THE SWORD AND THE SEA 145offensive operations included the capture of Lepanto (modern Greece) and
a major raid that nearly captured Venice in 1501.
Khayr-ad-Din, more commonly known as “Red Beard” or Barbarossa
(Italian for Red Beard), would become the most famous mariner of his
age. From his base on the Aegean Island of Lesbos, he controlled a fleet
of tough Muslim corsair captains. His early actions were off the African
coast, where he and his brother captured Algiers in 1518. His slave raids
were so successful that it is said that he provided most of the slaves that
built the fortifications of Algeria and most of the concubines for the har-
ems of local gentry. He raided all over the Mediterranean. On one occa-
sion, having heard stories of a lady of great beauty at Fondi, Italy, he
landed and attempted to kidnap her, but she apparently awoke and escaped
in her nightdress on horseback, escorted by a young Italian knight. The
story goes on that this brave knight was later executed for having seen
too much of the damsel he had saved.
At one time, the Barbarossa brothers are reputed to have had thirty-six
light galleots, which were rowed by some 7,000 Christian slaves. These,
and their stately galleys and many prizes, were the naval component that
introduced Turkish power into the Western Mediterranean, greatly ex-
tending the sultan’s strategic reach. Although Aruj, Barbarossa’s brother,
was killed in the expansion of the African base, their actions were so
notable that on December 27, 1533, Barbarossa was called to Istanbul to
rebuild the rundown Ottoman fleet.
Well established in his position as the commander of the Ottoman navy,
in 1534 he led a successful major naval campaign to capture Koron and
Lepanto. He recaptured Tunis on April 2, 1534, and later that year landed
at Otranto with 20,000 Janissary infantry and Spahi cavalry and a plan to
march on Rome. Though initially victorious around Otranto, the operation
proved too difficult, and he returned to Istanbul with his booty: 10,000
young men and women for sale as slaves.
After Otranto, the sultan directed Barbarossa to begin attacking Vene-
tian possessions in the Aegean. After occupying them all, he returned to
Istanbul with 1,000 girls and 1,500 boys worth a million pieces of gold.
Thanks to his naval exploits he had turned the Eastern Mediterranean into
a Muslim sea.
In 1537 the Christians organized a naval counteroffensive under the
famous Italian admiral Andrea Doria, but with no significant engagements
the offensive fizzled out. The Ottomans, however, succeeded in taking
complete control of the Aegean Sea by occupying all the islands held by
Venice.