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

part of the Ottoman fleet. While the 17 th
century was the golden age of
corsairing the next one witnessed a period of decline of the fleet which ended
by the latter’s collapse in the 1820s.
3. 1. Command and the Crews
Supremacy of the fleet was ensured by its composition as well as by the
character of the men who put it afoot. The high command, admiral and sea
captains were chosen in a democratic way; they were chosen by the
Beylerbeylik/Deylik “subject to examination” by the Ta’ifa, or association of
the Ri’yas (sea captains). 83 The Kaptan (admiral) was the supreme commander
of the navy; he was chosen among the eldest Ri’yas whose age would not
permit active service; he was a living encyclopedia of maritime experience and
feats. Another admiral, Rais el Bahr, commanding the fleet at active service,
was chosen among the most competent and daring Ri’yas regardless of his age.
The Rais, or captain of a ship, was chosen among the ablest and bravest sea
captains, usually having behind him glorious exploits. El-Euldj Ali is an
example: in 1570, he captured four Maltese galleys—including the flagship; 84
in 1572, despite defeat at Lepanto, his talent and bravery brought him to the
supreme post of command of the Ottoman fleet—like Barbarossa before him.
Aboard ships, command fell to the Rais and Bach Rais (his second). The
captains were Turks or Christians who converted to Islam and joined the
83 Peter Earle, The Pirate Wars (London: Methuen & Co Ltd, 2004), p. 43.
84 The flagship is the command ship from which the admiral controls the operations of his fleet during
combat.
47