Sea battle 7 Oct 1571, fought in the
Mediterranean Gulf of Corinth off Lepanto
(Italian name of the Greek port of
Naupaktos), then in Turkish possession,
between the Ottoman Empire and forces from
Spain, Venice, Genoa, and the Papal States,
jointly commanded by Don John of Austria. The
combined western fleets delivered a crushing
blow to Muslim sea power. The Spanish writer
Cervantes was wounded in the battle.