The Battle of Chioggia

 I have created a series of articles on medieval warfare tactics, collectively titled " The Intricacies of Naval Warfare." The first two papers are available on my Academia page:

https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum

https://www.academia.edu/124564608/The_Umayyad_Siege_of_Constantinople_717_718_

I have penned three additional essays, but they are not yet edited. Currently, I am revising one of them, tentatively titled "The Portage of Ships Across the Isthmus." However, I have paused writing the draft for my final study, "The Battle of Chioggia."

My latest paper, "The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople," has gained moderate traction with over 100 views. Interestingly, many readers have shown interest in older articles from my second book, "The Enchanting Encounter with the East: Breaking the Ice Between the Latin West and the Far East." The total view count for this book approaches 13,000, and I have over 150 followers—not bad for an independent researcher and amateur historian!

Last Monday, I delivered a Zoom lecture on "Galley Slaves," based on my previous articles:

https://www.academia.edu/119225233/Rowing_a_scaloccio

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

My audience was international; in addition to listeners from Israel, I had participants from Russia and Ukraine. During the lecture, I answered questions and elaborated on the difference between pirates and corsairs. I also provided information about the watering of crews and the average speed of galleys.

Next week, I plan to complete a new draft of my article about Niketas Ooryphas, a Byzantine admiral who transported his warships overland across the Isthmus of Corinth to confuse the enemy, the Cretan Muslims.

  

3.      

The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople (2)

I have outlined the plot of my upcoming article, which will focus on the joint attack on the Byzantine capital by the forces of the Syrian army and the caliphate fleet. The Arab siege of Constantinople lasted approximately 13 months, from July 717 to August 718. The article will be divided into the following sections:

A: The Umayyad Caliphate

B: Pre-war Byzantine

C: Preparations

D: The Grand Invasion

E: Negotiations

F: Leo the Gambler

G: The siege

H: The Bitter Winter

I: Reinforcements

J: Lifting the siege

K: The Aftermath

 

The first two parts will describe the Umayyad Caliphate and Byzantium on the brink of war. The next two sections will discuss the Arab preparations for the invasion and the beginning of military activities. Sections five and six will focus on the negotiations between the main characters: General Maslama of the Syrian army and his Byzantine counterpart, General Leo the Isaurian, who later ascended the throne as Leo III. Sections seven and eight will cover the siege of Constantinople and the implications of a harsh winter. Sections eight and nine will concentrate on the last period of the blockade until the retreat order and the ill fate of the retreating army. The last segment will place the siege into a historical context, foreshadowing the end of the jihad state.

I've started editing the article and hope to upload it to the Academia site within a week. You can view my previous papers at

https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople (1)

 I was not satisfied with the previous draft of this chapter, so I decided to conduct new research and found new features.

I started by creating a new database and I am currently in the process of gathering valuable information and developing content for a future narrative.

As I mentioned before, I will not reference "Greek Fire" in this chapter. However, I am considering the possibility that Byzantine sailors could have used less technological methods, such as fire arrows or grenades hurled or launched by catapults, to burn enemy ships. I will be examining Arabic sources for the negotiations between Leo III and the Arabic commanders, although it's worth noting that these late accounts may not be entirely reliable. The same refers to the Byzantine sources.

  Additionally, I have added a new book to my reading list: "A Sailor's Life for Me: the Middle Byzantine Sailor on Board and at Port" by Zeynep Olgun. This book, which is the author's thesis for the Central European University, explores various aspects of sailors' lives during the seventh and twelfth centuries. I may incorporate some of the collected material into the Prelude to my project, particularly the chapters about the sea, the sailor, and the port. You can find out more about this book

https://www.academia.edu/93477259/MA_Thesis_The_Middle_Byzantine_Sailor_on_Board_and_at_Port

I want to merge two chapters discussing early and later galleys. Both describe the technical aspects of oared ships, including dimensions, design, seaworthiness, functions, and other parameters. It would be beneficial to compare them in a single paper. However, I'm concerned that this combined account might be too long and more focused on a technology-oriented audience.

The Umayyad Siege of Constantinople (717-718)

This will be my second article on medieval naval tactics in the Mediterranean. I finished writing this paper many months ago, but I was not ready to release it. Now, I understand why.

The account needs to be revised, not only as a literary narrative but also as a concept. A good example is the presumed application of Greek Fire by Byzantine marines. Almost every chronicle mentions this, and modern explorers also repeat this fact. However, I am doubtful about its accuracy.

We won't argue about the term. The Crusaders called it Greek Fire, although the Byzantines identified themselves as Romans and used artificial fire, liquid fire, or sea fire. It was stored behind the deck in a large boiler, heated on an open fire, channeled through a tube to the nozzle, and sprayed under pressure toward an enemy ship. When I described it to my friend, a retired engineer, it made him laugh. How could this system work on a wooden boat when even a small human error or technological blunder could lead to a disaster? Interestingly, no medieval source reports such disasters, which should have happened now and then. 

How is it possible that such a sophisticated weapon was not used by the enemies during its 500 years of existence? It's been said that it was a well-preserved state secret kept within the imperial family and that of the inventor. Is that possible? Byzantium experienced many instances of coup d'état. Conspirators would assassinate emperors while they were sleeping on a hunting trip. The victors would then eliminate all those associated with the court. The Arab invasion of 717 followed twenty years of anarchy, during which seven emperors ascended the throne. Some of them were killed, others were blinded, and still others were exiled to remote monasteries. No secret could have survived such turbulent times.

Modern experiments have shown that fire can be sprayed for about 15 meters just before impact. Why take such risks? If the commander wanted to set the enemy ship on fire, there were several less intensive means to do it. For instance, they could shoot incendiary arrows, or even several arrows aimed at different parts of a boat. They could also throw ceramic grenades filled with an explosive mixture, or fire these grenade with a catapult.

Upon further consideration, seizing a boat seemed like a more practical option, especially if he had a strong and loyal crew.

I came to the realization that I needed to conduct more research on the subject.

In the meantime, I stopped working on another account of the Battle of Chioggia, where I began jotting down ideas for a future article.

The Battle of Ad Decimum (September 13, 533)

This week, I revised my article on the battle between the Byzantine army, led by General Belisarius, and the Vandal army, commanded by King Gelimer. This paper, which is part of my new project called The Intricacies of Naval Warfare, is 4600 words long.

The abstract of my article states that the Byzantine campaign against Gelimer, who seized the Vandal throne, was a crucial military operation aimed at reclaiming former Roman provinces in the Mediterranean region. Procopius, our sole source on the Vandalic War, attributes the victory to General Flavius Belisarius's skill and leadership. In addition to battling the enemy, Belisarius had to navigate the political intrigues of the East Roman court. In my narrative, I emphasize the naval aspects of the engagement and its historical significance.

You can access this article and join the discussion at

https://www.academia.edu/122683998/The_Battle_of_Ad_Decimum,

or read my other work at independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael.

I will be presenting a Zoom lecture on Vettor Fausto's quinquereme (a type of five-vessel galley) on Monday, August 12, at 19:00 Jerusalem time. The lecture will be recorded.

I have also resumed gathering data for a chapter on the War of Chioggia, which is my latest contribution to The Intricacies of Naval Warfare series. I am interested in providing a comprehensive perspective on the Genoese-Venetian conflict, with a focus on the Chioggia episode.

This is the map of the operations of the Vandalic War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandalic_War#/media/File:Vandalic_War_campaign_map.png

The Feedback on "Galley Slaves"

Yesterday, I received some great feedback on my recent article "Galley Slaves." Dr. Dwight C Spratley praised my efforts in communicating history to non-specialists, Rien de Meij suggested that my paper summarizes the current level of knowledge, Hans-Heindrich Nolte asked about differences in oarsmen's conditions throughout the Mediterranean, and Peter Krejsa inquired about considerations regarding the cost-benefit situation. I am grateful for these comments as they will help me delve deeper into the topic.

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

In the meantime, I have re-edited and published two parts of the prelude to my project on Wattpad. You can access them using the following links:

https://www.wattpad.com/1457143934-a-tale-of-two-brands-part-1-war-galleys-in-the

https://www.wattpad.com/1464879203-a-tale-of-two-brands-part-ii-the-round-ship-part

Additionally, I have prepared a lecture based on my paper "Vettor Fausto's Quinquereme." I will be including illustrations from Joseph Eliav's paper, "The Oar System of the Venetian Quinquereme," which explains a unique rowing system based on 16th-century technology.

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

I have also been gathering data for my upcoming paper on the War of Chioggia. Ruthy Gertwagen's work "Venice, Genoa and the Fights over the Island of Tenedos" explores the impact of the struggle for domination over Tenedos on the war. Mark R. Filip's "Venetian Foreign Affairs from 1250 to 1381" speculates on the One Hundred Years War between Venice and Genoa and dedicates ample space to the War of Chioggia. Additionally, "Medieval Italy Texts in Translation" provides an extract from the Morosini Codex, which cites the Venetians' first use of naval artillery against the Genoese coastal fortifications.

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. 

The Fall of the New Rome (1)

The Sack of  the New Rome on a Venetian mosaic

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frammenti_di_mosaico_pavimentale_del_1213,_09.JPG

 I have finished collecting data about the sack of Constantinople by a crusading army in 1204. The material is so extensive that it covers about one and a half "notebooks." By a "notebook," I mean up to 150 pages completed in Colibri 11. I have found several sources compiled by the witnesses, both Roman and Latin. 

On the Roman side, we have the superb "Annals of Niketas Choniates," the insider report of a Byzantine historian based in Constantinople who endured the siege and fall of the Queen of Cities. I reread this account and can't help admiring his style and vigor. I will adopt some of his descriptions in other narratives. 

 In the following extract, Niketas refers to the emperor Alexios III Angelos as an unscrupulous pilot plunged in adorable pastime and sensitive to courtly flattery:  

"Like a steersman compelled by the waves to let go of the rudder, he withdrew from the administration of public affairs and spent his time wearing golden ornaments and giving ear to, and granting, every petition of those who had helped raise him to power."

Next week, I will re-edit a new chapter of my project, consisting of the Byzantine contribution to maritime warfare and the technological breakthrough during the second half of the first millennia C.E.  The first part focuses on dromons and East Roman galleys. In contrast, the second half discusses a novel approach to shipbuilding and the lateen sail. When I am through, I will upload the article on my page on the Academia site

https://independent.academia.edu/BaizermanMichael

The Catalan Dominance in the Western Sea

Mariano Barbasán Laguerue 

King Pedro of Aragon at the Pass of Pass of Panissars

I have nearly completed the draft of a new chapter telling the story of the Crusade against Aragon undertaken by Philip, king of France, with the papal endorsement in 1285. As personal matters played a significant role in the train of events, I put the ousting of Charles of Anjou from the Sicilian throne as one of the main reasons for this enterprise. 

Admiral Roger of Lauria cast a long shadow on Catalan maritime activities, and my account devotes some time to his tactics, especially in the Battle of Las Formigues. The ill-fated Crusade ended with the French recognition (de facto) of the Catalan dominance in the Western Mediterranean Sea. I follow the plot issued by Ramon Muntaner's Chronicle. 

My next topic is the sack of Constantinople by the participants of the Fourth Crusade. I've just started collecting the data. I will speak briefly of the zigzags of the Crusade and focus on the amphibious activities of the Venetian fleet. 

I re-edited a piece titled "The Byzantine Contribution to Maritime Warfare." I will upload it on the Academia site. Still, I have to decide first what to do with another piece devoted to the technological transition in shipbuilding during the VI-XI centuries. 

I prepared a third and final Zoom lecture of the cycle, "A Tale of the Two Watercraft Brands." I will deliver it on January 15th under the auspices of the Institute of Integration.