Consuls and captives: Dutch-North African diplomacy in the early modern Mediterranean

Abstract

Erica Heinsen-Roach’s study fits in seamlessly with existing knowledge on European contact with North Africa, about which much has been written, in particular with regard to privateering and Chris‐ tian slavery. The initial scholarly focus was on the Christian states on the north side of the Mediter‐ ranean that had been the first ones to become in‐ volved in North Africa: Spain, Italy, and France. It was only later, when they actively engaged in the Mediterranean trade as well, that northern Euro‐ peans had to face North African privateers. In fact, these encounters stimulated, intensified, and inno‐ vated the corso in the Maghrib: becoming ac‐ quainted with northern European maritime knowledge and the use of Atlantic ships increased the corsairs’ effectiveness and expanded their area of operations. Also noticeable is the fact that Euro‐ peans started to participate in this lucrative busi‐ ness with ships sailing under the flag of Moroccan, Algerian, or Tunisian principalities.