Mutiny on the ''Corona Ottomana"

Abstract

On 2 June 1760 a newly constructed ship which was reputed to be the most beautiful vessel of Constantinople, left the Porte under the command of Pasha Aplin Xerin. This was the "Corona Ottomana” later known as the "Corona del Gran Signore”. It had a crew totalling 760 including four captains, 60 officials, 71 slaves and 300 followers of the Pasha. It was accompanied by two soltanas namely " Ia Padrona" and " Ia Reale"', two caravels, five galleys and a number of galleots. The Corona was to sail to the islands of the Greek Archipelago and the Levant on an important mission – the collection of the annual tribute to the Sultan. Nobody could imagine that the few Christian slaves, a mixture of miserable Maltese, Sicilian and Greek seafarers, on board, could fo il such a delicate assignment.