Battle of Lepanto, 1571, The

By the middle of the 16th century the Moslem invaders had overrun much of Europe, Asia, and norther Africa. Under Don Juan of Austria, the dashing young half brother of Philip II of Spain, a divided Christendom finally united in a last Crusade to engage the mighty fleet of the Turkish Sultan. In October 1571 the hostile navies met in the Gulf of Lepanto in such close combat that it looked like a land battle. Fiercely fought on both sides, the Battle of Lepanto was a decisive victory for the Christian forces, and it marked the beginning of the end of the power of the Ottoman Empire. As it was the last major battle to be fought with galleys, the light swift ships rowed by oars, it was a turning point too in the history of naval warfare.