John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
Very early next morning D. John visited all the galleys, one by one, to
comfort and aid the wounded and to take count of the losses suffered.
The Christians lost in the battle of Lepanto fifteen galleys and nearly
8000 men; of these 2000 were Spaniards, 800 the Pope's men, and the rest
Venetians. Of the Turkish armada 30 galleys got away, 90 were sunk in
the gulf, and the remaining 178 were in the hands of the Christians,
with 117 big cannon and 250 of smaller size. At the same time more than
12,000 Christian captives whom the Turks had rowing in their galleys
regained their liberty. These poor creatures, wild with joy, offered
spontaneously, and with the greatest enthusiasm, to take the places of
the wounded and killed in the Christian fleet, both as soldiers and
sailors.
The division of the spoil D. John made in the following manner,
according to what was stipulated in the articles of the Holy League.
To the Pope, 27 galleys, 9 big cannon, 3 swivel guns, 42 small cannon,
and 200 slaves.
To the Catholic King, Ali Pasha's galley, the "Sultana," with 81 others,
78 great cannon, 12 swivel guns, 178 small cannon, and 3700 slaves.
To Venice 54 galleys, 38 cannon, 6 swivel guns, 84 small cannon, and
2500 slaves.
To D. John of Austria, as Generalissimo, fell the tenth part of
everything; but he only took 16 galleys, 700 slaves, and one of every
ten pieces of artillery. Among the prisoners he kept the tutor of the
sons of Ali Pasha, Alhamet, who was taken with them by Marco Antonio
Colonna on the galley of the King of Negroponto, where they had taken
refuge after their own ship had gone to the bottom.
From Santa Maura D. John sent the Field-Marshal D. Lope de Figueroa to
the King his brother; also his courier Angulo, carrying the standard of
the Prophet called "Sanjac," taken from Ali's galley. To the Pope he
sent the Conde de Priego; D. Fernando de Mendoza to the Emperor
Maximilian II of Austria; and D. Pedro Zapata de Calatayud to the
Signory of Venice, to offer them congratulations.
[Illustration:
_Photo Lacoste_
DISPATCH ANNOUNCING THE VICTORY OF LEPANTO
]
[Illustration:
_Photo Lacoste_
POSTSCRIPT ANNOUNCING VICTORY OF LEPANTO
IN D. JOHN OF AUSTRIA'S WRITING
]
In the delirium of triumph D. John of Austria did not forget his "aunt,"
Doña Magdalena de Ulloa, and at the same time as he sent to the Pope,
King, Emperor, and Signory, he sent Jorge de Lima to her, taking her
that which he knew would please her most as a Christian, a Spaniard, and
a loving mother, the "piece of the True Cross," the Pope's present,
which he had worn at the battle of Lepanto, and a Turkish flag he
himself had taken from the galley of the Serasker.
CHAPTER XIII
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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