Osprey New Vanguard 62 : Renaissance War Galley 1470-1590

For most of the Renaissance period, naval warfare in the Mediterranean was dominated by the war galley, a unique naval vessel for a momentous age. During the struggle for supremacy between Christian and Muslim powers in the Mediterranean basin, war galleys formed the backbone of the rival battlefleets. They were also used to raid enemy coastlines and merchant shipping, and small galleys were the favourite vessel used by the Barbary Corsairs of North Africa. Different regions of the Mediterranean produced their own versions of the war galley, thereby producing a number of variants on the basic design tailored to the needs and resources of particular nations. For example, the Venetians placed a great emphasis on firepower, mainly in the form of artillery. By contrast, the Turks and the Spaniards relied more heavily on their well-trained troops to carry the day. This book examines the development of the war galley from its classically inspired resurrection in the 15th century until its demise in the early 17th century. It draws on the latest scholarly research and archaeological information to produce a work which provides the first ever in-depth study of this remarkable war machine. Text by Angus Konstam with illustrations by Tony Bryan.

Contents

• Introduction
• Design and Development
• Operational History
• The Galley Fleet
• Colour Plates Commentary
• Index