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The Sultan's Admiral: Barbarossa: Pirate and Empire Builder (Tauris Parke Paperbacks) Paperback – January 15, 2009
In this definitive biography, Ernle Bradford has brilliantly recreated Barbarossa’s remarkable life alongside a vivid portrayal of the Ottoman and Mediterranean worlds at this thrilling moment in history. Admiral, naval hero, pirate, warrior and empire-builder, Kheir ed-Din or Barbarossa, as he was known in the West, was a legendary figure. Born on Lesbos in Greece he rose to become High Admiral of the Ottoman Navy, Sultan of Algiers and friend and advisor to Suleiman the Magnificent. His life dominated the history of the Mediterranean in the 16th century. From the moment that he and his brother, Aruj, established themselves on the North African coast, the pattern of life and trade in the Mediterranean changed forever and for nearly 300 years after it was affected by the activities of raiders from what came to be called the Barbary Coast. His achievements in reorganizing the Ottoman Navy and his command of it helped the expansion of the Turkish Empire that threatened all of Europe.
- Print length248 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTauris Parke Paperbacks
- Publication dateJanuary 15, 2009
- Dimensions5.06 x 0.77 x 7.83 inches
- ISBN-10184511793X
- ISBN-13978-1845117931
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Editorial Reviews
Review
*The only biography, in or out of print, of this singularly important figure in Turkish maritime history and a rattling yarn that recalls exciting tales of swashbuckling pirates.* --John Freely
*Bradford does more than just narrate the facts of his biography, he magnificently captures the spirit of the age as he describes the in thrilling prose ships that 'enchant the eye' or that 'glide swiftly forward'. These beautiful descriptions lead you to feel you are reading a gripping novel, not a history book.* -- Marion James,Today`s Zaman
Book Description
About the Author
Ernle Bradford (1922-1986) was a prominent British historian specializing in the Mediterranean world and naval history. Bradford served in the Navy for the duration of World War II and later travelled throughout the Mediterranean, living for a while on Malta. He was a BBC broadcaster and magazine editor. He was also the author of many acclaimed books, including biographies Cleopatra, Hannibal, Caesar as well asThe Mediterranean,The Story of the Mary Rose andUlysses Found.
Product details
- Publisher : Tauris Parke Paperbacks; 25932nd edition (January 15, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 248 pages
- ISBN-10 : 184511793X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1845117931
- Item Weight : 9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.06 x 0.77 x 7.83 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,535,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21,954 inTraveler & Explorer Biographies
- #74,798 inEuropean History (Books)
- #119,024 inWorld History (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Ernle Bradford was born in 1922 and died in 1986. He was a noted British historian specializing in the Mediterranean world and naval topics. Bradford was an enthusiastic sailor himself and spent almost thirty years sailing the Mediterranean, where many of his books are set. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, finishing as the first Lieutenant of a destroyer. He did occasional broadcast work for the BBC, was a magazine editor, and wrote many books.
Customer reviews
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Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2016The book is well written, events are nicely flowing and well researched. It puts the reader in the atmosphere of the Mediterranean conflicts during that era while describing the tactics of the waged sea battles. It is recommended for those who are keen to know the other side of Barbarossa's story.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2011Great book on a great historical personality, which has been always overlooked as a simple pirate. He is definitely not. The correct word should be the "empire builder" as suggested by the author.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2014A lot of people have no idea how powerful the islamic world was at one time compared to
Europe. This book details how powerful it was.
May be a slow read for non-history buffs, but the detail is great for those who enjoy history. - Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2016Excellent book. If you like history. This book is for you.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2010The author compares Barbarossa with Nelson. There are moments you might womender if Barbarossa was the greatest admiral of all times. Well Researched, accounts of battles, strategies and campaigns.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2015Aggrandizes and romanticizes Kheir ud-Din in breezy, swashbuckling style. Makes for highly readable, if uncritical, retracement of the age of North African corsairs bedeviling the Christian powers of Europe on the Mediterranean. Decent stuff by reasonable standards of historical biography for general readers, although it is more annotated chronicle than biography.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2017Readable and informative.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2013Kheir-ed-Din Barbarossa is a relative unknown in the west but is celebrated in the Muslim east. He is held in high esteem no different than Lord Nelson in England. In Turkey he is the subject of children's books and his navel victory at Preveza is marked by a national holiday. By contrast, Europe remembers him as a pirate, a murderous corsair, a thief and considers him an insignificant figure. It is this image that has become popular.
Mr. Bradford's biography of Kheir-ed-Din Barbarossa removes these popular images. He paints a picture of a highly cultured and intelligent man who had a significant impact on North Africa, the Mediterranean and he left behind a legacy that would endure for at least 3 centuries.
Kheir-ed-Din began his career under the tutelage of his older brother Aruj in 1504. The two brothers left for North Africa with nothing more than 2 galleots and by 1533, Kheir-ed-Din had created the Kingdom of Algiers. The Kingdom would last for 3 centuries dictating trade and the movement of ships well into the 19th century. This by itself would have marked Kheir-ed-Din as a man of stature but this was just a prelude.
Sultan Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire was in desperate need of a competent naval commander. Kheir-ed-Din's reputation preceded him and as a result he was appointed commander of the Ottoman fleet. He would rebuild the fleet from the ground up.
With the new fleet, Kheir-ed-Din conquered everything in the Aegean, Ionian and ravaged the Italian coast culminating in a major navel engagement at Preveza against the combined fleets of Venice, Genoa and the Pope. Outnumbered 2 to 1, Kheir-ed-Din would defeat the fleet and establish Ottoman supremacy at sea.
By the time Kheir-ed-Din retired, the Mediterranean was a Muslim lake controlled by the Ottomans and it would remain this way for the next 30 years.
My impression of Kheir-ed-Din Barbarossa was no different than the traditional European view, Barbarossa the pirate. After reading Mr. Bradford's account, I was thoroughly surprised and amazed. In Mr. Bradford's own words:
"This is not an attempt to rehabilitate Barbarossa, who does not needed it, but to strip away some of the veil of varnish and inaccurate over painting that have disguised from Europeans the portrait of a very remarkable man."
Strip away the veil he most certainly does.
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Visit my blog on Islamic History.
Top reviews from other countries
- J. JagoReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 17, 2009
5.0 out of 5 starsMost famous pirate ever
Heartily glad to find this amazing, wonderfully illustrated and thoroughly researched story of - not one of - but the world's most extraordinary pirate, admiral of the Ottoman fleet and power second only to that of his sponsor Suleiman the Magnificent.
Were it not for the fact that the text is historically completely accurate, readers will be treated to one of the very few genuine adventure stories.
Naturally, as we're talking about piracy there's plenty of blood and thunder - but within the story you'll discover just how many seafaring advances - in sail, shipbuilding generally, battle tactics and more - and learn too of the historic economic and religious rivalry between the dying Hapsburg Empire and the Ottoman Empire that lasted for an unbelievable length of time - from the 16th to the mid 20th century. Certainly a read worth reading! - AReviewed in Germany on April 14, 2013
5.0 out of 5 starsNice
I bought this because I was very curious about this man! I loved the book and I enjoyd the read very much ! For those interested about a man with strong personality who rises to hights of succses through own strugle and sacrifice, this is a most read! BARBAROSSA LIVED LEGENDARY ! - AntonioReviewed in Italy on April 25, 2016
5.0 out of 5 starsLa storia di Barbarossa
Ottimo. è la storia del famoso "pirata" Barbarossa che nel 1500 imperversava nel Mediterraneo (occidentale e orientale) . Un angolo di storia poco conosciuto da noi che utilizziamo il titolo "pirata" dimenticando che era l'ammiraglio comandante della flotta Turca e che lo erano un po' tutti "pirati" a quei tempi. Va letto , soprattutto dagli appassionati di storia veneziana. Piacerà meno ai tifosi di Andrea Doria che ne esce ridimensionato . - Claudia SaatchiReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2015
4.0 out of 5 starsShiver me timbers!
Good, solid account of one of Europe's more flamboyant characters - pirate, navigator, admiral of the Ottoman fleet in the early 16th Century and an all-round villain that even today thrills Turkish children who read books about this extraordinary man.
Bradford's historical account captures the excitement of sea battles in which most of the ships were propelled into battle by slaves chained to their oars for months on end. This is a dark, cruel world of exploitation, commerce and piracy but also full of thrills and spills and do-daring in true piratical fashion. It makes Jack Sparrow and his enemies look positively charming and benign!
In short, if you like marine history at its most bloodthirsty, then Barbaross is your man! - Cut-MonkeyReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2018
5.0 out of 5 starsHistory that feels like adventure
From the writer of "The Siege Of Malta", possibly the most memorable history book I have ever read, comes tis book about Barbarossa that does not disappoint in both grandeur of scale and thrilling detail.
I have to thank the bookseller who kept me fully informed about delays and problems that occurred while tracking down this excellent book. It was worth the wait and because of their service I was happy to wait. I recommend both book and bookseller heartily.
