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Algeria A long time ago, Algiers was inhabited by barbaric tribes. In the 17th century, it was conquered by Arabs, who converted the barbarians to their Islamic beliefs. During the middle ages and in later periods, Algiers was a centre of piracy. Famous buccaneers - including Hairaddyn the Red Beard, Dragut and Ulg Ali - had control of the Mediterranean Sea and a lot of European countries were obliged to pay them fees. During the period from 1609 to 1616, Algerian buccaneers managed to capture a great number of ships (only 446 of them were British ships). Their soldiers plunged into Azores, Denmark and Norway. Pirate ships were sighted even on the rivers Elba and Thames. In 1799, even the United States, newly declared independent, had to pay the pirates 50 thousand dollars plus 28 cannons, 10,000 cannonballs and a sufficient amount of gunpowder, as well as provide the buccaneers with ships and necessary equipment. Ottoman "beys" prepared an entrance especially for visitors bringing their fees from different countries in such manner that the latter had to crawl under a wooden plank and were forced to bow down. Sea pirating was organized on a legal status and was accompanied by slave trade. Not just once did the countries of Europe try to capture Algiers and smite the pirate lair. For instance in 1655, the British fleet set sail and fought against Algiers. In 1683, the French fleet fired about six thousand cannonballs at Algiers and burned the city to ruins. Five years later, in 1687, French admiral d'Estre and a huge fleet armed with 18 thousand bombs were sent to destroy the city once again. But this time Algiers was greatly reinforced. About 100 cannons were set up on the shore, while the city itself encamped 20 thousand soldiers. Other inhabitants were evacuated to a safer place. When the siege and bombardment began, Algerian general Mesamorto ordered the French consul and other French captives to be loaded into cannons and fired at the enemy. The French fleet faced a serious counterattack. In 1830, the French army entered Algiers and took the power into its hands. |
