Sack of Vieste

Sack of Vieste
Date15–24 July 1554
Location
Vieste, Italy
Result Ottoman–Algerian Victory
• Capture of the fortress [1]
• 5,000 to 7,000 enslaved [2][3]
• 5,000 or the entire population of Vieste beheaded [4][5][6]
Belligerents
Kingdom of Naples Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Dragut
Strength
Unknown 60[7] or 70 galleys[8]
Casualties and losses
Heavy losses
5,000–7,000 enslaved
5,000 beheaded		 Unknown

The sack of Vieste was led by Dragut and took place on the 15th of July in 1554.[8] This sack resulted in the capture of the fortress, a massacre and the enslavement of thousands.

On July 15 in the year of 1554 Dragut landed in Vieste with 60 or 70 galleys. Upon his arrival, the inhabitants of Vieste took shelter between a cathedral and castle, which they had barricaded. The Italians negotiated a surrender and delivered gold and silver, hoping it would be enough to save Vieste.[8]

They opened the doors on the 24th of July and the Turks entered and began sacking the town. The archpriest of Vieste and his family were taken captive and ransomed.[9]

5,000 to 7,000 inhabitants were enslaved and Dragut ordered the beheading of everyone he was unable to carry off in slavery resulting in 5,000 beheaded.[6][4][5] One source claims the entire population of Vieste was beheaded and this event has been described as a massacre.[4][10] Another raid occurred in Naples the same year where Algerians took 7,000 slaves.[3]

  1. ^ L'Islam et la mer Xavier de PLANHOL Place des éditeurs,
  2. ^ Concise History of Islam Muzaffar Husain Syed, Syed Saud Akhtar, B D Usmani Vij Books India Pvt Ltd,
  3. ^ a b Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature Ato Quayson Cambridge University Press
  4. ^ a b c Leinen los - Segel hoch - Poseidon wir kommen: Auf dem Albatros von Kroatien über Italien nach Griechenland Elke Clemenz
  5. ^ a b A Gross of Pirates: From Alfhild the Shield Maiden to Afweyne the Big Mouth Terry Breverton Amberley Publishing Limited,
  6. ^ a b Puglia e Basilicata Luca Iaccarino EDT srl,
  7. ^ L'elemento storico-topografico nella genesi delle leggende del Salento Luigi Sada F. Pecoraro,
  8. ^ a b c La storia della Puglia in 100 luoghi memorabili Stefania Mola Newton Compton Editori,
  9. ^ Saggi di storia e letteratura, vol. II Ed. di Storia e Letteratura
  10. ^ The Muslims in Italy Vito Salierno Iqbal Academy Pakistan,