LepantoOctober 7, 1571.ppt

Lepanto, 1571Strength * LepantoOctober 7, 1571 Strategic Context In response to the Ottoman invasion of Venetian-held Cyprus, Pope Pius V proclaims the Holy League, comprising the Papacy, Spain, Venice, Genoa, Tuscany, Savoy, Urbino, Parma and the Knights of Malta. The Holy League’s purpose is to resist Ottoman Empire’s aspirations in the Mediterranean Sea. Two weeks after the Ottomans crush the last resistance on Cyprus, this mutually suspicious alliance finally assembles a fleet under Don Juan of Austria and seeks out the Ottoman fleet. Ottoman scouts report the Holy League fleet’s arrival in the Gulf of Patras to Müezzinzade Ali Pasha, commander of the Ottoman fleet, who orders an attack. This decision is against the advice of his peers who argue for a defensive position. Stakes + A Holy League victory would halt – at least temporarily – Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean. + An Ottoman victory would splinter the Holy League alliance and encourage Ottoman dominance of the Mediterranean. By Jonathan Webb, 2010 ? Holy League Well Ottomans Well Don Juan of Austria 216 galleys 202 galleys Müezzinzade Ali Pasha By Jonathan Webb, 2010 ? 6 galeasses 64 galiots Müezzinzade Pasha deploys his fleet in five divisions, three being pre-committed to fight at his dense center. His left wing has the most room to maneuver and thus equipped with many with smaller, more agile galiots. He plans to preserve his center while one or both of his wings defeat their opposition and envelop the Holy League line. Juan deploys his fleet in four divisions, one being a reserve. Juan strengthens his center with both quantity and quality of galleys and allows his lethal galeasses to sail ahead of the main line to thin out the Ottoman ranks. He plans to crush the Ottoman center while his wings prevent his own center from being outflanked. Overall, the Holy League galleys are larger and boast more firepower but are slower than their Ottoman counterparts. Both Müezzinzade and Juan