the great Christian-Muslim clash at the Battle of Lepanto /
Niccolò Capponi.
1st Da Capo Press edition.
Cambridge, MA :
Da Capo Press,
2007.
xxxvi, 412 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates :
illustrations, maps, portraits ;
24 cm
"First published 2006 by Macmillan"--Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 374-399) and index.
The waxing crescent -- A house divided -- Mediterranean medley -- Build-up to drama -- Cyprus -- A league of mistrust -- The cutting edge -- Bragadin's hide -- The 7th of October -- The phoenix's ashes -- Appendix 1: Battle arrays -- Appendix 2: Galley armament -- Glossary.
0
"On the morning of October 7, 1571, in the Gulf of Lepanto on the Ionian Sea, the vast and heavily-manned fleets of the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League of Christendom clashed in one of the greatest turning-point battles in history. Before the battle, Europe's future looked bleak. The growing Turkish threat appeared unstoppable. The Ottoman Sultan wanted to seize control of the entire Mediterranean. Plans were being drawn for a final invasion of the Christian West--an invasion of conquest and conversion. But by four o'clock that October afternoon the entire Turkish naval force, which had not lost a battle at sea in almost a century, was defeated by a fragile coalition of Christian states. The Ottomans lost over 200 warships and 35,000 men, and the spell of their maritime invincibility was broken forever. It was a victory of the West--the first major victory of Europeans against the mighty Ottoman Empire. In this compelling narrative history, Niccolo Capponi describes the clash of cultures that led to this crucial confrontation and takes a fresh look at the titanic struggle at sea between Islam and the West. It is a rich story of squabbling princes, vacillating alliances, and bitter sea fighting waged by determined men of faith. As a description of the age-old conflict between Christianity and Islam, it is a story that resonates today."--Dust jacket.
This is a vivid new account of one of the most decisive military encounters in history--the Battle of Lepanto. On the morning of October 7, 1571, in the Gulf of Lepanto on the Ionian Sea, the vast and heavily-manned fleets of the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League clashed in one of the most significant battles in history. By four o'clock that afternoon the sea was red with blood. It was a victory of the west -- the first major victory of Europeans against the Ottoman Empire. In this compelling piece of narrative history, Niccolo Capponi describes the clash of cultures that led to this crucial confrontation and takes a fresh look at the bloody struggle at sea between oared fighting galleys and determined men of faith. As a description of the age-old conflict between Christianity and Islam, it is a story that resonates today.