holy league (1571)

Context: The Battle of Lepanto is said to be one of the greatest Victory of Europeans over the growing Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century. It is pointed to be the decline of the Ottomans, which isn’t really true, but we’ll get there. The Holy League failed to capitalize on that victory, and in...

Though the Battle of Lepanto was a significant defeat for the Ottoman Empire, it was a much less severe blow to them than losing Cyprus was to the Republic of Venice. Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Sokullu boasted to Venetian emissary Marcantonio Barbaro that it was the difference between a shaved...