Battle of Porto Kagio

The Battle of Porto Kagio was a late 18th-century naval engagement between the Ottoman Empire and Greek pirates led by Lambros Katsonis, who operated under Russian patronage during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792). After the Treaty of Jassy in January 1792 ended the war, Katsonis continued his piracy from Porto Kagio on the Mani Peninsula. The Ottoman Empire sought to neutralize him by diplomatic means but ultimately dispatched a naval force under Kapudan Pasha Küçük Hüseyin Pashain collaboration with land forces led by Mustafa Pasha.

On June 10, 1792, the Ottoman fleet departed the Dardanelles and advanced toward Lesbos. They encountered and defeated Katsonis's fleet at Çamlıca on June 15. The Ottomans then moved to Mani Peninsula, blockading Porto Kagio and engaging in battle on June 17. The Ottoman navy decisively defeated the Greek pirates, capturing 16 ships, 115 cannons, and 70 soldiers by June 18. Katsonis escaped on June 19.

The Ottoman victory was celebrated upon their return to Istanbul on September 25, 1792, with Küçük Hüseyin Pasha being honored by Sultan Selim III. However, efforts to extradite Katsonis from the Republic of Venice were unsuccessful.