TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Naval battle · 1560
The Battle of Djerba took place in May 1560 near the island of Djerba, Tunisia. The Ottomans under Piali Pasha's command overwhelmed a large joint Christian alliance fleet, composed chiefly of Spanish, Papal, Genoese, Maltese, and Neapolitan forces. The allies lost 27 galleys and some smaller vessels as well as the fortified island of Djerba. This victory marked perhaps the high point of Ottoman power in the Mediterranean Sea. Until about 1573 the Mediterranean headed the list of Spanish priorities under Philip II of Spain (1556–98); under his leadership the Habsburg galley fleet increased to about 100 ships, and more in wartime. Spain sent a major fleet against the Turks in 1560, aiming for the island of Djerba off the coast west of Tripoli.
| Date | 9–14 May 1560 |
|---|---|
| Location | Near the island of Djerba off the coast of Tunisia |
| Result | Ottoman victory |
| Belligerents | Republic of Genoa Spanish Empire Viceroyalty of Naples and Sicily Papal States Duchy of Savoy Order of Saint John | Ottoman Empire |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Giovanni Andrea Doria Juan de la Cerda Don Alvaro de Sande (POW) | Piali Pasha Dragut |
| Strength | 54 galleys 66 other vessels Other sources: 200 ships total | 86 galleys and galliots |
| Casualties | 60 ships sunk or captured 9,000–18,000 men killed 5,000 prisoners (during siege) | Unknown |
The victory in the Battle of Djerba marked the apex of Ottoman naval domination in the Mediterranean, which had been growing since the Battle of Preveza 22 years earlier. Of particular importance were the crippling losses of the Spanish fleet in experienced personnel: 600 skilled mariners (oficiales) and 2,400 arquebusier marines were lost, men who could not be quickly replaced. The Ottomans had expelled the Knights from Rhodes in 1522. After Djerba, the Maltese channel lay open, and it was inevitable that the Ottomans soon turned on the new base of the Knights in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, but did not succeed in taking it.
Took place during the reign of Suleiman I (1520–1566). Suleiman I
Open the reign of Suleiman I on the mapText: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), adapted for the atlas.