The naval expedition of the Christian allies had been a complete fiasco, thanks chiefly to the obstructive behaviour of the Spanish commander, but also partly to sheer ill-fortune. Similarly, it was owing to a series of mischances that the supreme military direction of the defence of Cyprus was left in incompetent hands. Laurence Bembo, who had been Captain of Cyprus from 1564 to 1566, and was appointed Proveditor-General on 20 August 1568, died on 30 December 1569. Sebastian Venier, who was on 17 June 1570 chosen to succeed him, never, as we have seen, reached the island. Jerome Martinengo, in whom great hopes were placed when he sailed with 2000 men for the defence of Famagusta, died on his way out. Pallavicino Rangoni, his substitute, shirked his duty and went no farther than Crete. The control of the defence of the capital was left in the hands of the Lieutenant Nicolas Dandolo, who assumed the office of Vice-Proveditor, and his mismanagement was generally held to be the chief cause of the fall of the city. The only senior and experienced military officer available for the command of the troops—other than the Captain, Mark Antony Bragadin, who was confined by his office to Famagusta—was Astorre Baglione of Perugia (Plate XII).