Ladislao lu Granni (A Ladislaus of Naples TL): Chapter 10 A Year to Remember Italy
The year of 1421 was not looking bright for King Ladislaus of Sicily as it dawned. Ladislaus had suffered a minor tactical defeat at the hands of Venice's Condottieri, but strategically the entire war was going terribly. The road to the Venetian was closed on land by the condottieri and on sea by the Arsenal. In fact the sails of Venice were so strong, powerful, and numerous that they found themselves free to raid both the lands and trade of Sicily. To respond these threats Ladislaus had one of the continent's better armies, which could get the better of their Venetians parts, but this didn't make up for the fact that in naval terms Ladislaus was completely outnumbered and outclassed. His navy was in no way professional, being made up of seized merchant ships, and was very much inferior in size to its Venetian foe. And the home of Venice, the Lagoon, made it completely necessary to obtain maritime supremacy before any siege could undertaken. With that all in mind it is no wonder why Ladislaus was at a loss. Yet hope was nigh.
Ladislaus' first son and heir, Francisco, had developed in gallant knight like his father and smart military commander, though not as capable as his father. Where Francisco truly shone was in mastery of statecraft. For that reason it came as no surprise that the idea of bringing in Genoa into the war was his, that he was the one to convince his proud father, and that he was the man selected for the mission. When the man arrived on Genoa's doorstep they tried to turn him away, but reminding them that Ladislaus had been liberator from French rule he able shame them into meeting with him. Over the next few days he dealt with the plutocrats superbly. He debated with them back and forth until they finally relented, Genoa's fleet was his. It did come at a cost, but one Ladislaus could bear. Subsequently Prince Francisco found himself returning to his father on a galley, accompanied by many more.
Weeks later the naval might of Genoa showed itself in Adriatic Sea. There it quickly repulsed the Venetian raiders. Swiftly the Genoese sailed in the direction of Venice. As an isolated Genoese detachment passed by Pula, the Venetians gave chase hoping to avenge their brothers who had lost a battle there four decades before. Yet the Genoese just had to ruin that. When the Venetians ships finally caught up with their prey by Brioni they found a nasty surprise. Venice's galleys now found themselves the prey of a devious trap as the Genoese fleet poured out from behind Brioni. Surrounded the situation was hopeless and it didn't take long for the Genoese to affirm that by devastating the Venetian fleet. Unlike in the last war, however, they were not quick to go after those Venetians who'd survived. Instead the Genoese proceeded with caution. The stage was set.
The remnants of the Brioni encounter returned to Chiogga unmolested and joined with the remaining strength of the Venetian navy, no paltry force. The Doge Tommaso Mocenigo recalled the last battle that was fought at Chioggia, a great victory for Venice but a lucky one. Not one he wanted to repeat, the Genoese would never the same mistake, and entire situation was different this time around. The Genoese admiral, Nicolo Di Negro, though having no memory of the battle knew much of it and was determined not to allow to happen again. For all of these reasons there would be no Battle of Chioggia in this war, instead the climatic naval battle would go down elsewhere [1]. Doge Tommaso choose his battleground to be the Lido and the Litorle, where the entrances to the Venetian Lagoon lay. Over the course of the next few days the two forces prepared for battle. The Venetians would amass their ships at the entrances and removed the marking buoys that showed the safe path through the Gates of Venice. The Genoese were busy loading their ships with Sicilian soldiers among other things. And as the sun sunk on 14 April, 1421 it seemed as if both fleets were ready for the battle the next morning.
Yet some Genoese ships were ready to attack that very night, or technically morning. As they silently sailed towards their Venetian enemies they went unnoticed for a time. But when they closed in, no sane Venetian couldn't notice them erupt into flames as their sailors jumped off them. Was noticing enough though, no. No noticing was not enough as was soon discovered. That early morn the Venetian squadrons protecting the entrance to Venice's Lagoon were brutally abused by the fires of those Genoese fire ships. Many a ship sunk and many a sailor died. As dawn dawned upon the two forces the Venetians were scattered, sunk, and shambolic; meanwhile the Genoese sailed with ease into the Lagoon and easily smashed the little resistance that was left at the Lagoon's entrances. Had it not been for the Doge of Venice all would have been over then. Thank godfully the Doge had regrouped with what Venetians galleys were left in front of Venice itself to defy the Genoese advance. Nicolo soon stopped chuckling at his success, for he was too busy crashing into the Venetian ships, boarding them and forcing surrender down the throats of the Venetian captains after a short skirmish. So in contrast to all being over after the defeat at the Venetian Gates, it was over a bit later at Venice's doorstep. Victory was at hand, for Genoa and Sicily.
The Crown Prince of Sicily, Francisco, jumped off the galleys of Genoa onto the Venetian bricks that he had wished to step upon for so long. Behind him came roves of Sicilian soldiers and mercenaries. And as in all early Renaissance armies they were eager for three things, Victory, Plunder, and Women. All three were to be had, of course, there in the City of Venice. Francisco and the more dedicated commanders took the responsibility of mopping up the Venetian army so as to secure the first of those three things, whilst the more unruly of the army accomplished the latter two. The Venetian military resistance would be weak as the majority of the Venetian army was out on the mainland miles away facing against the rest of the Sicilian army. The lacking resistance may have compounded by the fact that the Doge and other prominent figures of Venetian war effort drowned at the time, whether by suicide or murder is debated [2]. Anyways the Prince and the army easily took over the city and Francisco and check off the second of the three things for himself when he and his men bit and bridled the Horses of St. Mark [3]. Elsewhere King Ladislaus and some condottieri had real work to do.
Though his son had an easy time at Venice, Ladislaus experienced no such thing at Mirano. Having received word that the Genoese had defeated the Venetians at Brioni the King thought he might compel Venetians to surrender by defeating their army. After flanking them with cavalry and contingents of infantry he was able to push the Venetians out of their position, forcing them to march eastward in search of another position. Before they could Ladislaus caught up to them at Mirano. His cavalry under Carlo Malatesta had circled around the Venetians and blocked their passage at Mirano. Whilst they tried to break through King Ladislaus appeared in the rear and forced them to make battle. Here he hoped to make up for his failure at Treviso. Personally he led his infantry in fierce and vicious drive to break the right flank of the Venetians. To complement this attack Malatesta hammered the Venetian flank from the other side. Once again the Venetians displayed their guns, but this time the Sicilians didn't break and their archers forced the slower Venetian guns back. As the Venetian flank began to crumble the rest of Ladislaus' army advanced and hit hard at the Venetian center. Meanwhile Sicily's reserve under the Captain Marco of Salerno, the same Salerne that had led the Sicilians to victory at Roccapiedemonte, joined the battle and reinforced Ladislaus' tired group. Seeing the cause they fought for lost, the Venetian mercenaries turned on their Venetian employers and brought the battle to an end. Later that day as the army rested and Ladislaus began drafting his peace terms, a bird arrived with word of Venice's fall.
Having defeated Venice's army, it's navy, and the city itself Ladislaus had achieved complete victory. And that was reflected by his terms, which called for the complete annexation of Venice and its lands. Amnesty was granted to the Venetian government and no reparations were forced upon them. However the Council of Ten now would have a few more members, all representatives of the Sicilian Crown's interests. Genoa was given a good share of the loot and trade rights. All in all the war was a great victory for Ladislaus. But with such great victory came great enemies, not in Venice, but in the greater courts of Europe.
There was one court where Ladislaus didn't have to worry. In Rome the College welcomed it's newest member, Nicolo de Anjou-Durazzo. This priest was the second son of Ladislaus and proof of Ladislaus' power in Italy with his new promotion. But it could hardly be surprising, Nicolo was raised for the clergy. Though he was strong child his intelligence was the main focus of his education instead of his martial skills. The boy could hold his own in a sword fight, but could utterly destroy a man in the debate of theological ideas. No idea of sin revolved around him, he practically emitted piety. In all aspects the man seemed as if he was fit for no other job, then being the Roman Pontiff. And that is exactly what Ladislaus intended for him [3].
[1] Reference to the disastrous Battle of Chioggia in an earlier war between Venice and Genoa.
[2] Historians debate whether the Doge and others killed themselves in shame or were murdered for their failure
[3] Another joke.
[4] This will get interesting.
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