SULTAN SOLEIMAN’S EXPEDITION TO CORFU.
The cause of this expedition was this. In the time of Sultan Mohammed Khan, the conqueror, the kingdom of Puglia had been subdued, but when Keduk Ahmed Pasha succeeded to it, Spain demanded its restoration. The warlike emperor therefore determined to send a large fleet to that quarter; for the Grand Vizier Eias Pasha represented that the sanjaks of Avlona and Delvina, situated opposite to Puglia, being now subject to the Porte, the reduction of this territory ought to be considered a matter of importance to the state. Kemal Reis, however, having recommended the capture of Corfu in the first place, the Sultan resolved upon going thither in person, and on a Friday, in the middle of Zilhijé 943 (May 1537), Lutfi Pasha being then commander of the fleet, Khair-ad-din sailed for the Mediterranean with one hundred and thirty-five galleys and other vessels, amounting in all to two hundred and eighty. Never before had so large a fleet sailed. Thirty thousand sailors had been collected from all parts of the Ottoman dominions. On the 7th of Zilhijé (17th May) the illustrious emperor with his two sons left the capital, and set out on his journey, taking Smako on the way. About the end of Moharrem, 944 (A. D. 1533), they passed Albassan, and on the fifth of Seffer entered the plains of Avlona, where they had a sight of the royal fleet, which had arrived and lay off that coast.
The Vezier Mustaffa Pasha, having been charged with the subjugation of that part of Albania which was in rebellion, proceeded thither, and subdued it, plundering the inhabitants. Avlona being bounded on the west by the sea, and on the east by rebellious Albania, the natives of which held intercourse with the infidel ships, by the advice of Eias Pasha the whole of that line of country was subjugated; and the rebels of Delvina having also submitted, territory to the extent of two sanjaks was thus added to the Sublime Porte.
When the whole fleet was collected opposite Avlona, sixty vessels were consigned to Khair-ad-din to conduct those that were bringing provisions from Egypt. The chief commander, Lutfi Pasha, taking charge of the remaining vessels, went over to the Puglia coasts, and attacked a few castles, which he rased, first securing the prisoners and their wealth.
As Khair-ad-din was passing the island of Corfu, about forty Venetian galleys that were lying in the neighbourhood, seeing his fleet, and supposing that he was leaving altogether, resolved to join the rest of their fleet, which was then in the Gulf of Venice. On their way to the rendezvous they were met by Lutfi Pasha on his return from Puglia, who gave them battle, sunk two of their ships, took two, and the rest escaped to Corfu. Khair-ad-din then brought his provision-ships to Prevesa, and thence sailed to Avlona, where the sultans fleet had again assembled.
ACCOUNT OF THE TREACHERY OF THE VENETIANS.
The Venetian infidels are a people famous for their great wealth, their extensive commerce, and their deceit and perfidy in all their transactions. Having by treachery taken most of the islands in their possession from the Hungarian princes, and these islands being on the borders of the Ottoman dominions, and deriving their subsistence and trade from them, the Venetians from necessity maintain a show of friendship, but are in reality the most inveterate of all the enemies of the faith. During the above expedition, they being unmolested, the governor of Gallipoli harbour, Ali Ketkhoda, happened to touch at Corfu with two galleys on his way to join the Moslem fleet, when Andrea Doria, who was there at the time, came out with the Corfiote vessels, and attacked him. A fierce engagement ensued, in which the superior numbers of the infidels overcame the warriors, and the battle having lasted from morning till afternoon,[38] most of the Gallipoli vessels were burnt or sunk, and the survivors were made prisoners.
On another occasion, another governor of Gallipoli, Boustan Ketkhoda, was sailing to Corfu with dispatches from Lutfi Pasha, when four of the Venetian ships gave him chase, and captured him. It was of no avail that he declared he was only going on an embassy. Fearing however that the affair might become known, they sunk the vessel and cruelly murdered all that were on board, except a youth who threw himself into the sea, and floated on a board till he was taken up by one of the ships of the fleet, which conveyed him to Lutfi Pasha. Lutfi Pasha laid the matter before the Sultan, who, on account of these two outrages, commanded that Corfu should be besieged.
SIEGE OF CORFU.
Accordingly, the expedition to Puglia having been abandoned, the imperial fleet was ordered to lay siege to and plunder the castle of Corfu, whilst the emperor left Avlona, and took up his quarters over-against the island. According to one account, a bridge of boats was constructed across the channel where its width did not exceed half a mile, by means of which the armies of the faithful passed over to the island. One hundred and forty villages in the neighbourhood of the town were all pillaged, so that the town alone remained, against which the artillery was drawn up, and the siege was regularly commenced. But it being almost entirely surrounded by sea, they attacked it on the land side for full forty-three days and nights. When however they had opened the sally ports, and had several fierce engagements, they found their time for warlike operations was exhausted, the setting in of winter having commenced, and heavy rains falling, accompanied with extreme cold,—added to which, the sailing season was past. The emperor therefore, out of compassion for the army, sent Eias Pasha over to the island with orders to raise the siege. Lutfi Pasha and Khair-ad-din Pasha, however, remonstrated against this step, saying that so much labour ought not to be thrown away, and endeavoured to make the matter appear feasible: but there is an adage, “What is ordained must come to pass,” and therefore their counsel did not meet the royal approbation. One history relates that when it was reported to his majesty that a cannon ball had killed four of his men, he declared he would not exchange one of his brave warriors for a thousand such castles, and immediately gave orders to raise the siege. In short, the reduction of this place having been so long attempted without success, a divan was held about the end of the month Rabi-al-akher, and after robes of honor had been given to the nobles, presents to the naval capudans and reises, two pieces of money to each of the cavalry, and one piece to each of the infantry, on the 24th of the same month the troops retired from the siege, and his majesty, passing through Perpol, Kortsha, Prespa, Monaster, Florina, and Salonica, after a journey of twenty days, arrived at Adrianople.