| Capture of Algiers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofSpanish–Ottoman wars | |||||||
 Penon island | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Spanish Empire |  Regency of Algiers | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Don Martin de Vargas  | Hayreddin Barbarossa | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 200 soldiers | 2,000janissaries | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 175 dead 25 prisoners | Unknown | ||||||
Thecapture ofPeñón of Algiers was accomplished when thebeylerbey of Algiers,Hayreddin Barbarossa, captured the fortress calledPeñón of Algiers, on a small islet facing theAlgerian city ofAlgiers from theHabsburg Spaniards.
In 1510, the Spaniards had established themselves on a small island off Algiers, and forced the local rulerSālim al-Tūmī (Selim-bin-Teumi) to accept their presence through a treaty and pay tribute.[1] Fortifications were built on the islet, and a garrison of 200 men was established. Sālim al-Tūmī had to go to Spain to take an oath of obedience toFerdinand of Aragon.[2]
In 1516 however, theamir of Algiers Sālim al-Tūmī invited the corsair brothersAruj andKhair ad-Din Barbarossa to expel the Spaniards. Aruj, with the help of Ottoman troops,[1] came to Algiers, ordered the assassination of Sālim because Sālim was conspiring with the Spaniards against the pirates and Aruj,[3] and seized the town. Spanish expeditions were sent to take over the city, first in 1516 underDon Diego de Vera, and then in 1519 underDon Ugo de Moncada, but both expeditions ended in failure.[2]
Khair ad-Din, succeeding Aruj after the latter was killed in a battle against the Spaniards at theFall of Tlemcen (1517). The capture of Algiers in 1516 had been made possible with the support of the OttomanSultanSelim I. This support was discontinued with Sultan Selim's death in 1520, causing Barbarossa to lose the city to a localkabyle chieftain in 1524,[2] and to retreat to his fief ofDjidjelli.[4]
WhenSuleiman the Magnificent declared war on EmperorFerdinand I in January 1529, he also wished to go on the offensive in the westernMediterranean, and therefore renewed Ottoman support for Barbarossa.
Barbarossa received from the Ottoman Empire 2,000janissaries, artillery, and important financial support. Through bribery Barbarossa first obtained a change in the allegiance of the supporters of the Algierssheikh. After taking power in the city, Barbarossa then lay siege to theEl Peñón de Argel, the Spanish fortress at the entrance of the harbour. After 22 days enduring artillery fire without help from theSpanish mainland the Spanish under Don Martin de Vargas finally surrendered on 29 May 1529, with only 25 men left. Vargas wascudgelled to death, the fortress was dismantled, and the stoneworka used to build aseawall using Christian slaves as manpower.[2][5]
Over the following years, Barbarossa used Algiers as a major base for launching raids from theBarbary Coast.[6] The hugeAlgiers expedition undertaken byCharles V in 1541 to retake Algiers ended in failure.[2] Algiers remainedunder Ottoman rule for three centuries,[1] until theFrench Invasion of Algiers in 1830.
