[9] Yakup was among those who took part in the capture of the Aegean island of Lesbos from the Genoese on behalf of the Ottomans in 1462.
In Lesbos Yakup married a local Christian Greek woman from Mytilene, the widow of an Eastern Orthodox priest[10] named Katerina.
At first, Ishak, the eldest son, was involved with the financial affairs of the family business and remained on Mytilene.
The other two brothers Oruç and Ilyas soon became seamen engaging in sea trade, later turning privateers in the Mediterranean.
The last surviving son Hızır became one of the most famous Barbary pirates of his era and a legendary figure as Admiral of the Ottoman navy.