Kemal Reis left Constantinople with ten galleys and later assumed command of a combined Ottoman fleet of 67 galleys, 20 galliots, and about 200 smaller vessels. Venice met it with 47 galleys, 17 galliots, and roughly 100 smaller craft under Antonio Grimani. Grimani was an experienced fighting captain but had never served as an admiral. His financial contribution included funding ten of the republic's galleys. The council compounded that unusual appointment by failing to specify whether he should conduct an offensive or defensive campaign, making command selection and political direction central to the coming defeat.
Chapter · 8:38-10:48
Kemal Reis, Grimani, and uneven fleet command
The war's opening campaign compares the Ottoman fleet under Kemal Reis with Antonio Grimani's Venetian force and politically awkward command position.