Difference between revisions of "Battle of Gerontas"
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Revision as of 12:50, August 11, 2010
The Naval Battle of Gerontas took place near Leros, on August 29, 1824, during the Greek War of Independence, between a Greek fleet consisting of 75 ships and a combined Turkish, Egyptian and Tunisian fleet of some 400 ships.
The Greek fleet was led by admiral Andreas Miaoulis and consisted of ships from Hydra, Spetses and a few from Psara that survived the destruction of that island. The Ottoman fleet was led by Ibrahim Pasha and Hoshref Pasha.
Background
The Ottomans planned to end the Greek War of Independence by destroying the Greek navy and then landing their army in the Peloponnese. As part of this campaign, they destroyed the islands of Psara and Kassos. The Greeks countered by sending their navy into the southeast Aegean Sea to prevent the destruction of Samos.
The Battle
On August 29, 1824, the two navies met between Leros and the coast of Asia Minor. The Greeks, making use of their fireships and avoiding a head-to-head confrontation, destroyed some 30 enemy ships and sent the rest fleeing towards Alikarnassos (Bodrum).
Significance
The naval battle of Gerontas saved the island of Samos from certain destruction. Furthermore, it delayed the invasion of Peloponnesus by Ibrahim Pasha.