Foscolo’s conquest of Klis, 1648
Copperplate engraving

At the very beginning of the Cretan War (or the War of Candia, 1645 - 1669), fought between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire over Candia (the Island of Crete), great preparation took place also in our areas for the liberation of the Croatian territories from the Ottoman rule.

On the eve of the War of Candia, according to the report of the Governor Grimani, the Venetian army in Dalmatia had an infantry of only 1070 mercenaries and a cavalry of 329, while its main force represented the ordinary local people, namely 8000 armed Croatians, always ready to defend their territory. Therefore, Leonardo Foscolo, a Venetian general, decided to fight with the help of the local people, the Croatians who were under the Venetian and Ottoman rule.