Battle of the Dardanelles (1656)

The Third Battle of the Dardanelles in the Fifth Ottoman-Venetian War took place on 26 and 27 June 1656 inside the Dardanelles Strait. The battle was a clear victory for Venice and the Knights Hospitaller over the Ottoman Empire, although their commander, Lorenzo Marcello, was killed on the first day.

Background

Since 1645, Venice and the Ottoman Empire had been at war over the possession of the island of Crete. Ottoman forces had captured most of the island in the early years of the war, but were unable to seize its capital, the heavily fortified city of Candia (modern Heraklion). The Venetians had endeavoured to cut off supplies and reinforcements to the Ottoman army, and attempted several times to blockade the Straits of the Dardanelles, through which the Ottoman fleet had to sail to reach the Aegean Sea from its base around Constantinople.

Preface

Marcello reached the island of Imbros, outside the Dardanelles Strait, on 23 May 1656 with 13 sailing ships, 6 galleasses and 24 galleys as well as some more vessels under Pietro Bembo. On 11 June, 7 Maltese galleys under Gregorio Carafa arrived, making a total of 29 sailing ships, 7 galleasses and 31 galleys.

On 23 June the Ottomans, under Kenan or Chinam Pasha, a Russian convert, appeared in the Strait with 28 sailing ships, 9 galleasses and 61 galleys. On 24 June Ottoman land batteries on either side of the Straits tried to drive the Venetians off but failed.

Aftermath

It was the heaviest naval defeat the Ottomans had suffered since the Battle of Lepanto, and enabled the Venetians to occupy the strategically important islands of Tenedos and Lemnos, thus establishing a tight blockade of the Straits. As a result, the resupply of Crete was effectively cut off, and Constantinople itself suffered a shortage of food during the winter. In a three-day battle in July 1657, however, the blockade would be broken again.

Ships involved

Christian fleet

Venice (Lorenzo Marcello, with Pietro Bembo)

Fregata Contarini
Tomaso Francesco
Principessa grande
Tre Re
Croce d'Oro
Principessa piccola
Gallo d'Oro
Sacrificio d'Abram
Aquila Coronata (Kronede Arend)
Profeta Samuel
Arma di Nassau - Burnt
Lionessa
Arma di Lech
Leon Negro
Madonna del Carmine
Santa Caterina
Profeta Elia
San Bartolamio
Fama Volante
Ercole
Rosa Bianca
Speranza (or San Nicola)
Principe di Colognia
San Pietro (hired Dutch) - Burnt
Sultana/San Marco (ex-Ottoman) - Aground, abandoned and burnt
Santa Margarita
Paramor
?
?
7 galleasses
24 galleys

Malta (Gregorio Carafa)

7 galleys

Ottoman Empire (Kenan Pasha)

4 large sailing ships - Captured
24 other sailing ships - 22 sunk/burnt
2 pinks - Captured
9 galleasses - 5 captured, 4 sunk/burnt
61 galleys - 13 captured, 34 sunk/burnt

References

Sources