The Sultan’s Admiral
By Ernle Bradford
The Sultan’s Admiral is a thrilling biography of Barbarossa, a legendary maritime figure.
Admiral, naval hero, pirate, warrior and empire-builder, Kheir-ed-Din – or Barbarossa, as he was known in the West – was a legendary figure. Born on Lesbos in Greece, he rose to become High Admiral of the Ottoman Navy, Sultan of Algiers and friend and advisor to Suleiman the Magnificent.
Barbarossa dominated the history of the Mediterranean in the sixteenth century. From the moment he and his brother, Aruj, established themselves on the North African coast, the pattern of life and trade in the Mediterranean changed forever – and for nearly 300 years after, it was affected by the activities of raiders from what came to be called the Barbary Coast. Barbarossa’s achievements in reorganising the Ottoman navy and his command of it helped the expansion of the Turkish empire that threatened all of Europe. When he died, Turkish records for the year announced, ‘The King of the Sea is dead’.
In this definitive biography, Ernle Bradford has brilliantly recreated Barbarossa’s remarkable life alongside a vivid portrayal of the Ottoman and Mediterranean worlds at this thrilling moment in history.
Praise for The Sultan’s Admiral:
‘A good, balanced account… constructed in an interesting manner’ – Goodreads review
‘The Sultan’s Admiral [is] highly informative and hugely entertaining’ – Kirkus Reviews
‘This is the story of a flamboyant personality, a man who risked everything and made his fortune. Interesting. Bradford is a great narrator’ – Amazon.com review
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