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

Corsairs at pleasure are traversing the east and west seas, without the
least fear or apprehension, as free and absolute sovereigns thereof. Nay,
they roam them up and down no otherwise than do such as go in chase
of hares for their diversion. And all this they do without finding any who
offer in the least to oppose or contradict them. 99
Pierre Dan, a French ecclesiastic who visited Algiers in 1634, recorded some of
the activities of the Algerian fleet. Despite his crusading ardor, as reflected in
the title of his account, he recorded one of the most splendid descriptions of the
corsairs going out on one of the usual corsairing expeditions:
At Algiers, there are 70 vessels of different sizes; some are armed with
25 guns, others with 35 and 40 guns… I saw the fleet leaving, the
vessels are the most beautiful and the best armed I have ever seen. 100
Chevalier d’Arvieux, the envoy of the French King Louis XIV to Dey
Mehmed, resided at Algiers between 1674 and 1675. In his memoirs he left us
this description about the corsairs and the fleet:
It is surprising that people as brutal and barbarian as the Algerians have
this much order and justice; which we rarely find even among the most
perfect Christians. At Algiers, I admired their diligence at arming and
disarming vessels. … there are 3 row-galleys and about 30 vessels of
different sizes; the largest having 50 guns only, the smallest 10-12 guns.
Those constructed at Algiers are lighter and smoothly sailing; they are
good at chasing and taking prizes. 101
99 Morgan, Complete History of Algiers, pp. 592-93.
100 Dan, Histoire de Barbarie et de ses corsaires, divisée en six livres où il est traité de leur
gouvernement, de leurs moeurs, de leur cruautés, de leurs brigandages, de leurs sortilèges, & de
plusieurs autres particularités remarquables: Ensemble des grandes misères et des cruels tourments
qu’endurent les chrétiens captifs parmi ces infidèles. (Paris: Pierre Rocolet, 1637), p. 317.
101 Jean-Batiste Labat, ed., Mémoires du chevalier d’Arvieux, envoyé extraordinaire du roy à la Porte,
consul d’Alep, d’Alger, de Tripoli, & autres échelles du Levant, Tome 5 (Paris: Chez Charles-Jean-
Baptiste, 1735), pp. 262-63. D’Arvieux was not only a brilliant diplomat but he was an accomplished
Orientalist. His memoirs, published 30 years after his death, are appreciated for their impartiality and
valuable information they contribute to the history of Algeria.
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