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The Welcome to a history of Europe, Key Battles, the Battle of Lepanto, Part 5 of 5.

If you haven't yet listened to Part 1 to 4, now might be a good time to do so.

But if you have already done so, I want to continue anyway, then let's begin.

Last week I described the formation by Pope Pius V of a Holy Alliance in May 1571 in response to the conquest of the island of Cyprus by the Ottoman Turks.

With unusual speed, the naval forces of Sicily and Spain,

those of the Papacy, the Knights of St John, Florence, Genoa and Savoy

were joined to create a fleet capable of taking on the might of the Ottoman Navy.

In total, a combined force of 200 galleys and 50,000 men.

Spain assumed responsibility for 50% of the cost of the venture,

Venice 35% and the papacy 15%.

All fighting would be under the banner of the league and any important decisions were to be taken by a majority vote of the three leading commanders, representing Venice, Sebastiano Veneer, for the papacy, Mark Antonio Colonna, and for Spain, King Philip's half-brother, Don John or Juan, of Austria.

The choice of the 24-year-old, Don Juan, was inspired. He was the illegitimate son of Charles

the 5th by a German lady called Barbara Blumberg, whom the Emperor had met whilst

on campaign in Germany. Although there were some concerns about Juan's youth and his reputation

for rashness, he was good-looking, amiable, full of enthusiasm, and a son of the revered former

Emperor Charles was an ideal figurehead for the campaign.

He had already acquired some active military experience by helping put down a serious Marisco rebellion in Spain the year before.

By August 1571, the full Christian naval force had assembled at Messina in Sicily.

Don Juan drew up the sailing orders.

He, together with his fellow commanders, Veneer and Colonna, would take the centre, with 64 galleys.

The right wing, with 54, would be under the command of the Genoese Admiral Jean-Andrea Doria.

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