I am hereby briefly summarizing my knowledge of the subject and present some photographs I made at recent visits to various Dalmatian seaports and in Montenegro.

The Xebec (Chébec, Schebekke, Jabeque etc.) has evolved in the Mediterranean, sometime around the 17^th century.

The most thorough monograph I have read on this topic is the book "Die Schebekke und andere Schifftypen des Mittelmeerraumes" ("The Xebec and other ship types in the Mediterranean") by Wolfram Monfeld (VEB Hirnstoff Verlag, Rostock, Germany [at that time called the "German Democratic Republic"].

The evolution of the Xebec

Wolfram Monfeld is a well known expert on the subject. He has written several books on related Mediterranean ship types (on the galley, the Arabian Dhow) as well as on ship modeling.

The main argument in the book of Wolfram Monfeld is that the xebec evolved from the Mediterranean galley, more precisely, from the smaller version of the galley, the galeotta.

All three types had the same interior construction: a completely closed inner body which is covered from above by a strongly curved closed deck (see enclosed drawing from Monfeld's book.) This closed inner structure provided buoyancy in emergency cases and could well save the ship from sinking. It was, however not very practical for a merchant ship, and was later replaced in the Xebec by more normal structure (Fig. 20 in the original text).

The evolution of the xebec from the galley / galeotta from Monfeld's book

The galley, having long oars with several rowers per oar (poor fellows!). required an outrigger for the oars, while the smaller galeotta had the pintles directly on the ship's side The sides of the galeotta flared outward to increase the distance between rower and the turning point of the oar. This is the origin for the characteristic cross sectional shape of the xebec.

While the galley was a notably poor sailer, the xebec, having similar cross section was an excellent sailing ship. This is due to the much reduced length to breadth ratio of the xebec. as well as the efficient rig.

Below is photograph of a nice (I think modern) model of a galeotta I took at the Maritime Museum of Kotor (Montenegro).

A model of a galeotta in the Maritime Museum of Kotor

It should be noted that the xebec could also be rowed but this was used only in complete calm especially to reach the enemy or to evade it. The oars were carried on deck and small oar ports besides the gun ports were used for rowing. The 20-24 gun ships of the British Navy used the same arrangement throughout the 18^th century.

A model of a xebec in the Maritime Museum of Kotor

The photograph above I took at the Maritime Museum of Kotor shows a beautiful model of the xebec with the original lateen rig on all three masts. The flag of the Republic of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) on the flagstaff. This flag with the characteristic figure of St. Blasius in white background was in use from 1272 till 1808.

Xebec "La Sancta Familia"

The xebec on the next figure is on an old ship portrait in the Maritime Museum of Kotor. This xebec has square sails on the main mast and also on the mizzen. The ship, amply armed with 10 guns per side, is carrying the flag of Venice (golden lion in red background), which in the 18^th century dominated the entire northern part of the Adriatic sea. According to the inscription this is "La Sancta Familia" (The Holy Family), captain Pietro Dabinovich".

Model of the square rigged Xebec "San Antonio" in the Maritime Museum of Barcelona

The next picture is taken from a postcard issued by the Barcelona Nautical Museum showing a nice large scale model of a square rigged xebec (Jabeque redondo) "San Antonio" of 28 guns. It has pole mast (i.e. masts made of one piece). Note also that there are two small square yards on the mizzen mast, an interesting feature, which Monfeld also notes in his book.

An interesting ship type is the polacre, which is a mix of two ship "cultures": The first half, from bow to about the middle part of the ship is the hull form and rig of a Mediterranean xebec, while the after part is has the square sails and ornamented stern of northern ships. The illustration below is also taken from Monfelds' book, but the original can be found in the Maritime Museum of Paris.

Image not available

Painting of a polcare in the Maritime Museum of Dubrovnik

This picture shows the polacre "... Commanded by captain Michiele Buric, 1796" (the name of the ship cannot be made out on the inscription). By this time the polacre could be easily confused with a full rigged ship. Only the somewhat longer bow and the pole mast rig belie its origin.

The xebec was primarily a merchant ship, but very much in use as a privateer and a pirate ship. In the latter roles it was well armed, although the main tactic used was to overtake the enemy, weaken and frighten it by gunnery and finally board the enemy ship. Monfeld states that a well armed xebec was the equal of a frigate. I doubt this. There might have been parity in the number of guns, however, the xebec and other Mediterranean types were much more lightly built (one reason for their fast sailing qualities) than the frigate, which could carry a much heavier (and more powerful) armament.

It is interesting that the British Navy also used xebecs in the Mediterranean. The picture below was also taken from Monfeld's book and depicts a model of an English xebec in the Science Museum in London. There are also other pictures showing the engagement of xebecs under the British flag.

Gy. Ákos