehardouin, being intimately connected to the crusade leadership, provides us with invaluable insights into the treaties, secret meetings, war councils, and military tactics. On the other hand, Robert of Clari, an ordinary knight with a burning desire to liberate Jerusalem, serves as our window into the mood of the crusading host, military collisions, and the partition of the booty.

 I am still determining the plot, but it should include a description of the main events of the Fourth Crusade and its implications on the political climate in the Eastern Mediterranean and the emergence of the Venetian Empire. 

My latest scholarly endeavor involves translating my article, The Byzantine Contribution to Maritime Warfare, and preparing an engaging Zoom lecture on the same topic. This work is a testament to my commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering a deeper understanding of historical maritime warfare. See https://www.academia.edu/114642803/Byzantine_Contribution

I will add a few notes from my previous article, Early War Galleys, about their dimensions, design, and displacement. See https://www.academia.edu/111701661/Early_War_Galleys

Looking ahead, I am excited to delve into editing a new article exploring the evolution of Latin galleys from the 11th to 15th centuries. This upcoming project promises to shed new light on this fascinating topic.

Fall of New Rome 2

I continue assessing the data collected on the Fourth Crusade, especially its diversion to Constantinople and the sack of the Queen of Cities. I began writing notes, groping my way to understanding the events. 

Donald E. Queller & Thomas F. Madden's "The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople"  traces the whole enterprise from its proclamation by Pope Innocent to the inception of the Latin Empire on the ruins of Byzantium. I accept the author's conclusion that found no clues for the malicious plot on the part of Venetians or Philip of Swabia against the Eastern Roman Empire. I disagree with those who search the Roman emperors to blame for the destruction of their power. Though politicians tend to make erroneous decisions, the diversion of the Crusade was a gamechanger ushering in a vicious circle of crime. 

Now, I reread Geoffrey of Villehardoiun's chronicle about the conquest. He seems to be a knowledgeable source for the train of events. We can rely on him for figures,  dates, and motives as he seems to base his plot on previous notes. 

My guess is that when the barons' envoys arrived in Venice, they had a vague idea about the logistics of the future crusade. They could only present their chivalric enthusiasm and hope that the doge would help them fulfill their dream. Enrico Dandolo talked business. He figured out the size of the fleet required for this outstanding enterprise and picked up the target, Egypt. He also used crusading rhetoric but did not forget about the commercial boost of his hometown, which he hoped to raise to new heights. The inability of crusaders to pay their debts gave the doge enormous power to use the host of warriors as pawns in his geopolitical game.