The Venetians: A New History: from Marco Polo to Casanova by Paul Strathern Page B

Mediterranean, ranging as far afield as Constantinople, Rhodes and even Beirut. The success of this escapade had netted him and his crews so much booty that he had been forced to put all his treasures ashore in the safe-keeping of the governor of Crete, assuring his crews that they would return later to divide up the spoils. Ignoring a despatchrequesting him to return to Venice, Zeno had then set off with his galleys in pursuit of the greatest prize of all, the treasure-ship Richignona , said to have been the largest ship afloat at the time, which he had heard was making its way home that autumn from Syria to Genoa with a cargo of unimaginable riches. Zeno caught up with the Richignona at Rhodes, where he immobilised it by setting fire to its sails before overwhelming its protective vessels. The Richignona was found to be carrying a cargo worth 500,000 ducats, as well as nearly 200 merchants and nobles who, as prisoners, would fetch a huge ransom. When this treasure was divided up in customary fashion amongst his crews, even the lowliest oarsmen in the galleys received twenty ducats each (easily enough to keep an entire family for well over a year).
    Carlo Zeno and his fanatically loyal fleet of sailors arrived back in Venice to a heroes’ welcome. Given the pressing needs of the hour, the matter of his ignored despatch was tactfully shelved and Zeno prepared for the greatest action of his life. He was now fifty-four years old, yet according to his biographer-grandson (who as a boy had known his illustrious relative) he still cut quite a figure:
    He was square-shouldered, broad-chested, solidly and strongly made, with large and speaking * eyes, and a manly, great and full countenance … Nothing was wanting in his appearance which strength, health, decorum, and gravity demanded.
    (According to the American historian Margaret Oliphant, the etched portrait of Zeno that serves as the frontispiece to Francesco Quirino’s 1544 translation of this biography – from the original Latin into Italian – displays a ‘bold pirate-like countenance’. In fact, despite his splendidly bushy, full black beard his features present a distinctly bland, somewhat pop-eyed appearance. However, Oliphant’s description is certainly truer to the character of the man.)
    Zeno was immediately despatched to prevent a determined effort by the Genoese fleet to relieve Chioggia. This resulted in fierce fighting, inthe course of which Zeno added to the many wounds he had received in battle, but the Venetians managed to prevail. Even so, when Zeno returned to Venice, he and Pisani stuck to their strategy of avoiding direct large-scale engagement with the sizeable Genoese fleet anchored provocatively off the Lido. Instead, they continued to patrol the entrances to the lagoon, whilst at the same time seeking to extend Venetian control around the lagoon, which remained the city’s main protection.
    According to the naval historian Frederic Lane:
    Although cannon had been used in the West since very early in the fourteenth century, the War of Chioggia was the first in which cannon were used on Venetian ships. Cannons were mounted on the forecastles of the galleys and they were placed also on the smaller long boats much used in the fighting around Chioggia.
    These cannon fired stone cannonballs, which could weigh anything up to 200 pounds. However, these weapons were highly unpredictable and inaccurate – liable to blow up, or rain cannonballs on adjacent friendly troops. They were much better at battering down defensive walls than inflicting losses on the enemy. On 6 January a Venetian cannon secured a vital double-blow when a direct hit caused the Brandolo campanile in Chioggia to collapse. Pietro Doria, who had been appointed Genoese commander of the city, had been overseeing troop movements from the top of the campanile, and was crushed amidst the rubble when it crumbled beneath him.
    Meanwhile in Venice conditions continued to deteriorate, with all