WI: Heyreddin Barbarossa establishes his own state

Heyreddin Barbarossa is perhaps most famous for numerous victories against the Spanish under the service of Suleiman the Magnificent, such as Battle of Preveza, giving the Ottomans near-dominance over the Mediterranean for decades and eventually hegemony over North Africa. In 1540, Charles V offered Barbarossa the position of Admiral-in-Chief along with the rulership of all Spanish territories in North Africa in exchange for his loyalties. He refused and executed the Spanish messenger after he attempted to assassinate Barbarossa.

What if he accepted this offer, ruling over Algeria, Tunis, Ceuta, Oran, and Melilla?
 
That wouldn`t exactly be his own state, would it? I think he had more autonomy as a Turkish admiral (really more of a powerful privateer) than he would as a Spanish one. The idea is interesting though.

I think an semi-independent state under the ottomans, like what the khedivate of Egypt was for a while before british colonization is a more likely situation. Or even an de jure independent protectorate, he was sultan of Algiers after all, he chose to give Algeria to the ottomans, he didn't have to.

Him joining the Spanish would likely mean conversion to Christianity, that would make him unpopular with his subjects, and he would be deposed, but if he stayed Muslim but allied to Spain, the Spanish would be much more powerful than OTL. The Mediterranean would be split between Spain and turkey, so lots of wars would be fought to try to take complete control, probably resulting in a stalemate or a Turkish victory. If they hold on to Algeria & Tunisia, Spain would control Mediterranean trade. The Algerians would likely not expand too much and would probably be incorporated into Spain in the latter colonial period. Expect a larger Spanish presence in west Africa during the scramble.
 
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