Siege of Tripoli (1551)
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Tripoli occurred in 1551 when the Ottomans besieged and vanquished the Knights of Malta
in the fortress of Tripoli
, modern Libya
. The Spanish Habsburgs had established a fort in Tripoli in 1510 under Charles V
, and remitted it the Knights in 1530. The siege culminated in a six-day bombardment and the surrender of the city on August 15.
The siege of Tripoli succeeded an earlier attack on Malta
in July, which was repelled, and the successful invasion of Gozo (1551)
, in which 5,000 Christians captives were taken and brought on galleys to the location of Tripoli.
, with 30 knights (some authors say 200) and 630 Calabrian
and Sicilian
mercenaries. The Ottomans had a base since 1531 in the city of Tajura
, 20 kilometers to the east, where Khayr al-Din had been based. The Ottomans encircled the fort, and established 3 batteries of 12 guns each.
The French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Gabriel d'Aramon
, joined the Ottoman fleet at Tripoli, with two galleys and a galliot, The declared mission of the ambassador was to dissuade the Ottomans from capturing the city, at the request of the Grand Master of Malta, as Malta was not identified as an enemy in the Franco-Ottoman alliance
against the Habsburg
s. According to later reports, when Sinan Pasha
and Dragut refused to lift the siege, on grounds that they were under order to eradicate the Knights of Malta from the African continent, d'Aramon threatened to sail to Constantinople to appeal to Suleiman
, but he was then barred from leaving the city until the end of the siege.
Soon the soldiers in the fort mutinied, and negotiation for surrender started. The city was captured on 15 August 1551 by Sinan Pasha
after six days of bombardment. The Knights, many of them French, were returned to Malta
upon the intervention of the French ambassador, and shipped onboard his galleys, while the mercenaries were enslaved. Murād Agha, the Ottoman commander of Tajura
since 1536, was named as the Pashalik of the city.
Nicolas de Villegagnon, the future explorer of Brazil
, was present at the siege of Tripoli in 1551, and wrote an account about it in 1553.
From Malta, d'Aramon wrote a letter about his intervention to Henry II
. The role of d'Aramon was widely criticized by Charles V
and Julius III on suspicion that he had encouraged the Ottoman to take the city. It appeared that d'Aramon had participated to the victory banquet
of the Ottomans, raising further suspicion on his role in the siege, and leading to claims by Charles V that France
has participated to the siege. In any instance, d'Aramon had a special relationship with the Ottomans, and was clearly aware that the fall of Tripoli represented a major setback for Charles V.
Upon his return to Malta, Gaspard de Vallier
was heavily criticized by the Grand Master D'Omedes
who wished to assign all the blame for the defeat on him. He was brought in front of a tribunal, and stripped from the habit and cross of the Order. He had been however staunchly defended by Nicolas de Villegagnon, who exposed the duplicity of D'Omedes.
The siege was the first step of the all-out Italian War of 1551–1559 in the European theater, and in the Mediterranean the French galleys of Marseilles were ordered to join the Ottoman fleet.
In 1553, Dragut was nominated commander of Tripoli by Suleiman
, making the city an important center for piratical raids in the Mediterranean and the capital of the Ottoman province of Tripolitania
. In a famous attack from Tripoli, in 1558, Dragut attacked Reggio
, and took all its inhabitants as slaves to Tripoli.
In 1560, a powerful naval force was sent to recapture Tripoli, but that force was defeated in the Battle of Djerba
.
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
in the fortress of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, modern Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. The Spanish Habsburgs had established a fort in Tripoli in 1510 under Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, and remitted it the Knights in 1530. The siege culminated in a six-day bombardment and the surrender of the city on August 15.
The siege of Tripoli succeeded an earlier attack on Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in July, which was repelled, and the successful invasion of Gozo (1551)
Invasion of Gozo (1551)
The Invasion of Gozo took place in July 1551, and was accomplished by the Ottoman Empire against the island of Gozo, following an unsuccessful attempt to conquer nearby Malta on 18 July 1551. It was followed by a victorious campaign with the Siege of Tripoli .The Commander of the Ottoman fleet were...
, in which 5,000 Christians captives were taken and brought on galleys to the location of Tripoli.
Siege
The city was under the command of Father Gaspard de VallierGaspard de Vallier
Gaspar de Vallier was a Marshall of the Knights of Malta, who was in command of the fortress of Tripoli during the Siege of Tripoli . He was French, from the region of Auvergne . In Tripoli, he commanded 30 knights and 630 Calabrian and Sicilian mercenaries...
, with 30 knights (some authors say 200) and 630 Calabrian
Calabrian
Calabrian may refer to:* Calabrian languages, the languages and dialects spoken in Calabria* Calabrians, the people of Calabria, southern Italy...
and Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
mercenaries. The Ottomans had a base since 1531 in the city of Tajura
Tajura
Tajura , also spelt Tajoura, is a city in Libya, in the Tripoli District , on the Mediterranean coast east of Tripoli in the Tripolitania region....
, 20 kilometers to the east, where Khayr al-Din had been based. The Ottomans encircled the fort, and established 3 batteries of 12 guns each.
Gabriel de Luetz
Gabriel de Luetz, Baron et Seigneur d'Aramon et de Vallabregues , often also abbreviated to Gabriel d'Aramon, was the French Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1546 to 1553, in the service first of Francis I, who dispatched him to the Ottoman Empire, and then of the French king Henry II...
, joined the Ottoman fleet at Tripoli, with two galleys and a galliot, The declared mission of the ambassador was to dissuade the Ottomans from capturing the city, at the request of the Grand Master of Malta, as Malta was not identified as an enemy in the Franco-Ottoman alliance
Franco-Ottoman alliance
The Franco-Ottoman alliance, also Franco-Turkish alliance, was an alliance established in 1536 between the king of France Francis I and the Turkish ruler of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman the Magnificent. The alliance has been called "the first non-ideological diplomatic alliance of its kind between a...
against the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s. According to later reports, when Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha (Ottoman admiral)
Sinanüddin Yusuf Pasha or in short Sinan Pasha, was a Kapudan Pasha of the Ottoman Navy for nearly four years between 1550 and the end of 1553, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent...
and Dragut refused to lift the siege, on grounds that they were under order to eradicate the Knights of Malta from the African continent, d'Aramon threatened to sail to Constantinople to appeal to Suleiman
Suleiman
Suleiman is the main transliteration of the Arabic name, , the name means "man of peace" and corresponds to the English name Solomon.The word may also be transliterated as Sulaiman, Suleman, Soliman, Sulayman, Süleyman, Sulejman, Sleiman, Sleman, Solyman or Seleman...
, but he was then barred from leaving the city until the end of the siege.
Soon the soldiers in the fort mutinied, and negotiation for surrender started. The city was captured on 15 August 1551 by Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
after six days of bombardment. The Knights, many of them French, were returned to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
upon the intervention of the French ambassador, and shipped onboard his galleys, while the mercenaries were enslaved. Murād Agha, the Ottoman commander of Tajura
Tajura
Tajura , also spelt Tajoura, is a city in Libya, in the Tripoli District , on the Mediterranean coast east of Tripoli in the Tripolitania region....
since 1536, was named as the Pashalik of the city.
Nicolas de Villegagnon, the future explorer of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, was present at the siege of Tripoli in 1551, and wrote an account about it in 1553.
Aftermath
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
. The role of d'Aramon was widely criticized by Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
and Julius III on suspicion that he had encouraged the Ottoman to take the city. It appeared that d'Aramon had participated to the victory banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
of the Ottomans, raising further suspicion on his role in the siege, and leading to claims by Charles V that France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
has participated to the siege. In any instance, d'Aramon had a special relationship with the Ottomans, and was clearly aware that the fall of Tripoli represented a major setback for Charles V.
Upon his return to Malta, Gaspard de Vallier
Gaspard de Vallier
Gaspar de Vallier was a Marshall of the Knights of Malta, who was in command of the fortress of Tripoli during the Siege of Tripoli . He was French, from the region of Auvergne . In Tripoli, he commanded 30 knights and 630 Calabrian and Sicilian mercenaries...
was heavily criticized by the Grand Master D'Omedes
Juan de Homedes y Coscon
Fra Juan de Homedes y Coscon was a Spanish Knights Hospitaller. He was the 47th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1536 and 1553...
who wished to assign all the blame for the defeat on him. He was brought in front of a tribunal, and stripped from the habit and cross of the Order. He had been however staunchly defended by Nicolas de Villegagnon, who exposed the duplicity of D'Omedes.
The siege was the first step of the all-out Italian War of 1551–1559 in the European theater, and in the Mediterranean the French galleys of Marseilles were ordered to join the Ottoman fleet.
In 1553, Dragut was nominated commander of Tripoli by Suleiman
Suleiman
Suleiman is the main transliteration of the Arabic name, , the name means "man of peace" and corresponds to the English name Solomon.The word may also be transliterated as Sulaiman, Suleman, Soliman, Sulayman, Süleyman, Sulejman, Sleiman, Sleman, Solyman or Seleman...
, making the city an important center for piratical raids in the Mediterranean and the capital of the Ottoman province of Tripolitania
Tripolitania
Tripolitania or Tripolitana is a historic region and former province of Libya.Tripolitania was a separate Italian colony from 1927 to 1934...
. In a famous attack from Tripoli, in 1558, Dragut attacked Reggio
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, and took all its inhabitants as slaves to Tripoli.
In 1560, a powerful naval force was sent to recapture Tripoli, but that force was defeated in the Battle of Djerba
Battle of Djerba
The naval Battle of Djerba took place in May 1560 near the island of Djerba, Tunisia in which the Ottomans under Piyale Pasha's command overwhelmed a large joint European fleet, chiefly Spanish forces, sinking half its ships.-Background:...
.
See also
- Franco-Ottoman allianceFranco-Ottoman allianceThe Franco-Ottoman alliance, also Franco-Turkish alliance, was an alliance established in 1536 between the king of France Francis I and the Turkish ruler of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman the Magnificent. The alliance has been called "the first non-ideological diplomatic alliance of its kind between a...
- Timeline of Maltese historyTimeline of Maltese historyThis is a timeline of Maltese history, listing the key dates and events from the history of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. For background information on the events, refer to History of Malta...
- List of Ottoman sieges and landings
- 2011 Battle of Tripoli