War of Chioggia

The war of Chioggia between Venice and Genoa lasted of 1378 with 1381. It falls under the long conflict opposing both Cité S since they began their commercial competition at the 11th century.

Venice threatened

The May 31st 1378, the Venetian fleet ordered by Vittor Pisani attacks by surprise, during a storm, the fleet génoise in the Tyrrhenian Sea and demolishes it, capturing four galères and making many prisoners.

In May 1379, the Venetian fleet is overcome in front of Pola, in the Adriatic Sea, and Genoa seizes Chioggia and the Venetian fortresses ordering its communications towards the Lombardy. The war which opposes Venice and Genoa for the maintenance of their commercial places Byzantine knows a new episode then. With Byzance, Andronic, the instrument of Génois, is driven out by the Venetian ones which places on the throne Jean V and his/her Manuel son. Andronic will die in exile in 1385.

Initially, Vittor Pisani is let surprise with Pola by Génois Luciano Doria which has a fleet quite higher than his. It loses fourteen of its twenty galères. If Venice has another fleet well, it is then in the the Mediterranean whereas Génois are in the Adriatique. In August, the gênois seize Chioggia, helped by troops of Hungarian Padoue and . Successively, the cities of Umago, Grado, Caorle are burnt. Malamocco, Loreo, Poveglia, San Erasmo is occupied. Venice was besieged, awaiting the return of the fleet of Carlo Zeno.

The Venetian start

The September 13rd, one joins together in Venice, in the basilica Saint-Marc, Arengo, the popular assembled antique, which thus remakes surface at the most dramatic time of the history of the city. The very whole population is mobilized, the Pisani captain, then imprisoned since the first defeat of Pola, is pointed out, the channels are barred by Digue S, the port S by chaînes ; a news Flotte is put in building site. Popular enthusiasm and dramatization are not without pointing out that of old the Roman S during the blackest time. All want to embark, until the Doge Contarini itself, then 80 years old.

The city is besieged but its besieging cannot the prendre ; the months pass. The night of the December 22nd, the admiral Pisani makes weigh the anchor to his new fleet, strong of 35 galères and a considerable number of small boats. He managed to surprise the enemy fleet in the port of Chioggia and of the hundreds of boats charged with stones are run at the exit of the port. With ground, the Venetian ones also block any exit. Besieging Génois become besieged. Eight days later, Carlo Zeno arrives with its fifteen galères, then some others, finally they are fifty large combat ships which Venice can align. The blockade lasted several months. Genoa sent twenty galères vainly which did not dare to attack. They capitulated the June 22nd 1380.

The June 24th the doge Contarini enters triumphantly in Chioggia. The war was to still last a year during which Pisani died of Malaria and the Duc of Austria, reversing its alliance, bound to Venice in exchange of the transfer of Trévise ; it was to cease by the Paix of Turin in 1381. Genoa could only continue one fight of trade, finally without much importance. By the peace of Turin of April 8th, 1381, Famagouste remained in Génois but prescribed the depopulation and the dismantling of Ténédos, given to the Duc of Savoy. The trade in Dalmatie from now on was subject to the Venetian rules. In addition, Venice was seen given in possession of all its privileges to Constantinople and was even made recognize the right to freely trade in Black Sea.

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