 He took part in the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and, two years later, he captured Tunis.The following year Ottoman forces under the command of Sinan Pasha besieged and eventually took Tunis; Serbelloni was humiliated, dragged by his beard to the conqueror to ask for mercy on his knees, and many of his surviving men were slain.He had then to physically work to restore the fortifications.