The Golden Age of Barbary Piracy

The early 16th century marked the zenith of Barbary piracy in the Mediterranean, a period when North African corsairs dominated the sea lanes under the leadership of legendary figures like Hayreddin Barbarossa. These pirates operated from strongholds such as Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, striking fear into the hearts of European coastal communities. Their raids extended from Italy and Spain to the Greek islands, disrupting trade and enslaving thousands.

When Barbarossa departed Algiers in 1535 to serve as an Ottoman admiral, the corsairs lost their unifying leader. Yet, his legacy endured through ruthless captains like Dragut, Salih Reis, and Sinan, who continued plundering with unmatched ferocity. Their unchecked brutality soon made even their victims nostalgic for Barbarossa’s comparatively “gentlemanly” piracy.

Charles V’s Failed Crusade Against Algiers

Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, exasperated by the corsairs’ audacity, sought to crush them once and for all. After capturing Tunis in 1535, he turned his attention to Algiers—the heart of Barbary piracy. In October 1541, he launched a massive expedition, boasting an armada of over 500 ships and 36,000 men, including famed conquistador Hernán Cortés.

Yet hubris and poor timing doomed the campaign. Winter storms ravaged the fleet, sinking 150 ships before they could land. Those who made it ashore faced relentless Berber resistance and torrential rains that turned their camps into quagmires. Disease, starvation, and Turkish counterattacks forced a humiliating retreat. Charles V’s failure cemented Algiers’ reputation as an unconquerable pirate haven.

Dragut: The Scourge of the Mediterranean

Among Barbarossa’s successors, none matched the infamy of Dragut (Turgut Reis). Born a Muslim in Anatolia, he rose from obscurity to become the Ottomans’ most feared naval commander. His raids devastated Naples, Sicily, and the Adriatic, earning him the nickname “The Drawn Sword of Islam.”

Captured in 1540 by Genoese admiral Giannettino Doria, Dragut endured four years as a galley slave before being ransomed by Barbarossa. His subsequent campaigns were even more brutal, culminating in the 1551 capture of Tripoli from the Knights of Malta. His mastery of naval guerrilla tactics—such as digging a canal overnight to escape Andrea Doria’s blockade at Djerba—cemented his legend.

The Siege of Malta: Corsairs vs. Crusaders

By 1565, the Knights Hospitaller, now based in Malta, had become the Mediterranean’s last Christian bulwark against Ottoman expansion. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, seeking revenge for their raids, sent a colossal invasion force under Mustafa Pasha and Dragut.

The resulting siege was a clash of civilizations. The knights, led by Grand Master Jean de Valette, held out against 30,000 Ottomans for four months. Dragut’s death during the siege was a turning point, but the Ottomans still nearly overran the island. Only the arrival of Spanish reinforcements saved Malta, marking the beginning of Ottoman decline in the Mediterranean.

Legacy of the Barbary Corsairs

The corsairs’ dominance waned in the 17th century, but their impact endured. They shaped naval warfare, inspired European dread of “Turkish pirates,” and left a cultural legacy immortalized in art and literature. Malta’s victory became a symbol of Christian resilience, while Algiers and Tripoli remained pirate strongholds until the 19th century.

Today, their story endures as a tale of empire, faith, and the turbulent struggle for control of the Mediterranean—a struggle that defined an era.