Battle of Salvore

Battle of Salvore
Part of the Fourth Italian Campaign
Painting of the battle by Domenico Tintoretto.
Date 1177 Location Adriatic Sea, north of Venice near Pirano. Result Venetian victory
Belligerents
Republic of Venice	Holy Roman Empire  Republic of Genoa  Republic of Pisa
Commanders and leaders
Sebastian Ziani, Nicola Contarini	Otto I, Count of Burgundy
Strength
30 galleys	75 galleys
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown (some ships captured by Venetians)

The Battle of Salvore was an 1177 conflict between the Republic of Venice and the Holy Roman Empire.

Background

The Battle of Salvore took place in the waters near Savudrija between the Venetian fleet led by Doge Sebastian Ziani and Nicola Contarini and the fleet of Holy Roman Empire led by emperor's son Otto I, Count of Burgundy. Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa was also present in the battle.

In the wars between the emperor and the Union of Lombard cities, supported by Pope Alexander III, Barbarossa, being provoked by the agreement between Republic of Venice and the pope, and the pope's protection of the Union cities, raised a fleet of 75 galleys from Republic of Genoa and Republic of Pisa.

Battle

Having heard that the emperor's fleet was in the Adriatic Sea, the doge went to meet them with 30 galleys. Sheltered in the Bay of Piran, the doge unexpectedly attacked them, took them by surprise and was victorious after six hours of battle.

In the middle of the battle the emperor's ship fled and the emperor hid in a Roman cistern on shore. This gave rise to the name "Salvore", in Latin meaning "Saved king".