-Nate
Piracy, Slavery, Ransom
and Tribute
For centuries, the
Barbary Coast has boasted an organized system of commercial piracy
that makes the buccaneers of the Caribbean Sea seem crude by
comparison. In the cities of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli, wealthy
merchants invest in outfitting expeditions, working with the approval
of the local ruler and carrying crews of janissary soldiers into
battle. Any loot they acquire is divided according to a predetermined
contract. For example, with Algerian booty, 10% of the value would go
to the Dey, and 1% would be taxed for repairs to the mole; the
remains would be split evenly between the backers of the voyage and
the crew.
Even more
important than material goods, however, is the traffic in slaves.
Those who are taken as prisoners aboard a prize vessel are loaded
aboard the corsair ship, with men chained below decks in the cargo
hold. Women taken as slaves are generally kept separate from the
rest, in a protected area where they remain unmolested. (After all,
it is important that they arrive in the slave market in an unspoiled
condition.) This human cargo is fed a crude diet of coarse black
bread and oil or thin soup in order to keep them fairly healthy.
Once they reach
port, the slaves are taken to the bagnio where they live until (and
often after) being purchased. New slaves were inspected like animals,
especially for signs of being unaccustomed to labor; after all, those
who could have wealthy relatives back in Europe become especially
valuable. All slaves are made to wear iron rings on their ankles as a
sign of their status. Some might even be given an emetic to find any
valuables they might have swallowed.
After inspection,
the slaves are sent on to different fates. Women are often purchased
for the harems of the wealthy, and blonde and red-headed women are
considered especially exotic. Those who possess useful skills, such
as carpentry or other crafts, might be given a limited amount of
freedom in which to practice their trades—with their owners
claiming shares of the profits, of course. Slaves who can be
identified are held for ransom, with notification being sent to their
families in order to arrange a price. The most dreaded fate awaits
those who are chosen for hard labor, such as hauling stones for the
mole in Algiers harbor or serving as a rower aboard a galley. Those
who are sent to the galleys have their heads shaved.
Some slaves opt
to “turn Turk” instead of suffering captivity. To do so they
convert to Islam, at which point they are freed. Many of those who do
so become renegadoes, serving aboard a corsair vessel and putting
their skills to use by the Barbary powers. They become particularly
reviled back home, regarded as turncoats by other Europeans.
This system has
given rise to an unusual kind of diplomacy between the Barbary powers
and their European fellows. Sometimes, instead of risking having its
ships taken by corsairs, a country decides to pay tribute to the
local ruler in exchange for a guarantee of safe passage. This usually
lasts until the corsairs renege on the agreement, or until the
country's government works up the gumption to stage an attack and
demand a better arrangement.
Map and Locations
Refer to the
appropriate map to find the following locations. This is a modified
version based on one created by Daniel Dalet, from the following
website:
http://dmaps.com/carte.phplib=wide_mediterranean_sea_map&num_car=3135&lang=en.
Alexandria
This major port
sits at the point where the Nile River flows into the Mediterranean.
As such, it serves as a hub of trade for Cairo and the rest of Egypt.
At one time it boasted two impressive buildings, the famed lighthouse
and library. Sadly, the prior fell into the sea following an
earthquake, while the latter was burned to the ground during
political turmoil involving Julius Caesar.
Algiers
Refer to the
section about this city, below, for greater details.
Cairo
This is the
largest city in Egypt, up the Nile River from Alexandria on the
Mediterranean Sea. In addition to being a center for commerce and
education, it lies close to the famous pyramids of Giza.
Djerba
This island is the
legendary home of the Lotus-Eaters, encountered by Odysseus and his
crew during their wanderings. It lies some fifty miles off the coast
of Tunisia, and was used as a place of exile for deposed Tunisian
rulers. Even so, it is describes as being almost barren, with little
more than a few huts for habitation.
Gibraltar
The strait between
two elevated coastlines—once known as the Pillars of Herakles and
considered the edge of civilization by the Greeks—marks the entry
point to the Mediterranean.
Istanbul
This is home to
the Ottoman Sultan, who lives in the beautiful Topkapi Palace. As
such, it is the center of the Empire. Before being conquered it was
known as Constantinople, the center of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Lisbon
The capital and
chief port of Portugal, it is especially known as a launching point
for voyages of exploration around the coast of Africa and thus to
India, the East Indies, and even so far as China and Japan.
Malta
This island has
come to be the home of the Knights of Malta, an order descended from
the famous Knights Hospitaller. That group, after being expelled from
the Holy Land following the Muslim conquest, eventually made its way
via Rhodes and Cyprus to this island, where it now carries on its war
against Islam.
Morocco
Ruled by its own
Emperor, Morocco is therefore independent from Ottoman rule. It
maintains its own fleet of corsairs, who tend more frequently than
others to venture into northern waters. Even so, its rulers have also
attempted at times to make peace with various European powers. One
Emperor, Ismail, was rumored to keep a collection of wild beasts and
occasionally fed slaves to it. He is also said to have boasted a
large harem that produced some five hundred sons.
Rome
Steeped in
antiquity, Rome is home to the Vatican and the Pope, and therefore
the center of the Catholic faith. While it is not as much of a
maritime power as cities like Venice, it still claims considerable
influence given the power of the church.
Sallee
Sallee is something of an
anomaly, this port is ruled by the Taifat al-Ra'is, a council of
corsairs (with fourteen members, including the admiral). In this way,
it resembles the pirate communities of New Providence and certain
communiites on the islands off of Madagascar, known as Libertalia. In
addition to a seaport, it boasts an ancient necropolis, the Chellah,
that dates back to 600 BCE.
Tripoli
Tripoli
is built on Greek and Roman ruins. Indeed, its name comes from the
Greek word tripolis,
meaning “three cities,” since it stood in the middle of a trio of
settlements. It is ruled by a Pasha (Bashaw) and is the weakest of
the corsair cities. The land surrounding Tripolis is very rich, used
to grow dates, oranges, figs, olives and lemons.
Tunis
Tunis lies near ruins of Carthage, on the inside edge of lake that is
five miles wide. The seaside entrance to the lake is guarded by a
stout fort; this, combined with the fact that water is very shallow
and must be dredged to allow ships, makes for a solid defensive
position. Tunis boasts a population of 150,000 people. It is ruled
by a Bey.
Venice
This Italian city
is perhaps the strongest maritime power in the Mediterranean. Its
military has long fought against the Turkish forces, including the
famous Battle of Lepanto as well as a long-running struggle for the
island of Crete. Venice is also quite powerful when it comes to
mercantile interests, boasting at one time three thousand ships in
the water.
The City of Algiers
When it comes to
piracy on the Caribbean Sea, no city is more notorious than Port
Royal. As far as such activity on the Mediterranean Sea is concerned,
the city of Algiers has just as much intrigue and infamy.
Algiers is
located on the coast of North Africa, roughly halfway between the
Strait of Gibraltar and the point where the coastline turns south in
the vicinity of Tunis. The city itself is nestled amidst hills rising
up from the shoreline; its white-washed buildings create a dazzling
sight for newcomers. It is surrounded by a wall twenty-five feet in
height and roughly three miles in length. A number of gates provide
access through this; they include the Customs Gate, or Bab al-Gazira
(Area 4), which opens onto the waterfront; the Bab Azoun (Area 5) and
New Gate (Area 7), which lead out to the east; the Bab el-Oued (Area
9), to the northwest; and other minor ones (Areas 6 and 8). Beyond
the city itself there are training grounds for the local janissaries,
along with private country estates for the very wealthy, including
numerous beautiful orchards and gardens. There is also a series of
lookout posts with bonfires that can be used to warn of an impending
attack.
Perhaps the most
striking feature of the city is the islet in the harbor, el Peńon
(Area 1). It is connected to the harbor by a man-made mole (Area 2),
a long and narrow pile of rocks across which the city wall runs. It
is perhaps six or seven yards wide, and more than three hundred paces
in length. This creates an excellent harbor, and provides numerous
locations for cannon with which to defend the ships anchored in it.
This mole has come to symbolize the burden of the slaves who live in
Algiers, since it was built through their labor. One of the major
barracks for the janissaries is located on el Peńon,
as those soldiers are entrusted with protecting the harbor during
times of attack.
In the center of
the city is the Dey's palace (Area 3), a lavish structure of marble
and alabaster that houses the local ruler, his bodyguard and advisors
and, of course, his harem. Tales from those who have visited the
palace describe it as labyrinthine, a place in which those who are
not supposed to be there could easily become lost.
Atop the slope of
the hill sits the Casbah (Area 10), a major fortress that is often
used as a market for slaves, or bedistan. It stands at a
height of five hundred feet above the harbor. Beneath that and the
waterfront is a complicated sprawl of buildings. Although there are a
number of broader streets that serve as main thoroughfares, many are
twelve feet wide or less, and are overhung with buildings, thus
creating a maze that can be disorienting for those who are not
familiar with the city.
Population
The population of
the city is roughly 120,000 people, living in some 15,000 houses. It
consists of a tremendous variety of people, including Arabs who have
migrated to the region, local Berbers from the highlands to the
south, Moors who have fled from Spain, and some four thousand
janissaries who represent the authority of the Ottoman Empire. There
are also numerous free Christian and Jewish residents, along with
thousands of slaves.
The Jews live in
ghettos and wear black clothing with tricorn hats; they act as
brokers between Christians and Muslims. This is due in part to an
Islamic ban on moneylending, creating a niche market that provides a
rare opportunity for Jewish citizens. Indeed, such banking business
often involves them in efforts to ransom captives; they provide loans
and letters of credit for petitioners, then follow up on collecting
those debts back in Europe.
Most of the
city's Christian residents are slaves. There are also representatives
of various European governments, ambassadors or consuls for various
countries. They act as intermediaries for visitors, helping to
arrange meetings with government officials and thus broker deals.
Another distinct group is formed by members of the Mercedarian and
Trinitarian orders, clerical and lay brethren dedicated to redeeming
the slaves who are held in Algiers.
These slaves fill
a number of roles in the city's economy. Some are simple laborers,
cutting stone from the surrounding hills and hauling it to the mole
to help maintain it. Others run their own businesses, giving some of
their profits to their masters in exchange for a little bit of
freedom. This is why individuals with marketable skills, such as
carpenters and the like, demand higher prices in the slave market
than others. Of course, the most valuable of the captives claimed are
women of exotic appearance who might go to serve in the Dey's harem
or those of other influential people. The final groups of (former)
slaves are those who have converted to Islam—or “turned Turk,” as it is
known in Europe—and thus gained their freedom.
The janissaries
are perhaps the most important power group in the city. They are
direct representatives of the Ottoman throne, acting as advisors as
part of the Dey's divan and
even voting when it comes to choosing new leadership. Indeed, there
have been times when the janissaries decided that a change was
necessary and took it into their own hands to eliminate an old ruler.
Daily Life
The
city of Algiers is a hub of trade throughout the surrounding region.
While much of this business is supplied through legitimate means,
there's no doubt that organized piracy is an important industry here.
Wealthy citizens invest in outfitting ships and crews, who are
accompanied by janissaries. These voyages can include cruises to prey
upon European shipping, along with razzias
against specific towns to take slaves and spoils.
Much
of the trade in the city, therefore, supports this piracy. That
includes crafts such as carpentry, cooperage and related businesses,
as well as the merchants who help to dispose of booty. During the
daytime, the city's marketplaces are filled with merchants and others
who are selling all manner of foodstuffs and goods. Most notable are
the bedistans,
the markets used when shiploads of slaves are brought to the city.
This hustle and bustle is broken only when the muezzins
issue their calls to prayer.
After dark is a special time in the city. That is when the rooftops
of many buildings are opened to the women who spend most of the other
time sequestered in their homes. This allows them to move about
without being exposed to the lusty gazes of men—although certain
brave fellows are willing to risk official wrath in order to make a
romantic visit.
Those
slaves who spend the day toiling for the profit of their masters,
come the evening, are taken back either to individual homes or to the
bagnios,
large buildings that houses scores and sometimes even hundreds of
slaves. Indeed, these structures often include shops run by bondsmen,
giving them an opportunity to earn money for themselves while also
turning a profit for their masters.
The janissaries provide law enforcement in the city and serve aboard
vessels leaving for specific missions. When they are not engaged in
such activities, they entertain themselves via contests of martial
skill such as archery, wrestling and horseback riding.
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