Attacks of Algiers by Charles Quint

Entrusting of its success by the catch of Tunis in 1535, Charles Quint decides to attack Algiers and to finish some with Barberousse.

This one, like several of its allies, warn the emperor to attack late in the year: no naval company of importance must be done between September and March. But the emperor passes in addition to.

All the nations of the Western Mediterranean except France, combined Soliman, take part in this forwarding. In Spain, the preparation of the forces is entrusted to the Cortes and in Italy to Fernand de Gonzague. The forces gathered are important: 22.000 men is ordered by the Pile cluster, the fleet of more than 500 buildings operations by 11000 sailors under the orders of Andrea Doria, Charles while being the supreme command.

October 20th 1541, the fleet is in front of Algiers. Hassan Aga Algiers order, in the absence of Barberousse. It brings together the principal inhabitants of the city, the legal profession, the imans of the mosques and the chiefs of zaviés to go to the hotel of the government and under an energetic tone declares:

It is not the first time that Algiers was attacked by the infidels. At one time when it was hardly surrounded by walls, under the government of Aroudj-Reis, and that of Khaïr-ED-DIN-Pasha, we saw many armies Christian to entreat its ruin; eh well, the protective hand of God, who knew to make their efforts useless, and which forced them to turn over in their country, covers of shame and ignominie, this very powerful hand will still come to our help. Not, the supreme Being that we adore, will not allow that the enemies of its law humiliate the people which he loves. Think, O inhabitants of Algiers, that you devoted yourselves particularly to the holy war, and that, to deserve the title of defenders of Islamism, it is necessary to know to scorn this momentary life; you point out that it is necessary to be laid out to pour its blood for the triumph of the word of God, and that the number of your enemies it should not terrify you. Besides you know this passage of our crowned book where it is known as: “how much time a small troop didn't it overcome a larger army with the assistance of God? ” God, you see, never gives up those which are constant in the party of the good cause; how your position is beautiful after all! You have the choice between two also desirable advantages, the victory or martyrdom. We all are condemned to die; it is there the term of our short pilgrimage. The fate of that which dies the weapons with the hand by defending its country and its religion, is, undoubtedly, much worthier of desire than the destiny of a man who sees the screen of his life destroyed by a long or acute disease. The prophet, on whom is the safety of peace, announced to us that the paradise is constant on the sleeves of the sabers, and that the swords of the martyrs of the faith, suspended on the entour of the throne of the divine majesty, will make the most beautiful ornament of it. O my. Brothers! what a happiness awaits us! God made us the grace bring the infidels on our grounds, so that we have the merit to fight them. Happy, thousand times happy that which must drink the cut of martyrdom! Animate we of a saint zeal, unisons our efforts; we knew until now to defend our city against all the companies of our enemies: let us be sure, one will not have to us to overcome more difficulties to push back today that which attacks us. They are the same men, these are those that we are accustomed to overcome; with the protection of the sky which takes care on us, their blacks projects must fail. For little that each one makes its duty, we can flatter ourselves to hold these infidels in failure a long time. In the interval, some powerful help will arrive to us on behalf of our glorious sultan, and it will undoubtedly be Khaïr-eddin pasha, which will be charged to bring it to us.

Time is calm, the ships wet between the mouths of the wadis El Khemiry and El Harrach. The troops of Algiers are under the command of the Cheykh Sidi Said Cherif. The first unloadings begin on October 23rd. Their first aid was to dig ditches around their camp, and to draw up batteries there to defend the approach of it. Charles-Quint made transport artillery on the hill which one names the hill Cudiel-el-Saboun of the soap; it is height where is today the fort the Emperor, who draws his name, as each one knows, of the choice that made Charles-Quint of this place to make there camp its army. The natives name it Sultan-kal' - aci, castle of the sultan.

The following day, an encircling movement starts with the south whereas Algiers undergoes a naval bombardment. An attack of the three doors Bab Azoun, New Door, Bab El-Oued will ensure the fall.

But into the night from October 24th to 25th, the rain falls in a true flood: at daybreak the troops are soaked, stiff and are tired by the harassing to which they were subjected on behalf of the inhabitants of Algiers. The garrison, under the orders of El-Hadj Mami ensuring the defense of the door of Bab Azoun leaves and attacks the Christians with their crossbows. those cannot make use of their arquebuses whose wicks are wet. They resist well, especially the knights of Malta. Algerian is pushed back and the Christian artillery enters in action. But the artillery of seat was not unloaded, and the field artillery does not have any effect on the fortifications. The anecdote wants that Ponce of Balaguer, carries standard of the Baillif Georges Schilling, plant then its scraping-knife in the door by shouting we will return… . A second exit of Algerian puts at evil the troops which are obliged to withdraw itself. This attack does not turn to the disaster thanks to the intervention of the German Lansquenet S.

The bad weather continues, the rain and the wind will last 60 hours and of tens of ship fail themselves on the beach: the lowest estimates speak of almost 90 ships. Andrea Doria the order of equipment and the fleet will wet under the precarious shelter of the Cape Matifou giving up the terrestrial troops. Charles-Quint gives the signal of the retirement on October 26th and the surviving troops give up all their material to join Cape Matifou. This retirement will last three days. The crossing of the wadi El Harrach, inflated by the rain, requires the construction of a bridge and with 75 knights of Malta their lives left there. This place was called the Tomb of the Knights. the last obstacle was the crossing of the marshes of the wadi El Hamiz. the retirement cost the life 2.000 men and 8.000 men were taken in slavery by Algerian.

This victory of Algerian was regarded as a gift of God.

Hassan-Aga dispatched a galiote to carry the news of the victory to the Sublime Door. Khaïr-ED-DIN pasha, introduced it into the seraglio of the sultan. The sultan gave him a splendid fur-lined coat and khattichérif which established it governor in Algiers with the title of pasha.

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