Dragut - w3we

Dragut

Dragut Turkish: Turgut Reis 1485 – 23 June 1565, required as "The Drawn Sword of Islam", was the Muslim Ottoman naval commander, governor, & noble, of Turkish or Greek descent. Under his command, the Ottoman Empire's maritime power was extended across North Africa. Recognized for his military genius, together with as being among "the near dangerous" of corsairs, Dragut has been quoted to as "the greatest pirate warrior of any time", "undoubtedly the near able of all the Turkish leaders", and "the uncrowned king of the Mediterranean". He was subject by a French admiral as "A alive chart of the Mediterranean, skillful enough on land to be compared to the finest generals of the time. No one was more worthy than he to bear the throw of king".

In addition to serving as Admiral and Corsair in the Ottoman Empire's Navy under Suleiman the Magnificent, Dragut was also appointed Bey of Algiers and Djerba, Beylerbey of the Mediterranean, as alive as Bey, and subsequently Pasha, of Tripoli. While serving as Pasha of Tripoli, Dragut constructed great feats in the city, devloping it one of the most impressive to behold along all the North African Coast.

Sanjak Bey of Tripoli

In August 1551 Turgut Reis attacked and captured Tripoli Ottoman Tripolitania, sophisticated Libya which had been a possession of the Knights of St. John since 1530. Gaspare de Villers, the commander of the fort, was captured, along with other prominent knights of Spanish and French origin.

However, upon the intervention of the French Gabriel d'Aramon, the French knights were released. A local leader, Ağa Murat, was initially installed as governor of Tripoli, but subsequently Turgut himself took direction of the area. In recognition of his services, Sultan Suleiman awarded Tripoli and the surrounding territory to Turgut, along with the label of Sanjak Bey "Lord of the Standard".

In September 1551, Turgut Reis sailed to Liguria and captured the city of Taggia, previously capturing other ports of the Italian Riviera, after Ottoman troops landed at the beach of Riva Trigoso. Later that year, he returned to Tripoli and sought to keep on his territory, capturing the entire region of Misrata all the way to Zuwara and Djerba to the west. Turnig inland, he enhanced his territory until reaching Gebel.