The Battle of al-Mahdia: Corsairs, Crusaders, and the Hafsid Prize

In the 14th century, the port of al-Mahdia on the Tunisian coast became a flashpoint for a forgotten conflict between the Hafsids of Ifriqiya and the rising naval powers of Europe. This episode follows the 1390 Barbary Crusade—a joint Franco-Genoese expedition that besieged Mahdia for weeks, only to withdraw after a negotiated settlement. Lucas and Luna explore the corsair economy that made Mahdia a target, the role of the Hafsid sultan Abu al-Abbas Ahmad II, and how the failed crusade reshaped Mediterranean piracy and trade. Along the way, they touch on the origins of the term 'Barbary', the interplay between Berber and Arab identities in Ifriqiya, and the long shadow the campaign cast over later conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. It's a story of ambition, miscommunication, and the messy reality of holy war.

#BarbaryCrusade #alMahdia #HafsidDynasty #Ifriqiya #AbualAbbasAhmad #MediterraneanPiracy #Corsairs #Genoa #France #CharlesVI #1390 #Tunisia #NorthAfrica #Berber #Arab #Crusades #History #FexingoHistory

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