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Siege of Algiers
Part of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
Siege of Algiers 1541
Siege of Algiers in 1541. Engraving of 1555.
DateOctober – November 1541
LocationAlgiers
Result Decisive Ottoman Victory
Belligerents

Charles V Arms-personal Empire of Charles V:

  • Spain Spain
  • Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400) Holy Roman Empire
  • Flag of Cross of Burgundy Kingdom of Naples
  • Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4 Kingdom of Sicily
Flag of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Knights of Malta
Flag of Genoa Republic of Genoa
Flag of the Papal States (pre 1808) Papal States
Flag of the Ottoman Empire (1453-1844) Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charles V
Navy: Andrea Doria
Army: Duke of Alva[1]
Including:
Spain Hernán Cortés
Republic of Genoa Gianettino Doria
Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4 Ferrante Gonzaga
Spain Bernardino de Mendoza
Ottoman Empire Hassan Agha
Strength
Total of 80 galleys
Total of 500 ships.[1]
12,000 sailors.[1]
24,000 soldiers.[1]
Including:
Charles V Arms-personal 100 transports.[1]
Spain 50 galleys.[1]
Spain 100 transports.[1]
Republic of Genoa 14 galleys
Papal States 8 galleys
Kingdom of Naples Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4 150 transports.[1]
Sovereign Military Order of Malta 700 knights.
Ottoman Empire 800 soldiers
5,000 Moors.[1][2]
Casualties and losses
300 officers.[1]
17,000 men.[1]
17 galleys
130 carracks.[1]



The Algiers expedition of 1541 occurred when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor attempted to lead a fleet against the Ottoman Empire stronghold of Algiers in modern Algeria. Largely because of stormy weather, the expedition was a disastrous failure.

Background[]

Algiers had been under the control of the Ottoman Emperor Suleiman the Magnificent since the Capture of Algiers in 1529 by Barbarossa. Barbarossa had left Algiers in 1535 to be named High Admiral of the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople, and was replaced as Governor by Hassan Agha, a eunuch and Sardinian renegade.[1] On the seas, Hassan had at his service the famous Ottoman commanders Dragut, Sālih Reïs and Sinān.[1]

Charles V made considerable preparations for the expedition, and he wished to obtain revenge for the recent Siege of Buda (1541),[3] but his fleet was severely damaged by a storm, forcing him to abandon the venture.[4][5]

Expedition[]

Charles V embarked very late in the season, on 28 September 1541, delayed by troubles in Germany and Flanders.[1][6] The fleet was assembled in the Bay of Palma, at Majorca.[1] It had more than 500 sails and 24,000 soldiers.[1] After enduring difficult weather, the fleet only arrived in front of Algiers on 19 October.[7] The greatest commanders accompanied Charles V on this expedition, including Hernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, though he was never invited to the War Council.[6]

Troops were disembarked on 23 October, and Charles established his headquarters on a land promontory surrounded by German troops.[6] Spanish, German and Italian troops, accompanied by 150 knights of Malta, began to land while repelling Algieran opposition, soon surrounding the city, except for the northern part.[1]

The fate of the city seemed to be sealed, however the following day the weather became terrible, with heavy rains. Many galleys lost their anchors and 15 were wrecked onshore. Another 33 carracks sank, while many more were dispersed.[8] As more troops were attempting to land, the Algerians started to make sorties, slaughtering the newly arrived. Charles V was surrounded, and was only saved by the resistance of the Knights of Malta.[9] Andrea Doria managed to find a safer harbour for the remainder of the fleet at Cape Matifu, 5 miles east of Algiers. He enjoined Charles V to abandon his position and join him in Matifu, which Charles V did with great difficulty.[10] From there, still oppressed by the weather, the remaining troops sailed to Bougie, still a Spanish harbour at that time. Charles could only depart for the high seas on 23 November.[11] He finally reached Cartagena, in southeast Spain, on 3 December.[12]

The losses were terrible, with 17 galleys and 130 carracks lost, and countless numbers of sailors and soldiers.[13]

Aftermath[]

The disaster considerably weakened the Spanish, and Hassan Agha took the opportunity to attack Mers-el-Kebir, the harbour of the Spanish base of Oran, in July 1542.[14]

Notes[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 The Story of the Barbary Corsairs by Stanley Lane-Poole p.114ff [1]
  2. Handbook for travellers in Algeria and Tunis, Algiers, Oran, Constantine ... by John Murray (Firm),Sir Robert Lambert Playfair p.38
  3. Garnier, p.201
  4. European warfare, 1494-1660 by Jeremy Black p.177
  5. E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913-1936 by Martijn Theodoor Houtsma p.258 [2]
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Garnier, p.202
  7. Garnier, p.203
  8. Garnier, p.204ff
  9. Garnier, p.204
  10. Garnier, p.205
  11. Garnier, p.207
  12. Garnier, p.206
  13. Garnier, p.208
  14. A history of the Maghrib in the Islamic period by Jamil M. Abun-Nasr p.155 ff

References[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Algiers expedition (1541) and the edit history here.
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