Battle of Cape Corvo
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Cape Corvo was a naval engagement of the Ottoman-Habsburg struggle for the control of the Mediterranean. It was fought on August 1613 near the island of Samos
between the Spanish squadron of Sicily under Admiral Ottavio d'Aragona and an Ottoman fleet led by Sinari Pasha. The Spanish were victorious and captured 7 galleys and about 600 prisoners, among them the Bey of Alexandria and another 60 important Ottoman nobles. Cape Corvo was the first major victory of the Spanish fleets under Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
, as Spanish Viceroy of Sicily, as well as the greatest Spanish victory over the Ottoman Empire since Lepanto.
of the island became the reconstruction of its naval forces. At his arrival, the Spanish squadron of Sicily had no galley capable to sail, and the fear among the population of an Ottoman attack was great. By July 1612, 8 galleys and several sailing vessels
had been built following Osuna's instructions, those latter to transport tasks. Osuna trusted the command of this small force to the Palermitan
Ottavio d'Aragona, his favourite naval commander. D'Aragona carried out some raids in Ottoman territory, attacking by surprise La Goulette
and Cherchell
. Don Antonio Pimentel burnt seven saling ships led by an English renegade in the port of Tunis
that same year The major engagement, as well as Osuna's biggest victory of 1612, was the rejection in August of a huge Ottoman fleet which tried to capture Messina. 2 galleys and 3 galliots were captured, and a prize coming from Cartagena
was recovered. The Ottoman landing parties, isolated from his ships, surrendered to the Spanish cavalry or attempted to escape inland.
In mid-1613 d'Aragona landed 200 musketeer
s, 50 arquebusiers and 100 pikemen in Chicheri, where they stormed and demolished an Ottoman castle with the death of over 800 Turks. At his return, Osuna ordered him to prepare a campaign to face the Ottoman fleet in its own waters. The Viceroy had been warned of the departure of a large fleet from Constantinople
, and although his informs did not notice the preparation of any attack against the island, he preferred to make sure of it. D'Aragona's galleys were reinforced each one with 100 musketeers, besides 50 spontoon
s, 20 buckler
s and 150 chuzos in case of it was necessary free the rowers to help the galley's soldiers to fight the Ottomans. Osuna's flagship, meanwhile, was reinforced with 160 musketeers and 7 cannon
s. According to the informs of the Viceroy, the Ottoman fleet was composed of 12 galleys under Mahomet Pasha, lieutenant of Nasauf Pasha, who remained in Constantinople discussing with Sultan Ahmed I issues concerning to the war with Persia
.
Ottavio d'Aragona set sail to the Aegean Sea
waters in command of his 8 galleys. South of Samos, the Spanish Admiral was informed by Greek fishermen of the presence of 10 Ottoman galleys under Sinari Pasha in that waters. The squadron crossed the Mycale Strait
thanks to the help of an able Greek and made appearance off Cape Corvo, where the Ottoman fleet was anchored: 5 galleys in vanguard, 2 disposed to the battle, and 3 in rear-guard. D'Aragona, having been warned of the presence of Sinari Pasha's vessels by a felucca
previously detached ahead his fleet, ordered the attack, and followed by his squadron, approached the Ottoman formation and rammed its flagship. After three hours of combat, Sinari Pasha surrendered his galley, being imitated by his vice-flagship and 5 other galleys. The 3 remaining managed to escape.
About 400 Ottoman soldiers and sailors were killed, and another 600 captured. Among the most signaled prisoners were Sinari Pasha, who died of sadness shortly after, and Mahamet, Bey of Alexandria and son of Müezzinzade Ali Pasha, who had commanded the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto
. Moreover, 1,200 Christian galley slaves were freed. The casualties on the Spanish side had been low and consisted of 6 men killed and 30 wounded. They soon returned to Sicily with his 7 prizes, which were incorporated to their fleet at their arrival at Messina. Another prize was taken during the cruise: a brigantine
crewed by 17 Turks. The whole fleet was, however, about to be lost in a storm off Cape Solanto, 10 leagues of Messina. Thanks to the help of about 70 barge
s, all the ships managed to enter the port.
and the captured flags opening the march. The recovery of the Sicilian squadron continued the following years, achieving its most important victories at the battles of Cape Celidonia
and Ragusa under Francisco de Rivera y Medina, one of Spain's most able naval commanders of the time.
Samoš
Samoš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,247 people .-See also:...
between the Spanish squadron of Sicily under Admiral Ottavio d'Aragona and an Ottoman fleet led by Sinari Pasha. The Spanish were victorious and captured 7 galleys and about 600 prisoners, among them the Bey of Alexandria and another 60 important Ottoman nobles. Cape Corvo was the first major victory of the Spanish fleets under Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna
Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna was a Spanish nobleman and politician. He was the 2nd Marquis of Peñafiel, 7th Count of Ureña, Spanish Viceroy of Sicily , Viceroy of Naples , a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece since 1608, Grandee of Spain, member of the Spanish Supreme...
, as Spanish Viceroy of Sicily, as well as the greatest Spanish victory over the Ottoman Empire since Lepanto.
Background
When Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna, was appointed Viceroy of Sicily in 1611, his main goal after the elimination of the widespread banditryBanditry
Banditry refers to the life and practice of bandits which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as "one who is proscribed or outlawed; hence, a lawless desperate marauder, a brigand: usually applied to members of the organized gangs which infest the mountainous districts of Italy, Sicily, Spain,...
of the island became the reconstruction of its naval forces. At his arrival, the Spanish squadron of Sicily had no galley capable to sail, and the fear among the population of an Ottoman attack was great. By July 1612, 8 galleys and several sailing vessels
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
had been built following Osuna's instructions, those latter to transport tasks. Osuna trusted the command of this small force to the Palermitan
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
Ottavio d'Aragona, his favourite naval commander. D'Aragona carried out some raids in Ottoman territory, attacking by surprise La Goulette
La Goulette
La Goulette is the port of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. The Kasbah fortress was built in 1535 by Charles I of Spain but was captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1574...
and Cherchell
Cherchell
Cherchell is a seaport town in the Province of Tipaza, Algeria, 55 miles west of Algiers. It is the district seat of Cherchell District. As of 1998, it had a population of 24,400.-Ancient history:...
. Don Antonio Pimentel burnt seven saling ships led by an English renegade in the port of Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
that same year The major engagement, as well as Osuna's biggest victory of 1612, was the rejection in August of a huge Ottoman fleet which tried to capture Messina. 2 galleys and 3 galliots were captured, and a prize coming from Cartagena
Cartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
was recovered. The Ottoman landing parties, isolated from his ships, surrendered to the Spanish cavalry or attempted to escape inland.
In mid-1613 d'Aragona landed 200 musketeer
Musketeer
A musketeer was an early modern type of infantry soldier equipped with a musket. Musketeers were an important part of early modern armies, particularly in Europe. They sometimes could fight on horseback, like a dragoon or a cavalryman...
s, 50 arquebusiers and 100 pikemen in Chicheri, where they stormed and demolished an Ottoman castle with the death of over 800 Turks. At his return, Osuna ordered him to prepare a campaign to face the Ottoman fleet in its own waters. The Viceroy had been warned of the departure of a large fleet from Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and although his informs did not notice the preparation of any attack against the island, he preferred to make sure of it. D'Aragona's galleys were reinforced each one with 100 musketeers, besides 50 spontoon
Spontoon
A Spontoon is a type of European lance that came into being alongside the pike. The spontoon was in wide use by the mid 17th century, and it continued to be used until the mid to late 19th century....
s, 20 buckler
Buckler
A buckler is a small shield, 15 to 45 cm in diameter, gripped in the fist; it was generally used as a companion weapon in hand-to-hand combat during the Medieval and Renaissance, as its size made it poor protection against missile weapons but useful in deflecting the blow of...
s and 150 chuzos in case of it was necessary free the rowers to help the galley's soldiers to fight the Ottomans. Osuna's flagship, meanwhile, was reinforced with 160 musketeers and 7 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s. According to the informs of the Viceroy, the Ottoman fleet was composed of 12 galleys under Mahomet Pasha, lieutenant of Nasauf Pasha, who remained in Constantinople discussing with Sultan Ahmed I issues concerning to the war with Persia
Ottoman–Safavid War (1603–1618)
The Ottoman–Safavid War was a war between Safavid Persia under Abbas I of Persia and the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Ahmed I. It began in 1603 and ended with Safavid victory in 1618.-Course:...
.
Battle
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
waters in command of his 8 galleys. South of Samos, the Spanish Admiral was informed by Greek fishermen of the presence of 10 Ottoman galleys under Sinari Pasha in that waters. The squadron crossed the Mycale Strait
Mycale Strait
The Mycale Strait is a narrow strait separating the island of Samos from Anatolia . At its narrowest point it is only 1.6 km wide, the narrowest between any Aegean island and Turkey. It is named after the nearby Mount Mycale on the mainland....
thanks to the help of an able Greek and made appearance off Cape Corvo, where the Ottoman fleet was anchored: 5 galleys in vanguard, 2 disposed to the battle, and 3 in rear-guard. D'Aragona, having been warned of the presence of Sinari Pasha's vessels by a felucca
Felucca
A felucca is a traditional wooden sailing boat used in protected waters of the Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean including Malta, and particularly along the Nile in Egypt, Sudan, and also in Iraq. Its rig consists of one or two lateen sails....
previously detached ahead his fleet, ordered the attack, and followed by his squadron, approached the Ottoman formation and rammed its flagship. After three hours of combat, Sinari Pasha surrendered his galley, being imitated by his vice-flagship and 5 other galleys. The 3 remaining managed to escape.
About 400 Ottoman soldiers and sailors were killed, and another 600 captured. Among the most signaled prisoners were Sinari Pasha, who died of sadness shortly after, and Mahamet, Bey of Alexandria and son of Müezzinzade Ali Pasha, who had commanded the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto
Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto normally refers to the 1571 Holy League victory over the Ottoman fleet. There were also three earlier battles fought in the vicinity of Lepanto:*Battle of Naupactus in 429 BC, an Athenian victory during the Peleoponnesian War...
. Moreover, 1,200 Christian galley slaves were freed. The casualties on the Spanish side had been low and consisted of 6 men killed and 30 wounded. They soon returned to Sicily with his 7 prizes, which were incorporated to their fleet at their arrival at Messina. Another prize was taken during the cruise: a brigantine
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
crewed by 17 Turks. The whole fleet was, however, about to be lost in a storm off Cape Solanto, 10 leagues of Messina. Thanks to the help of about 70 barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s, all the ships managed to enter the port.
Aftermath
On 27 September Osuna organized in Palermo a triumphal procession in honour to Ottavio d'Aragona. The Spanish Viceroy, d'Aragona, Cardinal Doria, the captains and knights of the galleys, the freed slaves, the 600 Ottoman prisoners and the 900 soldiers which had participated in the battle, marched through the streets of the city; Osuna's pennantPennant
Pennant may refer to:* Pennon , a narrow, tapering flag commonly flown by ships at sea:** Pennant , the traditional sign of a warship, flown from its masthead while the ship is in commission...
and the captured flags opening the march. The recovery of the Sicilian squadron continued the following years, achieving its most important victories at the battles of Cape Celidonia
Battle of Cape Celidonia
The battle of Cape Celidonia took place on 14 July 1616 during the Ottoman-Habsburg struggle for the control of the Mediterranean when a small Spanish fleet under the command of Francisco de Rivera y Medina cruising off Cyprus was attacked by an Ottoman fleet that vastly outnumbered and outgunned it...
and Ragusa under Francisco de Rivera y Medina, one of Spain's most able naval commanders of the time.