Battle of Meloria

 A friend asked me whether I retell the known circumstances in my writing. I find it a tricky issue. Of  course, I base my narrative on familiar descriptions, trying to relate the events in my words. I search for lively expressions to convey the meaning. However, I check the well-known descriptions with the sources, applying logic to estimate the value of both the sources and modern rendering. 

I have recently finished writing a new chapter, The Battle of Meloria (August 6, 1284), which pitted the Pisan and Genoese fleets in the view of Porto Pisano. 

Before that, the Pisan fleet made an abortive effort to blockade the port of Genoa, taking advantage of the fact that a decent-sized Genoese squadron under Benedetto Zaccaria engaged elsewhere. The Ligurian war council recalled the ships, and Zaccaria entered the harbor unharmed. How could it be when the Pisans surrounded the entrance to the port? Why didn't the Genoese attempt to squeeze the less powerful rival navy and dispel it in the open sea? There were answers to these questions when I ran across a reliable source. View Paul Crawford, The Templar of Tyre. [446] (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), 89. The chronicler claims that the Pisans were aware of foul weather and anticipated the arrival of the Genoese reserve, which joined the main fleet in pursuit of the escaping opponents. It's so much clearer!

The second reservation concerns the battle itself. Before the contact, both sides threw liquid soap and hot oil to make the enemy decks slippery. However, the adversaries intended to board the hostile ships. How slippery decks would help them? Nobody explains this. 

Some historians describe that the Pisan fleet attacked the Genoese late in the afternoon, with the sun in their (Pisan) eyes. However, the Templar of Tyre claims that the combat continued from morning till  sunset (until the Vespers). Is it probable that the Pisans started the battle with the sun in their eyes? They might have a fair wind on their side. In some versions, authors claim that though the priest's staff fell while blessing the fleet, the Pisans said that with the fair wind, they could overcome their rivals even without the Lord's help. 

What next? I commenced collecting data on Roger of Lauria, the renowned admiral of the Catalan fleet. I ran across Charles Stanton's book on Roger and enjoy reading it.

   https://dokumen.pub/roger-of-lauria-c1250-1305-admiral-of-admirals-1783274530-9781783274536.html

The author is a former naval officer, a good researcher, and an excellent writer. I want to choose one battle and elaborate on it. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_of_Lauria

 

The Siege of Chandax (3)

 I have finished writing this chapter. It starts with a small introduction about Byzantine chronicles. I added this section because my narrative primarily draws from these chronicles, and I want   to caution the reader about their credibility. Often penned by monastic historians poorly versed in naval and military matters, they contain hagiographic material or facts biased by the witnesses' viewpoints and political agenda. I also attached the Reassessment, the summing up of my story. As usual, I will keep it on hold.

My next chapter will deal with the Battle of Meloria, August 1284, which pitted the Pisan and Genoese fleets off Porto Pisano. Like the Battle of Chandax, it was a decisive confrontation that put an end to the naval domination of the City on the Arno. It also supplies an excellent  example of the encirclement of  hostile forces, worth discussing in military academies.

I also received an OK from the Institute of  Integration coordinator for a series of lectures based on Chapter 1, Prelude: A Tale of the Two Watercraft Brands. My first lecture, appointed on November 13th, will speak about medieval galleys. To talk about shipping in the medieval and Early Modern Mediterranean, we must distinguish two  vessel types: galleys and so-called round ships. They differed in construction, choice of routes, length of sailing, and designation. My lectures and articles will open this topic for discussions.

The first two articles are available on my Academia page:

 https://www.academia.edu/104456432/War_galleys_in_the_Medieval_Mediterranean

https://www.academia.edu/104456432/War_galleys_in_the_Medieval_Mediterranean