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The War of Gradisca (1615-1617)

The War of Gradisca, also known as the War in Friuli or the War of Uscokchi, was a local conflict fought between 1615 and 1617. It saw the Republic of Venice and the Austrian branch of the Habsburg family deployed on opposite sides.

Austria had a small part of the coast of Trieste and Croatia which was blocked by Venice. The Venetian fleet crashed in Trieste, whose garrison was reinforced by Captain Sebastian Zuech. A Venetian detachment remained in the field of Mariano, while Romańi troops arrived at Mediani, tábór, and Farra on February 24, 1616.

The Uskok vojska, led by Vuka Frankopan (Wolfganga Frangipane), a Croatian nobleman and general-potpredseda of the Chorvatske, entered Monfalcone in November 1615 and pillaged the town. Despite damage to its buildings, Farra repelled enemy artillery with heavy losses using three large culverins, four guns, and three small culverines.

The conflict saw international traits in the participation of foreign mercenaries, particularly Dutch troops led by John of Nassau, as well as the debut of Albert of Wallenstein, a famous leader of the Thirty Years' War. The war was also notable for being the last Italian territory to participate actively with Venetian militias before the secondary involvement in the later war of succession of Mantua and Monferrato.

The conflict began after the defeat of the League of Cambrai, which led Venice to pursue a purely defensive policy of the State of Terraferma. The construction of modern fortifications, including Palmanova (formerly known as Palma), was initiated in October 1593 to defend the eastern border against Turkish raids and counter the fortress of Gradisca.

The peace of Zsitvatorok in 1606 marked a period of truce between Austria and Turkey, allowing Venice to focus on its conflict with the Habsburgs. The hostility towards the Habsburgs was fueled by politics, as Venice pursued a policy of friendship with Protestant powers against the dominant Catholic forces.

The war ended with the desmobilization of troops in November 1617, six days after the direct confrontation between Spanish and Venetian fleets at the Battle of Ragusa