Even after the crushing defeat suffered by Suleiman the Turks attempted several times to invade Malta, but the navy of the Order kept the Turks away. So the Knights planned a Dockyard, and started to build galleys, as well as large stores. They also began to dig a small creek for quick repairs (this was the idea of the Manderaggio). In this way, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the navy of the Order became one of the most powerful; many Maltese were employed at the Order's dockyard or on the galleys where they distinguished themselves for hard work and valour.
Yet, all the time, the Pope and Christendom were worried at the continual attempts of the Turks to invade Europe, so, a Holy Alliance was formed among all the Catholic countries. Meanwhile, the Turks were preparing another immense navy at the Gulf of Lepanto (in the Gulf of Corinth), knowing this, the Christians decided to attack them there. They began by gathering forces at Taranto, and the Maltese were sent out to find the position of the enemy and to come back to report. The battle itself was fought on October 7, 1571, the Turks had 273 galleys under Ali Pasha', and the Allies, under Don John, of Austria, had 200, nine of which were Maltese. The result was a crushing and final blow to the Muslim sea power and a great victory for the whole Church.
The Order, then, decided to destroy the pirates of the North African coast, which were a threat to Christians and their ships, in fact, they did this, carried many crews to Malta as slaves, and obtained a lot of booty for the Order. The capture of the Sultan's son and galley during one of these raids enraged the Turks so much that they decided to prepare another siege. In June 1656, the Knights attacked the Turkish fleet and Don Gregono Carafa, com­manding the ships of the Order, took position in front of the Dardanelles to stop the Turkish fleet from sailing. The Turks tried to go out but Carafa commanded all ships to chase the Turks, even under the enemy's heavy barrage of shells thus, he caught 8 galleys and 2 other ships. By the end of the fighting, the Christians had succeeded in burning all but 14 of the enemy's ships, the share of the Maltese was of 364 slaves, but they also brought to Malta more than 7,000 freed Christian slaves, as well as a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, the Maltese force lost 40 dead and 2 Knights.
After the year 1700, the fleet of the Order was not kept as strong as before since the enemy was no longer so powerful, and the pirates had been hunted out of existence.

SLAVES

Prisoners taken in campaigns between the Order and the Muslims were treated as slaves by both sides. Those captured by the Order were brought to Malta as "merchan­dise", some were sold to European Kings, and some were kept to work here or to row on the galleys of the Order, but normally treated quite humanely. Some were employed in the building trade; others became servants in the homes of Maltese families or of those of the Knights. They were also allowed to roam the streets in the daytime. To practise their Muslim religion, and to purchase their own. Freedom.
Christian prisoners in Muslim hands were treated on the whole in the same man­ner, but some of their masters sometimes were very cruel men who ill-treated their slaves in a most heart-breaking manner. Proud Knights in captivity were humiliated by having to perform humble but laborious tasks, they might even become galley slaves and have to pull at oars with the rest. As escape was rare and dangerous, the Order of Redemptorists was founded to negotiate the redemption of all such Catholics who fell into Muslim hands, and these humble but brave priests did their work most nobly and well.

In September 1644, six galleys of the Order were sent out to see if it was true that the enemy was soon to attack Malta. About 70 miles from Rhodes they met 12 Turkish galleys, while three of the Knight ships attacked, the other three concentrated their fire on a very large ship, which seemed to be carrying rich cargoes. This, however, was the 'Galley of the Sultans' with all its guns hidden on deck, so, when the Knights' galleys attacked her, she showered on them a heavy rain of shell, heavy shot, arrows and fire with the result that great damage was suffered by the ships of the Order.
Still, the fierce battle went on within five hours, the Turkish leader was mortally wounded, the Great Galleon was captured, and the others fled away. Among the many Turkish prisoners captured, there was the Sultan's own young son, as to the booty, it was quite rich. The Christian slaves were set free and the Turkish ones were sold. This son of the Sultan was carried to Malta where he was brought up and educated at the Grand Master's own expense. When he grew up, he was baptised on February 23, 1656, and, later, as Fra Tommaso Ottomano, joined the Dominicans at Rabat, where his cell is still kept as a Museum piece.