Grand Ducal ambitions and Venetian counter-intelligence. The Tuscan failure in the 1607 attack on Cyprus.

In June 1607, a Tuscan fleet of about twenty ships and two thousand hundred men attacked the fortress Famagusta in Cyprus, with aim making it base for subsequent occupation whole island, which had been Ottoman hands since 1570. The attack was total failure: fleet, divided into parts, did not meet as planned Greek inhabitants who according to information should have rebelled, not. Moreover, garrison aware attack, meant that attempt at surprise vain. It is clear that, excluding logistical problem meeting up, enterprise’s lack success due inadequacy what we today would call “intelligence”. Tuscans’ turn out be completely correct they were unable keep operation secret. However, by contrast, Venetian intelligence able manage its possession more cautious way, taking advantage situation effectively. Through this case study, article aims follow scholarship on information-gathering Early Modern Mediterranean world, showing, once again, how important extensive such networks were. short based largely archival documentation, deal raid but identify faults “intelligence” led misfortunate attack. through analysis documents, also possible add some elements knowledge Grand Duke’s Levantine network.