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War and Peace - The 16th Century previous 2/3 next

The Arsenale and the preparation for war II
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A 1545 law stipulated that the principal objective of the reform was 'to have always ready a convenient fleet, with rules and regulations according to what is needed, so that with readiness and without difficulty, all or part of it can be sent out'1. Thus 100 light galleys were assembled 'of those that are found in our arsenals that are more finished ... so all that has to be done is launch them in water ... and if it so happens to send galleys and arms in a fleet, when these are removed and other new ones are added, there are always found 100 galleys in perfect order with all their equipment'2. It was later decided to add to this core fleet of 100 galleys , four large galleys , 8 small galleys  ('fuste'), 8 brigs  ('brigantini'), and 8 long boats ('barche lunghe'). Between 1577 and 1581 a squadron of 12 galleasses  ('galeazze') were added to this fleet.

Footnotes:
1 'haver sempre preparata una conveniente armata, con ordine e regola tale che secondo le occorentie, con prestezza e senza difficultà, tutta o parte di essa si possi mandar fuori'
2 'di quelle che si attrovano nelli nostri arsenali che sono più finite... sì che non accadi alli bisogni nostri altro che avararle in acqua... et accadendo mandar galee et armizi in armata, sia tolto di queste et reintegrato il numero di nuove, si che si attrovi sempre cento galee in punto et ordine di tutte le cose sue'


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Viaggio virtuale tra le fonti storiche veneziane
Rotta: Venezia e il Levante (sec XV - sec XVIII)
© 1996 by the VENIVA consortium