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Battle of Matapan

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For the Second World War battle, see Battle of Cape Matapan.

Battle of Matapan
Part of the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War

Batalha Naval do Cabo Matapão, by António José Ramos, copy of the original painting made by João Dantas in 1812.
Date19 July 1717
Location
Off Cape Matapan, Mediterranean Sea
Result Venetian and allied victory[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ibrahim Pasha
Strength
34 ships
24 galleys
1 frigate		 22 ships
21 frigates
9 galleys
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Battle of Matapan, also known as the Battle of Cape Matapan, was a naval battle in the Laconian Gulf, an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, fought between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire on 19 July, 1717, off Cape Matapan in southern Greece. It was part of the Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War of 1714 – 1718. Reliable details are scarce and the battle was inconclusive, although the Venetian side declared themselves victors. Venice would go on to lose the war and its major possession in southern Greece, the Kingdom of the Morea on the Peloponnese.

The Venetian fleet was supported by a mixed squadron of allied ships from Portugal, the Papal States and the Knights Hospitaller of Malta. The Ottoman fleet was commanded by Kapudan Pasha Ibrahim Pasha.

Prelude

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On July 2, two Venetian squadrons joined forces off of Cape Matapan. The first squadron, composed of 24 sailing ships, was led by Capitano delle Navi Marcantonio Diedo. The second was a squadron of 24 galleys commanded by Captain General of the Sea Andrea Pisani. They met a small squadron of nine mixed Portuguese and Maltese ships led by the Maltese knight Bellefontaine.

The combined fleet, facing unfavorable winds, was unable to reach the island of Sapientza as planned. Desperate for water, they risked being trapped in the Laconian Gulf and sailed to the island of Cranae (Marathonisi), located off of Gytheio, to resupply.

Battle

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The allied fleet was organized into four divisions: Diedo was in the van; following was the center led by his second-in-command Correr. The third or rear division was commanded by Dolfin. The fourth or allied division was commanded by Bellefontaine.

On 19, July the Venetians sighted the Ottoman fleet of 30 sailing ships and 4 galleys to their south, on the west side of the gulf entrance. The Ottomans, with a light wind from the south-southeast, had the advantage. Diedo was unable to sail to the west of the Ottoman fleet, and he decided to sail east across the gulf.

At sunrise, Ibrahim attacked Venice's rear division with six of his ships; the rest of the Ottoman fleet sailed ahead and attacked the Venetian van and center. At noon the two fleets approached the eastern side of the gulf. The leading ships then turned as the wind shifted from the southeast, which put the leading Venetian ships to windward of the Ottoman fleet for the first time. Seeing his advantage, Diedo attacked. In the early afternoon the Ottoman fleet retired, sailing for the Cervi–Cerigo (Elafonisos–Kythira) passage; the Venetians and allies sailed for Cape Matapan, the southern tip of the Mani Peninsula. Neither side wished to continue the fight.

Aftermath

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The battle was considered a victory for Venice and her allies. Each allied state gave their own ships complete credit for any achievements. Accounts are highly unreliable; many list forces which were not actually present at the battle.

In Lisbon, the victory off Matapan was celebrated and served to enhance John V's international prestige.[4] For the support given to the allied Catholic forces, the Portuguese King received the title of the "Most Faithful" and the arch-episcopacy of Lisbon was elevated to the status of a patriarchate.[5]

The Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War was the last conflict between the two powers. It ended with an Ottoman victory and Venice losing its major Greek possession, the Kingdom of the Morea. The war ended with the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718.

Ships involved

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Venice and allies

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[6]

  • Blue Division - Vanguard
  • Yellow Division - Center
  • Red Division - Rear
  • Allied Division
    • San Raimondo 46 guns (Maltese)
    • Fortuna Guerriera 70 guns (Venetian)
    • Rainha dos Anjos 56 guns (Portuguese)
    • Nossa Senhora das Necessidades 66 guns (Portuguese)
    • Santa Catarina 56 guns (Chevalier de Bellefontaine - Maltese)
    • Nossa Senhora do Pilar 84 guns (Portuguese)
    • Santa Rosa 66 guns (Portuguese)
    • Nossa Senhora da Conceição 80 guns (General-Admiral Lopo Furtado de Mendoça - Portuguese)
    • Nossa Senhora da Assunção 66 guns (Portuguese)
  • Auxiliaries
    • Captain Trivisan (fireship) - Scuttled
    • Madonna del Rosario (hospital ship) - Sunk

Galleys

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13 Venetian
5 Maltese
4 Papal
2 Tuscan

Ottomans

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Ships of the Line

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Kebir Üç Ambarlı (The Great Three Decker) 114 (Flagship of Ibrahim Pasha)
Ejder Başlı (The Dragon) 70
Çifte Ceylan Kıçlı (The Two Gazelles) 70
Yaldızlı Hurma (The Gilded Date) 70
Şadırvan Kıçlı (The Sprinkling Fountain) 66
Siyah At Başlı (The Black Horse) 66
Beyaz At Başlı (The White Horse) 66
Kula At Başlı (The Grey Horse) 66
Büyük Gül Başlı (The Great Rose) 66
Yılan Başlı (The Snake) 34 (unique ship with 2x372 pdr "üç kantar" monster guns firing marble balls)
Ifrit Başlı (The Demon) 62
Küçük Gül Başlı (The Little Rose) 60
Çifte Teber Kıçlı (Two Halberds) 58
Yıldız Bagçeli (The Star Garden) 58
Zülfikâr Kıçlı (The Two Pointed Sword) 56
Akçaşehir (Town of Akçaşehir) 56 guns
Servi Bagçeli (The Cypress Garden) 54
Ay Bagçeli (The Moon Garden) 54
Yeşil Kuşaklı (Green Belted) 54
Sarı Kuşaklı (Yellow Belted) 54
Kırmızı Kuşaklı (Red Belted) 52
Al At Başlı (The Red Horse) 52
Yaldızlı Nar Kıçlı (The Gilded Pomegranate) 52

Caravellas

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Mavi Arslan Başlı (The Blue Lion) 44
Siyah Arslan Başlı (The Black Lion) 44
Taç Başlı (The Crown) 44
Güneş Kıçlı (The Sun) 44
Kuş Bagçeli Karavele (The Bird Garden Caravella) 44
Yıldız Kıçlı (The Star) 40
Mavi Kıçlı Karavele (The Blue Caravella) 38
[7]

References

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  1. ^ Saraiva, José Hermano (27 July 2012). Portugal: A Companion History. Carcanet Poetry. ISBN 978-1-84777-977-9.
  2. ^ Jack, Malcolm (22 August 2019). Lisbon, City of the Sea: A History. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-83860-172-0.
  3. ^ Anstruther, Godfrey (1969). The Seminary Priests: A Dictionary of the Secular Clergy of England and Wales, 1558-1850. St. Edmund's College. ISBN 978-0-85597-118-2.
  4. ^ Saraiva, José Hermano (27 July 2012). Portugal: A Companion History. Carcanet Poetry. ISBN 978-1-84777-977-9.
  5. ^ Jack, Malcolm (22 August 2019). Lisbon, City of the Sea: A History. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-83860-172-0.
  6. ^ Ercole (2011), pp. 226–245
  7. ^ Yusuf Alperen Aydın, "Sultan'ın Kalyonları", Istanbul, 2011

Sources

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