Featured Article Summary #167

The Battle of Trapani happened on 23 June 1266 off Trapani, Sicily, between fleets from Genoa and Venice during the War of Saint Sabas. Throughout the war, Venice usually did better in direct sea fights, so Genoa often tried to disrupt trade instead of risking major battles. In 1266, the Genoese had more ships, but their commander Lanfranco Borbonino did not know this, so Genoa waited at Corsica until late May. Meanwhile, the Venetian fleet led by Jacopo Dondulo patrolled near southern Italy and Sicily, and both sides increased their forces after worrying the other had more ships. When the fleets finally met near Trapani, Borbonino first planned to attack but then changed to a defensive formation with ships chained together. The next day many Genoese crews fled, and Venice destroyed the entire Genoese fleet; Borbonino and other captains were later punished for cowardice. Even so, the war continued without a clear winner until it ended in 1270 through French mediation. The war between Venice and Genoa, called the War of Saint Sabas, began in 1256 over control of ports and trade in the eastern Mediterranean. After Venice defeated Genoa in major naval battles, the Genoese mostly avoided fights and instead attacked Venetian merchant ships, capturing the Venetian trade convoy in 1264. Meanwhile, Venice’s diplomatic position improved when the Byzantine emperor broke his alliance with Genoa and moved closer to Venice. In 1265 there was little major sea fighting: the Venetians successfully escorted their trade convoy, while Genoa arrived too late, largely because both sides were short of money and were wary after the arrival of Charles of Anjou in Italy. Genoa sent a fleet of 18 galleys and a large ship under Lanfranco Borbonino to raid Corsica, but when Venice’s naval strength appeared to be growing, nine more Genoese galleys were added and the fleet eventually gathered at Bonifacio. In fact, the Venetian force was smaller (15 galleys by one account), led by Jacopo Dondulo, who funded most ships through Venetian colonies. Dondulo attacked and seized ships near Tunis, defeated a Genoese pirate force on the way to Messina, then returned to Sicily—only to wait as fresh Genoese intelligence led Venice to send 10 more galleys and eventually search again, while Venetian nobles were anxious to get back for the summer trading convoy. Borbonino learned the Venetians were near and led his fleet out to face them, holding a council where Genoese captains worried about their crews. Instead of attacking from open sea, he ordered his ships chained together with sterns toward shore to prevent being flanked and to keep reinforcements close, then hired local sailors for extra manpower. When the Venetians arrived they advanced aggressively, failed twice, and on the third try pulled three Genoese galleys free; panic spread, many Genoese abandoned ship and drowned or swam ashore, and the Venetians captured all 27 galleys, towing most away while burning three. After the battle, Borbonino and his officers managed to escape, but when the news reached Genoa they were tried for cowardice and incompetence. On 25 July most were found guilty and punished with confiscation of property and banishment, with fines required to lift the sentence; the chroniclers also largely blamed the defeat on Borbonino, even though one account says Genoese crews abandoned their ships quickly. In Venice, Dondulo was celebrated and later became Captain General, but he soon clashed with the Doge over strategy. His resignation led to Marco Zeno taking over, and despite Venice’s win, the war continued with Genoa replacing its losses until both sides were forced into a five-year truce by King Louis IX in 1270.