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

Mediterranean practice, served in this work as an argument to complement
legitimization of Algerian corsairing and refutation of western allegations of
piracy against Algiers.
Research has also revealed that Algerian corsairing diplomacy had
origins in the early Ottoman capitulations with the Europeans countries. Those
capitulations conceded European powers too many privileges, including the
establishment of trading posts and coral fisheries on Algiers’ littoral. Because
of that, Algiers challenged the authority of the Sultan and attacked those
concessions. Unable to force respect of capitulations on Algiers, the Sultan
authorized the Europeans to negotiate directly with Algiers. That move brought
about direct diplomatic contacts between Algiers and the European powers, a
fact which implied diplomatic recognition of Algiers. That way, Algiers
acquired political legitimacy as a de facto independent polity. Legally then,
Algiers fulfilled the second conditions permitting distinction between
corsairing and piracy which is sovereignty. This in itself is one on the
conclusions of this study.
Diplomatic recognition permitted Algiers to deal as equal to equal with
Christian powers which led to the conclusion of numerous bilateral treaties and
establishment of diplomatic missions in the major European capitals. With the
major powers, Algiers concluded its first peace treaties early in the 17 th
century: France (1619), England (1622), and the Netherlands (1622); the lesser
powers followed suite during the 18 th century. Undergoing constant ups and
downs, diplomatic relations were intensive, conflicting, but counterbalanced
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