British Slaves and Barbary Corsairs, 1580-1750

British Slaves and Barbary Corsairs is the first comprehensive study of the thousands of Britons captured and enslaved in North Africa in the early modern period. It charts the course of victims' lives from capture to liberation, death in Barbary, or escape, and explores how ransoms were raised and redemptions were organized. The study places the British story within the wider context of Mediterranean slavery.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

British Slaves and Barbary Corsairs is a groundbreaking exploration into the lives of thousands of Britons who were captured and enslaved in North Africa during the early modern period. This issue, of immense contemporary relevance, has largely been overlooked in modern histories of Britain. The study delves into the trajectory of victims' lives, from their initial capture to their eventual liberation, death in Barbary, or, for a fortunate few, their escape. It provides a comprehensive account of the Barbary government and society, as well as the world of the corsairs. The book also sheds light on the harrowing experiences of slave-market trauma, the lives of galley slaves and laborers, and the fates of female captives. While most captives maintained their Christian faith, a significant minority embraced Islam. This shift in identity created a fluid and multi-layered landscape for those who converted, as well as for Britons who voluntarily joined the corsairs. Bernard Capp also delves into the intricate mechanisms of ransom fundraising, exploring how private and public initiatives, as well as merchants, consuls, and other intermediaries, organized redemptions. However, due to the financial constraints of most families, the state faced immense pressure to intervene, particularly in the mid-seventeenth century when the navy played a pivotal role in implementing gunboat diplomacy, ultimately diminishing the threat posed by the Barbary corsairs.

The Barbary corsairs posed a significant challenge to most European powers, and this study contextualizes the British story within the broader realm of Mediterranean slavery. It highlights the role of Moors and Christians as both captors and captives, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the Mediterranean region in the slave trade. British Slaves and Barbary Corsairs is a vital contribution to our understanding of this complex and often overlooked chapter in history, shedding light on the experiences of those who were subjected to the horrors of captivity and the resilience of those who managed to escape or find liberation.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 242 x 163 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192857378