The Arsenal of the Republic
A Brief History
The Arsenae, the jewel of Venice's naval industry, perhaps the pinnacle of Venetian ingenuity, allowed them to project their own interests and punch above their weight over an area much larger than their land base would otherwise have allowed.
What follows is a brief history of this enduring institution, with many lessons to be learned.
Founding of the Arsenal
The date of the Arsenal's foundation is not known for certain - although the year 1104 is generally accepted, it's actually the result of a forged medal from the XIX century. However, it's not an unlikely date, as the maritime republics began to expand their influence in the eastern Mediterranean immediately after the First Crusade (1096-1099). In any case, it is certain that by 1220 the complex that would become the Arsenal was already well developed, with two rows of dockyards protected by crenellated walls.
During the XIII century, the Arsenal was enlarged and a political body was set up to oversee the naval complex (the so-called Rezimento de l'Arsenal), supervised by three patricians whose duty lasted about two and a half years and who resided in the Arsenal.
It's interesting to note that this institutional configuration is reminiscent of the commissions of senators that were sometimes sent during the Roman Republic to check on the state of the armies and the leadership of their respective commanders. Similar organisations can probably be found in other classical republics.
Second Expansion
At the beginning of the XIV century, further expansions took place, including the construction of the ropeways. Ropes were an essential commodity for the naval industry of the time, as hemp, the material used to make ropes, was imported from the Sea of Azov and processed in the Arsenal into sail ropes. To give you an idea, the process involved twisting the individually fragile natural fibres to create a stronger strand.
Sailing ships required rather long ropes, so a large structure was needed to effectively combine the short strands into a long and strong rope. Rope making in Europe was mainly an artisanal endeavour, as after the fall of the Roman Empire the only significant naval powers were the Eastern Roman Empire and the Arab Caliphate, both of which were based in the eastern Mediterranean. Venice, with its arsenal, brought rope production to an almost industrial level.
In the 16th century, at the height of the war against the Ottomans, the ropes reached an impressive length of 317 metres, a height of 12 metres and a width of 21 metres. Thanks to this construction, the Venetian fleet could always rely on a strategic reserve of ropes at an affordable price. Moreover, any surplus production could be sold at a profit to foreign ships docking in Venice.
The ropeways were not the only expansion in the XIV century, as the arsenal was extended by an area of about 140 thousand square metres, in which all the processes necessary for the production of naval goods were carried out - from rowing to nail and woodworking. At the end of the century, foundries were also built for the production of cannons.
Third Expansion and the Galeazze
Unsurprisingly, the next major expansion of the complex began after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. With the Ottoman threat looming over the Venetian territories, the arsenal was extended by 240,000 square metres - almost double the size of the previous expansion.
Among the structures added were houses outside the new walls for the workers, ovens for the production of bread, new grain stores and, of course, new dockyards for the construction of the galleasses, the Republic's new, formidable ships, which would be instrumental in the centuries-long struggle against the Ottoman Empire - with victories such as Lepanto in 1571.
In those days, cannons were only mounted on the front of the galleys, so that after a few shots, naval combat almost always turned into ramming or boarding operations. Galleys were among the first, if not the first, ships to mount cannons on their broadsides. The Ottoman galleys at Lepanto, expecting to face lumbering wooden giants, were instead surprised by a devastating hail of fire as soon as they came face to face with the Venetian broadsides. Despite their limited numbers (6 in a fleet of over 200 ships), the Venetian galleasses proved to be the proverbial tip of the spear that contributed to the Holy League's victory in this fateful battle.
The Last Expansion and the takeover by foreign invaders
At the end of the XVI century, the two last expansions would take place, focusing on more buildings for artillery and woodworking.
With the new naval techniques of the XVII century, the Arsenal would enter a period of modernisation and would begin to replace the galleys with ships of the line, thus adapting to the reality of warfare at the time. Although the galley would still be used in closed seas such as the Mediterranean, and Venetian craftsmen would still be valued in Europe for their skills, the Venetian naval dominance would begin to wane throughout the XVIII century.
The Arsenal, even in an age of relative eclipse of geopolitical relevance for the Republic, would remain a crucial institution: from an economic point of view, for its rope industry, and from a more technical one, for its school of naval engineering.
The Napoleonic Wars would mark the end of the Arsenal as a functioning institution - the warships were burned, the workers dismissed, all the artillery pieces requisitioned by the French troops, and finally the Bucintoro, the Republic's state galley used by the Doges to celebrate the rite of the Marriage of the Sea, was burned, both to rob it of its gold and to destroy a symbol of the Venetian Ancien Regime (although Venice had nothing to do with the absolute monarchies of the time, as the American Founding Fathers recognised). Napoleon later ceded the Venetian territory to Austria, which repaired the damaged ships and resumed shipbuilding. The Austrian domination was positive for the Arsenal because, even in its reduced state, it became the core of the Austrian fleet.
Even the Kingdom of Italy, after the annexation of Venice, tried to make use of the complex, moving the base of the Adriatic fleet to Venice and modernising the Arsenal to build more modern iron ships.
Modern Times and Future
Eventually, the century-old shipyard fell into decline, unable to meet the demands of modern navies. The building was slowly abandoned until the final nail was put in its coffin when the base of the Adriatic Fleet was moved to Ancona.
Today the Arsenal is mainly used for cultural initiatives, most notably the biennial Venice Art Exhibition, perhaps an inglorious end for such a powerful complex, but one that has allowed the Arsenal to survive largely intact instead of slowly decaying or being demolished.
What the future holds for the Arsenal is hard to say. Certainly it won't be a major industrial centre again any time soon, as the infrastructure simply wouldn't allow it. Moreover, there's now a potential competitor in the form of the modern shipyard in Trieste (although it focuses mainly on civilian ships).
The Arsenal as an institution
The Venetian Arsenal was a cornerstone of the Republic of Venice, serving as a fulcrum for both social cohesion and economic vitality. Socially, it was a major employer, providing a stable livelihood for a significant proportion of the population, thereby promoting social stability and reducing the risk of unrest caused by unemployment. Economically, its importance was profound, acting as the lynchpin of Venice's maritime prowess. By facilitating the construction, maintenance and repair of warships, it reinforced Venice's naval supremacy, securing its maritime trade routes and extending its influence across the Mediterranean and beyond.
What's more, the Arsenal's contribution wasn't limited to military matters; it also supported Venice's commercial endeavours by producing ships for trade and exploration, thus underpinning the Republic's economic prosperity.
Strategically, the Venetian Arsenal held multifaceted importance:
Firstly, it fortified Venice's military might, ensuring the Republic's ability to defend its maritime interests and project power effectively.
Secondly, it bolstered Venice's economic strength by fostering maritime trade and commerce, thus solidifying its position as a leading commercial hub.
Thirdly, it served as a crucible of technological innovation in shipbuilding and maritime technology, propelling Venice ahead in naval warfare.
Lastly, control over the Arsenal wielded significant political influence, enabling Venice to assert its interests diplomatically and consolidate power domestically.
In essence, the Venetian Arsenal's strategic significance transcended mere shipbuilding, permeating through the political, economic, and technological realms, and thereby underpinning Venice's status as a dominant maritime force in the Mediterranean. It was, in a way, a peculiar institution that could only exist in a Republic whose institutional setup was different both to the feudal monarchies of its time and the modern democracies, in which different social classes acted together organically towards the same goals and aspirations.
Final Considerations
If we were to follow the advice of the futurist poet Marinetti, the course of action would be to demolish the old buildings and replace them with a modern shipyard, a new arsenal for a new fleet, but many, including the author of this article, may have too much love for history to follow such a radical plan. However, one can also consider how good it can be to constantly bask in the memory of past glories. Often, nostalgia for the good old days can be an obstacle to taking action to improve the world we live in now.
However, the Arsenal still stands as proof to the world of what a small nation of determined people can achieve. May this lesson help all Europeans, present and future.