Peñón de Vélez succeeds, but Malta's relief comes late

A stronger coalition returned to Peñón de Vélez with ninety-three galleys, sixty sailing ships, and a large landing force, took the fort, and routed its relief army. Unlike the earlier attempt, this command was prepared to listen to Bazán and press its numerical advantage decisively. The success helped provoke the Ottoman response against Malta in 1565. Bazán repeatedly pressed for rapid relief, but the Spanish force arrived only after the siege had effectively ended, illustrating the strategic cost of delayed decision-making under Philip II. Malta survived, yet the late arrival denied Spain the chance to inflict a more deterrent defeat while the Ottoman force was still committed.