In 1564, Romegas, who was serving with the Order's general of the galleys, managed to capture the Penon Velez in Northern Africa. Penon Velez was an important base for the Ottoman corsairs. An other important conquest was the capture of a heavily armed Turkish galleon.

This galleon had around 200 janissaries on board and also a highly valuable cargo. The governors of Cairo and Egypt, together with a former nurse of one of Suleiman's daughters were captured. The loss of this galleon infuriated Suleiman, the Sultan of the Turks, and convinced him to attack the Knights and Malta.