Changes

The battle was fought in the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece, and the outcome was a massive victory for the Christian fleet. The Turks suffered about 15,000-20,000 killed, out of 88,000 engaged; Christians lost 7,650 dead and 8,000 injured from a force of 84,000.  Out of 230 Ottoman galleys, 80 were sunk and 130 captured.<ref> The numbers vary widely among the sources.  Most of the oarsmen in the Turkish fleet were enslaved Christians; those who were captured by Don Juan were freed.</ref>

The battle was fought in the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece, and the outcome was a massive victory for the Christian fleet. The Turks suffered about 15,000-20,000 killed, out of 88,000 engaged; Christians lost 7,650 dead and 8,000 injured from a force of 84,000.  Out of 230 Ottoman galleys, 80 were sunk and 130 captured.<ref> The numbers vary widely among the sources.  Most of the oarsmen in the Turkish fleet were enslaved Christians; those who were captured by Don Juan were freed.</ref>

 

==Background==

==Background==

For over a century the Ottoman Empire had tried to expand west and north into Christian areas.<ref> See Andrew C. Hess, "The Battle of Lepanto and its Place in Mediterranean History." ''Past and Present'' 1972 #57: 53-73</ref> Europe was increasingly fearful.<ref>See Niccolò Capponi, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0306816180/ref=sib_dp_bod_toc?ie=UTF8&p=S00F#reader-link ''The Victory of the West: The Great Christian-Muslim Clash at the Battle of Lepanto'' (2007) ch. 1]</ref>

For over a century the Ottoman Empire had tried to expand west and north into Christian areas.<ref> See Andrew C. Hess, "The Battle of Lepanto and its Place in Mediterranean History." ''Past and Present'' 1972 #57: 53-73</ref> Europe was increasingly fearful.<ref>See Niccolò Capponi, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0306816180/ref=sib_dp_bod_toc?ie=UTF8&p=S00F#reader-link ''The Victory of the West: The Great Christian-Muslim Clash at the Battle of Lepanto'' (2007) ch. 1]</ref>