Battle of Curzola

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The naval Battle of Curzola was fought on September 9, 1298 between the fleets of Genoa and Venice. It was one of many battles fought in the 13th and 14th centuries between Pisa, Genoa and Venice in a long series of wars for the control of Mediterranean and Levantine trade.

The battle took place in the seas of southern Dalmatia (now in Croatia); more precisely, in the channel between the island of Curzola (now Korčula) and the mainland peninsula of Sabbioncello. The Venetians were led by Admiral Andrea Dandolo, son of Doge Giovanni Dandolo, and the Genoese by Lamba Doria. The Genoese were victorious and Dandolo was killed in the fighting.

Venice suffered heavy losses but she managed to immediately equip another 100 galleys and to obtain reasonable peace conditions that did not significatively hamper its power and prosperity.

According to a later tradition recorded by Giovanni Battista Ramusio, Marco Polo was one of those among the Venetian prisoners and he dictated his famous book during the few months of his imprisonment; but whether he was actually caught at this battle or at a previous minor engagement near Laiazzo is unclear.

Nevertheless, the enthusiastic people of Korčula re-enact this battle each September and pay tribute to Marco Polo as one of the loyal Dalmatian subjects of Venice who risked their lives in defense of the Republic.

References

• The naval battle dramatised by Korculans
• History of the battle by Dr Zivan Fillipi

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Last updated on Wednesday February 20, 2008 at 06:13:09 PST (GMT -0800)
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