Battle of Meloria
Part ofGenoese-Pisan Wars
Miniature of the battle of Meloria Nuova Cronica Vatican Library Chig.L.VIII.296
Date August 6, 1284[1] Location Islet of Meloria,Ligurian Sea[2] 43°32′53″N10°13′09″E / 43.548017°N 10.219095°E /43.548017; 10.219095 Result DecisiveGenoese victory[3]
Belligerents
Republic of Genoa	Republic of Pisa
Commanders and leaders
Oberto Doria Benedetto Zaccaria Corrado Spinola [3][4][5]	Albertino Morosini  (POW) Count Ugolino Andreotto Saraceno [3][5][6]
Strength
88 galleys[4][6][7][8]	72 galleys[3][7][8]
Casualties and losses
Doria calls the losses of the Genoese moderate[9]	~5,000 killed ~9,000–11,000 captured 35–37 galleys lost [1][3][6][8][9][10]

TheBattle of Meloria was fought near the islet ofMeloria in theLigurian Sea on 5 and 6 August 1284 between the fleets of the Republics ofGenoa andPisa as part of theGenoese-Pisan War. The victory of Genoa and the destruction of the Pisan fleet marked the decline of the Republic of Pisa.^[11]

Genoese fortress ofCaffa

Bas-relief on theTower of Pisa depicting Porto Pisano

In the 13th century, the Republic of Genoaconquered numerous settlements inCrimea, where the Genoese colony ofCaffa was established. Thealliance with the restoredByzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty increased the wealth and power of Genoa and simultaneously decreasedVenetian and Pisan commerce. The Byzantine Empire had granted most of their free trading rights to Genoa. In 1282, Pisa tried to gain control of the commerce and administration ofCorsica, when Sinucello, the judge ofCinarca, revolted against Genoa and asked for Pisan support.^[11][12]

In August 1282, part of the Genoese fleet blockaded Pisan commerce near theRiver Arno.^[12] During 1283, both Genoa and Pisa made war preparations. Pisa gathered soldiers fromTuscany and appointed captains from its noble families. Genoa built 120galleys; sixty of these belonged to the Republic and the remainder were rented to individuals. This fleet required at least 15,000 to 17,000 rowers and seamen.^[12]

In early 1284, the Genoese fleet tried to conquerPorto Torres andSassari inSardinia. Part of the Genoese merchant fleet defeated a Pisan force while travelling to the Byzantine Empire. The Genoese fleet blockedPorto Pisano and attacked Pisan ships travelling in the Mediterranean Sea. A Genoese force of thirty ships led byBenedetto Zaccaria travelled to Porto Torres to support Genoese forces which were besieging Sassari.

When the Genoese appeared off Meloria, the Pisans were lying in the Arno at the mouth of which lay Porto Pisano, the port of the city. The Pisan fleet represented the whole power of the city, and carried members of every family of mark and most of the officers of state. The Genoese, desiring to draw their enemy out to battle and to make the action decisive, arranged their fleet in twolines abreast. According toAgostino Giustiniani, the first was composed of fifty-eight galleys, and eightpanfili—a class of light galley of eastern origin named after the province ofPamphylia.Oberto Doria, the Genoese admiral, was stationed in the centre and in advance of his line. To the right were the galleys of theSpinola family, among those of four of the eight companies into which Genoa was divided:Castello,Piazzalunga,Macagnana andSan Lorenzo. To the left were the galleys of theDoria family and the companiesPorta,Soziglia,Porta Nuova andIl Borgo. The second line of twenty galleys under the command ofBenedetto Zaccaria was placed so far behind the first that the Pisans could not see whether it was made up of war-vessels or of small craft meant to act as tenders to the others. It was near enough to strike in and decide the battle when the action had begun.^[13]

The Pisans, commanded by thePodestà Morosini and his lieutenantsUgolino della Gherardesca andAndreotto Saraceno, came out in a single body. While the Archbishop was blessing the fleet, the silver cross of hisarchiepiscopal staff fell off, but theomen was disregarded by the irreverence of the Pisans, who declared that if they had the wind they could do without divine help. The Pisan fleet advanced in line abreast to meet the first line of the Genoese, fighting according to the medieval custom of ramming and boarding. The victory was decided for Genoa by the squadron of Zaccaria, which fell on the flank of the Pisans. Their fleet was nearly annihilated, the Podestà was captured and Ugolino fled with a few vessels.^[13]

Pisa was also attacked byFlorence andLucca, and it was never able to recover from the disaster. Two years later, Genoa tookPorto Pisano, the city's access to the sea, and filled up the harbour. Pisa lost its role as a major Mediterranean naval power and a regional power of Tuscany (being overshadowed and finally conquered in 1406 by Florence). Count Ugolino was afterwards starved to death, along with several of his sons and grandsons, an event recounted in the 33rd canto ofDante'sInferno.^[13] One famous captive of the battle wasRustichello da Pisa, who co-wroteMarco Polo's account of his travels,Il Milione.

• History of Genoa
• History of Pisa
• Genoese crossbowmen

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