An exposed colony faces a disguised Ottoman expedition

The Ottomans concealed the destination of their expedition by naming Malta as the target while concentrating on Crete. Crete's population, agriculture, ports, and trade made it a much greater prize. Venice had allowed both its fortifications and local military readiness to decline, leaving the colony poorly prepared to resist a force described as roughly 50,000 troops and hundreds of vessels. The unexpectedly long resistance owed much to uneven Ottoman command quality and a small group of highly capable Venetian officers rather than adequate peacetime preparation.