Battle of Zonchio

Timeline

1. 1499Entrance to the Gulf of Zonchio · Ionian SeaKemal Reis led about 200 Ottoman warships into the Gulf of Zonchio, where they encountered the Venetian fleet under Antonio Grimani along with several allied vessels; the two sides engaged with galleys and early artillery.
2. 1499Gulf of Zonchio · Central GreeceIn the fierce fighting, the large Venetian galleon Famagusta exploded and sank after its powder magazine was hit; several Venetian and allied ships were damaged or captured. Grimani failed to coordinate the squadrons effectively, and the fleet retreated westward, abandoning control of the gulf.
3. 1499Ionian Sea · Ionian SeaAfter the battle, the Ottoman fleet controlled the waters from the Gulf of Zonchio along the Peloponnese coast, providing naval cover for the subsequent sieges of Modon, Coron, and other fortresses. Venice held Grimani accountable at home, and eastern Mediterranean trade and military routes were forced to adjust.