Action of 21 June 1655
Encyclopedia
This battle took place on 21 June 1655 inside the mouth of the Dardanelles Strait. It was a clear victory for Venice
over the Ottoman Empire
.
The Venetians, under Lazzaro Mocenigo, continued their strategy of blockading
the Dardanelles, to prevent the Ottomans from resupplying their forces in the Aegean Sea
. The orders were the same as for the previous year - remain at anchor until the Ottoman fleet passed, then attack the rear - and this time the plan worked. The previous Kapudan Pasha, Kara Murad, had been promoted to Grand Vizier and his replacement, Mustapha, had 36 sailing ships, 8 galleasses and 60 galleys, as well as perhaps several galleys from outside the Dardanelles. Once again, the Ottomans were arranged in 3 lines abreast: Sailing ships, then galleasses, then galleys. The Venetians had 26 sailing ships, 4 galleasses and 6 galleys.
As the Ottomans advanced, one galleass was sunk and one galley burnt and the rowing vessels retreated, after which the Venetians attacked the Ottoman sailing ships, resulting in 9 being burnt and 2 wrecked. The only Venetian loss was David Golia, which was burnt. Venetian casualties exclusive of the sunken ship were 126 killed and 180 wounded. 358 Ottomans were taken prisoner.
, Britain
and France
)
? ("capitana")
Aquila Coronata
Concordia
Profeta Samuel
Tomaso Francesco
Campo d'Oche
Principessa grande
Tre Re
Croce d'Oro
Sacrificio d'Abramo
Lepre Rosso
Principessa piccola
Corona
Gallo d'Oro
Ercole grande
Re David
Isabella Maria
David Golia (sunk)
Pesce Triglio
Ercole piccolo
Arma di Nassau
Lionessa
Arma di Lech
Sant' Antonio di Padova
Leon Negro
6 galleys
4 galleasses
8 galleasses - 1 sunk
60 galleys - 1 burnt
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
over the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
The Venetians, under Lazzaro Mocenigo, continued their strategy of blockading
Blockade
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force, either in part or totally. A blockade should not be confused with an embargo or sanctions, which are legal barriers to trade, and is distinct from a siege in that a blockade is usually...
the Dardanelles, to prevent the Ottomans from resupplying their forces in the Aegean Sea
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...
. The orders were the same as for the previous year - remain at anchor until the Ottoman fleet passed, then attack the rear - and this time the plan worked. The previous Kapudan Pasha, Kara Murad, had been promoted to Grand Vizier and his replacement, Mustapha, had 36 sailing ships, 8 galleasses and 60 galleys, as well as perhaps several galleys from outside the Dardanelles. Once again, the Ottomans were arranged in 3 lines abreast: Sailing ships, then galleasses, then galleys. The Venetians had 26 sailing ships, 4 galleasses and 6 galleys.
As the Ottomans advanced, one galleass was sunk and one galley burnt and the rowing vessels retreated, after which the Venetians attacked the Ottoman sailing ships, resulting in 9 being burnt and 2 wrecked. The only Venetian loss was David Golia, which was burnt. Venetian casualties exclusive of the sunken ship were 126 killed and 180 wounded. 358 Ottomans were taken prisoner.
Venice (Lazzaro Mocenigo)
(most were hired from the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
)
? ("capitana")
Aquila Coronata
Concordia
Profeta Samuel
Tomaso Francesco
Campo d'Oche
Principessa grande
Tre Re
Croce d'Oro
Sacrificio d'Abramo
Lepre Rosso
Principessa piccola
Corona
Gallo d'Oro
Ercole grande
Re David
Isabella Maria
David Golia (sunk)
Pesce Triglio
Ercole piccolo
Arma di Nassau
Lionessa
Arma di Lech
Sant' Antonio di Padova
Leon Negro
6 galleys
4 galleasses
Galleass
The galleass developed from large merchant galleys.Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses...
Ottomans (Mustapha)
36 sailing ships - 9 burnt, 2 wrecked8 galleasses - 1 sunk
60 galleys - 1 burnt