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

The traditional animosity the Crusaders vowed to Muslims reached a
zenith by the time the Knights settled in Malta. In early 16 th century, the
crusaders rallied again under the ‘Alliance of the Christian Princes’ (1500) and
the Grand Master of the Knights was nominated Captain-General of the
Christian armies with the aim of conducting military expeditions against the
Muslims of North Africa. 16 Shortly later, the crusaders joined under the banner
of the Holy Roman Empire which was headed by Spain and set out to take
revenge, but this time in North Africa. Needless to say that faced with such
religious hatred, the Muslims could but reciprocate. So, amidst Christian
hostility and crusaders’ attacks emerged the Ottoman regency of Algiers. For
the next three hundred years, Algiers was going to stand up to the all-mighty
Spain and other Christian powers which assaulted its coastal cities and ports.
Ultimately, it relatively succeeded in displacing the frontiers of the battle
between Islam and Christianity from its own coast to the high seas and even
sometimes to the very shores of Europe. That breakthrough had been possible
thanks to a combined strategy of naval warfare and corsairing, a practice
legitimated by both religion and existent law.
1. 2. From Reconquista to Conquest
The medieval crusades found a continuation in Spanish Reconquista of
the weakening Muslim kingdoms of Andalusia and conquest of not better
allotted kingdoms of North Africa. Prior to the advent of the Turks, the Central
16 Currey, Sea-Wolves, pp. 51-2.
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