Messina October 7, 1571

Commissar

Banned
Messina, Sicily October 7, 1571

The Holy League Fleet was in no condition to fight.

Typhus, clap, diarrhea, small pox, etc, had afflicted the entire fleet that had been assembled to fight the Ottomans.

Now the Ottomans were placing Messina under new management and collecting the surviving Holy League Ships as prizes of war.

The man responsible for arranging such an evil fate, Spymaster Gregory Barton, watched the operation from one of his many brothels. He made a note to himself to get rid of the girls who had the clap from his brothels and bring in fresh fruit that he had not infected before hand by soaking in feces filled water.

Further it was time to move on to other assignments...

October 17, 1571

Ten days after seizing Messina, the Ottoman Fleet was preparing to complete the conquest of Sicily. Of the 40,920 men of the Holy League, only 23,878 had survived the bio warfare of Gregory Barton, the Ottoman Empire's newest weapon. Of these survivors, 18,489 were too sick to fight and a health hazard. All the sick were thus quickly killed and their bodies burned.

Of the Holy League Fleet that consisted of 206 galleys, 6 galleasses, and 76 Sailing Ships: 46 Galleys were destroyed by their remaining crews, two of the six galleasses were burnt, and 30 of the 76 sailing ships were also burnt. Also 40% of the Holy League artillery was spiked so that the Ottomans could not use them against their enemies.

The surviving and well members of the Holy League then abandoned Messina with whatever they could haul. Unfortunately for them it included infected food and whores that Gregory Barton was getting rid of. None of the marchers survived to reach another city.

Still Kaptan-ı Derya Ali Pasha had won a grand victory and could write to Selim II of how this victory wiped away the shame of the defeat at Malta just six years earlier.

Several problems faced Ali Pasha in his planned conquest of Sicily.

1. He had only 34,000 soldiers, only a few were professional Janissaries.

2. Sicily is too big to blockade with his fleet.

3. A long sea supply line subject to attack.

4. Winter is approaching.

5. Sicilian Terrain is rather rugged.

6. He kept his word to his Gallery Slaves and freed them. He doesn't have enough healthy slaves to man the boats and nor does he have the money to hire back the freed slaves.

Despite these problems, Ali Pasha proceeds with his plans. In another month, he will have reinforcements of some 23,000 men, to be followed by another 50,000 in the spring once they could be recruited and trained.

More importantly, he will receive the money he needs to hire back the freedmen.

For the time being, Ali Pasha throws up defense works and prepares winter quarters.
 
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Commissar

Banned
October 28, 1571.

The first Spanish Garrison Troops plus Militia Forces begin siege preparations of Messina.

Calls for reinforcements are sent out to Spain, Italy, and the Knights of Malta. With such destruction of the Holy Fleet there was a lack of warships to blockade Sicily and the Dockyards of Italy received emergency orders for warships.

The Ottomans dedicate 400 of their 1,825 cannons to the defenses of Messina but have little in the way of Ammo reserves for them.

In Constantinople Sultan Selim II receives the prize ships taken from the Holy League.

A horse messenger from Greece arrived four days before the fleet did with the Glorious news and supplies, money, and reinforcements were being loaded for the trip to augment the Supplies and money already sent from Greek Sanjaks.

When the prizes arrived, the Sultan ordered his best shipwrights and gunsmiths to examine the haul and see what improvements could be made.

At the urgings of his pro-Venetian wife, Sultana Nur-Banu, Selim sends out a messenger to the Venetians to sound out a peace treaty and their withdrawal from the Holy League, plus the Sultan wants Crete and a tribute of 500,000 Ducats.

It is a good plan as the aftermath of the disastrous collapse of the Holy League Fleet has shattered the alliance and its Mediterranean Army.

Fortunately for the Venetians the demand for Crete is a bit of a Bluff. The Ottomans don't have the Logistics and Forces in place to take it if the Venetians hang tough especially as they are still recovering from taking Cyprus.
 

Commissar

Banned
October 23rd a small task force of 6,000 men, 40 brand new siege cannons, and 30 ships set sail for Malta led by Uluç Ali Paşa.

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, the Grand Vizier is hoping that Malta will prove easy takings now and will serve as a spring board for further conquests.

November 10th.

The Ottoman Envoys arrives in Venice. The envoys, consisting of the best silver-tongued men the Grand Vizier could find, quickly turn the screws on Doge Alvise I Mocenigo and the Republic to get them to not only release Cyprus, Crete, and tribute, but also to become a protectorate of the Ottoman Empire.

A furious meeting then took place amongst the Venice Government. At issue was if the Ottomans were bluffing or not.

If they were, then Crete could hold out long enough for them to build a fleet to relieve it. If not then they had no choice but to submit.

After several hours it was decided to give up Cyprus, but hold Crete and give a One Million Ducat tribute plus a promise of no further interference in Ottoman Adventures in exchange for peace.

The Ottoman Envoys as per instructions except it. It was far more than what they were expecting.

In Europe, the Holy League's defeat to the Ottomans has caused an already chaotic situation to get worse. With no real victories against the Ottomans and tensions along ethnic and religious grounds escalating, all it takes is one spark to start a conflagration and in these times there are plenty of sparks.

France again suffers a religious civil war. Dutch Rebels emboldened by Spain's perceived weakness get even bolder. Queen Elizabeth also considers renewed adventures on the Continent.

All across Europe trouble spots lit up like Christmas Trees and no one could tell where it was going to end up going.
 
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