Arnaut Mami or Mahomed the Albanian ( 1572–76) was an
Ottoman Albanian commander and admiral of the Ottoman fleet and the squadron admiral and the supreme commander of all Islamic vessels in North Africa and
Pasha
Pasha, Pacha or Paşa ( ota, پاشا; tr, paşa; sq, Pashë; ar, باشا), in older works sometimes anglicized as bashaw, was a higher rank in the Ottoman political and military system, typically granted to governors, generals, dignita ...
Algiers, known as the most formidable
corsair of that period for his terrorizing of the narrow seas. He was also captain general of Ottoman galleys in
Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques d ...
. He was called
Arnaut after his Albanian origin.
On the morning of 26 September 1575, Arnaut's ship attacked the
galley
A galley is a type of ship that is propelled mainly by oars. The galley is characterized by its long, slender hull, shallow draft, and low freeboard (clearance between sea and gunwale). Virtually all types of galleys had sails that could be u ...
''Sol'' on the Catalan coast, with
Miguel de Cervantes aboard. After significant resistance, in which the captain and many crew members were killed, the surviving passengers were taken to Algiers as captives. After five years as a slave, Cervantes was released when his family paid the ransom.
See also
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Albanian piracy
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mami, Arnaut
16th-century Albanian people
Albanians from the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire admirals
Albanian Muslims
16th century in Algiers