BARBAROSSA HAYRETTIN PASHA          

                      

        Barbarossa Hayrettin Pasha is one of the most famous captains of our naval history. He was born in Midilli Island in 1473. His father is one of the Turkish soldiers settled down in Midilli, Yakup Bey from Eceova. Yakup Bey had four sons named Ishak, Oruç, Hızır and İlyas. Ishak and Oruç were the elder ones, and Hızır and İlyas were the little ones.

       Hızır became famous with his name as Barbarossa Hayrettin.

       The sons of Yakup Bey began to engage in trade by putting out to sea. Oruç was dealing in trade near Salonika. Ishak was guarding his father land. While Hızır and Ilyas were passing by the Rhodes Island, pirates appeared before them. These pirates wanted to loot the goods of these two brothers. A violent struggle against the pirates began. But İlyas fell martyr in this fight. Hızır was taken captive and put into prison in Rhodes. Hızır escaped from the pirates in a short time, and decided to become a pirate stopping trade, being influenced by this event.

       Prince Korkut, the brother of Yavuz Sultan Selim was the governor of Antalya. He took Hızır under his protection. He gave him a perkende with 18 seats. Barbarossa put out to Mediterranean with his friends. He said to his friends as his first word: We will not escape from who follows, and we will not follow who escapes!

       Barbarossa had great conflicts with Rhodes pirates to take revenge of his brother İlyas. He took his revenge by beating them in all of his assaults. Then he turned his face to Italian shores. He captured many ships near these shores. Barbarossa was going to Cerbe in the African coast when the winter arrived.

       While Barbarossa sailed around in Mediterranean, his elder brother Oruç was known everywhere. He was attacking all Christian ships and obtained several spoils. Europeans called Oruç Barbarossa as a metaphor because of his red beard. When Oruç died, his reputation passed on Hızır making his name Barbarossa too.

       Barbarossa worked with his elder brother. They had ten ships. These two Muslim brothers did not leave Spanish  torturing Muslims in peace. Baba Oruç lost one of his arms in a battle against Spanish. Barbarossa sailed around in Mediterranean shores alone now, and turned back with spoils by attacking several ships. Barbarossa acquired 3800 captives and 20 pieces of ship in one season.

       When Yavuz Sultan Selim became the sultan, Barbarossa Hayrettin sent many gifts to congratulate the new sultan via Muhittin Reis, the son of Kemal Reis’ sister. Yavuz Sultan Selim granted two galleys and a hil’at in return for that. Then Barbarossa dominated Algeria.

       Barbarossa was nearly a sultan in North Africa. Spanish decided to capture Tilmisan to draw him back from African coasts. Spanish, by landing troops, started a fight against Barbarossa brothers. Oruç Reis, who had lost one of his arms, and Ishak Reis fell martyr in this war. Barbarossa cried out as follows upon martyrdom of his brothers: Ah, I cannot take revenge of my brothers and fellows even if I put all Europe to my sword!.

       Barbarossa gave no quarter in the Mediterranean after this sorrow. His reputation was everywhere. His soldiers were singing the following folk song in Mediterranean Sea:

 

Deniz üstünde yürürüz,

Düşmanı arar buluruz,

Öcümüz komaz alırız,

Bize Hayrettinli derler.

       At those times, Yavuz Sultan Selim conquered Egypt. Barbarossa, by sending Kurtoğlu Muslihiddin Reis to Yavuz, told that he left the territories he conquered to the sultan. Europeans could not cope with Barbarossa then. Whenever they heard that “Barbarossa is coming!”, they escaped no matter they are in land or in the sea. Thanks to Barbarossa, Turks dominated in the Mediterranean. Turgut Reis, Sinan Reis, Salih Reis, Aydın Reis, who were under Barbarossa, were frightening everybody.

       Upon indication of Barbarossa, Algeria became a state dependant to the Ottomans. Yavuz Sultan Selim recognized Barbarossa as the emir of this state. When Yavuz Sultan Selim died, he was replaced by Suleyman the Magnificent. The biggest emperor of those times in Europe was Şarlken. Suleyman the Magnificent fought wars to break his influence in the land and sea. The only man to be successful in the sea could be Barbarossa. Because he was a sailor gaining victory over victory.

       Suleyman the Magnificent invited Barbarossa, the Emir of Algeria to Istanbul in 1533. Barbarossa had 18 pieces of perfect galleys and the same number of pirate ships. Barbarossa entered Istanbul port with his navy. Barbarossa was put up in the mansion of the Sea Captain in Atmeydanı. Next day, Barbarossa and his 18 mujahids appeared before Suleyman the Magnificent. They all advanced in order and kissed his hand. They drew attention with their bronze faces, callous hands and stout bodies. Suleyman the Magnificent asked Andrea Doria, the greatest sea admiral of the Mediterranean following Barbarossa.  He replied: My Sultan, there is no need to talk about that floke. I will blow his ships up if you order. I am looking for him everywhere, he escapes whenever I approach. Suleyman the Magnificent liked his words: Hızır Bey, you are the best son of this religion. Your name is Hayreddin from now on. Suleyman the Magnificent appointed Hayrettin as the Sea Captain of Ottoman Navy. So, he was awarded the rank of pasha.

       Barbarossa Hayrettin Pasha put to Mediterranean with a navy consisting of 84 pieces of ships. Barbarossa succeeded in conquest of many castles and cities in Italian coasts. Once he wanted to kidnap Colya, the young and beautiful wife of Vespasyo Kobona, one of the commanders of Fondi castle. This woman was famous with her title “Şüküfe-i Aşk”. Barbarossa fell in love with this girl. But he could not kidnap her.

       After that, Barbarossa seized Korfo Island and captured many spoils and captives there. He turned back to Istanbul with them. He made the spoils and captives pass before the sultan as a regiment. Two hundred young male captives wearing red clothes in the front carrying silver decanters and glasses and the other thirty captives carrying one bag of gold each, and two hundred person with one money bag of silver coins on their shoulders. Then, about 1000 captives tied on their necks were carrying a roll of broadcloth each. 1000 girls and 500 boys were following them. These were the gifts of Barbarossa.

       Pope Pol the Third prepared a sea Crusader expedition consisting of the navies of Venice, Ceneviz, Malta, Spain and Portugal governments. This navy was to destroy Turkish navy in Mediterranean sea. This great navy was commanded by Admiral Andrea Doria, the Duke of Venice. The navy consisted of 600 pieces. This navy cast anchor near Preveze.

       Barbarossa prepared his navy when he heard that Andrea Doria came before Preveze with a big navy. Turkish navy consisted of only 122 pieces. Turkish navy took war order before Preveze port. Turkish navy was divided into three groups as center, right and left wings. Salih Reis at the right wing, Seydi Ali Reis at the left wing, Turgut Reis at reserve and Barbarossa in the center took their positions. Turkish navy was in the form of a semicircle. Despite Crusader Navy was bigger, Turkish army had a higher spiritual power. The crusader navy opened a heavy artillery fire first. Upon this artillery fire, the Janissary band of Musicians began to play war songs.

       Turkish ships were slowly progressing toward the enemy while they shouted Allah! Allah! altogether. The enemy, seeing the Turkish ships advancing like a terrible storm, felt some shiver. The navies approach. The artilleries and bullets killed every living being around, the ships burned, Turkish sailors frightened everybody around with their scimitars. In a short time, the sea was filled with bloody bodies. Turkish sailors extended ramps and threw hooks to the ships they encounter and attacked the enemy with their scimitars and axes.

       The ships behind, which saw this terrible scene began to escape. Victory was the Turkish nation’s now. Andrea Doria accepted defeat and fled by tearing out his beard. He took two cannon balls in his hands and deplored. But it was too late, Preveze victory was won by Barbarossa Hayrettin Pasha. 130 pieces of ship were sunk in this battle. Barbarossa won the biggest sea battle of the Mediterranean on 28 September 1538.

Now, Barbarossa was very old. He died in Istanbul on 4 July 1546 in his 73. His tomb is in Beşiktaş. There is a sculpture of Barbarossa at the quarter where this tomb is. He is sleeping in his eternal resting place listening to the sound of the sea.

       But he is eternalized as a spiritual source of power for Turkish sailors which is depicted every year in the ceremonies conducted in front of his tomb.