| Algiers expedition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofSpanish–Ottoman wars and theOttoman–Habsburg wars | |||||||
 Siege of Algiers in 1541 (1542)Cornelis Anthonisz | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Order of Saint John Republic of Genoa Papal StatesKingdom of Kuku[1] |  Regency of Algiers | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Charles V Navy:Andrea Doria Army:Duke of Alba[3] Including:  Ferrante I Gonzaga Alfonso d'AvalosGiannettino DoriaBernardino de MendozaNicolas Durand de Villegaignon | Hasan Agha | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 65 galleys 450 transport ships[4][5] including: 12,000sailors[4][6] 24,000 soldiers[4][5] Including:  100 transports[3] 50 galleys[3] 100 transports[3] 14 galleys 8 galleys 150 transports[3] 400 knights[6] 2,000 troops[7] | 1,500[4][8]–2,000[9]Janissaries 6,000[4][8]–8,000[9]Andalusi andMaghrebiMoors | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 300 officers killed[3] 8,000[3]–12,000[10][11] killed 150 ships sunk[3] | 200 killed[12] | ||||||
The1541 Algiers expedition occurred whenCharles V of theHoly Roman Empire and king of Spain attempted to lead an amphibious attack against theRegency of Algiers. Inadequate planning, particularly against unfavourable weather, led to the failure of the expedition.
Algiers had been under the control of the Ottoman emperorSuleiman the Magnificent sinceits help in 1529 byHayreddin Barbarossa. Barbarossa had left Algiers in 1535 to be named High Admiral of the Ottoman Empire inConstantinople, and was replaced as governor byHasan Agha, aSardinian eunuch and renegade.[3] Hassan had in his service the well-known Ottoman naval commandersDragut,Sālih Reïs, andSinān Pasha.[3]
Charles V made considerable preparations for the expedition, wishing to obtain revenge for the recentsiege of Buda.[13] However, the Spanish andGenoese fleets were severely damaged by a storm, forcing him to abandon the venture.[14][15]
Charles V embarked very late in the season, on 28 September 1541, delayed by troubles inGermany andFlanders.[3][16] The fleet was assembled in the Bay ofPalma, atMajorca.[3] It had more than 500 sails and 24,000 soldiers.[3] A fleet led byAndrea Doria was dispatched with the help of allied nations including theRepublic of Genoa,the Kingdom of Naples, andthe Order of Saint John of Jerusalem to transport the troops from Spain and the Netherlands.[17]
After enduring difficult weather, the fleet only arrived in front of Algiers on 19 October as a storm formed.[18] Distinguished Spanish commanders accompanied Charles V on this expedition, includingHernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, though he was never invited to the War Council.[16]
Troops were disembarked on 23 October, and Charles established his headquarters on a land promontory surrounded by German troops.[16] German, Spanish, and Italian troops, accompanied by 150Knights of Malta, began to land while repelling Algerine opposition, soon surrounding the city, except for the northern part.[3] Hayreddin's deputy Hassan Agha had a strong defence at the gate ofBab Azzoun and caused serious casualties among theMaltese knights.[19]
The fate of the city seemed to be sealed; however, the following day the weather became severe, with heavy rain. Many galleys lost their anchors, and 15 were wrecked onshore. Another 33carracks sank, while many more were dispersed.[20] As more troops attempted to land, the Algerines started to make sorties, attacking the newly arrived. Charles V was surrounded, and only saved by the resistance of theKnights Hospitaller.[21]
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Andrea Doria managed to find a safer harbour for the remainder of the fleet atCape Matifu, five miles east of Algiers. He enjoined Charles V to abandon his position and join him in Matifu, which Charles V did with great difficulty.[22] From there, still oppressed by the weather, the remaining troops sailed toBéjaïa, still a Spanish harbour at that time. Charles could not depart for the open sea until 23 November.[23] Throwing his horses and crown overboard, Charles abandoned his army and sailed home.[24] He finally reachedCartagena, in southeast Spain, on 3 December.[25]
Losses amongst the invading force were heavy with 150 ships lost and large numbers of sailors and soldiers.[3] A Turkish chronicler wrote that theBerber tribes massacred 12,000 invaders.[26] Leaving war materiel, including 100 to 200 guns which were recovered for the ramparts of Algiers, Charles' army was taken prisoner in such numbers that it was said the markets of Algiers were filled with slaves; so much that in 1541, it was said they were being sold for an onion per head.[17] Hasan Agha was rewarded with the title ofBeylerbey for his exploits over the Christian forces.[27]
The chronology of the expedition reconstructed by Daniel Nordman.[28]
The disaster considerably weakened the Spanish, and Hassan Agha took the opportunity to attackMers-el-Kebir, the harbour of the Spanish base ofOran, in July 1542.[29]
Charles Lamb suggests that this storm may have influencedShakespeare's character, the sea witchSycorax inThe Tempest. Sycorax, an Algerian sorceress, was banished from her homeland for wreaking havoc with her witchcraft, but was spared execution "for one thing she did". This elusive "one thing" is never stated; however Charles Lamb suggests that Shakespeare drew upon the legend of an unnamed Algerian witch who summoned a ferocious tempest which destroyed the 1541 invasion fleet, and it was this act of defending her nation which prevented her people from executing her.
| Pre-1830 conflicts | .png) | |
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| French conquest of Algeria: 1830–1836 |
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| French conquest of Algeria: 1837–1870 |
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| Allegiances | ||
| Mokrani Revolt | ||
| Algerian War | ||
| Treaties | ||
| Documents | ||
| Lists | ||
