Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, notable, early modern

Battle of Matapan

Battle of Matapan was a naval engagement fought in 1717 at Cape Matapan, in what is now Greece. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Cape Matapan. It was part of the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War, which ran from 1714 to 1718. The recorded result: Portuguese victory. Recorded strength: 34 ships; 24 galleys; 1 frigate against 8 ships.

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Portuguese and Ottoman ships at the Battle of Matapan
Portuguese and Ottoman ships at the Battle of Matapan. Óleo sobre a tela, pintado por António José Ramos em 1956, cópia do original feito por João Dantas em 1812., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought1717
WhereCape Matapan, Greece36.385N, 22.483E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomePortuguese victory
BelligerentsOttoman EmpireagainstKingdom of Portugal
Part ofSeventh Ottoman–Venetian War1714 to 1718

Where it sits in the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War

Siege of Souda, 1715Siege of Nauplia, 1715Siege of Corfu, 1716Action of 8 July 1716, 1716Battle of Imbros, 1717Battle of Matapan, 1717Battle of Elafonisos, 1718Siege of Ulcinj, 171817151718Battle of Matapan, 1717
8 placed engagements of the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date1717 (year precision)
PlaceCape Matapan, Greece
36.385N, 22.483E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength34 ships; 24 galleys; 1 frigate8 ships
Casualties and lossesSee Casualties section
Commanders
  • Lopo Furtado de Mendonça, 1st Count of Rio Grande
Battle of MatapanBattle of MatapanBattle of VromopigadaBattle of GythiumSiege of KastaniaSiege of MonemvasiaSiege of Coron (1533–1534)Battle of VromopigadaSiege of KastaniaSiege of MonemvasiaTripoliSpartiHania100 km36.385N, 22.483E
Placed at Cape Matapan; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1717

Battle of Matapan is one of 2,009 engagements of the 18th century in the atlas and one of 493 in present-day Greece.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q691729, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Matapan, revision 1377596822, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.