On July 28, 1480, a Turkish fleet besieged Otranto, resulting in a massacre of its male population and the enslavement of women and children after refusal to renounce Christianity. Among the 813 martyrs, Antonio Primaldo was the first to be beheaded, and their remains were later found incorrupt and are now venerated in various locations. Canonized by Pope Francis in 2013, they are recognized as the protectors of Otranto, with notable memorials in music, literature, and art celebrating their sacrifice.