OTTOMAN CORSAIRS IN THE WESTERN ... - Bilkent University

1.1. Introduction
CHAPTER 1 (1505-1516):
THE WAR COMMENCES
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“Non possono i fulmini, la rabbia de’ venti
La morte l’amor, sviarmi dal mar”
Un Ballo in Maschera
Giuseppe Verdi (1803-1911)
The war against Islam had not crossed the strait of Gibraltar in the 16 th century.
Portuguese had already begun to capture enclaves in the North African coasts in
accordance with the needs that their desire for geographical exploration set forth.
Furthermore, at the end of the century, Reconquista would be concluded in the Iberian
Peninsula. This paved the way for two basic developments. First of all, there was an
opportunity to export this holy war to another continent. There were vehement
supporters of the continuation of the expeditions. As a result of Reconquista, the idea of
a crusade was already deeply rooted in Castile; it was a matter of economics rather of
devotion. The aristocrats considered the war as a means to enrich themselves through
the booty of war. In addition, the Church saw it as an opportunity to compensate the
Ottoman menace which was felt everyday more and more especially after 1453. The
same feelings were shared by the Castilians. Fuller records: “the expansion of the
Ottoman Empire had awakened distant memories of 711 and the many invasions