Sack of Naples

The sack of Naples occurred in 1544 when Algerians captured the Bay of Naples and enslaved 7,000 Neapolitans.

Quick Facts Date, Location ...

Sack of Naples
Part of Spanish–Ottoman wars
Map of the Bay of Naples
Date 1544 Location Naples, Kingdom of Naples Result Algerian victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Naples	Regency of Algiers
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
7,000 enslaved	Unknown

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In 1544 Algerian corsairs sailed into the Bay of Naples and captured it. They then took an estimated 7,000 Neapolitan slaves.^[1][2]

The number of slaves taken by the Algerians drove the price of slaves so low that it was said “you could swap a Christian for an onion”.^[3][4][1] Moreover, it was said to be “raining Christians in Algiers”.^[4]