Ottoman Period
Aruj Barbarossa
Ottoman period
Warriors & ResistanceEarly 16th centuryAlgiers
He lost an arm in battle and was nicknamed "Silver-Arm" for the prosthetic he wore.
Historical significance
He turned Algiers into a regional naval power and opened the door to Ottoman protection.
Their story
Born on the Aegean island of Lesbos, Aruj became a daring corsair captain who answered the appeal of Algerian cities pressed by Spain. He took control of Algiers, repelled Spanish attacks and, with his brother Khayr ad-Din, laid the groundwork for an Ottoman-allied state on the central Maghreb coast.
Did you know?
He lost an arm in battle and was nicknamed "Silver-Arm" for the prosthetic he wore.