The History of the Maritime Wars of the Turks. Chapters I. to IV.Kâtip Çelebi
History
The History of the Maritime Wars of the Turks. Chapters I. to IV.
Kâtip Çelebi
Turkey -- History -- 1453-1683; Turkey -- History, Naval
The Vezier Mustaffa Pasha, having been charged with the subjugation of
that part of Albania which was in rebellion, proceeded thither, and
subdued it, plundering the inhabitants. Avlona being bounded on the
west by the sea, and on the east by rebellious Albania, the natives
of which held intercourse with the infidel ships, by the advice of
Eias Pasha the whole of that line of country was subjugated; and the
rebels of Delvina having also submitted, territory to the extent of two
sanjaks was thus added to the Sublime Porte.
When the whole fleet was collected opposite Avlona, sixty vessels
were consigned to Khair-ad-din to conduct those that were bringing
provisions from Egypt. The chief commander, Lutfi Pasha, taking charge
of the remaining vessels, went over to the Puglia coasts, and attacked
a few castles, which he rased, first securing the prisoners and their
wealth.
As Khair-ad-din was passing the island of Corfu, about forty Venetian
galleys that were lying in the neighbourhood, seeing his fleet, and
supposing that he was leaving altogether, resolved to join the rest
of their fleet, which was then in the Gulf of Venice. On their way to
the rendezvous they were met by Lutfi Pasha on his return from Puglia,
who gave them battle, sunk two of their ships, took two, and the rest
escaped to Corfu. Khair-ad-din then brought his provision-ships to
Prevesa, and thence sailed to Avlona, where the sultans fleet had again
assembled.
ACCOUNT OF THE TREACHERY OF THE VENETIANS.
The Venetian infidels are a people famous for their great wealth,
their extensive commerce, and their deceit and perfidy in all their
transactions. Having by treachery taken most of the islands in their
possession from the Hungarian princes, and these islands being on
the borders of the Ottoman dominions, and deriving their subsistence
and trade from them, the Venetians from necessity maintain a show of
friendship, but are in reality the most inveterate of all the enemies
of the faith. During the above expedition, they being unmolested, the
governor of Gallipoli harbour, Ali Ketkhoda, happened to touch at Corfu
with two galleys on his way to join the Moslem fleet, when Andrea
Doria, who was there at the time, came out with the Corfiote vessels,
and attacked him. A fierce engagement ensued, in which the superior
numbers of the infidels overcame the warriors, and the battle having
lasted from morning till afternoon,[38] most of the Gallipoli vessels
were burnt or sunk, and the survivors were made prisoners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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