Real (galley)

The "Real", built in Barcelona, was the largest galley of its time and the flagship of Don Juan de Austria in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, the largest battle between galleys in history, in which a fleet of the Holy League, an alliance of Christian powers of the Mediterranean, decisively defeated an Ottoman fleet under Grand Admiral ("Kaptan-ı Derya") Ali Pacha.

The "Real" and the Turkish galley "Sultana", flagship of Ali Pacha, engaged in direct deck-to-deck combat very soon after the start of the battle. The "Sultana" was boarded and after about one hour of bloody fighting, with reinforcements being supplied to both ships by supporting galleys of the two respective fleets, captured. Ali Pacha was severely wounded by musket fire, fell to the deck, and was beheaded by a Spanish soldier. His head was displayed on a pike, severely affecting the morale of his troops. The "Real" captured the "Great Flag of the Caliphs" and became a symbol of the victory at Lepanto.

In 1971, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the battle, a replica of "La Real" was built and displayed in the Museu Marítim in Barcelona where it can be viewed today. The ship was 60 m long and 6.2 m wide, had two masts, and weighed 237 tons empty. It was equipped with three heavy and six light artillery pieces, was propelled by a total of 290 rowers and, in addition, carried some 400 sailors and soldiers at Lepanto. 50 men were posted on the upper deck of the forecastle, 50 on the midships ramp, another 50 each along the sides at the bow, 50 each on the skiff and oven platforms, 50 on the firing steps along the sides near the stern, and 50 more on the stern platform behind the huge battle flag. To help move and maneuvre the huge ship, it was pushed from the rear during the battle by two other galleys.

Befitting a royal flagship, it was luxuriously ornamented and painted in the red and gold colors of Spain. Its poop was elaborately carved and painted with numerous sculptures, bas-reliefs, paintings and other embellishments, most of them evoking religious and humanistic inspirational themes.

Note

It should ne noted that "La Real" usually was the designation of the flagship in a particular Spanish fleet and was not necessarily the actual name of the ship. "Almirante" was the designation of the ship of the 2nd in command, others with a specific command function were "patrona/padrona" and "lanterna".

Literature

* Currey, E. Hamilton, "Sea-Wolves of the Mediterranean", John Murrey, 1910
* Bicheno, Hugh, "Crescent and Cross: The Battle of Lepanto 1571", Phoenix, 2003, ISBN 1 84212 753 5