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The '''Battle of Lepanto''' was a decisive naval engagement fought on 7 October 1571. A Turkish fleet of about 275 galleys and other ships under Ali Pasha clashed with a Christian force of about 230 galleys and galleasses (much larger than galleys). The Christian fleet was mostly from the nations of Spain and Venice, and was commanded by Don John of Austria.  

The '''Battle of Lepanto''' was a decisive naval engagement fought on 7 October 1571. A Turkish fleet of about 275 [[galley]]s and other ships under Ali Pasha clashed with a Christian force of about 230 galleys and [[galleasses]] (much larger than galleys). The Christian fleet was mostly from the nations of [[Spain]] and [[Venice]], and was commanded by Don John of Austria.  

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>

[[Image:Lepanto1.jpg|thumb|330px]]

[[Image:Lepanto1.jpg|thumb|330px]]

==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>

[[Suleiman I]], the Magnificent (1520-66), captured Belgrade and Rhodes, but failed in his siege of Vienna (1529). His son, Selim II (1566-74), was under the sway of Don Joseph Nasi, who persuaded Selim to declare war on Venice for the purpose of taking Cyprus, which at the time was under Venetian control.

[[Suleiman I]], the Magnificent (1520-66), captured [[Belgrade]] and [[Rhodes]], but failed in his siege of [[Vienna]] (1529). His son, Selim II (1566-74), was under the sway of Don Joseph Nasi, who persuaded Selim to declare war on Venice for the purpose of taking Cyprus, which at the time was under Venetian control.

The delicate military balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean finally tipped when the Turks invaded Cyprus, massacred the people of Nicosia, and laid siege to Famagusta, which fell on August 4, 1571. Pope Pius V then unified most of the Christian forces into a '''"Holy League"''' against the Turks. Spain gave command to Don Juan of Austria (1547-1578), the half brother of King [[Philip II]] of Spain. The master engineers of Venice provided the fleet with the galleass, a ship able to carry numerous heavy [[Naval guns|guns]].   

The delicate military balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean finally tipped when the Turks invaded [[Cyprus]], massacred the people of Nicosia, and laid siege to Famagusta, which fell on August 4, 1571. Pope Pius V then unified most of the Christian forces into a '''"Holy League"''' against the Turks. Spain gave command to Don Juan of Austria (1547-1578), the illigitimate half brother of King [[Philip II]] of Spain. The master engineers of Venice provided the fleet with the galleass, a ship able to carry numerous heavy [[Naval guns|guns]].   

==Battle==

==Battle==