In early 1241, while the Latin Empire was besieging the Nicaean fortress of Tzouroulos in eastern Thrace, the Nicaean emperor John III Vatatzes campaigned against Latin fortresses north of Nicomedia.[1] With his fleet accompanying the army, he captured Dakibyza and Niketiatou.[2] At the same time, however, the Nicaean fleet encountered a Venetian fleet that had sailed from Constantinople, and suffered a heavy defeat in a battle off the city's sea walls.[3][4]
Battle
According to George Akropolites, the Nicaean fleet had 30 galleys and the Venetian fleet 13. However, the Nicaeans lost 13 of their own vessels, which were captured by the Venetians, so that "each one of the enemy ships gained one trireme as spoil, with its men and weapons".[5] The contemporary Venetian chronicler Martin da Canal, on the other hand, claims that the Nicaean fleet numbered no fewer than 160 ships, "including galleys and other large and small vessels, all of which were well equipped", while the Venetian fleet numbered only ten galleys. Under the command of Podestà of Constantinople, Giovanni Quirino, the Venetian fleet defeated the Nicaean fleet under Iophre the Armenian in the battle, taking ten Nicaean galleys captive.[4] The date of the battle is fixed at May–June 1241 through the testimony of Andrea Dandolo.[6]
Historical assessment
Akropolites and a 14th-century hagiography of Emperor John III attribute this defeat to the inexperience of the crews, claiming that for many of them this was their first sea voyage.[7] According to Akropolites, the fleet commander, Manuel Kontophre, had warned the Emperor that the Nicaeans would lose in any naval combat with the Latins due to their inexperience, only to be dismissed and replaced by Iophre (Geoffrey) the Armenian, an otherwise unknown personage whom Akropolites describes as "rather hesitant in matters of war".[3] After the defeat vindicated him, Kontophre was reinstated as commander of the fleet.[8]
According to the contemporary chronicle of Alberic of Trois-Fontaines, these hostilities were followed in June by a two-year truce between Vatatzes, the Latins, and the Bulgarian ruler Kaliman I.[6]
Macrides, Ruth, ed. (2007). George Akropolites: The History - Introduction, translation and commentary. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-921067-1.
Morreale, Laura K., ed. (2009). Martin da Canal, Les Estoires de Venise. Padova. ISBN978-88-8098-267-8.
January 29, 2023
battle, constantinople, 1241, battle, constantinople, naval, battle, between, fleets, empire, nicaea, republic, venice, that, occurred, june, 1241, near, constantinople, battle, constantinoplepart, nicaean, latin, warsdatemay, june, 1241locationsea, marmara, c. The Battle of Constantinople was a naval battle between the fleets of the Empire of Nicaea and the Republic of Venice that occurred in May June 1241 near Constantinople Battle of ConstantinoplePart of the Nicaean Latin WarsDateMay June 1241LocationSea of Marmara off Constantinople41 00 50 N 28 57 20 E 41 01389 N 28 95556 E 41 01389 28 95556 Coordinates 41 00 50 N 28 57 20 E 41 01389 N 28 95556 E 41 01389 28 95556ResultVenetian victoryBelligerentsEmpire of NicaeaRepublic of VeniceCommanders and leadersIophre the ArmenianGiovanni Quirino Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Historical assessment 4 References 5 SourcesBackground EditIn early 1241 while the Latin Empire was besieging the Nicaean fortress of Tzouroulos in eastern Thrace the Nicaean emperor John III Vatatzes campaigned against Latin fortresses north of Nicomedia 1 With his fleet accompanying the army he captured Dakibyza and Niketiatou 2 At the same time however the Nicaean fleet encountered a Venetian fleet that had sailed from Constantinople and suffered a heavy defeat in a battle off the city s sea walls 3 4 Battle EditAccording to George Akropolites the Nicaean fleet had 30 galleys and the Venetian fleet 13 However the Nicaeans lost 13 of their own vessels which were captured by the Venetians so that each one of the enemy ships gained one trireme as spoil with its men and weapons 5 The contemporary Venetian chronicler Martin da Canal on the other hand claims that the Nicaean fleet numbered no fewer than 160 ships including galleys and other large and small vessels all of which were well equipped while the Venetian fleet numbered only ten galleys Under the command of Podesta of Constantinople Giovanni Quirino the Venetian fleet defeated the Nicaean fleet under Iophre the Armenian in the battle taking ten Nicaean galleys captive 4 The date of the battle is fixed at May June 1241 through the testimony of Andrea Dandolo 6 Historical assessment EditAkropolites and a 14th century hagiography of Emperor John III attribute this defeat to the inexperience of the crews claiming that for many of them this was their first sea voyage 7 According to Akropolites the fleet commander Manuel Kontophre had warned the Emperor that the Nicaeans would lose in any naval combat with the Latins due to their inexperience only to be dismissed and replaced by Iophre Geoffrey the Armenian an otherwise unknown personage whom Akropolites describes as rather hesitant in matters of war 3 After the defeat vindicated him Kontophre was reinstated as commander of the fleet 8 According to the contemporary chronicle of Alberic of Trois Fontaines these hostilities were followed in June by a two year truce between Vatatzes the Latins and the Bulgarian ruler Kaliman I 6 References Edit Macrides 2007 p 203 Macrides 2007 pp 203 205 note 14 a b Macrides 2007 pp 203 204 a b Morreale 2009 p 33 Macrides 2007 p 204 a b Macrides 2007 p 206 note 18 Macrides 2007 pp 203 205 note 15 Macrides 2007 p 206 note 17 Sources EditMacrides Ruth ed 2007 George Akropolites The History Introduction translation and commentary Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 921067 1 Morreale Laura K ed 2009 Martin da Canal Les Estoires de Venise Padova ISBN 978 88 8098 267 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Constantinople 1241 amp oldid 1017962667, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
