Battle of Matapan


The naval Battle of Matapan took place on 19 July 1717 off the Cape Matapan, on the coast of the Mani Peninsula in southern Greece, between the Armada Grossa of the Republic of Venice, supported by a mixed squadron of allied ships from Portugal, the Papal States and Malta, and the Ottoman fleet, under Kapudan Pasha Eğribozlu İbrahim Pasha.

Prelude

The 24 Venetian sailing ships under Marcantonio Diedo, commander of the Venetian fleet, met up with another Venetian squadron of 24 galleys under the Capitano generale da Mar Andrea Pisani and a small squadron of 9 mixed Portuguese-Maltese ships under the Maltese knight Bellefontaine near Cape Matapan on 2 July. After trying separately to win the wind gauge, and running out of water supply, the Allied force went to Marathonisi, near the top of the Gulf of Matapan, to resupply. They had tried to reach Sapientza, but winds were against them and they took the risk of being caught in the gulf.

The battle

The Ottoman fleet, with 30 sailing ships, and 4 galleys, was seen to the south, on the west side of the bay entrance, on 19 July. With a light wind from the SSE, this meant that they had the advantage. Diedo, unable to sail to the west of the Ottoman fleet, decided to sail slowly east, across the bay.
The Allied fleet was organized into four divisions: the Capitano delle Navi, Diedo, was in the Van, followed by the Center, led by his second in command, Correr. The 3rd or Rear Division was commanded by Dolfin. The 4th or Allied Division was commanded by Belle Fontaine.
Ibrahim with 6 ships attacked the Rear Division at about 6am, while the rest of his fleet went ahead and attacked the Van and Center. At about 12pm the fleets were approaching the east side of the bay, and shortly after the leading ships turned, the wind turned from the SE, putting the leading Venetian ships to windward of some of the Ottoman fleet for the first time. Taking advantage of this, Diedo attacked them and the tough battle continued. At about 3pm the Ottoman fleet retired, sailing for the Cervi-Cerigo passage, while the Allies sailed for Cape Matapan. Neither side wished to continue the fight.

Aftermath

As a result of the battle, the Venetian attempt to recapture the Morea was foiled and the Ottoman reconquest of the peninsula was confirmed.
Each Allied state gave their own ships complete credit for any achievements. Some of these accounts are almost totally unreliable due to a variety of reasons—for example, their inclusion of forces which were not actually present for the battle.

Ships involved

Venice and allies

13 Venetian
5 Maltese
4 Papal
2 Tuscan

Ottomans

Ships of the Line

Kebir Üç Ambarlı 114
Ejder Başlı 70
Çifte Ceylan Kıçlı 70
Yaldızlı Hurma 70
Şadırvan Kıçlı 66
Siyah At Başlı 66
Beyaz At Başlı 66
Kula At Başlı 66
Büyük Gül Başlı 66
Yılan Başlı 34
Ifrit Başlı 62
Küçük Gül Başlı 60
Çifte Teber Kıçlı 58
Yıldız Bagçeli 58
Zülfikâr Kıçlı 56
Akçaşehir 56 guns
Servi Bagçeli 54
Ay Bagçeli 54
Yeşil Kuşaklı 54
Sarı Kuşaklı 54
Kırmızı Kuşaklı 52
Al At Başlı 52
Yaldızlı Nar Kıçlı 52

Caravellas

Mavi Arslan Başlı 44
Siyah Arslan Başlı 44
Taç Başlı 44
Güneş Kıçlı 44
Kuş Bagçeli Karavele 44
Yıldız Kıçlı 40
Mavi Kıçlı Karavele 38