Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

2. 1. The Coming of the Turks
The foundation of Ottoman Algeria is closely linked to two Muslim
brothers, Arruj (1474-1518) and Khayreddin (1483-1546), better known as the
Barbarossa. The Barbarossa were daring corsairs who originated from
Mytilene, ex-Lebsos, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea where they had been
corsairing under the protection of an Ottoman prince. Arruj was an able corsair
who gained fame after he captured two papal galleys, an unprecedented act
which caused consternation among Christians. 60 Khayreddin was much more
cultivated and sophisticated:
a shrewd strategist, speaking six languages
fluently, he had unmatched statesmanship skills which he masterly used to steer
Algiers under the protection of the Ottoman Empire. 61
Following internal strife in Turkey, the Barbarossa sought the protection
of Tunis; then, they expanded their activities to the cities of Jijel and Bejaia.
Starting from 1514, they led siege to Bejaia twice but failed to take it; however,
they succeeded in expulsing the Genoese, Spain’s allies, from Jijel and settled
there. Soon after, Arruj sent an emissary with presents to the Ottoman Sultan.
This was the first indication of contact between the two corsairs and
Constantinople. The Sultan welcomed the initiative as a sign of obedience and
reciprocated by sending them two war galleys. 62 Ultimately, this early contact
was going to place Algiers in the sphere of influence of the Ottomans.
60 David Cordingly, ed., Pirates: Terror on the High Seas from the Caribbean to the South China Sea
(New York: Turner Publications Inc., 1996), p. 80.
61 Ibid.
62 Gurkan, “Ottoman Corsairs,” p. 48; Andrew C. Hess, The Forgotten Frontier: A History of the
Sixteenth Century Ibero-African Frontier (Chicago/London: Chicago University Press, 1978), p. 63.
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