The Fall of Navarino was a military engagement between the Ottoman forces and the Venetian garrison in the fort of Navarino. The battle ended in Ottoman victory and the subsequent recapture of Navarino.
Background When the news reached Pope Alexander VI regarding the fall of Coron, Navarino, and Modon by the Ottomans, he dispatched papal legates to Europe calling for a Crusade. France, Hungary, and Spain answered the call. The Crusader fleet composed of French, Spanish, Papal, and Venetian ships, set out in autumn and easily captured Cephalonia in 1500. On December 3,Kenneth M. Setton, p. 350 the Venetians led by Benedetto Pesaro managed to recapture Navarino with 1 galley carrying 50 men. They successfully recaptured the castle using a ruse.Gordon Ellyson Abercrombie When the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II learned of the Venetian recapture, he dispatched a joint land and navy force to recapture the city. The navy was led by Kemal Reis while the land forces wer led by Hadım Ali Pasha.Christine Isom-Verhaaren, p. 94 Battle The Ottomans arrived on 28 May, 1501.Kenneth M. Setton, p. 351 The Venetian garrison was led by Carlo Contarini.Vincenzo Errante, p. 25 They had a garrison of 2,000 menGordon Ellyson Abercrombie and either four or eight ships in the harbor. The Ottoman navy had between 22 and 30 ships.Christine Isom-Verhaaren, p. 94-95 The attack began when Kemal Reis assaulted the harbor. In the following battle, the Ottomans emerged victorious with all Venetian ships captured and the death or capture of several crewmen.Christine Isom-Verhaaren, p. 94-95James Mitchell, p. 23 Afterwards, the land forces under Hadim Ali Pasha assaulted and scaled the walls, captured several commanders and began slaughtering inside.James Mitchell, p. 23 By the end of the day, all Venetian ships were captured and the entire garrison was slain.Gordon Ellyson Abercrombie Seeing the battle was lost, Contarini surrendered and asked for free passage to the island of Corfu which the Ottomans agreed to.Vincenzo Errante, p. 26 Kemal Reis's nephew, Piri Reis, participated in the naval battle.Christine Isom-Verhaaren, p. 95
Aftermath The loss of Navarino angered the Venetian admiral Benedetto Pesaro who had Contarini executed for his failure.Vincenzo Errante, p. 26 Fourteen days after the capture, the Ottoman navy arrived in Istanbul where the sultan awarded Kemal 3,000 akçe while Piri received a raise of five akçe per day.Christine Isom-Verhaaren, p. 95 References
Sources Christine Isom-Verhaaren (2021), The Sultan's Fleet, Seafarers of the Ottoman Empire.
Gordon Ellyson Abercrombie (2025), The Hospitaller Knights of Saint John at Rhodes 1306–1522.
Vincenzo Errante (1883), History of the Ottoman Empire from Osman to the Peace of Karlowitz, Vol II.
Kenneth M. Setton (1989), A History of the Crusades, Vol VI, The Impact of the Crusades on Europe.
James Mitchell (1831), The History of the Maritime Wars of the Turks.