La pérdida de Castelnuovo en 1539 según fuentes españolas

Abstract

Entre las acciones de guerra llevadas a cabo por Jayr al-Din Barbarroja, señor de Argel y corsario al servicio del Gran Turco, sobresale la toma de Castelnuovo en 1539, localidad situada en la costa dálmata de Albania. La reconquista turca de esta plaza -llevada a cabo entre los meses de julio y de agosto de ese año- ha sido narrada por varios cronistas con mayor o menor extensión y detalle, los cuales siempre destacaron la valerosa defensa de la ciudad que hicieron los españoles pese a su número reducido. El presente artículo recoge los testimonios incluidos en las fuentes acerca de la caída de Castelnuovo. Tras la misma, Carlos V procuró el rescate de los cautivos ante Barbarroja, a través del contador Juan Gallego.

Among the military actions carried out by Jayr al-Din Barbarossa, at the same time Lord of Alger and corsair under the service of the Great Turk, the conquest in 1539 of Castelnuovo, a town located on the Dalmatian coast of Albania, stands out over the others. The Turkish reconquest of this town, that took place between the months of July and August of that year, has been related by several chroniclers with more or less extension and details in their works. However, all of them remark the brave defense of the town done by the Spanish soldiers in spite of their small number. This article gathers the testimonies on the fall of Castelnuovo included in the Spanish manuscripts and in printed sources. After the military action was finished, the king Charles the Fifth attempted to rescue the captives of Castelnuovo from the pirate Barbarrosa, through the counter Juan Gallego, who negotiated a possible agreement with the Turkish corsair.