The Decisive Battles of World History

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way across the Mediterranean to the harbor of Lepanto in the Gulf
of Corinth.

x Strictly speaking, the loss of Cyprus also removed the urgency to
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1571, just off Scropha Point in the Gulf of Patras.

The Battle
x The Holy League deployed its ships into four squadrons:
o On the left wing were 53 galleys under the command of
Agostino Barbarigo.


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the Real.

o On the right were 53 galleys under the command of Gian
Andrea Doria.

o Behind this line was a rearguard of 38 galleys under Don
Alvaro de Bazan.

x Each of the three main squadrons had two galleasses, which were
towed to a position about 500 yards in front of the Christian battle
line. The galleasses of the northern and central divisions made it
to their appointed stations, but the pair assigned to the south were
held up by contrary winds and their own unwieldiness and lagged
to the rear.

x The Turks mirrored this formation: a center squadron of 87 galleys
XQGHU$OL3DVKDLQKLVÀDJVKLSWKHSultana; a northern wing of
60; a southern one of 61 under the capable admiral Uluch Ali; and
a small rearguard of 8. As was customary, the Turkish formation
adopted a shallow crescent shape, while the Christians maintained
a straight battle line.
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