Origins & Early Life

Kemal Reis (c. 1451 – 1511) was an Ottoman privateer and admiral. He was also the paternal uncle of the famous Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri Reis, who accompanied him in most of his important naval expeditions. Kemal Reis was born in Manisa on the Aegean coast of the Ottoman Empire in c.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

1451. His full name was Ahmed Kemaleddin (Ahmet Kemalettin). His ancestry is disputed; some sources claim that he was born into a Turkish family, while others claim he was born into a Greek family that converted to Islam. He became known in Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, with names like Camali and Camalicchio. Kemal Reis started his career as the commander of the naval fleet belonging to the Sanjak Bey (Provincial Governor) of Eğriboz (present-day Euboea) which was under Ottoman control.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1487 the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II appointed Kemal Reis with the task of defending the lands of Emir Abu Abdullah, the ruler of Granada, which was then one of the final Muslim strongholds in Spain. Kemal Reis sailed to Spain and landed an expeditionary force of Ottoman troops at Málaga, capturing the city and the surrounding villages...

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