It is the 7th of October, 1571.
Europe is saved from the expansion of the Ottoman Empire, at the sacrifice of one island.
Cyprus.
Let us take a moment today to pay tribute to everyone who was sacrificed that day, but to also take a moment to reflect upon the gravity of that singular event, which is now referred to as “The battle of Lepanto”.
But first things first.
In 1571, Cyprus was already attacked viciously by the Ottoman Empire, with the final remaining stronghold being Famagusta, secured by the mighty grip of (Amongst others) the Cypriot royal families of Podokatharoi, and Flatro, but also by Marco Antonio Bragadin and Astorre Balgioni.
At the same time, a coalition called “The Holy League” consisting out of the Papal States under Pius V, Habsburg Spain (including Naples and Sicily), the Republic of Venice, the Republic of Genoa, the Knights of Malta, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Order of Saint Stephen under Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Duchy of Savoy under Emmanuel Philibert, the Duchy of Urbino under Guidobaldo II della Rovere, and the Duchy of Parma under Ottavio Farnese, was created.
The Holy League’s creation on May 25th 1571 was promoted by Pope Pius V, in order for it to rescue Famagusta from the grip of the Ottoman Empire.
Though, by the time they had reached the Kingdom of Naples on August 14th, it was already too late.
Bragadin and Astorre, seeing that they only had seven barrels of gunpowder, and no food left, they had decided to surrender on the 1st of August in 1571, deciding to talk with Lala Mustafa, accompanied by Ieronymos Martinengo, Ioanni Antonio Quirini and 300 more Cypriot officers.
Lala Mustafa accused Bragadin of having munition hidden and having killed Ottoman prisoners (Mad for the death of 50.000 Ottomans), and proceeded to decapitate Astorre, murder 298 of the other officers (Excluding two Greeks) and cut off the ear of Bragadin his self, before his officers cut his other ear and nose.
In the days that followed, the citizens of Famagusta were slaughtered, beaten, or (some) were sold as slaves; save a portion of the Greek population that had already evacuated or remained their to live under Ottoman rule (The latter ones came to be known in a few centuries as the first citizens of Varosha).
After making it through 2 weeks of endless torture and severe agony, Bragadin was taken into the central plateau of Famagusta, stripped down naked, and flayed whilst tied on a pole.
Right before succumbing to his wounds, he was asked to become a Muslim, something that he refused, choosing to leave his final breath praying.
In the meantime, when the Holy League reached Cephalonia, they learned of the great misfortune that had befallen upon Cyprus, and went on to pass Messina and the Gulf of Corinth, before finally heading into the Gulf of Patras in the morning of the 7th of October, where the battle of Lepanto took place.
With a severe superiority guns (around 1.800 on the Holy League’s side, whereas the Ottomans had 760 or so), but with an equal amount of galleys (200 on both sides), the Ottoman armies were finally overtaken, and Christendom secured.
Following the battle, the great diplomat Marcantonio Barbaro tried to negotiate a peace treaty for Cyprus with Grand Vizier Mehmed Sokullu, who even boasted to the diplomat, by saying the following, historical words.
“You come to see how we bear our misfortune. But I would have you know the difference between your loss and ours. In wrestling Cyprus from you, we deprived you of an arm; in defeating our fleet, you have only shaved our beard. An arm when cut off cannot grow again; but a shorn beard will grow all the better for the razor.”
As we all know, his words, did come true.
Cyprus came to be part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries to come, though, the Ottoman Empire never became what it once was.
Today, let us take a moment to honor those who died, and for their great sacrifice, but also for our dear Cyprus, that has been the shield of Europe, and maybe sometimes the only sword.
In the years that followed, many paintings and publications were made honoring the event, and the fortress of Palmanova was built in Italy by the Republic of Venice, on October 1593 to commemorate that same victory.
“And what about the four commanders you ask?”
Well, if we neglect talking about the noble families which still survive to this day, the four commanders are now thought of in silence. Forgotten by Cyprus, but still present.
Bragadin has a glorious tomb in San Zanipolo, Martinengo was buried with honors at the chapel of Saint Sophia in Nicosia, and the bastion to the left of the gates of Kyreneia in the Nicosia walls is named after Quirini after the name of the Ioannis Antonios. Though, when it comes to Astorre, no one knows for certain.
As for Cyprus, history will go on to prove that she would still endure many hardships, and would still be used as a shield, especially in our recent history.
Hopefully, in the future, on another 7th of October, Cyprus will not celebrate yet another great sacrifice of hers, but a victory, one not seen since the time of the Ibelins.
Hopefully.
