Battle of Matapan


The Battle of Matapan, also known as the Battle of Cape Matapan, was a naval battle in the Laconian Gulf, an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, fought between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire on 19 July, 1717, off Cape Matapan in southern Greece. It was part of the Seventh Ottoman-Venetian War of 1714 – 1718.
The Venetian fleet was supported by a mixed squadron of allied ships from Portugal, the Papal States and the Knights Hospitaller of Malta. The Ottoman fleet was commanded by Kapudan Pasha Ibrahim Pasha.

Prelude

On July 2, two Venetian squadrons joined forces off of Cape Matapan. The first squadron, composed of 24 sailing ships, was led by Capitano delle Navi Marcantonio Diedo. The second was a squadron of 24 galleys commanded by Captain General of the Sea Andrea Pisani. They met a small squadron of nine mixed Portuguese and Maltese ships led by the Maltese knight Bellefontaine.
The combined fleet, facing unfavorable winds, was unable to reach the island of Sapientza as planned. Desperate for water, they risked being trapped in the Laconian Gulf and sailed to the island of Cranae, located off of Gytheio, to resupply.

Battle

The allied fleet was organized into four divisions: Diedo was in the van; following was the center led by his second-in-command Correr. The third or rear division was commanded by Dolfin. The fourth or allied division was commanded by Bellefontaine.
On 19, July the Venetians sighted the Ottoman fleet of 30 sailing ships and 4 galleys to their south, on the west side of the gulf entrance. The Ottomans, with a light wind from the south-southeast, had the advantage. Diedo was unable to sail to the west of the Ottoman fleet, and he decided to sail east across the gulf.
At sunrise, Ibrahim attacked Venice's rear division with six of his ships; the rest of the Ottoman fleet sailed ahead and attacked the Venetian van and center. At noon the two fleets approached the eastern side of the gulf. The leading ships then turned as the wind shifted from the southeast, which put the leading Venetian ships to windward of the Ottoman fleet for the first time. Seeing his advantage, Diedo attacked. In the early afternoon the Ottoman fleet retired, sailing for the Cervi–Cerigo passage; the Venetians and allies sailed for Cape Matapan, the southern tip of the Mani Peninsula. Neither side wished to continue the fight.

Aftermath

The battle was considered a victory for Venice and her allies. Each allied state gave their own ships complete credit for any achievements. Accounts are highly unreliable; many list forces which were not actually present at the battle.
In Lisbon, the victory off Matapan was celebrated and served to enhance John V's international prestige. For the support given to the allied Catholic forces, the Portuguese King received the title of the "Most Faithful" and the arch-episcopacy of Lisbon was elevated to the status of a patriarchate.
The Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War was the last conflict between the two powers. It ended with an Ottoman victory and Venice losing its major Greek possession, the Kingdom of the Morea. The war ended with the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718.

Ships involved

Venice and allies

  • Blue Division - Vanguard
  • *Madonna dell'Arsenal 68 guns
  • *Costanza 70 guns
  • *Trionfo 70 guns
  • *Leon Trionfante 80 guns
  • *San Francesco da Paola 54 guns
  • *Aquila Valiera 70 guns
  • *Fenice 60 guns
  • *Sant'Andrea 60 guns
  • *Gloria Veneta 68 guns
  • Yellow Division - Center
  • *Corona 74 guns
  • *Madonna della Salute 70 guns
  • *Terror 70 guns
  • *San Pio V 70 guns
  • *San Pietro Apostolo, bought in Livorno, 50 guns
  • *Aquila Volante 52 guns, also reported as Aquiletta
  • *Fede Guerriera 60 guns
  • *Nettuno 52 guns
  • *Sacra Lega 50 guns
  • Red Division - Rear
  • *San Gaetano 70 guns
  • *Fortuna Guerriera 68 guns
  • *Venezia Trionfante 52 guns
  • *San Lorenzo Zustinian II 70 guns
  • *Grand'Alessandro 70 guns
  • *Colomba d'Oro 70 guns, also reported as Colomba
  • *Rosa 60 guns, also reported as Rosa Moceniga
  • *Valor Coronato 52 guns
  • *São Lourenço 58 guns
  • Allied Division
  • *San Raimondo 46 guns
  • *Fortuna Guerriera 70 guns
  • *Rainha dos Anjos 56 guns
  • *Nossa Senhora das Necessidades 66 guns
  • *Santa Catarina 56 guns
  • *Nossa Senhora do Pilar 84 guns
  • *Santa Rosa 66 guns
  • *Nossa Senhora da Conceição 80 guns
  • *Nossa Senhora da Assunção 66 guns
  • Auxiliaries
  • *Captain Trivisan - Scuttled
  • *Madonna del Rosario - Sunk

    Galleys

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

Casualties

According to Saturnino Monteiro, the Portuguese ships were heavily damaged, with around 50 killed and 150 wounded. The Maltese ships likely suffered fewer casualties as they were involved in combat for a shorter time, while the Venetian ships experienced little to no damage.
As for the Ottomans, Monteiro notes that one ship sank from artillery fire and another was accidentally set on fire, though eyewitnesses do not confirm this. Some claimed up to 6,000 Ottoman deaths, but Monteiro considers this number exaggerated.