The Europeans dominated the islands of Rhodes, Cyprus, Kyrete and Malta on the Aegean Cost. Moreover, they explored new lands in the open seas and increased their powers. Sultan Suleyman I put emphasis on navigation and many naval victories had been won in his reign.

The island of Rhodes was under the rule of the Knights of St. John. The Knights were pirating in the Turkish seas and threatening the Turkish Navy. Suleyman decided to capture Rhodes and it was conquered in 1522.