The 1541 Algiers expedition occurred when
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
* Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (1643–1690)
* Infa ...
of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...
and king of Spain attempted to lead an amphibious attack against
regency of Algiers
The Regency of Algiers ( ar, دولة الجزائر, translit=Dawlat al-Jaza'ir) was a state in North Africa lasting from 1516 to 1830, until it was conquered by the French. Situated between the regency of Tunis in the east, the Sultanate o ...
, in modern
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
. Inadequate planning, particularly against unfavourable weather, led to the failure of the expedition.
Background
Algiers had been under the control of the Ottoman Emperor
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman I ( ota, سليمان اول, Süleyman-ı Evvel; tr, I. Süleyman; 6 November 14946 September 1566), commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Suleiman the Lawgiver ( ota, قانونى سلطان سليمان, Ḳ ...
since(1529).in 1529 by
Barbarossa
Barbarossa, a name meaning "red beard" in Italian, primarily refers to:
* Frederick Barbarossa (1122–1190), Holy Roman Emperor
* Hayreddin Barbarossa (c. 1478–1546), Ottoman admiral
* Operation Barbarossa, the Axis invasion of the Soviet Un ...
. Barbarossa had left Algiers in 1535 to be named High Admiral of the Ottoman Empire in
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...
, and was replaced as governor by Hassan Agha, a
eunuch
A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function.
The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2nd millenni ...
and
Sardinian renegade.
Hassan had in his service the well-known Ottoman naval commanders
Dragut
Dragut ( tr, Turgut Reis) (1485 – 23 June 1565), known as "The Drawn Sword of Islam", was a Muslim Ottoman Empire, Ottoman naval commander, governor, and Pasha, noble, of Turkic peoples, Turkish or Greek people, Greek descent. Under his comman ...
,
Sālih Reïs
Salah Rais ( tr, Salih Reis, ar, صالح ريس) (c. 1488 – 1568) was the 7th King of Algiers, an Ottoman privateer and admiral. He is alternatively referred to as ''Sala Reis'', ''Salih Rais'', ''Salek Rais'' and ''Cale Arraez'' in seve ...
, and
Sinān Pasha.
Charles V made considerable preparations for the expedition, wishing to obtain revenge for the recent
siege of Buda, However the Spanish and
Genoese fleets were severely damaged by a storm, forcing him to abandon the venture.
[''E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936'' by Martijn Theodoor Houtsma p.25]
/ref>
Expedition
Charles V embarked very late in the season, on 28 September 1541, delayed by troubles in Kingdom of Germany, Germany and Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...
.[Garnier, p.202] The fleet was assembled in the Bay of Palma, at Majorca.[''The Story of the Barbary Corsairs'' by Stanley Lane-Poole p.114''ff']
/ref> It had more than 500 sails and 24,000 soldiers.
After enduring difficult weather, the fleet only arrived in front of Algiers on 19 October. The most distinguished Spanish commanders accompanied Charles V on this expedition, including Hernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, though he was never invited to the War Council.[
Troops were disembarked on 23 October, and Charles established his headquarters on a land promontory surrounded by German troops.][ German, Spanish, and Italian troops, accompanied by 150 Knights of Malta, began to land while repelling Algerine opposition, soon surrounding the city, except for the northern part.]
The fate of the city seemed to be sealed, however the following day the weather became severe with heavy rains. Many galleys lost their anchors and 15 were wrecked onshore. Another 33 carracks sank, while many more were dispersed. As more troops were attempting to land, the Algerines started to make sorties, slaughtering the newly arrived. Charles V was surrounded, and was only saved by the resistance of the Knights of Malta.
Andrea Doria
Andrea Doria, Prince of Melfi (; lij, Drîa Döia ; 30 November 146625 November 1560) was a Genoese statesman, ', and admiral, who played a key role in the Republic of Genoa during his lifetime.
As the ruler of Genoa, Doria reformed the Re ...
managed to find a safer harbour for the remainder of the fleet at Cape Matifu, 5 miles east of Algiers. He enjoined Charles V to abandon his position and join him in Matifu, which Charles V did with great difficulty. From there, still oppressed by the weather, the remaining troops sailed to Bougie, still a Spanish harbour at that time. Charles could only depart for the open sea on 23 November. Throwing his horses and Crown overboard, Charles abandoned his army and sailed home. He finally reached Cartagena, in southeast Spain, on 3 December.
Losses amongst the invading force were heavy with 150 ships lost, plus large numbers of sailors and soldiers. A Turkish chronicler confirming that the Berber tribes were massacring the 12,000 men of invading forces So many of Charles' troops were taken captive that there was a glut of slaves on the market in Algiers, so that 1541 was said to be the year when Christians were sold for the price of an onion per head.
Aftermath
The disaster considerably weakened the Spanish, and Hassan Agha took the opportunity to attack Mers-el-Kebir, the harbour of the Spanish base of Oran, in July 1542.''A history of the Maghrib in the Islamic period''
by Jamil M. Abun-Nasr p.155 ''ff''
See also
* Algiers Expedition (1516)
* Algiers Expedition (1519)
Notes
References
* Garnier, Edith ''L'Alliance Impie'' Editions du Felin, 2008, Paris
Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Algiers Expedition (1541)
Battles involving the Holy Roman Empire
Battles involving Spain
Naval battles involving the Knights Hospitaller
Battles involving the Ottoman Empire
Conflicts in 1541
Ottoman–Spanish conflicts
Spanish Africa
History of Algiers
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Suleiman the Magnificent
16th century in Algeria
1541 in the Holy Roman Empire
1541 in the Ottoman Empire
1541 in Europe
1541 in Africa
Amphibious operations involving Spain
16th century in Algiers