Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

destruction of the Algerian fleet which so far acted as the sole protector of
Algerian sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ottomans, on the other hand,
failed to defend Algiers in 1830. 53 In matters of foreign relations and defense,
and since the early 17 th century, Algiers had acquired certain sovereignty and
stood alone to face a ‘concert’ of Europe which envied its naval supremacy in
the Mediterranean and leagued to destroy it.
2. 2. Free Navigation and Passports
The principle of free navigation and passes introduced earlier by the
capitulations and the Algerian-Dutch treaty of 1622 was re-integrated in a new
treaty with England, which after a long Civil War, renewed contacts with
Algiers at the end of the Commonwealth period. In 1682, a new treaty was
concluded; it introduced passes that were meant for identifying English ships
when controlled by Algerian corsairs and vice-versa. The form and contents of
the passes were determined by different treaties and delivered by admiralty
courts. 54 The passes delivered by the English and Dutch admiralty courts, for
example, were cut irregularly to two halves: the first half was handed to the
captain of the ship while the second was sent to Algiers. 55 This procedure may
be considered more as further security against forgeries and illegal protection
53 The last Turkish ruler of Algiers, Dey Hussein, surrendered after a short resistance against the French
who landed at Sidi-Fredj in 1832. After surrender, he sailed for Livorno (Leghorn), Italy carrying an
enormous personal fortune with him and died there in 1837—even though 50% of the original fortune
was retained by the French according to the surrender treaty. For the terms of surrender see Grammont,
Histoire d’Alger, pp. 406-7
54 For the Form of the Pass as provided by the treaty of 1682 see Lewis Hertslet, A Complete
Collection of the Treaties and Conventions, and Reciprocal Regulations, at Present Subsisting Between
Great Britain and Foreign Powers, vol. I (London: Henry Butter Worth, 1827), pp. 65-6; also
Appendix 2B. For later passports see Marsden, Law and Custom of the Sea, pp. 347-48.
55 Groot, “Ottoman North Africa and the Dutch Republic,” p. 148.
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