Battle of Modon (1403)
| Battle of Modon | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Venetian–Genoese wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Republic of Venice |
Republic of Genoa (under French control) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Carlo Zeno |
Marshal Boucicaut | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
11 galleys 2 round ships |
11 galleys 2 transports | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 153 wounded |
600 killed & wounded 300 captured 3 galleys captured | ||||||
The Battle of Modon was fought on 7 October 1403 between the fleets of the
Boucicaut. One of the last clashes in the Venetian–Genoese wars
, the battle ended in a decisive Venetian victory.
Background
Tensions between the
captain-general of the Sea, Carlo Zeno, to mobilise the fleet and take measures to combat Genoese piracy.[1]
In April 1403, a
Marshal Boucicaut, and made for Cyprus, to strengthen Genoese influence there. On its way, the fleet passed by the Venetian outpost of Modon in southwestern Greece, but no hostilities took place, and Boucicaut led his fleet on to Cyprus. After carrying out his mission there, the French commander, a "fervent crusader", launched attacks on Muslim cities on the Levantine coast. Among others, Beirut was sacked, an event which angered the Venetians further since most of the booty the Genoese took there actually belonged to Venetian merchants. In September, Boucicaut, at the head of eleven galleys and two transport cogs, set sail for the return journey.[1]
Battle
The Genoese fleet arrived at Modon on 4 October, only to find a Venetian fleet of eleven galleys and two round ships waiting for them. Anticipating a battle, Zeno moved his ships out into the bay, while the Genoese anchored at the offshore island of Sapienza.prisoners of war aboard the three captured vessels, while the Venetians had suffered only 153 wounded.[1]
Aftermath
The internal instability of Genoa meant that this was the last major challenge offered by the Genoese to Venetian maritime hegemony and its dominance of the eastern trade routes. The latter would be soon shaken, however, by the inexorable rise of the Ottoman Empire.[1]
References
Bibliography
- Rogers, Clifford J., ed. (2010). "Modon, Battle of". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. Oxford University Press. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-0-195334036.
- ISBN 0-87169-114-0.