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BARBAROSSA

Volume 3 · 340 words · 1815 Edition

ARUCH, and HAYRADIN, two famous corsairs, the sons of a potter in the isle of Lesbos; who, turning pirates, carried on their depredations with such success and conduct, that they were soon possessed of 12 galleys besides smaller vessels. Of this fleet Aruch the elder brother, called Barbarossa from the redness of his beard, was admiral, and Hay-Barbarosa, radin the second in command: they called themselves Barbarus, the friends of the sea, and the enemies of all who sailed upon it; and their names became terrible from the straits of Dardanelles to those of Gibraltar. With such a power they wanted an establishment; and the opportunity of settling themselves offered in 1516, by the inconsiderate application of Eutemi king of Algiers to them for assistance against the Spaniards. Aruch, leaving his brother to command the fleet, carried 5000 men to Algiers, where he was received as their deliverer; and secretly murdering the prince he came to aid, caused himself to be proclaimed king in his stead. To this usurpation he added the conquest of Tremezen; when his exploits and piracies induced the emperor Charles V. to furnish the marquis de Gomarez, governor of Oran, with troops to suppress him; by whom he was defeated and killed near Tremezen. His brother Hayradin, known also by the name of Barbarossa, assumed the sceptre at Algiers with the same abilities, and with better fortune; for the Spaniards, sufficiently employed in Europe, giving him no disturbance, he regulated the interior police of his kingdom with great prudence, carried on his naval operations with vigour, and extended his conquests on the continent of Africa. He put his dominions under the protection of the Grand Signior, Solyman the Magnificent; and obtained the command of the Turkish fleet. With so powerful a protector, he acquired the kingdom of Tunis in a manner similar to that by which his brother gained Algiers. Since the time of the Barbarossas, Algiers has been understood to be dependent on the Porte; but this dependence is now little more than merely nominal.