Ottoman strategic priorities in Cyprus sealed the Moriscos’ fate.

Evidence

The crucial decision not to give further Turkish military support to Granada came in 1570. The moment of greatest need for the Granadans coincided with a pressing call for all available Ottoman military forces to be assigned to the capture and occupation of Cyprus. The Morisco cause did not lack advocates at Court, the most highly placed individual to speak for them was probably the powerful Sokollu Mehmet Pasha, a Bosnian by origin. Viewed from the perspective of Istanbul, however, the choice between Cyprus and Spain can surely never have been in doubt: a rich and strategically important prize near at hand and easily taken against an expensive and hazardous distant enterprise almost certainly doomed to failure. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1570 (#expands, via linked claim)

We now know that turning northward and seeking Christian allies (Henry IV, Elizabeth of England, William of Orange) in the long run did the Moriscos little good, no good at all, in fact, but the attempted realignment was a rational step. Turkey had left them in the lurch, and in any case was too far, would always be too far away. If anything was to be achieved before it was too late, it would have to be thanks to forces nearer to hand. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1589 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The Ottomans prioritized nearby Cyprus over the distant Morisco revolt — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1570; Lepanto’s outcome sealed the Moriscos’ fate by merely pausing Ottoman expansion — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1571; Moriscos rationally turned to Christian powers because the Turks were too distant — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1589 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• The Ottomans prioritized nearby Cyprus over the distant Morisco revolt #expands (0.95) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1570
• Moriscos rationally turned to Christian powers because the Turks were too distant #complicates (0.78) — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 1589