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The Captain General of the Sea (Venetian: Capitano Generale da Mar) was the wartime commander-in-chief of the Venetian navy.

History

The post of Captain General of the Sea was filled only during wartime, by election by the Great Council of Venice, usually from one of the members of the Venetian patriciate with long experience in naval affairs, although occasionally younger or less militarily experienced men were selected. During the later 17th century, the considerable expenses that the office entailed made the wealth of the candidates an important factor in their selection.

Like all Venetian officials, the Captain General of the Sea was answerable to the councils composing the Venetian government (such as the Great Council or the Signoria) that set actual policy, but otherwise enjoyed comprehensive authority over all naval commanders and officials, as well as officials in the overseas colonies for matters pertaining to the fleet. When deciding on issues of strategy and tactics, however, he was constrained to obey the decisions of the war council, taken by majority vote. This was convened on the flagship and comprised all the commanding officers of squadrons (the Capi di Mare, signalled by the presence of a lantern on their vessels), the head of the commissariat, the commanders of any auxiliary or allied contingents, and, in case of landing operations, the commander of the troops carried on board the fleet.

On campaign, the Captain General hoisted his ensign on a bastard galley, which served as the fleet flagship (the galera generalizia or Capitana). Even after the other major European navies, the Venetian fleet, and even the Venetians' major naval rivals, the Ottoman Navy, began using mostly sail ships of the line during the 17th century, the tradition-minded Venetians insisted, despite heavy debate, to keep a galley as the Captain General's flagship. Only two exceptions to this are known, in 1617 and in 1715. The crew of the flagship enjoyed special privileges, and was exempted from the usual deductions of pay for the coverings of the rowing benches. They also received free of charge a red coat, red breeches, and a red cap. In combat the flagship took position in the centre of the Venetian formation.

In case of the Captain General's death he was replaced either by the Provveditore Generale da Mar, or the most senior Capo da Mar, until such time as a new Captain General could be elected by the fleet. If for whatever reason that election was likely to be delayed, the Provveditore Generale da Mar was appointed as acting Captain General.

Notable holders

• Jacopo Dondulo, during the War of Saint Sabas
• Antonio Grimani, during the Second Ottoman–Venetian War
• Lazzaro Mocenigo, during the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War
• Francesco Morosini, in 1654-1655, during the Fifth Ottoman–Venetian War (Cretan War), and then also at the beginning of the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War (Morean War)
• Benedetto Pesaro, during the Second Ottoman–Venetian War
• Andrea Pisani, during the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War
• Sebastiano Venier, during the Battle of Lepanto
• Giacomo Foscarini, during the Fourth Ottoman–Venetian War
• Girolamo Zane, during the early phase of the Fourth Ottoman–Venetian War
• Carlo Zeno, at the Battle of Modon (1403)

References

1. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 19.
2. Lane 1973, p. 175.
3. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 18.
4. ^ Nani Mocenigo 1935, p. 20.
5. Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 19–20.
6. Nani Mocenigo 1935, pp. 20–21.

Sources

• Lane, Frederic Chapin (1973). Venice, A Maritime Republic. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-1445-6.
• Nani Mocenigo, Mario (1935). Storia della marina veneziana: da Lepanto alla caduta della Repubblica [History of the Venetian navy: from Lepanto to the fall of the Republic] (in Italian). Rome: Tipo lit. Ministero della Marina - Uff. Gabinetto.

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Category Index

v t e Navy of the Republic of Venice
Wars and battles	Byzantine–Norman wars Dyrrhachium Corfu Buthrotum 1099 Levant expedition 1171 War with Byzantium Fourth Crusade Constantinople War of Saint Sabas Acre Settepozzi Saseno Trapani War of Curzola Curzola 1296–1302 War with Byzantium Adramyttion (1334) Pallene (1344) Imbros (1347) War of the Straits Megara (1359) War of Chioggia Chioggia Modon (1403) Gallipolli (1416) Po (1431) Galeas per montes Second Ottoman–Venetian War Zonchio Modon Polesella (1509) Third Ottoman–Venetian War Preveza Fourth Ottoman–Venetian War Lepanto 24 June 1618 Ragusa Cretan War 26 May 1646 Focchies 10 July 1651 1st Dardanelles 2nd Dardanelles 3rd Dardanelles 3 May 1657 18 May 1657 4th Dardanelles 27 August 1661 29 September 1662 Morean War Mytilene Oinousses Andros 6 July 1697 Samothrace Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War Corfu Channel Imbros Matapan Campaigns against Tunis
Organization	Administration Arsenal of Venice Savi agli Ordini Provveditori all'Armar Savio alla Scrittura Naval ranks Supreme command: Capitano general da Mar Provveditore Generale da Mar Galley fleet: Capitano del Golfo Provveditore all'Armata Capitano delle galeazze Governatore dei condannati Sopracomito Sailing fleet: Capitano Straordinario delle Navi Capitano delle Navi Almirante Patron delle Navi
Ships	Oared warships Dromon Galea sottile Galea bastarda Brigantine Fusta Galleass Bucentaur Ships of the line First-rate: Giove Fulminante-class San Lorenzo Zustinian-class Corona-class Leon Trionfante-class San Carlo Borromeo-class Second-rate: Drago Volante-class Venere Armata-class San Marco grande-class Sant'Andrea-class Fede Guerriera-class San Spiridion-class Third-rate: Madonna della Salute-class Sant'Antonio da Padova-class San Giovanni Battista piccolo-class Scudo Della Fede-class
Commanders	Vettore Cappello Bartolomeo Contarini Andrea Dandolo Jacopo Dondulo Angelo Emo Lodovico Flangini Antonio Grimani Pietro Loredan Lazzaro Mocenigo Pietro Mocenigo Benedetto Pesaro Andrea Pisani Niccolò Pisani Vettor Pisani Sebastiano Venier Girolamo Zane Carlo Zeno
Other	Oltremarini
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• Military ranks of the Venetian navy
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