Governatore dei condannati

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The governatore dei condannati ("commander of the convicts") was a senior commander of the navy of the Republic of Venice. The post initially headed the galley squadron manned by convicts and captives rather than free crewmen.[1]

Convicts (condannati) and Muslim captives began to be employed as rowers in the

ships of the line, after 1721 all Venetian galleys were exclusively manned by convicts.[3]

Like all squadron commanders of the rowed fleet (armata sottile)—the

foremast a square ensign of Saint Mark with an egg-shaped tail.[4]

His staff included a chancellor (cancelliere) or a secretary nominated by the Council of Ten, an adjutant (ammiraglio),[a] a quartermaster (sopramasser), and a standard-bearer.[6] For his personal service he had a head of household (maestro di casa), a steward (scalco), a cook (cuoco), a wine steward (canever), and two orderlies (fanti di pizzuol).[7] In addition he had at his disposal a boat (felucca) with twelve boatsmen (caiccheri) and a rowed frigate with a captain (padrone), two steersmen (timonieri), two artillerymen (bombardieri) and 18 rowers (galeotti).[7]

Footnotes

  1. ^ The ammiraglio was an experienced naval officer wo combined the functions of adjutant, chief of staff, signals officer and inspector of the squadron; he might also be called upon to lead shore detachments.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 5, 23.
  2. ^ a b Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 42.
  3. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 41–42.
  4. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 23, 28, 29.
  5. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 30–31.
  6. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 28.
  7. ^ a b Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 29.

Sources

  • Nani Mocenigo, Mario (1935). Storia della marina veneziana: da Lepanto alla caduta della Repubblica [History of the Venetian navy: from Lepanto to the fall of the Republic] (in Italian). Rome: Tipo lit. Ministero della Marina - Uff. Gabinetto.
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