Vettor Fausto's Quinquereme

The Monster galley: Vettor Fausto's Quinquereme

During the Renaissance, most members of the Italian maritime community adhered to traditional ship designs. However, a few daring innovators passed down their revolutionary concepts through oral tradition. Only in the fifteenth century did these designers begin documenting their ideas, challenging the existing norms and playing a crucial role in shaping the future of shipbuilding. 

  Shipbuilders competed for contracts to construct new galleys that could effectively combat pirate threats. The vessels needed to have enough firepower while still being agile. Lawmakers ultimately ratified the revisions proposed by the competitors. 

  Although the triple arrangement of oars was customary for galleys from the fourteenth century, some trailblazers experimented with multiple rowers seated abreast. 

  The Arsenal, a renowned dockyard in Venice, could have been more exclusive to outside talents. In 1525, Vettor Fausto, a distinguished Greek scholar and visionary naval architect, presented an innovative idea to the Senate. His quinquereme, equipped with five separate oars per bench and two sails, was a testament to his inventive spirit. Fausto claimed to have invented a unique rowing system where all the oarsmen could work equally effectively. This design was more prolonged and broader than the trireme and promised superior speed and seaworthiness. It was a true marvel of human ingenuity. 

  Joseph Eliav from the University of Haifa suggests two possible design solutions for the quinquereme's rowing system: double outrigger and parallel rowing. In either case, the oars of similar length could move in unison without interfering with each other. 

  Local experts, known for their conservative views, were not impressed with the project and criticized it as too good to be true. They argued that it was impossible to construct such a galley even in a city with a rich history of construction traditions. In response to public criticism, Fausto, interested in pursuing a more adventurous career path, stepped forward to lead his unconventional project. The senators' opinions split. They had never encountered a connoisseur of humanities passionate about naval architecture. How could an intellectual outsmart seasoned artisans? Was he an innovator or a visionary? 

The Senate was hesitant about making a decision. However, after an extended period of uncertainty, the authorities approved Fausto's nomination. They instructed the Arsenal patrons to allocate a ship shed to the newly qualified naval architect to help him achieve his goals. To ensure his safety, the senators granted the inventor the right to carry weapons and employ a bodyguard.  

  A newcomer to the shipbuilding trade had not traditionally learned his craft by copying his father's design as an apprentice. Instead, he claimed to have gleaned his knowledge from ancient Greek manuscripts and discussions with foreign contractors. He built his ship from scratch, starting with a blueprint, moving on to a model, and finally, construction. Other shipwrights, who had developed their expertise through trial and error, tended to look down on the novice, who lacked proficiency, experience, and a keen eye. However, their distrust did not deter the inventor from undertaking his project. 

  The work lasted for an extended period of twenty-seven months. During this challenging time, the new employee struggled to reach his goal amidst his colleagues' confusion of suspicions, doubts, and unfriendly actions. It was strenuous, but he persevered and completed the project successfully. In a letter to a friend, written after completing the assignment, the determined worker admitted that he had to "fight alone against ignorance and wrongdoing."  

Authorities and experts expressed concerns about the rowing system and speed of the vessel. The Arsenal patrons proposed a trial where the new craft would race against a light galley along the Grand Canal to dispel these doubts. Although the rival trireme led most of the distance, the greenhorn beat it at the post thanks to a dash finish. 

  The Senators approved integrating the galley into the Navy despite high maintenance costs because of its exceptional performance. The new craft, armed with a cannon that fired iron balls, was bound to the Eastern Mediterranean to guard the Serenissima's interests and deployed in the waters around Cyprus, the Aegean, and the Ionian seas. The monster galley boasted an intimidating gun mounted on the bow that could sink an adversary ship. The vessel did not require a pier, as it could lie offshore at anchor and sail in any weather. 

  During his service, the captain faced the daunting challenge of recruiting a sufficient number of skilled rowers to operate the quinquereme's 280 oars. The monster galley was 49 meters long, much heavier than a trireme, and required twice as many crew members to ensure its legendary maneuverability.  

  According to a report filed by the captain, the chronic shortage of rowers limited the galley's usefulness in peacetime but made it more effective in naval warfare. The commander suggested building a squadron of ten heavily armed quinqueremes, which would be positioned in the front row to absorb the enemy's gunfire and protect the rest of the fleet.  

  During the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, John of Austria, who led the Holy Alliance fleet, adopted Fausto's idea of using massive ships with powerful artillery as a key to victory. Venetian galleasses, cargo ships converted to warships, were positioned at the front of the fleet and fired their heavy cannons, disrupting the enemy's advance and throwing off the Turkish plans. 

  The quinquereme was able to defeat Barbary pirates and Maltese privateers. However, during a long voyage to Crete, the ship encountered a severe storm that caused extensive damage. The captain could not spread an awning over the hull to protect the staff from the hurricane's fury. Unfortunately, many crew members did not survive the ordeal, and others suffered from frostbite. 

  During the off-season, each warship used to roll out an awning as per the Senate ruling, instructing galley masters "to protect the crews from rain and cold in winter." This shelter made of wool saved sailors' lives by protecting them from harsh weather and preventing infections. Though captains demanded to replace the awning after each season, the delivery always lagged behind and even slowed during wartime. 

  The overcrowded vessel suffered from poor hygiene and a lack of social distancing, leading to the spread of contagious diseases that ravaged the crew. The ship became a floating hospital filled with the sick and dying, losing its reputation as the "mistress of the seas." After eleven months of active service, it failed to meet expectations, and the authorities had to summon the boat back. 

  Further experiments with multiple oars per bench did not give polyremes a competitive advantage over less crowded models. Extra rowers could not significantly increase the galley's speed and maneuverability enough to justify the high cost. 

  Before the Battle of Lepanto, the Pope attempted to revive an old design by requesting the Venetian authorities to construct a new quinquereme to serve as the flagship of the papal fleet. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for this vessel as it was struck by a fierce lightning bolt during a storm, causing its total loss. 

Despite the failure of the quinquereme, the designer did not lose his employer's trust, and his reputation remained intact. Fausto was a highly sought-after naval architect with whom the Arsenal engaged in various projects. He designed pontoon bridges, estimated new rowing arrangements, appraised the types of wood that could facilitate the weight of oars, and sought the ultimate shape of a stern rudder.