Battle of Cape Corvo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Cape Corvo
Part of the
Ottoman-Habsburg wars

Battle between Spanish and Ottoman galleys. Oil on canvas attributed to Cornelis de Wael.
DateAugust 1613
Location
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
 Spain Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ottavio d'Aragona Sinari Pasha (POW)
Strength
8 galleys[1] 10 galleys[2]
Casualties and losses
6 killed,
30 wounded[3]
7 galleys captured,
400 killed,
600 prisoners,
1,200 slaves freed[3]

The Battle of Cape Corvo was a naval engagement of the

Viceroy of Sicily, as well as the greatest Spanish victory over the Ottoman Empire since the Battle of Lepanto.[4]

Background

Embarkation of Spanish Troops on the Mediterranean Coast, by Andries van Eertvelt.

When Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna, was appointed Viceroy of Sicily in 1610, his main goal after the elimination of the widespread

galliots were captured, and a prize coming from Cartagena was recovered. The Ottoman landing parties, isolated from their ships, surrendered to the Spanish cavalry or attempted to escape inland.[7]

In mid-1613, d'Aragona landed 200

Battle

Barbary Pirates, painting of 1615 by Cornelis Vroom
.

Ottavio d'Aragona set sail to the Aegean Sea in command of his eight galleys. South of Samos, the Spanish Admiral was informed by Greek fishermen of the presence of 10 Ottoman galleys under Sinari Pasha in the surrounding area.[2] The squadron crossed the Mycale Strait thanks to the help of an able Greek and arrived off Cape Corvo, where the Ottoman fleet was anchored: it was positioned with two galleys in the vanguard, two forming the main battle group, and three in the rear-guard.[2] 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.[2] After three hours of combat, Sinari Pasha surrendered his galley, and was followed by his second-in-command and five other galleys. The remaining three managed to escape.[2]

About 400 Ottoman soldiers and sailors were killed, and another 600 captured. Among the most prominent prisoners were Sinari Pasha, who died of sorrow shortly after, and Mahamet, Bey of Alexandria and son of

barges.[8]

Aftermath

Engraving of Pedro Téllez-Girón y Velasco, 3rd Duke of Osuna.

On 27 September Osuna organized a triumphal procession in Palermo to honour Ottavio d'Aragona.[4] 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 pennant and the captured flags opening the march.[4] 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.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Fernández Duro, p. 78
  2. ^ a b c d e Fernández Duro, p. 79
  3. ^ a b c Fernández Duro, p. 81
  4. ^ a b c d e f Linde, p. 102
  5. ^ a b Linde, p. 101
  6. ^ Fernández Duro, p. 74
  7. ^ a b c d Fernández Duro, p. 77
  8. ^ a b c Fernández Duro, p. 80
  9. ^ Rodríguez González, p. 118

References

  • Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (2006). El gran duque de Osuna y su marina: jornadas contra turcos y venecianos (1602–1624) (in Spanish). Spain: Editorial Renacimiento. .
  • Linde, Luís M. (2005). Don Pedro Girón, duque de Osuna: la hegemonía española en Europa a comienzos del siglo XVII (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Encuentro. .
  • Rodríguez González, Agustín Ramón (2006). Victorias por Mar de los Españoles (in Spanish). Spain: Grafite Ediciones. .