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

distinction between corsairing and piracy in this work. Based on this argument,
this thesis concludes that Muslim corsairing, just like Christian corsairing, had
historical and religious legitimacy.
Algiers precisely used corsairing both as a defensive and retaliatory
weapon. Originally, Algerian corsairs fought against Spanish conquest but
starting from the early 17 th century, they had to deal with repeated attacks from
other European countries. Excepting none, all major western powers, and lesser
powers, at one time or another during the three centuries-lifespan of Algiers
sent squadrons of battleships that poured wrath and devastation on Algerian
port-cities. Faced with such conditions, the Algerian corsairs adapted
themselves to the prevailing circumstances. Taking into consideration their
relatively weaker capacities—in comparison with a combined striking force of
Europeans—the corsairs adopted limited warfare tactics whereby they pursued
enemies’ merchantmen often as armed as themselves on the high seas.
Research has also shown that Spanish attacks had placed Algiers in a
position that made it suspicious of all Christian powers and for good reasons:
just the number of naval expeditions launched against Algiers gives an
indication about the extent of terror Christian powers had inflicted on the
Muslim population of Algiers. Such generalization of suspicion about
Christians on the part of Algiers did not take into consideration the difference
between Catholics and Protestants and caused extension of Algerian corsairing
to countries that traditionally were arch enemies of Spain, like Britain and the
Netherlands, a fact which increased the extent of hostilities. By the time the
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