This post was inspired by Ardent's latest blog entry on 'Ottoman Proverbs.'
There have been a few grand admirals in the Ottoman era. But none as great as Barbarossa ("Redbeard") who helped stretch Ottoman dominance from beyond the Strait of Gibraltar all the way to Indonesia. Please read all about it on this very informative site dedicated to him.
In fact, the Ottoman naval victory at the Battle of Preveza in 1538 spearheaded by Barbaros (as he is affectionately known to Turks) protégé and successor 'Turgut Reis' ensured the Turks supremacy in the Mediterranean.
The Turkish Navy is still a dominant force in the world; ranked eighth, third in Europe. But more relevant to why this post today; piracy is once again gaining popularity.
And by piracy I don't mean illegally downloading music or movies off the net, but possibly a case of criminality (please read) on the high seas. However, much like the saying that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter, who is a pirate can depend on the point of view.
But did you know that Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa (or Hızır Hayreddin Paşa; also Hızır Reis) was one of four brothers all of whom were seamen; he was born in Lesbos, the island his father captured from the Genoese for the Ottomans; to Muslim Turkish father Yakup Ağa and his Greek wife Katerina? And that Barbaros himself was a pirate? ...
According to 'Pirates Who's Who,' "Although nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, the North African corsairs, as they were known, were, in reality, independent and looking after their own interests."
"The most famous pirate of the era was Barbarossa Haydreddin, the Barbarossa nickname coming from his red beard. His heritage was European, his father a Janissary, the slave warriors of the Ottoman Empire."
We now can gather that his father was also a 'non-Turk,' although a Turkish citizen, contradicting some reports that "Yakup Ağa was a Tımarlı Sipahi, i.e. a Turkish feudal cavalry knight, whose family had its origins in Yenice (not Venice, but a town in the western region of today's Turkey). As you may know, Janissaries were Christians, some of whom converting to Islam.
As for Turgut Reis, and also according to 'Pirates Who's Who,' he "was born a Christian on the Aegean coast of Turkey and converted to Islam when he joined the Ottoman army at age 12. He soon rose to become one of the Ottoman Empire's greatest admirals, defeating a European fleet commanded by the Genoese Admiral Andrea Dorea at the battle of Preveza in 1538. Turgut was also a major slave trafficker."
Controversy? or Misinformation? or a simple case of the 'Who Cares'?
One thing we know for sure, Emperor Charles V of Spain (the man who was tormented repeatedly by Barbaros' campaigns) contacted Barbarossa, asking him to switch sides, and offered him to become his Admiral-in-Chief, as well as the ruler of Spain's territories in North Africa, but Barbaros refused! After all, regardless of his background, he was serving the Ottomans and Islam, in my opinion. And the same was true of Turgut Reis.
So the pirates are back. Romance and all. As glorified by movies like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' And now as terrorizers of the seas. But this time some experts are calling for the (U.S.) Navy (and its international allies) not to start wars with pirates, whereas others are calling for an anti-piracy fleet.
Will the next wars be fought on the high seas again?
