History
The Battle of Lepanto
7 October 1571
On 7 October 1571, in the Gulf of Patras off western Greece, the fleet of the Holy League, an alliance of Spain, Venice, the Papal States and other Christian powers under Don John of Austria, met the Ottoman fleet commanded by Ali Pasha. More than four hundred galleys clashed in one of the largest naval battles in history. By evening the Ottoman fleet was largely destroyed, and thousands of Christian galley slaves had been set free.
Pope St. Pius V, who had worked tirelessly to form the League, had asked the faithful to pray the Rosary for its success, and on that day Rosary confraternities in Rome were in procession. A cherished tradition says that the Pope, at work with his cardinals, suddenly rose, went to the window and announced that the Christian fleet had won, long before any messenger could arrive. Above the battle, Veronese shows saints pleading with the Virgin for Venice.
News of the victory spread through Europe in printed broadsheets like this Venetian view of 1572, crowded with hundreds of galleys. Venice gave thanks to the Virgin; a much-quoted inscription, attributed to the Venetian Senate though its source is uncertain, reads: 'Not courage, not arms, not leaders, but Mary of the Rosary made us victors.' Among the wounded was a young Spanish soldier, Miguel de Cervantes, who lost the use of his left hand.