The Mango Vol 1 Issue 6

Ottoman dominance over the Mediterranean during the mid-16th century. Aruj began his career by attacking Aegean ships from his home island of Lesbos. After being freed from slavery to the Knights of Rhodes by Egyptian forces, he began working with his brother Hayreddin out of the port of Alexandria with ships provided by the local ruler. The red-bearded Barbarossa brothers were two of the most feared pirates of the 1500s, and Hayreddin would eventually become the most feared Ottoman Chief Admiral of the entire 16th century. During 1512, Aruj was leading charge against a Spanish stronghold and had his left arm blown off by a cannon. He was rushed to Tunis for surgery with his arm in a tourniquet. Hayreddin led his 11 ships back and happened to capture a large Genoese ship along the way, teeming with jewelry and treasures. The Genoese Senate immediately dispatched a squadron of 12 large galleys to take care of Aruj and company. After many years of ongoing, violent battles with Spanish soldiers, Algiers fell to Spain in 1518 and Aruj Barbarossa was killed in the conflict. Following Aruj’s death, Hayreddin officially inherited the “Barbarossa” nickname and received his honorary name, Hayreddin, from the Arabic Khayr ad-Din, meaning “goodness of the faith” or “best of the faith”. Hayreddin Rises in Rank Hayreddin Barbarossa vowed to continue the fight, avenge Aruj’s death, and become the ruler of Algiers in his brother’s honor. In 1529, he made good on his promise and retook the Peñón of Algiers from the Spaniards. Four years later, he was appointed Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. He led an embassy to France in the same year, and conquered Tunis in 1534. But perhaps his most famous battle was his decisive victory over the Holy League at Preveza in 1538.

He truly was a master of seas. Instead of using sailing ships, he decided to use 122 galleys against Pope Paul III’s European fleet of 300 sailing ships. Though the European fleet had the combined forces of Venice, Genoa, Spain, Portugal, Malta and the Papal States, Barbarossa’s galleys were driven by oars, and therefore not reliant on winds. This made them far more maneuverable than the sailing ships, especially in the islands and bays which were shielded from wind. Barbarossa was able to capture 30 European ships, sink 10, and take 3,000 Christian sailors as prisoners. Though 400 of his own men were killed in the battle, he was able to easily defeat the so-called “Holy League” of European countries and secure the whole of the Mediterranean for the Ottoman Empire. Throughout the course of his life, Hayreddin, was able to expand the Ottoman Empire beyond islands and seas. In 1545, he returned to his palace in Istanbul to retire and left his son, Hassan, in charge of his stations in Algiers and across the seas. He passed away peacefully on July 4, 1546, in his palace by the sea. He died a hero and was laid to rest in the Barbaros Türbesi -- a mausoleum in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). It became a ritual for Turkish ships to pay tribute to his grave, and as they passed by, they would salute the brave sailor. Emily K. Alberts, who always thought the eye-patch / peg-leg combo was the total pirate-package, now knows it’s all about the beard, baby. Barbarossa’s epitaph reads: This is the tomb of the conqueror of Algiers and of Tunis, the fervent Islamic soldier of God, the Capudan Khair-ed-Deen Barbarossa, upon whom may the protection of God repose.

The Mango

2021

20

Nov /Dec