Hayreddin Barbarossa was born in the island of Lesbos in 1478 and became the most famous Ottoman admiral. He was a successful merchant and pirate but, following the rise to the Ottoman throne of Selim I the Resolute, he became Commander of the Fleet and dominated the Mediterranean Sea for decades. He was fluent in Greek, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Italian. He dedicated time and effort in training his crews to be certain of their performance when the time came. His nickname “Redbeard” was due to his bright red beard and hair, a colour that left a deep impression on his European opponents. He died in Istanbul in 1546.