Hayreddin Barbarossa

Khizr was born sometime between 1466 and 1483 in Palaiokipos, Midilini, within the Ottoman Empire. This location is now known as Gera on the island of Lesbos. His father Yakup Ağa held Turkish or Albanian origins from Giannitsa while his mother Katerina was a Greek Orthodox widow from Lesbos. The couple married and had two daughters and four sons including Ishak, Oruç, Khizr and Ilyas. Yakup participated in the Ottoman conquest of Lesbos in 1462 from the Republic of Genoa's House of Gattilusio. As a reward he received the fief of Bonova village where he became an established potter. He purchased a boat to trade his pottery products with other regions. All four sons helped their father with this business before they turned to sea life.

Rise As A Corsair Leader

Oruç Reis learned Italian Spanish French Greek and Arabic early in his career. While returning from a trading expedition in Tripoli Lebanon with his younger brother Ilyas they were attacked by the Knights Hospitaller. Ilyas died in the fight and Oruç was wounded. Oruç rowed as a galley slave for the Order of Saint John for four years until his father paid the ransom to release him. Oruç later went to Antalya where Şehzade Korkut gave him eighteen galleys to fight against the Knights of St John. When Korkut became governor of Manisa he provided Oruç with twenty-four galleys at İzmir. Oruç bombarded coastal castles in Apulia Italy and captured two ships. On his way back to Lesbos he stopped at Euboea and captured three galleons plus another ship. Reaching Mytilene with these vessels Oruç learned that Korkut had fled to Egypt due to succession disputes. Fearing trouble Oruç sailed to Egypt where he met Korkut in Cairo and obtained an audience with Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri who gave him another ship.

When was Hayreddin Barbarossa born and where?

Khizr was born sometime between 1466 and 1483 in Palaiokipos, Midilini, within the Ottoman Empire. This location is now known as Gera on the island of Lesbos.

How did Oruç Reis lose his left arm and what nickname did he receive?

In August 1512 during a battle Oruç lost his left arm earning him the nickname Gümüş Kol or Silver Arm for his prosthetic device. He later raided Andalusia capturing a galliot of the Lomellini family of Genoa.

What happened when Hayreddin Barbarossa besieged Nice in 1543?

Barbarossa laid siege to Nice capturing it on the 5th of August 1543 for French king Francis I. Landing at Antibes and Île Sainte-Marguerite near Cannes he sacked San Remo other Ligurian ports Monaco and La Turbie.

Where is Hayreddin Barbarossa buried and who designed the mausoleum?

He is buried in tall mausoleum türbe near ferry port Beşiktaş district European side Istanbul built in 1541 by architect Mimar Sinan where his fleet assembled. His memorial was constructed in 1944 next to mausoleum.

When did Sultan Suleiman appoint Khizr as Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy?

In 1533 Sultan Suleiman appointed Khizr Kapudan-i Derya Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy after he summoned him to Istanbul. The sultan also gave him government over Rhodes Euboea and Chios provinces.

Hayreddin Barbarossa

Rise As A Corsair Leader

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Common questions

When was Hayreddin Barbarossa born and where?

How did Oruç Reis lose his left arm and what nickname did he receive?

What happened when Hayreddin Barbarossa besieged Nice in 1543?

Where is Hayreddin Barbarossa buried and who designed the mausoleum?

When did Sultan Suleiman appoint Khizr as Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy?

Conquest Of North Africa

Grand Admiralship And Naval Dominance

Franco-Ottoman Alliance Campaigns

Retirement And Final Years

Enduring Historical Legacy