Siege of Santa Maura (1684)

Siege of Santa Maura
Part of the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War
and the War of the Holy League

Engraving of the castle's bombardment by the Venetian fleet (Jacob Peeters, 1686)
DateJuly 21 – August 6, 1684
Location38°43′04″N 20°38′38″E / 38.717778°N 20.643889°E / 38.717778; 20.643889
Result Venetian victory
Belligerents
Republic of Venice Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Francesco Morosini Bekir Agha
Strength
38 galleys
8 galleasses
22 sailing ships
700 men
Casualties and losses
127 dead
128 wounded
1,750 sick
Unknown

The siege of Santa Maura took place on 21 July – 6 August 1684 between the forces of the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire, and was the opening battle of the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. From his base at Corfu the Venetian commander-in-chief, Francesco Morosini, led a fleet of 38 galleys, 8 galleasses and several auxiliary vessels to besiege the Fortress of Santa Maura on the island of Lefkada (also known as Santa Maura), that was under Ottoman rule. The besieging forces were swelled by Greek levies and volunteers from the Ionian Islands. The siege lasted until 6 August, when the commander Bekir Agha, bowing to pressure from the 500 Albanians and 200 Greeks in the fortress garrison, surrendered to the Venetians.