Charles V's Algiers expedition (1541)

Charles V's great expedition against Algiers, 948/1541, and its defeat ².

Charles had concluded the ten-year Truce of Nice with France (945/1538) and turned to North Africa, landing before Algiers on 28 Jumada II 948/15 October 1541. Earlier he had secretly offered Khayr al-Din recognition as ruler of North Africa for a small tribute — hoping to detach it from Istanbul — and failed ³.

The emperor wrote to governor Hasan Agha: 'You know me — I am sultan… every Christian nation under my hand… if you would meet me, hand me the castle at once.' Hasan Agha answered: 'I am the servant of Sultan Süleyman… come and take the castle — but this land has a custom: an invader is given only death' ⁴.

A gale blew for days, tearing up the tents and dashing the ships together; waves cast some ashore where the defenders took their stores, and rain spoiled the powder. Every assault failed — the commander al-Hajj Bashir's exploits standing out — and the emperor withdrew to Italy. Algiers' letter to Süleyman likened the rout to that of the People of the Elephant ⁵.

João III's Ramadan 948 letter to his Madrid ambassador justified evacuating Safi and Azemmour by the Sa'dis' Ottoman-supplied strength; Charles never again planned a campaign against Algiers, and so great grew the fame of Khayr al-Din and Hasan Agha — in al-Salabi's telling — that people blamed them for every calamity that befell them ⁶.