[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.

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

[10] Using the momentum from the Battle of Lepanto, Don John and Doria would go on to capture Tunis in 1573.

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).