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The Constantinople slave rebellion of 1618 was an uprising of Christian slaves in the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, headed by enslaved Spanish soldiers. The revolt concluded with parts of the city damaged in a fire started by the Spanish, who escaped the city in captured galleys at the head of 2,000 insurgents after burning the Ottoman armada in port. They became an unofficial privateer fleet on their way back to Christian territories in Italy, ultimately dismebarking in Malta and scattering in the Spanish viceroyalties of Sicily and Naples.

Background

The main instigator was the Spanish ensign García del Castillo Bustamante, born in Seville and stationed in La Mamora before being captured in action. He was sold in Constantinople and bought by the city's kadi, who allowed him much freedom thanks to his personal qualities. His seconds in command were Marcos de Pinto, an architect and artist from Salamanca, at the time enslaved in the Great Palace of Constantinople, and Pedro de Chaves, a soldier born in Extremadura. Unlike many other slaves in the Ottoman domains, who converted to Islam in exchange for privileges, they had remained Christians.

Revolt

In April 1618, Sultan Osman II gathered an armada captained by Khimshiashvili Pasha (called Jimusbey Pasha in Spanish sources) aiming for the Spanish viceroyalty of Sicily, then ruled by Francisco Ruiz de Castro. He held large celebrations for the fleet's departure, which Bustamante capitalized on to plan the revolt. Contacting Pinto and 30 Christian slaves, they agreed that every one would set fire to his master's house and any other building they could reach on April 29, the Christian fest of St. Peter Martyr and fifth day of the Ottoman festival. The chosen day, the Christians did as agreed and caused a fire which quickly spread through the city, reaching the Hagia Sophia mosque and damaging its gates. The Great Palace was also set in fire under the indications of Pinto, forcing Osman II and his harem to abandon the building.

The insurgents found the harbor with little vigilance, as the local crews had left to assist in putting out the fires, leading Chaves to suggest to assault the fleet in port. They raided one galley and unchained all of its galley slaves, who quickly joined the revolt and helped to assault all the other vessels, progressively building up force of 2,000 freed Christian slaves from multiple nations. They took and manned four galleys and a series of small boats, and after gathering the incendiary devices the Ottomans had stored in the vessels to use in Sicily, they used them to set fire to the remnant fleet itself. Satisfied and not wanting to keep trying luck, Bustamante and his partners called for retreat and sailed off. The improvised flotilla passed through the port's towers, whose watchmen identified them as Ottoman galleys and mistakenly though they were Turk crews moving their ships away from the fire.

Constantinople suffered massive damage. Aside from the Great Palace, around 40,000 houses and four mosques reportedly burned off in the attempt to put out the fires in the royal buildings. 12.000 citizens died in the fires, among them 500 Janissaries, 200 faqih and several pashas, including Khimshiashvili Pasha himself. The mosques of Beyazid and Fatih were partially burnt, and economic damages numbered in the millions. The fleet in port, counting around 200 military and merchant ships, and including the armada to Sicily, was destroyed.

Once safe in open sea, the insurgents headed for the Hospitaller Malta and dedicated the journey to assault and capture every Muslim ship they found in the way, having gained 30 ships by the time they arrived in the island. The Maltese initially raised alarms believing the fleet was an Ottoman attack, but the confusion was dispelled when the rebels raised improvised flags with Christian crosses and Bustamante disembarked in a skiff. When the truth became known, the former slaves were received by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt and the local officers, "with tears of joy coming out of their eyes". After two days of celebrations and Masses said for the event, the galleys were fitted in the Christian way and used to carry the escapees to Sicily and Naples, entrusting them to the local viceroys, Ruiz de Castro and Pedro Téllez-Girón, Duke of Osuna.

Aftermath

Osman II was enraged and ordered to torture and execute many Christians to finding out what had transpired. He only learned complete version of the facts after a Greek member of Bustamante's fleet deserted and returned to Constantinople. The sultan threatened to invade Malta if the escapees and their ships weren't handed back to him, but Wignacourt responded with a defiant negative. The Grand Master warned the Duke of Osuna to be ready for the possibility that Osman fulfilled his word, but the promised invasion was never carried on.

References

1. ^ Bunes Ibarra (1989).
2. Fernández Duro (1885), p. 384.
3. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 385.
4. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 386.
5. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 387.
6. Fernández Duro (1885), p. 389-390.
7. Fernández Duro (1885), p. 387-388.
8. Fernández Duro (1885), p. 389.
9. ^ Fernández Duro (1885), p. 390.

Bibliography

• Bunes Ibarra, Miguel Ángel (1989). La imagen de los musulmanes y del Norte de Africa en la España de los siglos XVI y XVII: los caracteres de una hostilidad. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. ISBN 9788400069575.
• Fernández Duro, Cesáreo (1885). El gran duque de Osuna y su marina: jornadas contra turcos y venecianos (1602-1624). Sucesores de Rivadeneyra.
• Colección monográfica africana: Ediciones 1-19. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. 1967.

• 1618 in the Ottoman Empire
• Rebellions in the Ottoman Empire
• 17th-century rebellions
• Slave rebellions
• 17th century in Istanbul
• Slavery in the Ottoman Empire