Action of 8 July 1716

Part of the Siege of Corfu, during the Ottoman–Venetian War of 1714–18

Plan of the dispositions of the opposing fleets in the Corfu Channel

Date	8 July 1716
Location	Corfu
Result	Indecisive

Belligerents

Ottoman Empire

Republic of Venice

Commanders and leaders

Canum Hoca

Andrea Cornaro

Strength

~50 warships

27 warships

Casualties and losses

unknown

116 dead, 250 wounded

No ships were sunk in this action.

This indecisive naval battle took place on 8 July 1716 during a Turkish attempt to capture the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), off the west coast of mainland Greece.

War had been declared between the Ottoman Empire and Venice on 9 December 1714, although it wasn't until June 1715 that a Turkish fleet left the Dardanelles Strait. Soon Venice had been forced out of almost all of the Morea.

In 1716, the Turks goal was the capture of the western Greek island of Corfu. This island forms a horseshoe shape, with the two ends close to the Greek mainland, and forms a bay with two narrow entrances. On the island, midway between the two entrances, is the town also called Corfu. Because of the prevailing winds it is difficult for sailing fleets to sail into this bay from the south. The Turkish fleet, under Kapudan Pasha Canum Hoca left the Dardanelles Strait in May 1716 and made its way around the Morea and up the west coast. Meanwhile, Venetian commander Andrea Cornaro had sailed south from Corfu to Sapienza with his sailing fleet, leaving the galley fleet behind, under Andrea Pisani. As the Turks approached he withdrew northward to Zante (Zakynthos), where he was met by Pisani and the galleys. After a search for the Turks, he realised on 27 June that they had sailed past him further out to sea, and he proceeded back to Corfu, sailing up the western side of the island so as to use the northern entrance to the Corfu Channel. Pisani was already in the bay with 2 galleasses and 13 galleys.

The Turkish fleet had already rounded the island and was anchored across the northern channel, between the island and the mainland. Pisani withdrew his vessels under the guns of the fortress, and later, on 5 July, he withdrew his vessels through the southern channel. On 8 July the Turks began landing troops from the mainland across to the north of the island. Meanwhile, Cornaro had reached Otranto in southern Italy on 7 July, where he learned of the Turkish presence at Corfu. He crossed to the Albanian coast with his 27 ships and sailed south, sailing through the northern channel and attacking the Turkish fleet, which was anchored off the town, at 1pm on 8 July.

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