[3] He barely escaped with his life as his troops suffered a crushing defeat, the stress and shame supposedly caused the older Andrea Doria to die.

[1][4] He also participated in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, commanding the right wing of the Christian coalition force known as the Holy League.

[7][8] Many historians have criticized Doria for opening the line, some going so far as to describe it as an act of cowardice.

[9][10] The battle was ultimately won by the Holy League, and signaled the first defeat of the Ottoman Turks at sea since Preveza.

He was also the Marquis of Tursi and 6th (or 2nd) Prince of Melfi (both titles inherited from his relation and adoptive father, the famed Genoese admiral Andrea Doria).