The sound of the battle was deafening and chaotic as the two fleets clashed and collided with each other. It was a cacophony of noise that was full of shouting and screaming as the men battled for their lives. The noise was so intense and loud that it was hard to make out any individual sounds, but it was clear that the two sides were engaged in a furious struggle that was taking its toll on both sides. The battle was a deadly exchange that left many men dead and dying, and it was clear that the outcome would come down to the strength and prowess of each side.
While the combat was going on, Oberto Spinola was gathering information about the action from one of his crew members who was watching it from the mast. It didn't assist much because the combat was a shambles, with ships boarding other ships. The crew, on the other hand, observed that the initial colliding appeared to be sluggishly on their side, aided by the wind blowing against the hostile fleet. The Venetians, on the other hand, were proving to be worthy opponents, and they were not going down easily. The battle was hot and violent, and the Genoese needed to stay concentrated and execute their tactics properly if they were to come out on top.
The Genoese continued to take the fight to the Venetians as the conflict raged on, and they were able to keep them on the defensive. They were confident in their abilities to overpower the Venetians and win the war decisively.
However, a report from the same mast crew member poured cold water on Oberto since he informed him of movement on both flanks, of what seemed to be provencal ships. Oberto took note of the circumstance at the same time the report was made. He couldn't let the provencal ships finish the maneuver since it would allow the opposing fleet to strike or even surround the fleet. Oberto understanding the direness of the situation, issued an order to his comrade on the mast, "GIVE ORDER TO THE SHIPS IN RESERVE TO JOIN THE FIGHT AND STOP THE ONCOMING HOSTILE SHIPS FROM COMPLETING THE MANEUVER." The sailor did what he was told. Three flags were hoisted on the mast, one to alert the ships in reserve that the order was for them, and the other two to issue the command to attack the approaching fleets from both flanks. The three flags were easily recognized by the reserve ships, and they immediately joined the combat. They assaulted the invading ships from all sides, preventing the move from being accomplished. The Genoese reacted quickly and decisively to the threat, showing to the enemies that they were a coordinated force. (look at comment for visual help)
Oberto knew that both sides had used up all of the ships of their fleet; as such, he decided to use a dangerous strategy to increase the morale of the sailors: he decided to join the battle himself. Oberto's decision to join the battlefield was a risky one, but he believed that it was necessary in order to increase the morale of his men and to show them that he was ready and willing to fight alongside them. He was confident in his ability to lead them to victory, and he knew that he needed to be present on the battlefield in order to coordinate and lead his men effectively. This was a critical moment in the battle, and he was ready to take whatever risks were necessary in order to secure victory for the Genoese people. He understood that it was vital to keep his sailors and his men motivated and inspired in order to achieve victory, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that goal, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way. So he made the decision to join the battle and to lead from the front, a move that was sure to rally and inspire the Genoese fleet to greater heights of courage and bravery.
''Men advance the ship; we shall join in the fight." Oberto said, shouting to his men while drawing his short sword.
''Aye'' resonated from the ship, and the crew immediately complied with their captain's order and moved the ship closer to the battle. As Oberto drew his sword, he was ready to lead his men into battle. It was clear that they were deeply committed to the cause, and they were prepared to sacrifice themselves if need be in order to achieve victory.
Sure enough, the flagship closed near a boarding match between two galleys. Giving the order to charge, the sailor jumped into action, and while the crossbowmen took aim to shoot at the enemy crew, Oberto himself took a crossbow, took aim, and hit a Frenchman in the throat, causing the latter to grab the wound and fall on the wooden floor of the ship in a pool of his own blood. The Genoese forces attacked the enemy fleet with a flurry of arrows and bolts, and their aim was deadly accurate. They took down enemy soldiers left and right, as a consequence the French troops were quickly overwhelmed and unable to respond effectively to the attack. Soon enough, the ship was cleared of any French presence, and just like that, the two ships disengaged and navigated to any close allied ship that would be in need of help. The Genoese forces were relentless in their attack against the French forces, and they quickly overwhelmed any French presence. They showed no mercy or hesitation, but instead, they fought with ruthless determination and savage intensity. While Venitian crews were able to show their mettle against the Genoese, the French were less adaptable to this type of warfare, and they could do nothing against the exchange of bolts between the ships.
The battle was at a critical point, and it was clear that the Genoese had the upper hand in the center, and they would soon be able to break through, resulting in many ships coming out of the hostile line and attacking or surrounding the enemy fleet; however, on the flank, Oberto was unaware of what was going on, and as a result, he couldn't tell if they were winning or losing that engagement. He hoped the flank could hold out long enough for the Genoes to break through the middle. If the Genoese forces were to win, they needed to sustain their momentum and keep pushing the offensive against the French army.
They had to remain together and coordinate their attacks, the plan was to be brutal in their assaults to push the French forces back so much that the Venetian ships would have no choice but to rout in order to avoid being crushed.
The battle lasted several hours before the outcome was ultimately announced. The flanks managed to hold on to their engagement long enough for the center to win the battle, and the French ships were unable to resist their relentless attack, prompting the commander of the provencal fleet to give the order to retreat in order to save what could be saved.
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Such spectacles evoked the ire of Lorenzo Zeno, who insulted the French sailor for their weakness and inability to have a confrontation at sea: '' Those fuc*ing French are not able to even battle a damn fish; they were the ones who asked for help from the republic, and now they are retreating? Why the fuc* should we continue to bleed for them? Order the retreat. Let no other Venetian blood be spilled for those fuc*ing bast*rds. Charles can go to hell for what I care!" Soon enough, also, the Venitian ships started to disengage trying to get out of there; otherwise, it would be their tomb. He took a stand and made his position clear to his men: he did not want any more of his men dying for the French cause. While the Venetians were retreating, the Genoese forces continued to push the attack as they were determined to take full advantage of the opportunity to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy. After all, why would they not? It was their chance to release the frustration accumulated by ten years of ridicule from the Republic of Venice, and as such, they attacked the withdrawing Venetians with relentless fury, delivering a heavy toll on the fleeing forces. They showed no mercy or hesitation, as they cut down enemy soldiers left and right without remorse. It was clear that they were not only determined to achieve victory in this battle, but they were also determined to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy forces in order to teach them a lesson and make them pay for their arrogance and hostility.
Sure enough, also the French ships on the flank realized that they were retreating , so they started to follow suit. However, Oberto knew that they would have a delay, so he ordered five ships from each flank to stop their retreat route and engage them. This maneuver was highly successful, and of the 16 ships on the flanks, only 11 managed to escape. The Genoese forces were indeed successful in their maneuver, and they did a tremendous amount of damage to the French fleet. The Genoese forces had demonstrated their superior skills and tactics, and they had been able to use their superior numbers and firepower to overwhelm the enemy. It was clear that the French were in no shape to continue this battle. The Genoese had inflicted great harm and loss on the French, but they were able to achieve a decisive victory in the battle, and it was a glorious day for all who had fought and won this battle. This was a great event for the republic since it finally made Europe aware that Venice was not the only one who mastered the sea; for another player was also present and was ready to leave its mark in the world.
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Author: Please comment if you liked the battle chapters or if you have any suggestion for it help immensely to improve my writing , see you the next time knights!