On October 7, 1571, the Ottoman Empire and a Christian alliance known as The Holy League engaged in battle at Lepanto. Before the advent of the age of sail, it was the final significant battle between navies employing oar-powered ships. It is significant because it demonstrated to Europe that the Ottomans could be vanquished and that when unified, European civilization was a powerful force.
Table of ContentsInvasion of CyprusThe Holy LeaguePositioningThe BattleResultsHistory Carries On
In modern-day Turkey, in the latter half of the 13th century, a tiny Turkish emirate gave rise to the Ottoman Empire. As they soon grew, the Byzantine Empire was destroyed in 1453 when Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II overthrew Constantinople, its capital. Greek manuscripts were among the many volumes brought by Byzantine refugees who fled to the West, sparking the European Renaissance.
The Ottomans, Russians, Austrians, and Venetians frequently engage in battle now that they share a border wit...