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

elations. 68 Finally, Spanish ongoing occupation of Algerian ports continued to
represent a serious threat to the nascent kingdom of El-Jaza’ir. “Gifted with
prudent and statesmanlike intelligence, which led him to greater enterprizes,” 69
Khayreddin resisted both Spanish and local forces and even succeeded in
defeating a Spanish invading flotilla in 1519. Aware of the incessant Christian
assaults on El-Jaza’ir, he sought and speedily obtained protection from the
Ottoman Empire. In fetihname—letter announcing the conquest of a city—
Sultan Selim I (r. 1512-1520) declared El-Jaza’ir as one of his lands in 1519. 70
In return, Khayreddin recognized the sovereignty of the Sultan and paid him
allegiance. That was, in fact, the beginning of Ottoman rule in Algeria.
2. 2. Algiers: The Ottoman Regency
For the farsighted political leader Khayreddin, alignment with the
Ottoman Sultan, the most powerful ruler in the Islamic world, would bring him
prestige and legitimacy. The Turk corsairs were mere soldiers of fortune whose
services were needed to overthrow the Spanish yoke but they had no political
legitimacy. They could conquer all the land but, for the local population, they
would remain usurpers of the throne especially after the brutal suppression of
the legitimate leaders. Equally important, was Khayreddin’s need for a strong
ally in his fight against assaulting Christian forces. He shared this second
motivation with the Ottomans: the Sultan was waging war in the eastern
68 Gurkan, “Ottoman Corsairs,” p. 49, 71.
69 Lane-Poole, Barbary Corsairs, pp. 53-4.
70 Gurkan, “Ottoman Corsairs,” pp. 69-70.
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