Bombardment of Chios (1681)

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The Bombardment of Chios (1681) was a tense clash between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of France during the fight against Barbary pirates. In 1681, French Admiral Abraham Duquesne led a fleet into the Aegean Sea to pursue Tripolitan ships.

Before the bombardment, a clash had already occurred near Cuha Island on June 6, when the French chased six Tripolitan ships that had taken refuge in Chios. On July 23, 1681, the French fleet found eight Tripolitanian ships in the harbor of Chios, and two French ships had already been captured. Duquesne anchored near the mouth of the harbor with 18 ships and then raised war flags.

Over about four and a half hours, the French fired roughly 4,000 cannonballs at the castle and the city of Chios, damaging many houses and mosques. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds were wounded.

In response, the Ottoman navy under Bozoklu Mustafa Pasha arrived with 33 galleys and blockaded the French fleet and the port. The French ambassador in Istanbul, Count Joseph de Guilleragues, was reprimanded, and Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha demanded immediate compensation. The ambassador was briefly imprisoned for six months and then released after promising compensation.

Bozoklu Mustafa Pasha stayed at Chios for about five months until compensation was guaranteed. The French sent gifts and money to Sultan Mehmed IV in May 1682 as part of the settlement. The compensation included payments for the dead, and the Tripolitanian ships released the two French vessels they had captured along with the prisoners.

Although the incident could have led to war, the Ottoman Empire chose a peaceful resolution, still considering France a longtime friend.