Defense Alliances with the West — The Catalonians, the Papacy, and Venice (1460 — 1540)

Monemvasia had delayed, but not precluded a Turkish attack, and it now had to face the enemy alone. In this situation there appeared before the gates of the city one of the numerous groups of Catalonian mercenary troops which were willing to fight for any of the factions in Greece — Franks, Greeks, or Turks. Hoping to guarantee Monemvasia's safety, the archons gave the key of the city to the mercenary commander, Lopez de Baldaja. The Catalonian, however, soon proved to be a petty, tyrannical dictator, whom the proud and self confidant residents of Monemvasia expelled nearly as quickly as they had summoned him. The city's next defense tactic was to place itself under the authority of the pope at Rom. Pius II did not hesitate to incorporate this bulwark of Orthodox faith into his dominion, and he quickly sent a papal governor. This alliance, however, did not last long either. The pope's attempts to introduce his spiritual jurisdiction along with his secular authority soon aroused the residents' indignation. Also, the military and political power of the papacy was not able to stand up to the constant pressure from the Turkish Empire. After only four years the papal representative had to give up his position (in 1464), less of his own free will, than because of his weakness and helplessness, as one Greek historian has put it.

The city's last recourse was to turn to the strongest maritime power in the eastern Mediterranean, to Venice. Since the eleventh century the Republic of St. Mark had been using its powerful navy to put together a Levantine overseas empire. This dominion was unusual in that it did not consist of a large, contiguous area, but rather of coastal towns, of islands, of strongholds accessible only from the sea, or, in some cases, only of privileges and commercial rights within other territorial jurisdictions. The power of Venice had increased as that of the Byzantine Empire declined. Thus it was logical for Monemvasia, the last remnant of the Byzantine Empire, to turn in distress to Venice. It cannot have been easy for this proud city to take refuge behind, and admit dependence upon its ancient rival. From the thirteenth century on, as the Ottoman Empire had advanced, Venetian power had declined. Nevertheless, Venetian rule brought Monemvasia a period of almost 80 years of peace and prosperity, from 1464 to 1540. For the Venetians, the acquisition of Monemvasia, which they called "Napoli di Malvasia", meant establishing a valuable link to their dependencies further to the east and north: to Nauplia, which they called "Napoli di Romania", and to the islands of the Aegean. Now, in place of the imperial governor, a podestà lived in the fortress of Monemvasia to represent the Venetian presence.

The occupant of this office was replaced every two years. The biennial reports which these officials had to send back home, and which are still extant in Venetian archives and libraries, could provide a detailed picture of Monemvasia at this time.

Venice confirmed Monemvasia's numerous special privileges, just as all previous sovereigns had done. Unlike the pope, the Venetians made no attempt to interfere in religious matters, and thus precluded an area of potential conflict.
The government of the podestà was prudent and tolerant, for what benefited Monemvasia also benefited Venice. The city's commerce flourished, while its new sovereigns strengthened and expanded the fortifications, and restored the churches.

The prosperity of the citizens evidenced itself in a surge of new construction. For example, the Hagia Sophia in the upper city had a Venetian loggia built in front of it. A contemporary document demonstrates the wealthy citizenry's vitality and love of decoration: In a petition to the Venetian senate from the year 1527, the citizens of Monemvasia complained that the podestà would not allow them to take marble from the ruins of the temples and houses of Epidauros Limera, across the bay. They felt it was their privilege to take this marble for their own construction. The numerous marble door and window lintels, stairs, and building stones still to be seen today attest to this conviction.
The influence of the Venetians is still evident in many buildings and decorations; the lion of St. Mark, affixed as a marble relief over the door of the episcopal residence, is evidence of their earlier presence. A Venetian well curb with two coats of arms and the initials of the podestà, Sebastiano Renier, dating from 1514, is located today, together with other antiquities, in the former mosque.

However, Monemvasia had allied itself with a declining power. As early as the thirteenth century, Venice found itself struggling with the rising Ottoman Empire for predominance in the eastern Mediterranean. After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Republic of St. Mark remained as the only serious opponent to the new Turkish power. But before long it came obvious that the continual confrontations were nothing more than defensive, withdrawal actions on the part of Venice. Still, from the time of the first Turkish advance into the Morea, the Venetians fought the Turks to retain control over Monemvasia.

Up until the Turkish Venetian peace of 1502—03, Monemvasia and its possessions remained generally unaffected by the struggles between these two powers. However, the war that followed this peace took a heavy toll on the city. Monemvasia's estates and properties on the mainland fell increasingly under Turkish domination; finally, the city lost access to the agricultural products of the mainland either for its own provisioning or for commerce. The vinyards for the famous malmsey wine, as well as the gardens and grain fields near Velies and around Vatika fell into Turkish possession. The city itself remained as inaccessible and unassailable as always. But, cut off from its source of provisions, it became completely dependent upon Venetian support, and was reduced to nothing more than a military strong point.

The Turkish sultan, Suleiman the Magnificient, renewed the war with Venice in 1537. The conflict ended for Venice, and for her allies Pope Paul III and Emperor Charles V, after the naval battle of Prevesa; the peace, usually described as "shamefull" and "humiliating", forced Venice to surrender all claims to Nauplia and Monemvasia, its last possession on the Morea. These fortresses were not conquered, but Venice was no longer powerful enough to retain them. The peace spared the populace of these cities senseless death and destruction, but the Venetian senate placed little value on this accomplishment. When the agent who had negotiated the treaty returned home, the senate had him beheaded.