Barbary Corsairs

The Barbary Corsairs were pirates and privateers from North Africa, mainly operating from the 16th to 19th centuries. Based in port cities like Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, they targeted European ships and coastal towns, capturing sailors for ransom or sale as slaves. They operated with varying degrees of government support from the Ottoman Empire. Their activities disrupted Mediterranean trade and prompted European nations to build naval forces to protect their interests. The Corsairs played a significant role in Atlantic maritime history, influencing diplomatic relations and prompting military conflicts like the Barbary Wars.