In April 1603, the Maltese knights launched a raid against the Ottoman-held cities of Patras and Nafpaktos.

[1] In July of the same year, distressing news arrived in Malta regarding the intentions of the Ottoman Sultan, as he was preparing a large force of galleys to attack the island of Gozo to take revenge for the destruction of the previously mentioned castles.

[2] Free from this worry, the Hospitaller grandmaster, Alof de Wignacourt, and the council decided to resume raids against the Ottomans.

In October, it was decided to attack the Tunisian city of Monastir.

[3] The attack had failed due to the treachery of a French soldier who alerted the Tunisians.