News arrived in Europe in 1571 that Muslim Turks, under the command of Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha, surrounded the Christians in Famagusta, Cyprus. Muslims promised the defenders of Cypus that if they surrendered, they would be allowed to leave. Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha broke his promise by demanding a boy for his pederasty. When denied, he flayed alive the Venetian commander. His Muslim warriors then killed all 6,000 Christians prisoners. He turned the beautiful St. Nicholas Church into the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
After this, Turkish Muslims planned on attacking Rome, and from there conquer the rest of western Europe. Pope Pius V used all the influence he had to get the Christian states of Spain, Naples, Sicily, Venice, Genoa, Sardinia, Savoy, Urbino, Papal states, Germans and Croatians to assemble into the Holy League, led by 24-year-old Don John of Austria, the son of King Charles V of Spain. Spain used gold from the New World to fit out its navy to keep the Muslims from taking over the Mediterranean.
On October 7, 1571, the largest and most decisive sea battle on the Mediterranean took place – the Battle of Lepanto off the western coast of Greece. Don John of Austria led the 212 ships with nearly 68,000 soldiers and sailors of the Holy League. Ali Pasha led the Muslim Ottoman Turks, consisting of 82,000 soldiers and sailors on 251 ships powered by thousands of Christian galley slaves rowing under the decks.
This was the last major battle with rowing vessels. The morning of the battle, the Holy League was at a great disadvantage, struggling to row against the wind. Don John led his men on deck in a prayer. Suddenly the wind changed 180 degrees to favor the Holy League.
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