Ahmed Ali Hussein (Corsair)

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Sayyid

Ahmed Ali Hussein
Died
Barbary Coast
Cause of deathdrowning
Body discoveredDecember the 8th 1630
MonumentsA statue in National Heroes' Park, Saranidia
NationalityAl-Saranidi
CitizenshipOttoman (nominally), Al-Saranidi
EducationPrimary education and Naval officer training
EraEarly Modern Era
Known forBarbary corsair
TitleSayyid
SuccessorKhalid Ibn Ahmed Hussein
MovementIslamic Imperialism
Opponent(s)Habsburg Spain
Criminal charge(s)manslaughter
Criminal penaltypayment of diyya
Spouse(s)Mariam Hussein, Fatima Hussein, Khadija Hussein
ChildrenKhalid Ibn Ahmed Hussein, Aisha Bint Ahmed Hussein and suleiman Bint Ahmed Hussein
Parent(s)Ali Hussein and Maria Hussein
Piratical career
NicknameAl-Mirza ("the Prince")
Other namesKhalid Al-Saranidi
Typecorsair
AllegianceEmirate of Saranidia
Years active1615-1630
RankCaptain
Base of operationsBarbary coast
CommandsAl-Yunus
Battles/warsOttoman–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
BornAhmed Ibn Ali Hussein
unknown
Benghazi (then part of Saranidia)
HometownBenghazi
ResidenceBenghazi
DiedBarbary Coast
Venerated inSufi Islam in Saranidia and Libya
Major shrineNational Heroes' Park, Saranidia
PatronageSailors, Naval officers, combat soldiers, Marines, slave traders (historically), reformed convicts and privateers.
Controversyinvolvement in the slave trade, alleged concubinage
InfluencedMany Al-Saranidi corsairs and military men ever since.