Battle of Meloria (1284)

Coordinates: 43°32′53″N 10°13′09″E / 43.54806°N 10.21917°E / 43.54806; 10.21917
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Battle of Meloria" redirects here. For the earlier battle fought at this location, see
Battle of Meloria (1241)
.
Battle of Meloria
Part of
Genoese-Pisan Wars

Lithograph of the battle of Meloria by Armanino
DateAugust 6, 1284[1]
Location
Islet of Meloria, Ligurian Sea[2]
Result Genoese victory[3]
Belligerents
Republic of Genoa Republic of Pisa
Commanders and leaders
Benedetto Zaccaria
Corrado Spinola
[3][4][5]
 Albertino Morosini  (POW)
Count Ugolino
Andreotto Saraceno
[3][5][6]
Strength
88 galleys [4][6][7][8] 72 galleys [3][7][8]
Casualties and losses
Doria calls the losses of
the Genoese moderate [9]		 5,000 killed
[1][3][6][8][9][10]
9,000–11,000 captured
[1][6][8][9][10]
35–37 galleys lost
[3][6][8][9][10]

The Battle of Meloria was fought near the islet of

Genoese-Pisan War. The victory of Genoa and the destruction of the Pisan fleet marked the decline of the Republic of Pisa.[11]

Background

In the 13th century, the Republic of Genoa

Caffa was established. The alliance with the restored Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty increased the wealth and power of Genoa and simultaneously decreased Venetian and Pisan commerce. The Byzantine Empire had granted most of their free trading rights to Genoa. In 1282, Pisa tried to gain control of the commerce and administration of Corsica, when Sinucello, the judge of Cinarca, revolted against Genoa and asked for Pisan support.[11][12]

Caffa
Bas-relief on the Tower of Pisa
depicting Porto Pisano

In August 1282, part of the Genoese fleet blockaded Pisan commerce near the River Arno.[12] During 1283, both Genoa and Pisa made war preparations. Pisa gathered soldiers from Tuscany and appointed captains from its noble families. Genoa built 120 galleys; sixty of these belonged to the Republic and the remainder were rented to individuals. This fleet required at least 15,000 to 17,000 rowers and seamen.[12]

In early 1284, the Genoese fleet tried to conquer

Benedetto Zaccaria
travelled to Porto Torres to support Genoese forces which were besieging Sassari.

Battle

Fresco depicting the Battle of Meloria, Diano Castello, Liguria, Italy

When the Genoese appeared off Meloria, the Pisans were lying in the Arno at the mouth of which lay Porto Pisano, the port of the city. The Pisan fleet represented the whole power of the city, and carried members of every family of mark and most of the officers of state. The Genoese, desiring to draw their enemy out to battle and to make the action decisive, arranged their fleet in two

Benedetto Zaccaria was placed so far behind the first that the Pisans could not see whether it was made up of war-vessels or of small craft meant to act as tenders to the others. It was near enough to strike in and decide the battle when the action had begun.[13]

The Pisans, commanded by the Podestà Morosini and his lieutenants Ugolino della Gherardesca and Andreotto Saraceno, came out in a single body. While the Archbishop was blessing the fleet, the silver cross of his archiepiscopal staff fell off, but the omen was disregarded by the irreverence of the Pisans, who declared that if they had the wind they could do without divine help. The Pisan fleet advanced in line abreast to meet the first line of the Genoese, fighting according to the medieval custom of ramming and boarding. The victory was decided for Genoa by the squadron of Zaccaria, which fell on the flank of the Pisans. Their fleet was nearly annihilated, the Podestà was captured and Ugolino fled with a few vessels.[13]

Aftermath

Chains from Porto Pisano taken by Genoa (returned in 1860 to Pisa)

Pisa was also attacked by

Inferno.[13] One famous captive of the battle was Rustichello da Pisa, who co-wrote Marco Polo's account of his travels, Il Milione
.

43°32′53″N 10°13′09″E / 43.54806°N 10.21917°E / 43.54806; 10.21917

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Meloria (1284).
  1. ^ a b c Simonde de Sismondi, Jean-Charles-Léonard (1832). A history of the Italian republics. Philadelphia.
  2. ^ W. & R. Chambers (1868). Chambers's encyclopædia: Vol. VI. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Burchett, Josiah (1720). A complete history of the most remarkable transactions at sea. London.
  4. ^ a b Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (1840). The Penny cyclopædia: Vol. 18. London.
  5. ^ a b MacFarlane, Charles (1832). The romance of history. Italy, Vol. 3. London.
  6. ^ a b c d e von Kausler, Franz Georg Friedrich (1833). Wörterbuch der Schlachten, Belagerungen und Treffen aller Völker: Vol. 4. Ulm.
  7. ^ a b Yust, Walter (1952). Encyclopædia Britannica: Vol. 17. Chicago.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e Wislicenus, Georg (2007). Deutschlands Seemacht. Leipzig.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ a b c d Epstein, Steven A. (1996). Genoa and the Genoese, 958–1528. University of North Carolina Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ a b c Tip. G. Cassone e Comp. (1867). Almanacco militare illustrato. Florence.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^
    ISBN 0-521-36289-X
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 0-87021-487-X
    .
  13. ^ a b c  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Hannay, David (1911). "Meloria". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 99.
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