Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/433

Rh to add these extensive provinces to his power; he therefore accepted the proffered homage, and promised his support to the sell-elected usurper.

In the year 1518, Horuc fell in an action against the marquis de Comares, the Spanish governor of Oran, and his brother Hayradin ascended the vacant throne. The fame of his naval exploits having reached Constantinople, the sultan appointed him commander-in-chief of the Turkish fleet. Thereupon Barbarossa repaired in haste to that city, full of a new project of aggrandisement which had presented itself to his ambition. The king of Tunis had died leaving behind him a flourishing family of no less than thirty-four Sons, of whom the youngest, named Muley Hassan, had been named by the late king as his successor owing to the influence of his mother. As soon as the nomination had been declared, Muley Hassan poisoned his father, and ascending the throne promptly put to death as many of his brothers as he could get into his power.

Al Raschid, one of the eldest, succeeded in making his escape, and fled to Algiers to implore the protection of Barbarossa. This wily chief at once promised his support, and took the fugitive to Constantinople, where he trusted to obtain means from the sultan for the prosecution of his design, which was simply to make use of the claims of Al Raschid to secure the kingdom of Tunis for himself. The sultan readily adopted his scheme, and gave him the command of a powerful fleet, with an ample land force. Thus armed, Hayradin set sail, the unfortunate Al Raschid being meanwhile retained a prisoner in the seraglio at Constantinople. Arrived off Tunis, he succeeded in obtaining possession of the fort of Goletta, through the treachery of its commander. That work commanded the bay, and on it the protection of the town entirely depended. Possessed of this important point, Barbarossa soon effected an entrance into Tunis, asserting throughout that the object of his attack was the restoration of Al Raschid. Once fairly established he threw off the mask, and caused himself to be proclaimed king. Muley Hassan, who had fled at his approach, proceeded direct to Madrid, and there implored Charles to aid him in the recovery of his kingdom.

This application was made at the same time that the Grand-