In 1574, the Ottomans retook the strategic city of Tunis from the Spanish-supported Hafsid dynasty, which had been re-installed after John of Austria's forces reconquered the city from the Ottomans the year before. Thanks to the long-standing Franco-Ottoman alliance, the Ottomans were able to resume naval activity in the western Mediterranean. In 1576, the Ottomans assisted in Abdul Malik's capture of Fez – this reinforced the Ottoman indirect conquests in Morocco that had begun under Suleiman the Magnificent. The establishment of Ottoman suzerainty over the area placed the entire southern coast of the Mediterranean from the Straits of Gibraltar to Greece under Ottoman authority, with the exceptions of the Spanish-controlled trading city of Oran and strategic settlements such as Melilla and Ceuta. But after 1580, the Ottoman Empire could no longer compete with the advances of European navies, especially following the development of the galleon and line of battle tactics."After 1580, there was a growing distaste for maritime ventures; the Ottoman fleet lay rotting in the still waters of the Horn." Roger Crowley, "Empires of the Sea: The siege of Malta, the battle of Lepanto and the contest for the center of the world", publisher Random House, 2008, p. 287.
in 1574 the ottomans retook the strategic city of tunis from the spanish-supported hafsid dynasty which had been re-installed after john of austria's forces reconquered the city from the ottomans the year before thanks to the long-standing franco-ottoman alliance the ottomans were able to resume naval activity in the western mediterranean in 1576 the ottomans assisted in abdul malik's capture of fez – this reinforced the ottoman indirect conquests in morocco that had begun under suleiman the magnificent the establishment of ottoman suzerainty over the area placed the entire southern coast of the mediterranean from the straits of gibraltar to greece under ottoman authority with the exceptions of the spanish-controlled trading city of oran and strategic settlements such as melilla and ceuta but after 1580 the ottoman empire could no longer compete with the advances of european navies especially following the development of the galleon and line of battle tactics"after 1580 there was a growing distaste for maritime ventures; the ottoman fleet lay rotting in the still waters of the horn" roger crowley "empires of the sea the siege of malta the battle of lepanto and the contest for the center of the world" publisher random house 2008 p 287