In 1429, the Hafsids attacked the island of Malta, and took 3000 slaves although they did not conquer the island. The profits were used for a great building programme and to support art and culture. However, piracy also provoked retaliation from the christans, which several times launched attacks and crusades against Hafsid coastal cities such as the Barbary crusade (1390), The Bona crusade (1399) and the capture of djerba in 1423.