Siege of the Castle of Saint George facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of the Castle of St. George |
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| Part of the Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503) | |||||||
 19th-century depiction of Gonzalo de Córdoba directing the assault against the castle |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spain Republic of Venice |
 Ottoman Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba Benedetto Pesaro |
Gisdar Aga † |
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The Siege of the Castle of Saint George was an important battle that happened from November 8 to December 24, 1500. During this time, an army from Spain and Venice worked together. They were led by a brave captain named Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. Their goal was to capture a strong fort held by the Ottomans on the island of Cephalonia. This victory was a big success for Spain and Venice after some tough times in their war against the Ottomans.
Contents
What Happened at the Castle of Saint George?
This battle was part of a bigger conflict called the Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503). This war was fought between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Venice was a powerful city-state in Italy. The Ottoman Empire was a large and strong empire. They often fought over control of lands and trade routes.
Cephalonia: An Important Island
Cephalonia is one of the Ionian Islands. These islands are located off the western coast of Greece. For many years, Cephalonia was ruled by Italian noble families. But in 1479, the Ottoman Empire took control of the island. Venice briefly held it again in 1482–83. However, the Ottomans quickly got it back. They kept control until the year 1500.
The War Before the Siege
The war between Venice and the Ottomans started in 1499. The Ottomans attacked a Venetian port called Lepanto in Greece. Lepanto surrendered in August 1499. The war continued to go badly for Venice. The Ottomans then focused on an area called the Morea. They attacked and captured Modon in August 1500. After Modon fell, other nearby forts like Coron and Navarino also surrendered.
Spain Joins the Fight
On August 17, 1500, something important happened. The Spanish captain-general, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, offered his army to help Venice. Spain and Venice became allies against the Ottomans. With the help of the Spanish fleet, the Venetian navy prepared for a new attack. Benedetto Pesaro was the new leader of the Venetian navy. He was called the captain-general of the Sea.
The Attack on Cephalonia
The combined Spanish and Venetian forces landed on Cephalonia. They began a siege of the island's main fort, the Castle of St. George. A siege is when an army surrounds a fort or city. They try to cut off supplies and force the people inside to surrender. The siege lasted for several weeks. Finally, on December 24, 1500, the Spanish-Venetian army captured the castle. This was a big victory for them.
What Happened Next?
After the castle was captured, the Spanish commander and his fleet returned to Sicily. But Benedetto Pesaro continued to fight. He went on to take back another island called Santa Maura (Lefkada) in August 1502. A peace treaty was signed in Constantinople in December 1502. This treaty officially ended the war. Cephalonia remained under Venetian control. However, Santa Maura was returned to the Ottoman Empire in 1503.
See also
In Spanish: Asedio de Cefalonia para niños
