LEPANTO, THE BATTLE OF. The battle of Lepanto was fought on Oct. 7, 1571, between the forces of the Christian League and Turkey. The League had been formed mainly by the efforts of Pope Pius V. to whom Venice had appealed against the constant depredations of the Turk, culminating in their seizure of Cyprus ; and its naval forces were supplied mainly by Venice and Spain—the former having Barbarigo and Veniero as their principal admirals, the latter the marquis of Santa Cruz; there was also a small squadron from the Papal States, commanded by Colonna, and a Genoese squadron under Andrea Doria. The total Christian force numbered over 30o ships, including eight galleasses and some 208 galleys. The supreme command was given to Don John of Austria. The allies concentrated at Messina, the Turk making no attempt to intercept a Venetian squadron which had to join them from the eastern Mediterranean. Thence they proceeded to the Gulf of Lepanto where the Turkish force from the Aegean awaited them.
The Turks, 30o strong, including over 25o galleys, were drawn up just inside the gulf, stretching nearly from shore to shore. The commander-in-chief, Ali Pasha, was in the centre, and the right and left were commanded by Mahomet Sirocco and Uluch Ali, respectively. The allies had to deploy round the headland on the northern side of the gulf and then, the galleasses leading, descended in line abreast on the Turk. On the two flanks they
were not immediately successful. Barbarigo, on the left, came under the full fire of the Turks as he deployed, while Uluch Ali completely outmanoeuvred the Christian right. Pretending to outflank his foe, he induced Andrea Doria to part company with his centre and broke through the gap so created, the situation only being saved by the foresight of Santa Cruz with the reserve squad ron. In the centre, however, the Christians achieved great suc cess. Ali Pasha's galley was captured and his squadron utterly beaten. Panic spread to the other Turkish squadrons, and the greater part of their fleet was taken or destroyed, Uluch Ali alone escaping with some of his ships.
The battle is remarkable in two ways. First, as the last great battle in which both sides used oar-propelled vessels; secondly, for its enormous casualties, reckoned at various figures. The Christians had some 8,000 men killed and double that number wounded, while the Turks had about 25,00o killed and an un known number wounded. Further, some 15,000 Christians in the Turkish galleys were liberated from slavery.