Editing Battle of Lepanto (section)

=== Holy League formation at the battle of Lepanto ===
On the morning of 7 October, after the decision to offer battle was made, the Christian fleet formed up in four divisions in a north–south line:
* At the northern end, closest to the coast, was the Left Division of 53 galleys (mainly Venetian) and 2 galleasses, led by Agostino Barbarigo, with Marco Querini and Antonio da Canale in support.
* The Centre Division consisted of 62 galleys (and 2 galleasses) under John of Austria himself in his galley ''[[Real (galley)|La Real]]'', along with Marcantonio Colonna (Duke of Tagliacozzo) commanding the papal flagship, Sebastiano Veniero commanding the Venetian flagship, [[Paolo Giordano I Orsini]] and Pietro Giustiniani, prior of Messina, commanding the flagship of the [[Knights of Malta]]. The central division of 16 Spanish and Neapolitan galleys, organized into [[Squadron (naval)|squadrons]] surrounding John of Austria's flagship, was commanded by three [[Captain (naval)|captains]]. Among them, Captain [[Diego de Medrano]] led the ''Fortuna de Napoli'' galley, Captain Martino de Caide commanded the ''Mendoza de Naples'', and Captain Diego López de Llanos helmed the ''Luna de España'', each overseeing respective vessels within the formation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-12 |title=La Costa da Morte y la Armada Invencible - Adiante Galicia |url=https://www.adiantegalicia.es/reportaxes/2015/02/12/la-costa-da-morte-y-la-armada-invencible.html |access-date=2024-12-20 |language=es}}</ref>
* The Right Division to the south consisted of another 53 galleys (and 2 galleasses) under the Genoese Giovanni Andrea Doria, great-nephew of admiral [[Andrea Doria]].
* A reserve division of 38 galleys was stationed behind (that is, to the west of) the main fleet, to lend support wherever it might be needed, commanded by [[Álvaro de Bazán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz|Álvaro de Bazán, the Marquis of Santa Cruz]].