Ottoman Attitude Towards the Defeat at Lepanto (1571)

The defeat at Lepanto deeply affected the Ottoman administration and society, particularly the Sultan. The cost of the defeat, with the loss of both ships and trained manpower, was substantial. As an empire accustomed to victories, the Ottomans, although severely affected by this defeat, tried to portray it as a natural outcome both in domestic and foreign circles. While they accepted it with reliance on Allah as the "will of the creator", they took the necessary measures and quickly built a brand-new navy. In order to understand how the defeat and its reasons were perceived by Sultan Selim II, Vizier Sokullu Mehmed Pasha, ?eyhülislâm Ebussuud Efendi, and other senior administrators, as well as to determine public resonances, it is necessary to closely examine the Imperial Council decisions and the statements of the chroniclers, who witnessed the impact of the defeat at Lepanto and described it in their works comprehensively.