Battle of Palermo (1624)

Battle of Palermo (1624)
Part of Ottoman–Habsburg wars
DateMay 1624
Location
Palermo, Sicily
Result Christian victory
Belligerents
Spanish Empire
Order of St. John		 Eyalet of Tunis
Regency of Algiers
Commanders and leaders
Álvaro de Bazán y Benavides Unknown
Strength
28 galleys 13 galleys
Casualties and losses
Minor 7 galleys sunk
6 galleys captured

The Battle of Palermo of 1624 was a naval battle between Hispano-Maltese fleet led by Álvaro de Bazán y Benavides and a Barbary corsair fleet from Tunisia and Algiers.

Background

In 1624, Álvaro de Bazán y Benavides returned to Sicily from patrolling near Ibiza and capturing there three loaded Ottoman galleons in route to Alexandria.[1] Learning that a combined Barbary fleet, composed by galleys from the Regency of Algiers and the Ottoman Tunisian port of Bizerte, was cruising and making prey around the coasts of Italy and Spain, he decided to take action.[2] Bazán sailed off from Palermo at the head of 14 galleys from Sicily and 14 from the Order of St. John of Malta.[3] By coincidence, the Barbary armada was at the other side of the cape of Palermo, and both fleets clashed threed days later.[3]

Battle

Despite their disadvantage in numbers, the Barbary galleys formed and became ready for battle. Comfortable with his own predicament, Bazán sent Ensign Juan de Quesada in a boat and offered them to surrender, but the Turk captain in command of the Muslims declined the offer and demanded in turn be given free passage of Algiers, where they were previously heading to.[4] The battle started shortly after, with Bazán ordering to open fire with all of their artillery. The Barbary fleet was overwhelmed and attempted to turn back and escape the way they came, but the Christians hunted them down, sinking seven of them and capturing the remnant six. Many prisoners were taken and 400 Christian galley slaves were freed.[5]

Aftermath

Victory was communicated to Viceroy of Sicily, Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, who ordered the booty to be divided among the crewmen.[5] Bazán would sail again against Barbary fleets later into the month, achieving victory in the battles of Gulf of Tunis and the Dalmatian Coast.[6]

References

  1. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 419.
  2. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 416.
  3. ^ a b Fernández Duro (1885), p. 417.
  4. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 417-418.
  5. ^ a b Fernández Duro (1885), p. 418.
  6. ^ de la Guardia (1914).

Bibliography

  • Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1885). El gran duque de Osuna y su marina: jornadas contra turcos y venecianos (1602-1624). Sucesores de Rivadeneyra.
  • Gómez, Antonio (2019). Con balas de plata VI. 1621-30. Difundia. ISBN 9788417799991.
  • de la Guardia, Ricardo (1914). Notas para un Cronicón de la Marina Militar de España. Anales de trece siglos de historia de la marina. El Correo Gallego.