Ahmed Ali Hussein (Corsair)
Sayyid Ahmed Ali Hussein | |
|---|---|
| Died | Barbary Coast |
| Cause of death | drowning |
| Body discovered | December the 8th 1630 |
| Monuments | A statue in National Heroes' Park, Saranidia |
| Nationality | Al-Saranidi |
| Citizenship | Ottoman (nominally), Al-Saranidi |
| Education | Primary education and Naval officer training |
| Era | Early Modern Era |
| Known for | Barbary corsair |
| Title | Sayyid |
| Successor | Khalid Ibn Ahmed Hussein |
| Movement | Islamic Imperialism |
| Opponent(s) | Habsburg Spain |
| Criminal charge(s) | manslaughter |
| Criminal penalty | payment of diyya |
| Spouse(s) | Mariam Hussein, Fatima Hussein, Khadija Hussein |
| Children | Khalid Ibn Ahmed Hussein, Aisha Bint Ahmed Hussein and suleiman Bint Ahmed Hussein |
| Parent(s) | Ali Hussein and Maria Hussein |
| Piratical career | |
| Nickname | Al-Mirza ("the Prince") |
| Other names | Khalid Al-Saranidi |
| Type | corsair |
| Allegiance | Emirate of Saranidia |
| Years active | 1615-1630 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Base of operations | Barbary coast |
| Commands | Al-Yunus |
| Battles/wars | Ottoman–Habsburg wars |
| Wealth | £5 million (in today's money) |
Ahmed Ibn Ali Hussein, often called Ahmed Ali Hussein was an Al-Saranidi privateer, nobleman and naval officer during the Early Modern period.
Early life
Born in 1595 was the son of Ahmed Ali Hussein (a Sayyid and judge) and his Christian wife Maria Hussein. He received a primary education, as evidenced by his ability to read and write.
Naval career
In 1609 he was an officer trainee aboard an Al-Saranidi ship called Al-Faris, he completed his three year training in 1612 then served for three years as a naval officer, leaving in 1615.
Barbary corsair
He purchased a ship called Al-Yunus during the Spanish-Habsburg Wars and used it to plunder Spanish shipping eventually involving ahis sons, the eldest of whom eventually became his successor. He made a fortune from gold, jewellery and ransoms as well as selling sailors whose families could not afford ransoms into slavery. He was known for his daring courage, earning him the respect of his crew and the fear of the Spanish whilst his sophistication and wealth which caused him to be referred to as Al-Mirza meaning "the Prince".
Controversy
In Saranidia he is largely regarded as a national hero, Islamic hero and war hero. However, there is some controversy about him as he was known to have sold slaves and allegedly captured a Spanish woman called Valeria as a concubine.
Veneration
In modern Saranidia, Ahmed Ibn Ali Hussein is venerated as a saint by Sufis.
Shahid Ahmed Ibn Ali Hussein Sayyid | |
|---|---|
| Reis (Captain), Sayyid | |
| Born | Ahmed Ibn Ali Hussein unknown Benghazi (then part of Saranidia) |
| Hometown | Benghazi |
| Residence | Benghazi |
| Died | Barbary Coast |
| Venerated in | Sufi Islam in Saranidia and Libya |
| Major shrine | National Heroes' Park, Saranidia |
| Patronage | Sailors, Naval officers, combat soldiers, Marines, slave traders (historically), reformed convicts and privateers. |
| Controversy | involvement in the slave trade, alleged concubinage |
| Influenced | Many Al-Saranidi corsairs and military men ever since. |