Action of 26 June 1625

Last updated
Action of 26 June 1625
Part of Ottoman–Habsburg wars
Date26 June 1625
Location
Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg Order of Saint John Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1453-1517).svg Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Order of St. John (various).svg Michele de Pontalier Tallamey [1] Unknown
Strength
5 galleys 2 galleys
4 vessels
Casualties and losses
2 galleys captured
350 killed [2]
Unknown

The action of 26 June 1625 was a naval battle that took place on 26 June 1625 near Syracuse, Sicily, when 6 Bizertan vessels defeated 5 Maltese galleys.

Contents

On June 26th, while in harbor at Syracuse, the Maltese general, Tallamey, heard that six Bizertans had been sighted close at hand. Without waiting to embark extra troops or to make other preparations for action, he put them to sea and, to make things worse, allowed his galleys to attack the enemy one by one. In the end, after being wounded, he abandoned the battle and fled to Malta. Two other galleys escaped to Syracuse, but the ships, S. Giovanni and S. Francesco, were captured. Losses in all the galleys were severe. After this battle, the general resigned from his command [3]

This setback prompted the Maltese Council to pass new orders concerning the number of men on board each galley and the qualifications of the captains. [4]

Ships involved

Bizerta

2 galleys (formerly Spanish, captured in 1624)
4 other vessels

Malta

San Giovanni - Captured
San Francesco - Captured
3 other galleys

Sources

References

  1. Ayse Devrim Atauz, p. 241
  2. Ayse Devrim Atauz, p. 241
  3. R. C. Anderson, p. 144
  4. Ayse Devrim Atauz, p. 241

37°04′26″N15°19′44″E / 37.074°N 15.329°E / 37.074; 15.329