ABSTRACT
From autumn1689 up to the end of spring 1690, the Provveditor Straordinario of the Regno di Morea, Antonio Molin, remained encamped in the Convento sotto Malvasia,
suffering the disturbances and dangers of this hard and persistent siege … without lying for even one night in bed with only the necessary rest on small planks in order to be always ready …
he writes. After the Venetian Armata made its appearance in the Monemvasia waters, Molin left the little monastery and settled in the forts that were constructed opposite the Rock; the blockade became narrower with some more offensive efforts to take the city. An attack in May aimed at landing troops on the Rock after a breach would have been made in the walls, but it failed. In June reinforcements arrived of Venetians and allies and consultations were held among the commanders of the military forces and proposals were made for operations, all of which were complicated and difficult. Efforts were made for some of them to be carried out but they all ended in failure and indeed in losses.2 In August a plan was adopted which, among others, arranged for guns to be placed on rafts which would float near to the sea-wall and fire against the south-western corner in order to create a breach. An accident intervened when a boatswain entered smoking at the place where at the time gunpowder was being handled and the ship caught fire. No serious damage was made either to the guns or other equipment and the breach in the wall was created through which the Venetian forces had the possibility of entering the city.3
(Figure 9.1). This, however, was not necessary because the Turks now had a suitable
pretext to agree in surrendering the city. The Kadi, with two Agas, were sent to sign the treaty and 1,200 persons on the whole left the city, Turkish inhabitants and troops, while seventy eight guns, two mortars, ammunition, rusks and other supplies were yielded. On 12 August 1690 Capitan General Girolamo Corner entered Monemvasia triumphantly. Molin describes the joy,
the feelings of relief and the festive atmosphere within the city during their entrance, the settling of the Provveditor Vicenzo Gritti in his residence and the mass held by the Franciscan monks accompanying the Venetians in the former church of Hodigitria in the Upper City, which had been turned into a mosque by the Turks. The church was re-consecrated and dedicated to Madonna del Carmine.4
