Historical context
The Khizir brothers became involved in maritime trade. His brother Aruj used to trade at sea with his younger brother Elias. Khizir also started his career at sea after later acquiring a ship for himself. Although his brothers initially worked as sailors, they later began working in the Mediterranean with private ships authorized to attack and plunder enemy ships. They pledged to resist the fleet assigned by Knight St. John.
St. John Rhodes set up his base camp in the archipelago (before 1522). Aruz and Elias Levant continue to operate in the region between Anatolia, Syria and Egypt. Khizir used to conduct activities in the Mediterranean. His base camp was in Thessaloniki. The eldest brother, Isaac, lived in Midilli and looked after the family financially.
Khizir and his brother used to roam the Uruj Sea since childhood. They had no interest in education. They made a living by trading in the sea. They had two more brothers - Isaac and Elias. Barbaros Khizr and Uruz saw the bravery and influence of the Ottoman Sultan Selim (Yavuz) and included them in the Ottoman navy. Later, Sultan Suleiman (Legal) promoted Barbaros Khizir as the Chief Captain of the Ottoman Navy. In history, this is known as Barbaros Khairuddin Pasha.
Death of Elias, captivity of Aruj and war
Aruj was a successful sea explorer. He was fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, Greek and Arabic in his early career. At the end of the trade expedition from Tripoli to Libya, on the way back, the ship of Aruz was attacked by the troops of Knight St. John. Elias was killed and Aruj was seriously wounded in the battle. Their father's ship was captured by the enemy and Aruj remained captive at Knight's fort in Bodram for about three years. After learning of his brother's whereabouts, Khizir no longer sat down, came to Bodram and helped his brother escape.
Khizir's career under Aruj
In 1503 Aruz was able to assemble three ships and set up his new base camp on the island of Djerba to conduct his operations in the western Mediterranean. Khizr joins Aruj in Jerba. In 1504, the brothers contacted Sultan Abu Abdullah Muhammad Hamis of the Beni Huff dynasty in Tunisia and strategically asked permission to use the port of Goliti for their expeditions.
Their application was accepted on the condition that one-third of their profits be paid to the Sultan. They later captured a Sicilian warship from Lipari, which included 360 Spanish soldiers and 70 Spanish knights en route from Spain to Naples. In 1505 they launched an expedition off the coast of Calabria. This increased their fame and they were joined by some famous Muslim pirate ships. In 1506 they invaded the coast of Ligoria, especially Diano Mariana. The Barbarossa series is based on the life stories of the Barbarossa brothers.
