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, war galleys formed the backbone of the rival battlefleets. 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. 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, providing the first ever in-depth study of this remarkable war machine.

Angus Konstam is an experienced Osprey author, with over 12 titles in print. He has long been associated with maritime affairs, having served in the Royal Navy, practised underwater archaeology and curated a maritime museum. His understanding of the subject is based on years of professional studies in maritime history, and an intimate knowledge of the leading maritime collections on both sides of the Atlantic.