The Battle of Lepanto

The Battle of Lepanto

LEPANTO.-Nafpaktos Greek city.

On October 7, 1571 took place a battle navalin the Gulf of Lepanto(now called, Naupacto)between

the Peloponnese and Epirus,which pitted the Ottoman Turks against a Christian coalition,

called Holy League,composed of the Pope, the Republic of Venice and the monarchy of Felipe II.

(Spain)

"Children , to die we have come, or overcome if the sky provides. Give no occasion for the enemy
ask you with impious arrogance Where is your God? fighting his holy name, because dead or
victorious, you will have to achieve immortality. "

The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 in the Gulf of Lepanto (Patra), facing the town
of Nafpaktos (Lepanto), located in the Peloponnese, Greece. Ottoman Empire of the Turks fought
against a Christian coalition, called Holy League.

"The Grandest occasion that saw centuries past, present, or expects the coming" Miguel de
Cervantes

dawning on October 7, 1561 when one of the
greatest battles in the history of mankind began. On this date in Lepanto more than 75% of the
galleys, galleys, galleys and frigates available in all fleets the world, 580 ships and more than
100,000 men met. Amazing figures for the period. This huge naval force, would decide the fate
of two empires representatives of two other civilizations an emerging and established on its
territory, east and west.

/The Battle of Lepanto is generally regarded as the bloodiest naval battle of all time. The Turks
were determined to conquer West and reach Gibraltar. Mercilessly harassed Christian ships and
they were gradually taking over territories and Christian places. With this battle, the Holy League
broke with the naval superiority of the Ottoman Empire and its myth of invincibility was completely
forgotten for the rest of the story. After Lepanto, and never again Turkish naval hegemony in the
Mediterranean recovered.

Much of the merit of the Christian victory is due to a young man aged 24 was made with the
enormous responsibility of running the fleet of the Holy Alliance: Don John of Austria, natural son
of Emperor Charles I and a humble woman named Barbara Plumberger. Don Juan of Austria, died
young, only 31 years, his interventions in the fields of land and sea battles, notably contributed to
the grandeur and splendor of Spanish Empire. It was a great tactician in the field of battle and
beloved by his stepbrother Emperor Felipe II.

League coordinated by Pope Pius V, was finally constituted by force of Spain, Republic of Venice and
Papal States, Republic of Genoa, Duchy of Savoy and the Order of Malta.