Ottoman naval power under continental pressure

The empire could field excellent fleets or uneven collections assembled from provincial rulers and allied regencies. Sultans normally accompanied armies instead of fleets, which shaped where attention and investment went. The enormous land frontier demanded an army, while the equally extensive coastline still required substantial sea power. Ottoman expansion often followed rivers because they served as inland logistics lines. In this strategic reading, influence in Italy and control near Malta could narrow western access to the eastern Mediterranean. That geography could reduce the number of ships needed to protect a long coast, making Italy an economic and strategic objective.