The battle of Lepanto has long been considered one of the decisive
naval battles of history. Yet, the savage fighting on Sunday, 7
October 1571 left the strategic map unchanged and the defeated
Ottoman Turks were able to replace their losses and launch a new
fleet the following year. Nic Fields re-examines the battle and
concludes that, while it merely confirmed a strategic reality that
had already emerged during the 16th century (i.e. that naval
supremacy lay with the Sublime Porte in the eastern Mediterranean,
and with Habsburg Spain and its Catholic allies in the western
Mediterranean), it's vital importance was psychological. It sank
the perception of Ottoman dominance and the inevitability of
Islam's westward encroachment beyond the Balkans. With over 200
ships per side, it was the largest naval battle in sixteen
centuries and the last major fight between fleets composed entirely
of the muscle-driven galley. These slender ships were the direct
descendants of the Classical trireme but carried cannon and marines
bearing firearms, although massed archery and cold steel still
played a major r le on the fateful day. Nic Fields gives an
excellent account of this fascinating and spectacular battle.
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