From The Oxford History of Libia, vol II: The Spanish Era
Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, had long sought to break the Turkish hold on North Africa and thus much of the Mediterranean. In 1525, his opportunity was born when Francis I, King of France, was slain at the Battle of Pavia. Francis' heir, Francis II, was a mere seven years old and a regency was proclaimed in Paris. Charles was now free to maneuver in Italy and, more importantly, could act in the Mediterranean without any fear of French intervention on the side of the Turks for the next several years.
In 1528, a Spanish army, supported by a great fleet of Spanish, Flemish, Italian and Portuguese ships seized the Turkish city of Tunis. While some of Charles' advisors urged him to consolidate his hold on Tunisia before pressing on, it was still early in the campaign season. Charles was resolved to press on before the Turks could send more forces into North Africa. Accordingly, Charles' army, minus a largely Genoese garrison, was then carried to Tripoli where a Turkish force was threatening the city (then held by the Knights of St. John).
A great battle was fought just outside the city walls on March 15, 1528. Just as the Turks were breaking into the city, Spanish cavalry led by Charles himself smashed into the Turkish flank. The Turkish commander was slain and his troops scattered despite the heroic attempts by young Turgut Reis (a privateer who seized command of a force of Turkish soldiers after their captain was killed) to rally. Reis and perhaps 200 Turks escaped, fleeing east in a handful of galleys.
Charles entered the city in the evening, and was honored with a triumphal mass. The Turks had been decisively beaten on land; all that remained was to defeat their fleets in order to secure Christian control of the western and central Mediterranean.
In this, the Genoese would play a major role. During the summer and fall of 1535, a great assembly of ships from Spain, Flanders, Portugal, Sicily, Naples, Genoa, the Papal States and the Knights of St. John gathered in the harbor of Tripoli. Hayreddin Barbarossa, meanwhile, was drawing together all the ships he could. On September 17, Barbarossa's fleet set out from Alexandria. Two days later, the Christian Armada left port under command of Andrea Doria.
On the morning of September 25, a Genoese galley spotted the Turkish fleet off the village of Sallum in Egypt. The battle itself began around 8:00 as the Neapolitian and Portuguese squadrons advanced against the Turks; the Christians had mistaken the Turkish fleet for a vanguard, a mistake that would prove costly in the early stages of the battle. The Neapolitian and Portuguese ships were soon overwhelmed by the Turks, and over a dozen ships were lost by 8:30. But Doria was undaunted and after quickly arranging his ships, launched the famous Crescente attack. His ships enveloped the
melee, pinning the Turks between the reinforcements and the desperate Neapolitian and Portuguese survivors.
In a wild but largely one-sided battle that lasted until noon, the Turks were beaten back. Barbarossa managed to drive through the arms of the crescent before it could close, but he had already lost half his ships by that time. After one last attempt to break the Christian fleet, Barbarossa broke off and fled for Egypt with what remained of his fleet (and, sadly, to his execution by order of the irate Sultan Suleiman).
When Pope Clement VII heard news of the victory, he is said to have wept for joy and immediately proclaimed September 25 to be the universal feast day of Our Lady of Triumph (thus the large number of towns named Santa Triunfo in Libia).
With the power of the Turks broken in North Africa (save for Egypt) it remained only for Charles V to divide the spoils of war. The greater part of the conquered territory became part of the Kingdom of Spain, but Charles did offer his allies their share of the reward. Genoa was given the city of Tunis, the town of Tabarka, and the coast between them. The Portuguese received "the whole of the Moroccan coast from Ceuta to Santa Cruz" (much of which was still in Turkish hands at the time), while Naples were granted the city of Algiers (mod. Isole) (as in the case of Morocco, the task of actually
conquering their new territory was left to the victors). All the rest, a vast domain stretching from Ceuta as far east as Tripoli (and from 1531 on, Bengasi), was a Spanish colony, the Vice-Royalty of Libia.
**
Part I of however many. Whaddaya think, sirs?
Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, had long sought to break the Turkish hold on North Africa and thus much of the Mediterranean. In 1525, his opportunity was born when Francis I, King of France, was slain at the Battle of Pavia. Francis' heir, Francis II, was a mere seven years old and a regency was proclaimed in Paris. Charles was now free to maneuver in Italy and, more importantly, could act in the Mediterranean without any fear of French intervention on the side of the Turks for the next several years.
In 1528, a Spanish army, supported by a great fleet of Spanish, Flemish, Italian and Portuguese ships seized the Turkish city of Tunis. While some of Charles' advisors urged him to consolidate his hold on Tunisia before pressing on, it was still early in the campaign season. Charles was resolved to press on before the Turks could send more forces into North Africa. Accordingly, Charles' army, minus a largely Genoese garrison, was then carried to Tripoli where a Turkish force was threatening the city (then held by the Knights of St. John).
A great battle was fought just outside the city walls on March 15, 1528. Just as the Turks were breaking into the city, Spanish cavalry led by Charles himself smashed into the Turkish flank. The Turkish commander was slain and his troops scattered despite the heroic attempts by young Turgut Reis (a privateer who seized command of a force of Turkish soldiers after their captain was killed) to rally. Reis and perhaps 200 Turks escaped, fleeing east in a handful of galleys.
Charles entered the city in the evening, and was honored with a triumphal mass. The Turks had been decisively beaten on land; all that remained was to defeat their fleets in order to secure Christian control of the western and central Mediterranean.
In this, the Genoese would play a major role. During the summer and fall of 1535, a great assembly of ships from Spain, Flanders, Portugal, Sicily, Naples, Genoa, the Papal States and the Knights of St. John gathered in the harbor of Tripoli. Hayreddin Barbarossa, meanwhile, was drawing together all the ships he could. On September 17, Barbarossa's fleet set out from Alexandria. Two days later, the Christian Armada left port under command of Andrea Doria.
On the morning of September 25, a Genoese galley spotted the Turkish fleet off the village of Sallum in Egypt. The battle itself began around 8:00 as the Neapolitian and Portuguese squadrons advanced against the Turks; the Christians had mistaken the Turkish fleet for a vanguard, a mistake that would prove costly in the early stages of the battle. The Neapolitian and Portuguese ships were soon overwhelmed by the Turks, and over a dozen ships were lost by 8:30. But Doria was undaunted and after quickly arranging his ships, launched the famous Crescente attack. His ships enveloped the
melee, pinning the Turks between the reinforcements and the desperate Neapolitian and Portuguese survivors.
In a wild but largely one-sided battle that lasted until noon, the Turks were beaten back. Barbarossa managed to drive through the arms of the crescent before it could close, but he had already lost half his ships by that time. After one last attempt to break the Christian fleet, Barbarossa broke off and fled for Egypt with what remained of his fleet (and, sadly, to his execution by order of the irate Sultan Suleiman).
When Pope Clement VII heard news of the victory, he is said to have wept for joy and immediately proclaimed September 25 to be the universal feast day of Our Lady of Triumph (thus the large number of towns named Santa Triunfo in Libia).
With the power of the Turks broken in North Africa (save for Egypt) it remained only for Charles V to divide the spoils of war. The greater part of the conquered territory became part of the Kingdom of Spain, but Charles did offer his allies their share of the reward. Genoa was given the city of Tunis, the town of Tabarka, and the coast between them. The Portuguese received "the whole of the Moroccan coast from Ceuta to Santa Cruz" (much of which was still in Turkish hands at the time), while Naples were granted the city of Algiers (mod. Isole) (as in the case of Morocco, the task of actually
conquering their new territory was left to the victors). All the rest, a vast domain stretching from Ceuta as far east as Tripoli (and from 1531 on, Bengasi), was a Spanish colony, the Vice-Royalty of Libia.
**
Part I of however many. Whaddaya think, sirs?