Khair ad-Din Barbarossa, which was described in the article "Islamic pirates of the Mediterranean", became the most famous leader of the Barbary pirates, but even after his death, there were people who worthily continued the work of this admiral. One of them was Sinan Pasha, the Great Jew from Smyrna, mentioned in the last article.
Sinan Pasha
He prowls the sea - either a wolf or a jackal.
Hearts tremble and lips grow numb.
If we do not drown, so surely we will burn!
Save yourself, who can! - and overboard soon:
Goes for the prey of Sinan el-Sanim, A cruel pirate, a bloodthirsty Jew.
Like a hog he is fat, ugly and eunuch, But an iron heart in a loose chest.
You are a fisherman, a tramp, a soldier or a merchant -
Not death means the slave chain is ahead.
That choice is simple and compelling:
Here the galley flies predatory - and on it
On the black gallery - Sinan el-Sanim, A cruel pirate, a bloodthirsty Jew.
The product goes to the bazaar, and the vessel is the prize.
And the captives hear the incessant hum:
Slave Market, Li Algeria, Tunisia, Beauties - to the Sultan, to the Seraglio, to Istanbul.
He is greedy, he is relentless to the captives, And the saber sparkles faster and faster.
Sinan el-Sanim drunk with blood, A cruel pirate, a bloodthirsty Jew!
(Daniel Kluger.)
This Ottoman pirate and admiral was a descendant of the Marranos - Jews who were expelled from the united kingdoms of Castile and Aragon after the publication there of the infamous Edict of Alhambra (March 31, 1492). The tragic events of those years were described in detail in the article "The Grand Inquisitor Torquemada". Some of these Jews, by order of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II, were evacuated to the territory of the empire on the ships of Admiral Kemal Reis. They were settled in Istanbul, Edirne, Thessaloniki, Izmir, Manisa, Bursa, Gelibol, Amasya and in some other cities. The family of the future corsair ended up in Edirne. Having converted to Islam, he took the name Sinan ad-Din Yusuf.
Sinan began his pirate career on the ship of the famous Khair ad-Din Barbarossa, but over time he himself became an admiral of the corsair squadron - and very impressive: the number of his subordinates sometimes reached 6 thousand people. Sinan placed a six-pointed star on his flag, which the Turks called the "Seal of Suleiman".
There was a widespread belief among the pirates of the Maghreb about Sinan's magical abilities. It was said, for example, that with the butt of a crossbow he could determine the height of the Sun above the horizon (in fact, this crossbow was a kind of sextant - "Jacob's rod").
The squadrons of the Great Jew became the horror of all the Christian coasts of the Mediterranean, but especially glorified his capture of the Tunisian harbor, the narrow entrance to which - La Goletta ("Throat"), was so called because he held Tunisia by the throat. It happened on August 25, 1534. Under the command of Sinan, then there was a whole fleet of 100 ships.
The Ottoman base in Tunisia endangered shipping throughout the Mediterranean, and therefore the very next year Emperor Charles V moved to Tunisia a huge fleet of 400 ships and an international army of 30,000, which included the Spaniards, Germans, Genoese, mercenaries from other states Italy, Knights of Malta. Karl attached such importance to this expedition that he personally led it, saying before sailing that he was just "the standard-bearer of Christ." On June 15, 1535, his fleet approached Tunisia, where Barbarossa himself was located, and the fort, built at the narrowest point of La Goletta, defended Sinan, in whose submission there were 5 thousand people. Sinan held out for 24 days, made three sorties, but the walls of the fortress were destroyed by cannon fire from a Maltese 8-deck galleon, which "threw" shells weighing 40 pounds. The fort fell, but Barbarossa and the retreating Sinan were still defending themselves in Tunisia.
It is said that Barbarossa was ready at that moment to order the execution of 20 thousand Christian slaves, but Sinan dissuaded him, saying: "This monstrous atrocity will forever put us out of human society."
During the decisive assault under Charles V, a horse was killed, smiling, he said: "The Emperor has never been taken by a bullet."
According to contemporaries, Barbarossa also fought like a lion, personally killing many enemy soldiers, but the forces were unequal.
At the head of the last four thousandth detachment, Barbarossa and Sinan retreated to Algeria through the desert, and the "crusaders" plundered the city for three days, it got to the point that the soldiers and former Christian slaves freed by them began to fight for booty on the streets of the city. So many Tunisians died that even some Catholic chroniclers later called this massacre "the most shameful act of the century." The Jews also got it, who "there was no salvation in the day of God's wrath."
In 1538 Sinan participated in the naval battle of Preveza, victorious for Barbarossa, which was described in the article "Islamic pirates of the Mediterranean".
And Charles V, inspired by the success, decided to strike the next blow on Algeria. But it seemed that after the shameful Tunisian massacre, the heavens themselves turned away from the Christian emperor: on October 23, 1541, during the landing on the coast, a terrible storm began, which destroyed many ships and caused the death of about 8 thousand soldiers and sailors. The Moorish cavalry, attacking the Spaniards from the surrounding hills, almost threw them into the sea. Charles V personally, with sword in hand, tried to stop the fleeing soldiers, but was forced to give the order to load on the surviving ships. Three thousand Spaniards were captured.
As part of this expedition was Hernan Cortez, who in Mexico several times was on the verge of death and saw something else.
He tried to persuade the emperor not to despair and give the order for a new landing on the shore, but Charles no longer believed in victory, discouraged. The Spanish fleet left the coast of Algeria.
Among the inhabitants of Algeria, there were 2 thousand Jews who had heard about what happened to their fellow tribesmen in Tunisia. For a long time, they celebrated this Spanish failure with a three-day fast and a subsequent holiday.
After this victory, Sinan was appointed commander of the Ottoman Indian Ocean fleet, which was based in Suez and fought against the Portuguese.
One of the sons of the Great Jew was captured and ended up on the island of Elba, where he was baptized. Sinan could not help him, as he was on the Red Sea, but Khair ad-Din Barbarossa was on the Mediterranean. In 1544, he entered into negotiations with the aim of freeing the son of his companion, without achieving success, captured the city of Piombino. And the governor of the island, who had become much more accommodating, gave him the boy.
Sinan's other son, Sefer Reis, was also an admiral of the Indian fleet. In 1560, he defeated the Portuguese squadron of Admiral Cristvo Pereira Homen. In 1565, Sefer fell ill and died in Aden.
Sinan Pasha, returned to the Mediterranean in 1551 and became governor of Algeria. He captured Tripoli and the territory of modern Libya. Sinan brought the knights of Malta taken prisoner during that military campaign to Constantinople, held them in chains in front of the Sultan - and freed them.
In May 1553, Sinan led a squadron of 150 ships (including 20 French!) To the coast of Italy and Sicily, ending this campaign by capturing Corsica.
There is no more information about the "exploits" of this admiral, so some researchers believe that he died after returning from this expedition. But there is evidence that the Great Jew died in 1558 - in the same year as Emperor Charles V:
From now on he is devoted to other possessions, In the underwater paradise, in the heart of the seas.
He is quiet and calm, Sinan el-Sanim, A cruel pirate, a bloodthirsty Jew.
(Daniel Kluger.)
Another "student" of Khair ad-Din Barbarossa was the famous Turgut-Reis, a native of a Greek-speaking peasant family who lived near the city of Bodrum.
Turgut-Reis
Turgut (in some sources - Dragut) was born around 1485 and was 10 years younger than Khair ad-Din Barbarossa. He began military service at the age of 12: he trained as a gunner and in this position took part in the Egyptian campaign of Selim I. After the conquest of this country, he remained in Egypt; in Alexandria, he entered the service of Sinan (which we have already discussed in this article). Soon he rose to the rank of captain of the pirate brigantine, bought his ship and went on "free voyage". Over time, he changed this ship to a galiot, and in 1520 entered the service of Khair ad-Din Barbarossa, who highly appreciated the talents of his new companion, placing him at the head of a squadron of 12 ships.
In 1526, Turgut Reis captured the Sicilian fortress of Capo Passero, and until 1533 plundered the coasts of southern Italy and Sicily with impunity, captured several fortresses on the coast of Albania and the Venetian fortress Candia in Crete, and attacked merchant ships between Spain and Italy. In May 1533, his squadron consisted of 22 ships. And in the battle of Preveza (1538, see the article "Islamic pirates of the Mediterranean"), Turgut already commanded 20 galleys and 10 galiots.
In 1539, he replaced his former commander Sinan Pasha (who had been sent to Suez) as governor of Djerba. Ironically, his residence on this island was the castle, built in 1289 by Roger Doria, the ancestor of the famous enemy of the Ottoman squadrons and pirates of the Maghreb, Admiral Andrea Doria. Turgut married Djerba, but did not forget about "business" either. In 1540, he captured several Genoese ships, plundered the islands of Gozo and Capraia, but on June 15, his squadron, stopped for repairs in Corsica, was attacked and defeated by the combined fleet of Gianettino Doria (admiral's nephew), Giorgio Doria and Gentile Orsini. Turgut was taken prisoner, in which he spent 4 years. He was freed by Khair ad-Din Barbarossa, who besieged Genoa in 1544. He set the liberation of Turgut as one of the conditions for lifting the blockade. The mediator was the Maltese knight Jean Parisot de la Valette, who in 13 years will become the Grand Master of the Hospitallers.
Andrea Doria agreed to release the corsair for an impressive amount of 3,500 gold ducats. Contemporaries called this deal the most successful purchase of Barbarossa, because for 4 years Turgut missed his favorite work so much that in the same year he “recaptured” this money. Taking command of some of Barbarossa's ships, he immediately took the Corsican city of Bonifaccio, attacked the island of Gozo and captured several Maltese ships near it. The following year, Turgut sacked the Italian cities of Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, Rappalo and Levante, in 1546 - the Tunisian cities of Sfax, Sousse and Monastir. After these victories, the contented Ottomans began to call him the Sword of Islam.
When the great admiral Khair ad-Din Barbarossa died in July 1546, everyone began to consider Turgut-Reis to be his successor.
In 1547, a new hero and idol of the Ottoman Empire and the Maghreb attacked Malta, Apulia and Calabria. The following year, he was appointed beylerbey (governor) of Algeria: this appointment he marked with an attack on Campania. And at the same time he "thanked" La Valetta, who at that time was the governor of Tripoli: he captured the Maltese galley "La Caterinetta", which was carrying 7 thousand escudos to the knight, intended to finance the work to strengthen the walls of this city. It was not possible to raise new funds, and in 1549 La Valette returned to Malta.
Turgut-Reis continued to "heroize" at sea: in 1549 he sacked Rappalo, in 1550 he captured Mahdia, Monastir, Sousse and Tunisia, and then attacked the coasts of Sardinia and Spain.
Andrea Doria and his allied Maltese, led by Claude de la Sangle, recaptured Mahdia in October of this year and blocked Turgut's squadron off the island of Djerba. The pirate admiral got out of the situation, ordering to dig a canal to another bay of the island, and not only eluded the enemy, but also defeated the squadron going to the aid of Doria and la Sanglu, capturing 2 warships.
On April 30, 1551, Suleiman I appointed the successful corsair commander-in-chief of the entire fleet of the Ottoman Empire, giving him the title of kapudan pasha. At the head of 100 warships, that year, together with his old acquaintance and former commander Sinan Pasha, he walked well in the Mediterranean Sea: he plundered the eastern coast of Sicily, attacked Malta and captured the island of Gozo (about 5 thousand Christians were captured). In August of the same year, Tripoli was taken, and Turgut became its sanjakbey. Until the end of the year, he managed to plunder Liguria, and then - captured the Misurata region in Libya.
In 1552, Turgut, like Barbarossa, acted as an ally of the French king (this time Henry II) in the war against Emperor Charles V: for 300 thousand gold livres, the Sultan graciously agreed to "lease" his victorious fleet for 2 years, led by a successful admiral …
The new kapudan pasha did not disappoint: he plundered many cities, defeated the squadron of his old enemy Andrea Doria near Naples and the combined Spanish-Italian fleet of Charles V near the island of Ponza.
The victories were so impressive that Turgut was appointed the beylerbey of the Mediterranean.
The next year, he captured the Calabrian cities of Corrotone and Castello, ravaged Sicily, Sardinia, Capri and Corsica (to recapture Corsica from the French who occupied it, the Genoese needed an army of 15,000). The French king "encouraged" Turgut with 30 thousand ducats.
In 1554, Turgut "visited" Apulia, and then captured Ragusa, in 1555 he again attacked Corsica (Bastia was taken), Sardinia, Calabria and Liguria (San Remo fell here). However, the ungrateful French expressed dissatisfaction, reproaching the admiral for "slowness". As a result, Piiale Pasha was appointed to the place of the commander of the fleet (about him - in the next article), and Turgut in 1556 was sent to Tripoli. Here he was engaged in the construction and reconstruction of walls around the city and port, but he did not forget the sea trade: he captured Gafsa in Tunisia, went to Liguria, Calabria and Apulia, in 1558 he robbed Menorca and the Balearic Islands. In 1559 he participated in repelling the Spanish attack on Algeria and suppressed the uprising in Tripoli.
In 1560, the squadrons of Turgut, Piyale Pasha and Uluja Ali defeated the Spanish fleet of Philip II, who had captured the island of Djerba. The aged Andrea Doria was so shocked by the news of the defeat of this fleet, which was commanded by the son of his nephew Gianettito - Giovanni, that he fell seriously ill and never recovered: he died on November 25, 1560. The death of the famous admiral made a heavy impression in all Christian countries, where they now doubted the very possibility of resisting the Ottomans in the Mediterranean.
The following year, Turgut and another hero of this era, Uluj Ali, attacked the islands of the western Mediterranean, captured seven Maltese galleys and, with a fleet of 35 ships, laid siege to Naples.
In 1562 Turgut made a successful attack on Crete.
This admiral was killed in 1565 during the storming of the Maltese fort of St. Elm.
He was killed either by a cannonball or by a splinter of stone in his eye, and was buried in Tripoli. At this time he was already 80 years old.
You may be surprised, but on the island of Malta in the town of Sliema, the area where the first Turgut battery was once located, which fired at Fort St. Elm, is named after him - Dragut Point.
