Venetian Renaissance Fortifications in the Mediterranean

by Dragos Cosmescu

Overview

The Renaissance was a revolution of ideas, arts and sciences alike, with Italy at its center. Venice was among the first states to embrace new concepts in fortification, which would dominate military architecture for centuries. In the age of large galley fleets and an expanding Ottoman Empire, the mighty defenses of the Republic of Venice protected faraway territories in the Mediterranean, and some of the largest and best preserved Renaissance fortifications are found on the former Venetian islands.

This book illustrates in detail the impressive defenses of Cyprus, Crete and Corfu, their design and their war record. Walled towns and fortresses were constructed to the latest standards of military technology, with walls capable of withstanding the largest armies and the longest sieges, including the longest in history—22 years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786497508
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	12/23/2015
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dragoş Cosmescu obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest and is the author of many books on history and political science.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

List of Figures ix

Foreword Elisabetta Molteni 1

Introduction 5

Part I The Republic of Venice 11

1 Venice and the Sea 11

2 The Venetian Strategy of Defense 20

3 The Art of Fortification in the Renaissance 25

Part II The Island of Cyprus 39

4 Nicosia 43

5 Famagosta 53

6 Cerines 71

Part III The Island of Crete 74

7 Candia 85

8 Canea 109

9 Retimo 128

Part IV The Island of Corfu 139

10 Corfu 143

Part V The Defenses Under Attack 170

11 The War of Cyprus, 1570-1574 173

12 The War of Candia, 1645-1669 180

13 The War of Morea, 1684-1699 189

14 The War of 1714-1718 192

Conclusion 199

Appendix I Chronology 203

Appendix II Glossary 206

Appendix III Table of Architectural Features 208

Chapter Notes 209

Bibliography 217

Index 225