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Algeria Under Turkish Rule: the Nature and Significance of Maghreb Piracy (16th-19th C.)

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Kasznik-Christian A.

Studia Historyczne

2004

vol. 47

issue 3-4

325-339

Maghreb (Berbery) piracy was quite unique in that it lay at the root of the social structures of the region, provided the economic base of the corsair republics of the North African coast, and had a major role in initiating the process of Algeria's nation-building. The conditions for the flourishing of North African piracy were no doubt created by the perpetual state of war between the world of Islam and Christendom. For the Moslem side the corsairs were 'holy war' fighters and backing them was a form of maritime politics. From another perspective Maghreb piracy may be seen as a sort of substitute of regular trade relations. In 1518 Kair ad-Din (known as Barbarossa), a highly successful Greek corsair and Ottoman subject, sought the protection of Sultan Sulaiman the Magnificent for Algiers, where he had established himself as ruler. Under the Turkish wing Algiers soon developed into a regular corsair state, which extended its sway to other ports on the Algerian coast and into the interior. In all their activities the Algiers corsairs were motivated by the idea of Moslem solidarity and the duty to defend ard al-islam (the land of Islam). At the same time the piracy can be regarded as one of institutions - though admittedly of a rather peculiar nature - which control the circulation of commodities and was more profitable than ordinary merchant shipping. From the 17th century onwards the Algiers Regency (as the country was generally referred to by the Europeans), taking advantage of its wide autonomy within the Ottoman Empire, continued to build up its position in the Mediterranean. However, in the long run Maghreb's dependence on piracy had a crippling effect on its economic development. Slave labour, used on a mass scale, thwarted all progress towards a balanced labour market. Meanwhile piracy, with its erratic supplies of loot dumped on the market at very low prices, destabilized local businesses. From the 18th century Algiers entered a phase of decline, which ended with the conquest of the country by a French expeditionary force in 1830.

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1 Studia Historyczne

1 Kasznik-Christian A.

1 2004

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Algeria Under Turkish Rule: the Nature and Significance of Maghreb Piracy (16th-19th C.)