Holy League (1538)

The Holy League of 1538 came at the instigation of the Republic of Venice and Pope Paul III. about.

After the corsair and Ottoman admiral Khair ad-Din Barbarossa was published in 1537 in the Ionian Sea, besieged the Venetian fortress of Corfu and ravaged the coasts of Calabria, succeeded Pope Paul III. in February 1538 to bring together a Holy League. Apart from the Pope and the Maltese were affiliated to that both Spain and Venice.

To counter Barbarossa and its about 120 galleys, the league gathered in September 1538 in Corfu a fleet of 302 ships (162 galleys and 140 sailing ships). Venice sent 55 galleys, Spain and Genoa 49 and the Papal States and the Maltese 27 commander was the Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the Emperor Charles V was in the service.

On the 28th of September, between the two fleets Battle of Preveza, in the Barbarossa the Christian fleet decisively defeated, probably because of the very hesitant behavior of Doria, who did not necessarily want to lose, as a Genoese its own ships for the good of the rival Republic of Venice.