Uskok War

First siege of Gradisca

With three large culverins, four guns, and three small culverins, Farra (despite damage to its buildings) repulsed the enemy artillery with heavy losses. The Venetians launched another futile assault before Giustiniani lifted the siege and retreated to Mariano. In September, John Ernest of Nassau-Siegen agreed to raise 3,000 men from the Dutch Republic for Venetian service. Spanish support was blocked at sea by a flotilla of 12 Dutch and 10 English warships and on land by the war in Mantua.

Although Archduke Ferdinand had only 4,000 soldiers to defend Gradisca, he received military, political, and financial support from the Spanish as part of a larger agreement: Philip agreed to fight the Venetians and support Ferdinand as the next Holy Roman Emperor in return for the cession of Alsace, Finale Ligure, and Piombino. This led to a negotiated settlement between Ferdinand and the Venetians in which many Uskoks were executed or exiled, and a permanent Austrian garrison was installed in Senj.

Second siege of Gradisca

On the morning of 2 June, the Dutch seized San Martino del Carso, prompting the Austrians to withdraw from the area between Gradisca and the plateau, handing it over to Venice. Camillo Trevigliano led a thousand men in a skirmish against Austrian forces in Gorizia, while six Venetian galleys bombarded Duino Castle. The Venetians constructed several small redoubts, positioned forty artillery pieces, and readied a final push on the Austrian headquarters at Rubbia.

Civilians started leaving Gorizia, but on 6 June, Henry of Nassau halted the assault, citing his troops' exhaustion. Venice then halted further attacks and tightened the blockade around Gradisca; disease cut the Dutch force in half. On the Austrian side, Giovanni de Medici stepped down due to illness, replaced by Prince Luigi d'Este. Although Venetian forces encircled Fort Stella, Albrecht von Wallenstein broke through with reinforcements and supplies. To cut off Austrian supply lines from the valley, Venice weighed occupying Sdraussina and Fogliano south of Gradisca.

Peace

Both sides longed for peace as fighting dragged on. Ferdinand sought to exit the war with Venice, expecting trouble in Germany. Venice, meanwhile, was also reluctant to continue, mainly afraid of direct Spanish involvement. A truce was signed on 6 November. Demobilization started on 28 November, six days after Spanish and Venetian fleets clashed directly at the Battle of Ragusa. Still, peace negotiations dragged on, and the Netherlands kept recruiting soldiers.