Today marks the freeing of Europe from the threat of the fleet of the Ottoman Turks. They began gathering a huge armada to invade Italy. Don John of Austria sought an alliance of Eurpean princes to defend Christendom, meanwhile Pope commanded European Catholics to ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin by praying the Rosary. Apart from having a significantly smaller fleet the Holy League was better armed, and was helped by a revolt of Christian slaves on the Ottoman fleet.
In Catholic countries the victory was ascribed to Our Lady, and the Rosary.