Venice initially tried to crew its galleys with volunteers. As the fleet grew, the demand for oarsmen became too large for that system alone, and slaves and conscripts increasingly filled the ranks. Galley rowing remained unattractive even when it paid well. Personnel was therefore a procurement constraint: possessing many hulls did not provide the sustainable human capacity to mobilize and operate them.
Notable Point · 13:15-13:34
Venetian galley strength carries a manpower burden
As Venice's galley fleet expanded, paid volunteers could no longer supply enough oarsmen, leading to the use of slaves and conscripts.