In 1551, Charles V decided to an end to the depredations of the pirate, who had managed to create some sort of royalty on the sea coast of Tunisia. An important expedition was sent to that effect against the town of Mahdia, under the command of Don Juan de Vega, Viceroy of Sicily, who took with him the unfortunate Moulay Hassan, whom he intended to use influence to ensure the success Company. At the news of the landing of the Spaniards, Dargouth, who was currently in the sea, returned in haste to oppose the attackers, but was forced to take off and abandon the defense of the city only courage its inhabitants.
September 10, 1551, after a terrible assault, the place capitulated. Twelve hundred Muslims were killed during the siege, and nine thousand were enslaved.
After leaving his son, Don Alvar, as governor of Mahdia, with 1500 good troops and large supplies, Don Juan de Vega, returned with his fleet to Sicily.
Don Alvar did not remain long in possession of the government of that place, having missed him the money to pay the troops of the garrison, they revolted and gave their leader a certain Antonio Aponte, who arrived at the happy with a few raids, carried out over the surrounding tribes, to live until his men or the Viceroy of Sicily had them return to obedience.
In 1553, Charles V decided to abandon Mahdia, whose occupation seemed too expensive. He charged to Don Fernando Acuna to destroy all the fortifications and the garrison back in Spain.
In 1560, Philip II conceived the design to capture Tripoli. To this end, he confided to Don Duan 14.000 soldiers de la Cerda, Duke of Medina Coeli, Viceroy of Sicily, and deferred to his zeal and his experience with the task of directing operations (1560).
La Cerda embarked his troops on 113 ships, and headed for the island of Djerba, which went first summons. It was a happy beginning, but that he bore fruit, we had to march without delay to Tripoli, then in power Dargouth.
Unfortunately, it was not so: the weather, extreme agitation of the sea, forced the expedition leader to remain several weeks at anchor on the island. Dargouth cleverly took advantage of this respite to inform the Grand Lord of the dangers which threatened the Turkish possessions in Africa.
As the notice was pressing, the Divan of Constantinople soon sent one hundred and sixty galleys and ships carrying forty thousand soldiers, and ordered him to make all possible dispatch, to surprise the English fleet its anchorage on the island of Djerba. At the risk of breaking her masts, Sinan Pasha was covered with veils, and burst suddenly upon the compact mass of buildings MedinaCoeli, who had barely time to sail, to escape the inevitable destruction. The attack was so sudden that 19 galleys and 14 transports were removed before they could cut their moorings.
Notwithstanding this material loss, 5,000 Spaniards were thrown into prison. After this major disaster, the Duke of Medina Coeli brings together some of his ships and returned to Europe, leaving Don Alvaro de Sande care to defend the fortress island of Djerba, where he was locked up with a handful of soldiers.
After enduring for several weeks, the most cruel privations, the contingent decided to throw himself in despair over enemy lines, to drill and take advantage of the confusion and surprise that their attack would cause in the ranks to win the shore and rushed to seize the first buildings that fell into their hands. On the day they leave their fortified base on the Turkish army, and trying to emerge through the thick battalions. Turks rally, wrap the handful of Spaniards and shoot with rifle scimitar. To see
their victory and to remind future generations, the Turks had raised, Sir theater of their achievement, a pyramid made up entirely of skulls and bones of enemies that was removed in 1846 following the desire expressed by the Consul at Bey General of France and the Prefect Apostolic in Tunis. Left
definitely master of authority in Tunis, Hamed posted its sympathy for the Turks and his hatred against Christians. Curiously, the small band of English mercenaries who had been left by his father Charles V became his strongest support, the dedication of its leader Juan who had the manners and dress Muslims. This man was the real master in Tunis and all it had on a bloody tyranny.
Hamed also formed a body of three thousand horse called Zemasnïa, well armed and well mounted, he used mostly to fight Arab insurgents, particularly the Ouled Saïd, who have always been treated simply as infidels because of their multiple traitor to the monarchs of this country. The new king
Hafsid, Moulay Hamed, was also very difficult to win. He was regularly called to the Sultan of Constantinople, at the same time he signed truces, or treaties with the Spaniards. This versatility of power Hafsid, who sometimes relied on the Spaniards and now coming to terms with the Turks, was due to his weakness against two such powerful empires.
In March 1568, Euldj Ali was appointed Master of Algiers and just as the new Beylarbeg came to take possession of his job he decided to conquer the Kingdom of the Hafsids.
As its nickname implies, Euldj Ali was a renegade, a native of southern Italy. Taken very young by Muslims who had rowed a long time in the convict, stubbornly refusing to abandon his religion; he had received during this portion of its existence the nickname El-Farthing (the nasty or bald) by the Arabs and Uchaux Fartax (the scabby renegade) for Christians.
Euldj Ali desperate to get his freedom, he had ignored nor abjure Christianity, like many others at that time and took the name of Ali.
His energy and intelligence soon made him get the command of a ship and it became one of the top lieutenants of Hassan, son of Khaireddine and Dragut.
So because of the fragility of power Hafsid, the master of Algiers, Euldj Ali turned to Tunisia where there was, no glory, Moulay Hamed, who was in a state of hostility with the English La Goulette and war against his subjects, particularly the Ouled Saïd and Chabbïa.
The crusade against the Christian powers were preparing the Turk was known to all; the Beylarbeg knew he was destined to play a major role in the duel with the Mediterranean Sea would be the scene and he deemed it necessary that Tunis was in possession .
In October 1569, he marched eastward, the head of 5,000 regular musketeers, and took with him the way the quotas Kabyle, the goums of Amraoua Garfa and those of other tribes in the province of Constantine.
the announcement of his approach, Moulay Hamed was released from Tunis, but he had with him his spahis called Zemasnïa, numbering 3,000, 1.600 more nomadic Arabs. The encounter took place near Beja and the Turkish army triumphed without difficulty Tunisians who were pushed up Medjerda.
This river, being overwhelmed, the army stopped a moment to Euldj Ali, but he managed to cross it and, having put in the footsteps of Prince Hafsid, he inflicted a new defeat at Sidi Ali el-Hattab.
Moulay Hamed then returned to Tunis, but, considering all resistance useless, he gathered his family and what he could carry and went in the direction of Rades. From there he could cross the lake in a place where the water depth was less and take refuge in the English Fort Chekler. After recognizing him, they opened his door and gathered it. The English Governor Don Pedro de la Goulette Carrero took him under his protection
Euldj Ali was soon forthcoming, he went to Tunis without a fight, welcomed the submission of Zemasnia and actively strove to restore peace. After spent four months in his new conquest, he took the road to Algiers, leaving Tunis under the command of his boss, Ramdhane, with a thousand Turks, many Zouaoua and strengths of its predecessor (end 1569).
As Hamed, he went to Spain and s strove to justify to Philip II, his past conduct, begging him to provide a way to ascend the throne.
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